Are your web pages taking longer than usual to load? Is Netflix buffering in the middle of your movie? Does your friend’s voice keep cutting in and out while you FaceTime?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it may be time to restart your router. Just like us, routers need a little break from time to time in order to keep working at top speeds.
Restarting is one of the simplest troubleshooting steps you can take to fix an internet connection that isn’t working properly, and in this blog, we are going to walk you through the process! If you are more of a visual learner, watch our latest Tech Tip video to follow along with tech expert Riley as he restarts his router.
How to Test Your Internet Speed
When you are Skyping with your friends across the country, creating an important presentation for work, or sitting down to stream your favorite movie with your family, you need your internet to work—and you need it to work fast.
An internet speed test is a simple way to determine how fast your connection is working right this moment, and today, we’re going to show you how to test for the most accurate results. If you’re more of a visual learner, watch our latest Tech Tips video to follow along with tech expert Riley!
Tips Before You Test
- Get the device you are using as close to your router as you can. Objects like walls and doors can slow down your speeds and impact your results.
- Check to make sure that you don’t have any files downloading before beginning the test. If you have files downloading, either cancel the download or wait until it’s finished.
- Always use the local internet speed test hosted by your provider. By testing locally, you can ensure that your results reflect the actual speed you are paying for—not the speed it takes to deliver your files to a server in, say, California.
Testing Your Internet Speeds
Once you’ve taken those three steps, you can start your internet speed test. On our website, you should see a tab that says “speed test.” Click there. Then, you will see a button that says “Go,” or “Test.” Press this button, and wait for the magic to happen!
The test measures your download and upload speeds in real-time by determining your location and the closest test server. Once the test server has been located, the speed test sends a signal (known as a ping) to the server, which then sends it back to your device.
From there, the speed test will upload a set of files from your network to the test server, then re-download the same set of files from the server. When the test is complete, you will be able to see how fast your internet is really working.
If you perform a speed test and aren’t satisfied with the speeds you’re getting, give us a call. Our technicians will work with you to find the right package for you at an affordable price.
That’s it for this edition of Tech Tips! Check back soon for another tip to make your technology work for you.
