Ever wondered how fast your Wi-Fi connection is? Whether it’s because you’re looking to replace your current service provider, or just for the lols, testing your Wi-Fi speed is important if you want to know whether what you’re paying for is really worth your money. To understand why this is so, we need to first understand what Internet speed is.
Understanding Internet Speed
Simply put, internet speed refers to the amount of (electronic) data you can download or upload per second.
The speed at which you can download data on your connection is called the download speed while the rate at which you can upload data is called the upload speed. This speed is always measured in bits per second and is represented as bps. But you’re probably more used to seeing units like kbps, Mbps, Gbps, because one’s internet connection can transfer thousands upon thousands of bits per second, which is why you’re more likely to see kilobit, megabit, and gigabit being used. One kilobit is equivalent to 1000 bits, one megabit to 1000 kilobits, and one gigabit to 1000 megabits.
When looking for a home broadband plan, you will often see the Wi-Fi internet speed measured in Mbps. Most households and establishments need a higher download than upload speed. This is because the internet will mainly be used for activities such as watching shows, downloading information, listening to music and scrolling through social media platforms.
Upload speed is equally important if your work involves uploading content onto the internet, or you need to share large files with friends, upload huge files onto the cloud servers for storage, and take part in video conferences.
If your Wi-Fi speed is in the kbps range, you might want to consider upgrading. Internet speeds in Gbps are very quick and highly recommended.
What Slows Down Internet Speed?
There are several things that can slow down your internet connection – even if you are subscribed to a 1Gbps fibre broadband plan. Here are a few factors that might be causing it:
- 1. Adding a lot of devices to your Internet connection can affect its speed and performance.
- 2. Streaming television in 4G or downloading a high-definition movie can also aggravate connectivity issues.
- 3. Have your router at an odd location? The signal can be blocked by walls and other solid objects, so you’ll want your device to be within sight of the router.
- 4. Connection problems might be caused by a congested Wi-Fi channel too. Although this is not within your control, there might be a possibility that there are hundreds and thousands of others who are facing the same internet outage problem.
- 5. An overloaded modem and router might be another reason. When you’re constantly downloading files or streaming things, your router will be put under immense pressure to handle all the tasks. This will overload the router, causing slower performance over time.
How You Can Boost Your Internet Speed
Not getting the internet speed that you paid for can be frustrating. If like everyone else, you’d like your internet to be faster, consider doing the following:
- 1. Get a Wi-Fi mesh system to ensure you never lose signal anywhere in your home. You’ll also have to install additional mesh routers throughout your home to strengthen and extend the coverage. Options include new Wi-Fi 6 routers and the Google Nest Wi-Fi mesh system.
- 2. Move your router to a better location so that it is not blocked by any walls, furniture or large objects. If you have a Wi-Fi mesh system, ensure that the routers are also within range of each other.
- 3. Reboot your devices regularly. This can be easily done by switching off your modem and router for a few minutes and turning them back on again. If you’d like to reconfigure your modem, you could call up your network service provider for additional assistance.
- 4. Pick a reliable network service provider. This cannot be emphasised enough. Before signing up for any plans or package, read up on reviews and search the internet for the frequency at which existing customers report outages.