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Although the results are often subjective, finding the best internet speed test to determine how your connection is performing is often easier said than done.
As many of us already know, a slow home internet connection has the potential to derail how we socialise, relax, and even go about our work. For those who thought that the days of clunky dial-up connections were long gone, there’s nothing more aggravating than having a traditionally speedy internet connection suddenly grind to halt.
Even on a good day, Australia isn’t exactly regarded as having the fastest internet. While data demands for Australian households are at an all-time high, what we constitute as ‘slow’ internet will often depend on who you ask. To determine the speed that you’re working with, the first port of call is learning how to check your internet speed. If you’re new to this arena, what is the best internet speed test available – and how do you use it?
Like it or not, unlimited internet plans aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. Many unsuspecting consumers fail to read the fine print on these types of products – just because you have access to unlimited data, doesn’t mean that it’s guaranteed to be fast enough to get the job done.
Depending on which type of broadband connection you have – whether its fixed-line NBN and fibre, wireless internet such as 5G internet or mobile broadband, or even ADSL – consumers with unlimited internet plans may fall victim to ‘bandwidth throttling,’ or an event when service providers slow down internet speeds on purpose.
To learn how to check your internet speed and ensure that you’re actually getting what you pay for, the first step is to track down the best internet speed test. While these types of platforms are often a dime a dozen, we’ve identified a few reliable options that will help you to determine how fast – or slow – your internet connection actually is in real time.
One of our favourites is the Ookla internet speed test, which has a strong reputation for consistency and for being one of the first speed tests on the web. Popularity aside, we like Ookla for having everything a basic user needs from a speed test: accuracy, the ability to view your speed test history when you create an account, a wide array of servers to connect to, and even a handy app for speed testing from your Android or iOS device.
For more simplified information, Google’s test is run by Measurement Lab (M-Lab), but the results are the usual download and upload speed, with no tracking or adjustment to settings. For even more, there are plenty of tests you can try, like Fireprobe, SpeedSmart, SpeedCheck, and Ubiquiti’s WiFiman.
No matter what the best internet speed test looks like to you, in a matter of seconds, you should receive three key results: your download speed, your upload speed, and your ping. To understand their importance, your download speed is how fast your connection can retrieve information from the internet, such as loading websites or streaming YouTube. In contrast, your upload speed is how fast your connection can send information to the internet, such as making a Zoom call or uploading a selfie on Instagram.
Both of these figures are measured in megabits per second (Mbps), which are units of measurement that indicate how much data can be transferred across a connection per second. The more megabits that can be sent, the faster your connection should be. The ‘ping’ is the latency of your connection, which is essentially its response time.
Whichever platform or website you choose to measure this information, try to keep a record of the results if you’re having ongoing internet issues. In the event that you feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall with slow internet, this data can then be presented to your telecommunications provider to force them to help you.
These days, having a functional, efficient and well designed data and communications system is a must – even if it’s just to stream Netflix or conduct a work meeting over Zoom. More often than not, certain pieces of hardware and equipment are required in order to do so, and this is when the help of a reputable and experienced data and communications electrician can be a game changer for reliable home internet.
Here at Shield Electrical, we are a Brisbane based electrical contracting company, and pride ourselves on being shockingly good at watt we do. For us, friendly and reliable customer service isn’t just a nice add on – it’s how we do business. Don’t take our word for it though, just ask our clients.
Established in 2015, Shield Electrical is lighting the way when it comes to providing electrical work with world class customer service. With our headquarters based in the central suburban pocket of Coorparoo, our team of qualified industry professionals are readily available to deliver quality workmanship, fast quotes, and affordable pricing.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an electrician for domestic services, residential, commercial and industrial construction, security systems or even just further energy saving tips, get in touch with us at Shield today to source practical solutions that don’t break the bank.
