How to check the actual speed of your Internet connection?

Is your Internet connection really as fast as your Internet service provider claims it is? In reality, the answer should be yes (or at least fairly close). But since there are many factors that affect the average speed of a typical high speed Internet connection, it’s unlikely that your actual upload and download speeds to will match your provider's advertised speeds exactly.

But that being said, there shouldn’t be a big difference between the two. A great website called SpeedTest.net will put your Internet connection through its paces and calculate your true data transfer speeds in both directions.

These calculations are based up on real-world tests in which sample data files are first downloaded from a distant server and then uploaded back. Running the speed test on your own Internet connection is easy. All you have to do is head over to www.speedtest.net and click the big Go button.

When the test is complete you’ll see the results right on the screen. If you want, you can then click the Go button again to run a second follow-up test. We actually recommend running several tests while connected to different servers (you’ll see a “Change server” option on the screen).

Why? Because some connections are better than others and some remote servers are faster (and closer) than others). Important: In order to get accurate results from the speed test you’ll need to make sure that the computer or mobile device you’re using to conduct the test is the only device that’s actively using your Internet connection.

If other devices are using the Internet while the test is in progress it will alter the results.

Note: You don’t have to physically disconnect your other devices from your router. You can either temporarily turn them off or put them in Airplane Mode.

If possible, try running several different speed tests using both WiFi and wired Ethernet connections. Depending on the actual networking adapter(s) installed on the device, either the wired Ethernet connection or the WiFi connection will likely be a lot faster than the other.

That’s all there is to running the tests. If the speeds returned are considerably lower than the speed you’re paying for you should ask your internet service provider to send a technician out to fix the issue.