Check your Internet Connection Speed

Your slow connection could be a temporary problem, or it could be a sign of a bigger issue.

Internet connection speed can be affected by a number of things, including the type of connection you have, amount of memory your computer has, the hard disk space and the number of programs you're running at the same time. If you've noticed that your connection speed has decreased over time, new problems like spyware, viruses and browser add-ons can be the culprits. Even things outside of your control can affect your speed, including busy web sites or local Internet congestion. Knowing how to check your connection speed can help you determine if you have an ongoing problem, or if the slowdown is just temporary.

Instructions

1. Visit a third-part web site that offers the ability to test your connection speed. These programs work by calculating the time it takes you to download a predetermined set of data. Although these programs only capture your speed at the time you run them, you can run these programs as often as you like.

2. Download a software utility that will continuously monitor your connection speed. These programs will gather information and allow you to monitor your average daily, weekly and monthly downloading and uploading speeds.

3. Install a firmware program on your router that is designed to monitor all bandwidth for that router. Firmware is intended to update a device's capabilities or fix a problem. If you choose to install firmware for your router, you will need to log into your router to check the bandwidth statistics and see the connection speed.

Tips & Warnings

• There are other websites that also can check your internet connection speed

References

• Windows: Why Is My Internet Connection So Slow?
• Computer Hope: Monitoring Netword Upload and Download Date Transferred