Get the Internet Speed that You are Paying For

Which is worst, fingernails scraping down a chalkboard or slow internet? A person who would answer the former has likely never experienced internet speeds in excess of 1 Mbps. It is a proven fact that faster is better. Before you decide to complain to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or even switch providers, make sure that you are informed about what your internet speed is and should be.

Testing the speed at which your computer downloads and uploads data from the internet should be a task of routine maintenance. ISPs have you sign a contract that will determine how much bandwidth you will be using. According to studies by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the majority of ISPs are providing speeds close to the ones they have promised in the contract. But, how can you know for sure that you are getting what you pay for?

Speedtest.net makes testing your internet speed simple. The free service is designed to test the speed at which you download and upload files from the internet. After determining your ISP's location, it runs a quick test of download and upload speeds.

Before you start the speed test at Speedtest.net, you will need to know what speed of service you've agreed upon in your contract with your ISP. Once calculated, your connection speed is displayed on your screen in megabits per second (mbps). With the services provided by Speedtest.net, users are given the ability to compare data with the global average, store your previous results and more.

Speed Test will give three pieces of information: 'download speed', 'upload speed', and the 'ping'. Ping is the amount of time it takes for data to go from the ISP to your computer and back to the ISP. These numbers will fluctuate depending on factors such as: What other downloads or uploads you have running concurrently, as well as the time of day you run the test. An average of three tests or so should give you a good idea if what you pay for is what you're getting.

For a small and medium-sized business (SMB), there are other variables to consider in regards to internet speed. Directive can offer valuable solutions to keep your company's internet running at a maximum speed. If your internet, or even your PC, is not running at the speeds you desire, then call Directive at 607.433.2200 and let us apply our tested IT best practices to help you get the most out of your technology.