How to Test Your Internet Connection Speed

Do you ever  wonder if you are getting the upload and download speeds promised by your provider? DSL users especially may find themselves scratching their heads wondering why their Internet connection is so slow. Many providers have their own testing tools.  But again what if their testing tools are lying to us?

Here’s an easy way to do a quick test; go to SpeedTest.net.

Once you get on the site, there are a few advertisements you need to be aware of.  Do not click on the “Start Scan Now” button.  This is not the Internet speed test, this is an advertisement.  A map will be displayed with your location identified. It will also automatically identify the closest connection to apply a test to your PC.

After initiating the test, the test will download a large file from the remote location (identified by the test tool). The file size is known to the test so based on the time it takes to download the file it will estimate your download speed (in Mb/s). The upload test does the opposite. It puts the downloaded file on the remote server. The user does not have any visibility of the file moved. I am assuming it goes to a temp location somewhere on your PC.

When the test is complete you will see the results (see the image below). You are able to verify the results again but choosing a different remote server.  Click on the new server button and choose a different server.

You should also be able to look at the final results by clicking the icon saying “My Results”.

One useful option is to see how your speeds are compared to similar users in your area. There are also some other options that I have not yet explored, but feel free to let us know if you test them.

Happy Testing!