How to Test the Bandwidth Speed

Test your bandwidth through an Internet modem like this one.

Knowing how to test your connection speed is an important tool for all home Internet users. With a good speed test procedure, you can diagnose any potential Internet connection slowdown and find out when the connection speeds provided by your Internet service provider (ISP) are not adequate for your Internet usage and require you to upgrade.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ethernet cable

1. Open an Internet browser, and navigate to one of the free speed test sites (see Resources) by typing in its address in the address bar of the browser. Press "Enter," and you will see the site load in your browser.

2. Select a server. Speed test sites will typically ask you to select a server to ping before starting your speed tests. Choose one that is closest to your physical location to ensure the accuracy of the test results. After selecting a server, your speed test will begin automatically.

3. Run several speed tests, and evaluate the results. It is always a good idea to run at least three speed tests to cover any minor variations that may occur between tests. Take the average of all the tests, and compare it to the speeds that are guaranteed by your ISP to evaluate your test results.

Resources

• Speedtest
• Speakeasy: Speed Test
• DSL Reports: Speedtest