Accurate internet speed measurement

Not happy with your internet? Before you complain to your provider about the service, make sure you carry out an accurate measurement of your internet speed. When measuring internet speed, it is essential to choose a tool that is reliable and gives accurate results. There are several popular online tools, such as Speedtest, Ookla or Fast.com. Below in the article I will outline the points you need to watch out for.

Get ready

Before the test itself, end all internet activities that could affect the results. Close applications that download or stream data, and switch off all devices connected to the network, except the one you use to measure the speed. This will ensure the most accurate results.

Choose a suitable device

I often come across customers who measure their speed on their mobile and then complain about the service on the basis of this irrelevant result. This method is, of course, wrong. A mobile phone may not have a good-quality receiver, and Wi-Fi always involves some loss. Choose therefore a computer/laptop that has a suitable network card and can handle the speed your provider supplies.

You can only measure accurately over a cable

This point is the most important. As I mentioned above, Wi-Fi always involves some loss, which can commonly be as much as 90%. The loss is mainly influenced by interference from other nearby devices, the distance from the router and obstacles. If you measure the speed on a laptop, connect it with a cable and disconnect it from Wi-Fi.

TIP: Want to improve your Wi-Fi? Read the article How to improve your Wi-Fi signal at home

Try it on another device as well

To be sure of the correct result and rule out the possibility that the problem lies with your device, measure the speed on another device too. The problem may, after all, be with that particular device.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I must point out that roughly 70% of reports of low internet speed are down to an error on the customer's side. The most common mistake is measuring incorrectly (measuring via a mobile phone), and also background downloads of updates that are running. You can find more information in the article https://uvtnet.cz/en/articles/internet-blog/official-internet-speed-measurement-2024/

Author: Lukáš Pecina, NejPřipojení.cz