Internet Speed Tests: What Your Results Actually Mean

Speed tests are the first thing most people run when their internet feels slow. But the numbers they produce -- download, upload, ping, jitter -- are meaningless without context. Here is how to get accurate results and what to do with them.

How to Get an Accurate Speed Test

• Use a wired connection. Connect your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable. WiFi adds variability that masks your actual internet speed.
• Close other applications. Streaming, downloads, and cloud syncing in the background consume bandwidth and skew results.
• Test at different times. Run tests in the morning and evening. If cable speeds drop significantly in the evening, you are experiencing neighborhood congestion.
• Use a reputable tool. Speedtest.net by Ookla, Fast.com by Netflix, and your provider's built-in test are all reliable options.

What Each Number Means

• Download speed (Mbps): How fast data reaches your device. Affects streaming, web browsing, and downloading files.
• Upload speed (Mbps): How fast data leaves your device. Affects video calls, cloud backups, and posting content. On cable, this is typically much lower than download.
• Latency / Ping (ms): How long it takes a data packet to make a round trip. Lower is better. Under 20 ms is excellent. Over 100 ms causes noticeable delays in video calls and gaming.
• Jitter (ms): How much latency varies over time. High jitter causes stuttering in video calls and rubber-banding in games, even if average latency is acceptable.

When Your Results Indicate a Problem

Compare your results to your plan speed. If your wired speed test consistently shows less than 80% of your advertised plan speed, something is wrong. Common causes:

• Cable congestion: If speeds are fine in the morning but drop in the evening, your neighborhood node is overloaded. Fiber solves this with dedicated lines.
• Old equipment: An outdated router or modem may not support your plan's full speed. Check that your router supports at least Gigabit Ethernet.
• Provider issue: If speeds are consistently low regardless of time, contact your provider. There may be a line issue or configuration problem.

Bottom Line

Run speed tests on a wired connection at different times of day. Pay attention to upload speed and latency, not just download. If evening speeds are consistently lower than morning speeds, you are likely on a congested cable network, and switching to fiber will eliminate the problem.