Measure Internet speed: find out how to do it!
Want to keep an eye on your Internet and make sure it's working properly? Find out how to measure your Internet speed.
How does the Internet plan you currently use at home or at work work? Regardless of the plan you use, you must have noticed that we are all subject to problems related to our connection.
And when it comes to complaints related to Internet performance, the vast majority are about a single topic: the speed of the Internet itself.
Many people don't know, but it is possible to measure Internet speed in several ways! And that is the main topic of our content today!
Here, we will highlight the main benefits of this practice and we will also help you carry out this measurement, teaching you how to do it quickly and easily!
How does internet speed measurement work?
Have you ever stopped to wonder if your internet is delivering what you promised in your subscription? If you’re experiencing slower-than-expected speeds, you’re not alone. And the good news is that you can use these experiences as evidence when contacting your internet company.
When you run online tests to check your connection speed, these tools typically download a small set of data to measure your internet performance based on how quickly that data arrives. In addition to download speed, these tests also provide information about other aspects of your connection, such as latency, upload speed, jitter, and packet loss.
Benefits of measuring internet speed
Measuring your internet speed has several benefits, as it provides important information about your connection’s performance. Here are the main benefits of measuring your internet speed:
Connection quality assessment
Measuring internet speed provides a quantitative metric that allows you to assess the performance of your connection. This includes information about download speed (the rate at which data is downloaded) and upload speed (the rate at which data is sent). Latency (or ping) is another important metric that measures the delay in communication between your device and a remote server.
Contracted service guarantee
By comparing your measurements to the speed promised by your Internet Service Provider, you can ensure that you’re getting the service you’re paying for. If your actual speed is significantly lower, you can contact your ISP to resolve the issue.
Troubleshooting
When your internet connection is slow or experiencing stability issues, speed measurements can help identify the cause. This could include network congestion, interference from electronic devices, or even issues with your router or modem.
Performance optimization
Based on the measurements, you can make adjustments to your home network. This could include optimizing the position of your router, updating your router firmware, limiting the number of devices connected simultaneously, or even considering upgrading your internet plan.
Choosing online activities
Knowing your internet speed can help you decide which online activities are viable. If your speed is slow, you may want to avoid streaming high-definition videos or playing online games that require low latency.
Monitoring performance changes
Measuring speed regularly allows you to detect changes in performance over time. If speed starts to decline, you can investigate the cause and take steps to correct it.
Awareness of service quality
By measuring and documenting the quality of your Internet service, you can have valuable information to share with your ISP. This can motivate them to maintain or improve the quality of your service.
Measure Internet speed: find out how to do it!
Now that we’ve explored how it works and the benefits of measuring internet speed, it’s time to find out the best ways to measure it!
Below, we have separated some available options to help you with this task!
Measure Internet Speed with Google
The first – and most accessible – way to measure your Internet speed is with good old Google! With a single search, you will be able to make your measurement and get the result.
Just search for “Internet speed test” in the Google search bar. The first result is an online tool that performs this test in a matter of seconds.
And the best part is that, in addition to showing the measurement result, the tool also gives you a brief 'summary' of the status of your connection and what you can do with your Internet speed, such as watching HD content or making video calls, and so on.
Measure Internet speed with the Best Choice website
The second option on our list is the website Best Choice.
The website will perform a quick test of your connection and display the results in a few seconds. And, if you see the results and are not satisfied with the connection, this website will show you some internet plan offers available in your region so you can learn about other options and, who knows, change your broadband if you want.
Measure Internet speed via cell phone
The third and final option on our list is for those who want to test their Internet speed via cell phone. To do this, you will download the Brasil Banda Larga app.
Available for both Android and iOS, the app is very easy to use. First, you log in to the app, grant some permissions – if this is your first time logging in – and connect your smartphone to the network you want to measure the speed of. The app will test your Wi-Fi or mobile connection and show you the results!
This is a great option for those who want to check up close whether the speed of the data package is really offering the value you contracted!
