How to Test Cable Connections

Measure the speed of your cable Internet connection using a free online speed test. Cable Internet uses your home's cable connection to transmit the signal between the Internet service provider and your cable modem. The average cable connection is 4 Mbps (megabits per second) to 6 Mbps. The speed of a cable Internet connection can be affected when there is a lot of traffic on your Internet service provider at the same time.

Instructions

1. Go to the Internet speed test website of your choice. Speedtest.net, Speakeasy and InternetFrog.com are three free options (see Resources).

2. Select the server closest to your home. The closer the server, the more accurate the results. Close any programs that use your Internet connection, including games, antivirus software and messaging software.

3. Click the "Start/Begin Test" button. After the test is complete, the download and upload speeds of your cable Internet connection will be displayed. The higher the numbers, the faster the connection.

References

• Speedtest.net: The Global Broadband Speed Test
• Speakeasy: Speed Test
• InternetFrog.com: Most Recent Cable Internet Offers