Take an Internet Speed Test
(and Understand the Results)

Download speed is the speed at which your connected devices can transfer data from the internet. Download speed is often measured in Mbps (megabits per second; 1000 Mbps = 1 gigabit)

The higher the Mbps, the faster the download speed. The FCC classifies broadband internet as at least 100 Mbps, which is preferable for standard Netflix streaming, transferring large files for work, and more. For example, streaming HD (1080p) video requires around 10 Mbps per device that is streaming video for optimal performance and quality.

Upload speed is the speed at which your connected devices can transfer data to the internet. Upload speed is often measured in Mbps (megabits per second; 1000 Mbps = 1 gigabit).

Like download speed, the higher the Mbps, the faster the upload speed. The FCC classifies broadband speed as at least 20 Mbps. Upload speed is critical for video calls, cloud backups, and online gaming. The higher the speed, the faster these services are.

Latency is the speed it takes for data to travel from point A to point B and back to point A. Ping rate is usually measured in milliseconds (ms).

Speeds under 50 ms are usually adequate for most households and result in little to no buffering or noticeable delays. MTA latency is usually around 35-40ms.

Gaming performance is optimal under 50ms, while streaming is typically unaffected by latency below 100ms. High latency in gaming can cause lag, while in VoIP it leads to delays in conversations.

Information travels online through data packets, often at a set interval in a set amount of time. When that amount of time or interval varies, it is known as jitter.

 

Jitter is typically measured in milliseconds (ms). The higher the jitter, the better the odds of poor audio quality, dropped video calls, pixelated images, and the like. In other words, jitter is measured for each side of the trip a data packet takes. Jitter from point A to B may be higher or lower than from B to A. This measurement helps identify where the transport issues could lie.

 

As an example, during a video call, uneven jitter may result in delayed responses or distorted audio. Jitter can cause higher latency and can therefore also increase lag when gaming or streaming.

DTR refers to the rate at which data transfers across a network or from one device to another. A higher DTR is preferable for online gaming, video streaming, and similar online activities. DTR is influenced by network congestion, device limitations, and/or router performance.

DTR can be measured in many different ways, including:

• Bits per second (bps)
• Bytes per second (Bps
• Kilobits per second (Kbps)
• Megabits per second (Mbps)
• Gigabits per second (Gbps)

DTR is a combined measure of the actual transfer rate when considering all of the factors involved—latency, jitter, and throughput.

Only so much data can be transmitted online at a time. How much data can transmit in a certain amount of time is referred to as bandwidth. Typically, the higher the bandwidth, the faster the internet speed.

Bandwidth is often measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).

A data cap is a limit on bandwidth, or a limit on how much data can be transferred in a set amount of time.

 

Data caps are often measured in gigabytes (GB).

Signal strength tests the strength of a business or home WiFi connection, specifically the strength of the WiFi signal between the router and a connected device.

Signal strength is usually measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm) as a negative number. The higher the dBm, the stronger the signal. For example, Aa-40dBm or higher would be great for gaming and streaming. A -80dBm, however, would indicate a weak signal and usually results in very slow speeds as well as increased jitter and latency.

Signal strength can be improved by positioning the router in a central location or using MTA’s Total WiFi extenders to improve the reach of the signal.

Devices—laptop, cell phones, tablets, etc.—can all affect internet speed. As a general rule, the following are ways that devices can impact internet speed:

• Age – The older the device, the slower the speed.
• Browser – Which browser a device uses can drastically impact speed.
• Distance to router – The farther away the device is to the router, the weaker the WiFi signal strength and the slower the speed.
• Number – The more devices that are connected to the business or home network, the slower the speed.
• Operating system – Certain operating systems are slower than others, and out-of-date operating systems can lag more than updated ones.
• Firewall/antivirus software – Bloated software, including firewall and antivirus software, can slow down your computer and internet speeds.

The type of internet you have can affect speed. Major internet types include:

• WiFi – This wireless connection is affected by factors like location, distance of the router to the connected devices, and age of the devices. WiFi is usually slower (and more prone to interference) than direct wired connection types like ethernet and fiber optic internet.
• Ethernet – Ethernet is a type of wired internet connection and is affected by factors like the quality and length of the cables. It is usually faster than WiFi but slower than fiber optic.
• Fiber optic – This wired connection uses fiber internet cables to deliver high-speed, reliable internet connections. It is affected by factors like the type of fiber used in the cables and the length of the cables. Fiber optic internet is usually faster than both WiFi and ethernet.

Other factors that can impact the speed and strength of your internet include signal interference and full caches.