Measuring internet performance properly

A single speed test on a phone in another room tells you little about your internet connection.

Test on a cable

Connect a computer directly to the router with a cable. This separates internet performance from Wi-Fi performance.

Stop other traffic

Pause downloads, updates, backups and streaming on other devices while testing.

Test at different times

Run tests in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening over several days. Problems at busy times point to congestion.

Look beyond speed

• **Latency:** how long data takes to travel. High latency makes calls and remote desktops sluggish.
• **Jitter:** variation in latency, which disrupts voice and video.
• **Packet loss:** lost data, which causes freezes and drops.

Keep a log

Record date, time, method and results. A log is far more persuasive to a provider than "it feels slow".

Compare with your plan

Check results against what your plan promises for both download and upload.

See our internet services.