How to Do an Internet Speed Test Online
Performing an Internet speed test online can be a tricky proposition. But with a little research and confidence in the the programs available today, you can determine how well your connection to the Internet is performing. Test your connection speed at different times of the day to determine when the best connection speed is available in your area.
Internet connection speed is calculated by determining the data transfer rate from the Internet to your computer, so you are giving the online Internet speed test provider permission to download (and in some instances upload) data to or from your computer. By following a few tips, you'll learn how to trust the internet speed test provider and stay aware of the Web tools, security software and free services available.
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Instructions
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Research trusted sites that provide Internet speed test software online. With Internet viruses and spam everywhere you look, it's hard to know whom to trust on the Internet. But you can find an online speed test program that will test your internet service provider's performance easily.
Trust your search engine. When performing a search of online Internet speed test providers on your favorite search engine, you'll get millions of results. But if you see that one of the results is listed with a red link and noted as a dangerous site, trust that Google, Yahoo or Bing has done its research and you should not click on that link.
Know the difference between paid and natural search results. Most Internet speed test programs available online are free and they are typically not paying to have you click on their program. If you see that one or more of the results from your search appears as a paid result, suspect that they will try to sell you their services after you click on that site. Some sites with Internet speed test programs use the free test as a way to get you to purchase their PC optimization programs.
Review the sites. With scams, spam and viruses all over the Internet, it's hard to know who to trust. But in order to perform an Internet speed test online, you have to develop trust in the provider. A site that is quickly thrown together, has spelling errors and doesn't have a Privacy page, Security page or a Contact Us page doesn't deserve your trust. You'll want to avoid those sites for performing an online Internet speed test.
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Keep abreast of Internet service providers. The internet is a great way to keep up-to-date on the latest articles regarding new and accurate Internet speed test program providers. You can access Web development news sites, such as businessweek.com, CNET.com and cmswire.com. It's always interesting to see what is becoming available, as well as what's already available and trusted by others. You could even use their site search boxes to limit your news to Internet speed test articles and research by typing "Internet speed test" in the search box. You'll be amazed at the amount of information available on these sites.
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Perform Internet speed tests at different times of the day and at multiple sites. Now that you have narrowed down your search results and built confidence in your online Internet speed test service provider, it's important that you test your Internet connection performance at various times and from different providers.
The larger the amount of data downloaded to your computer, the more accurate is the Internet speed test. Thus, a site that downloads a 100KB file may show your results as better than a site that downloads a 1.5MB file.
Your Internet service provider's traffic is different at different times of the day, so your speeds will vary. You may find that the evening hours have more traffic and slower speed results -- when the kids come home from school and access the Internet -- than during normal business hours. Knowing when your Internet connection is at it's best will help you plan your day and help you avoid frustrating download speeds.
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