Internet Speed Checking Tools
The performance of your Internet connection is determined by a number of factors, including your Internet service provider, geographical location and connection type. If your computer is connected to a broadband or DSL connection, your download and upload speeds will be far superior than a computer connected to a dial-up connection. Online speed-testing tools may be used to test these speeds and help you determine if you are getting what you pay for. These tools are free and generally require the latest version of Adobe Flash to be installed on your system.
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Speed Test
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The Speed Test website offers an online Internet speed-testing tool. This tool does not require any downloads or plug-ins, so it may be used from any Web browser or computer. To check your speed, click on the large "Begin Test" button near the center of the page. When the test has completed, basic information about your Internet connection will display, including your current download speed, upload speed and ping. If you are curious about how your results compared to the average connection, click on the "Compare Results" button. A graph will display comparing your speeds to others from across the country.
Speakeasy
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The Speakeasy website offers another tool that requires no downloads or installations. You will simply need to run it from your Web browser. To begin the Internet speed test on the Speakeasy website, you must first select the location closest to you. There are eight total options available: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, New York and Washington DC.
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Bandwidth
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The Bandwidth Speed Test website offers a simple browser-based tool that checks both the download and upload speeds of your current Internet connection. To start, click the blue "Begin Test" button. After the test has completed, your results will display. If you would like to test your connection again, click the "Restart Test" button, located on the upper-right portion of the tool.
TestMy Broadband Speed Test
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The "TestMy" tools require you to download a small file to test your current connection speeds. Depending on what you wish to test, there are three choices: Download speeds may be tested by selecting "TestMy Download"; upload speeds may be tested by selecting "TestMy Upload" and mobile device speeds may be tested by selecting "TestMy Mobile." After selecting an option, you will be presented with a list of download choices. If you are on a slower connection, you may select to download a small file, while if you are using a broadband connection, a larger file may be used to test your speeds. Click on any of the links and the website will test your speeds. A confirmation screen will display once the test has completed.
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