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Read through the information below OR watch it in video form here.
First Let's do a check to see your current Internet Speed!
First Let's do a check to see your current Internet Speed!
Click here to go to Google's Internet Speed Test.
Click here to go to Google's Internet Speed Test.
Once there, click on the button shown here to run the test and then come back here with the results.
Once there, click on the button shown here to run the test and then come back here with the results.
What do the results mean?
What do the results mean?
The speed of the Internet in your home is measured in Megabits per second. What's a Megabit? Well, let's begin with a bit. A bit is short for binary digit. When computers talk to one another they talk in binary, 1s and 0s (Ons and Offs). It is the smallest unit of information or data. A Megabit is about 1 million bits. So if a Internet Speed Test is saying you have 30.9 Megabits per second download. That means your device is currently downloading at about 31 million bits of information a second.
Your speed test will give you two measurements. One for downloading, or receiving information, and one for uploading, sending information. These measurements are also known as the bandwidth. Your download score is probably higher than your upload score, right? Well most of the time, internet service providers sell internet service with the download speed much higher than the upload speed. For the most part, that works for families because when you are streaming videos or play video games online you are downloading a lot more data than you are uploading. However, activities like video chatting or conferencing will upload as much data as it downloads.
Let's compare these numbers to what different apps recommend.
Let's compare these numbers to what different apps recommend.
Below are the internet download speed recommendations per stream for playing TV shows and movies through Netflix.
0.5 Megabits per second - Required broadband connection speed
1.5 Megabits per second - Recommended broadband connection speed
3.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for SD quality
5.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for HD quality
25 Megabits per second - Recommended for Ultra HD quality
So if you have two TVs trying stream at HD quality then you would need 2 x 5.0 Megabits/seconds or 10 Megabits/second. If I have available 31 Megabits/second download speed, then these two TVs streaming would be taking up 10 of the 31 leaving 21 Megabits/second available. When you see the video quality of Netflix go down, it is because it is not getting enough download speed for a certain quality so it switches to a quality that requires a lesser speed.
Below is the recommended bandwidth for group meetings in Zoom.
800kbps/1.0Mbps (up/down) for high quality video
For gallery view and/or 720p HD video: 1.5Mbps/1.5Mbps (up/down)
Receiving 1080p HD video requires 2.5mbps (up/down)
Sending 1080p HD video requires 3.0 Mbps (up/down)
As mentioned before video conferencing, does generally require as much upload as download speeds. So three devices running zoom in gallery view will need 4.5 Megabits/second for both upload and download (3 x 1.5 Megabits/second). The bandwidth used by Zoom will adjust for the best experience based on the participants’ network.
If bandwidth is low then the Zoom call may become unstable and experience video or audio issues. If gets too low it may drop the Zoom call all together. Turning off the video feed or switching the view from Gallery View to Active Speaker View could help because it requires a lesser internet speed.
How does my speed compare to what I am supposed to be getting?
How does my speed compare to what I am supposed to be getting?
When you are looking to purchase Internet access for your home, Internet Service Providers often offer different levels of service (bandwidth speeds) depending on price. Check with your Internet Service Provider to see what level you are paying for and what the download and upload speeds should be for your home.
For example this image, shows the different Internet Plans for Spectrum. Each one as increasing amount of Megabits/second that it is capable for devices to use.
However, what the company says what you should get compared to the earlier Google Internet Speed Test results were probably different from one another. The speeds that companies claim can only be achieved under particular conditions. There are many factors which can lower down the Internet speed in your home.
What can AFFECT my INTERNET speed and what can I do about it?
What can AFFECT my INTERNET speed and what can I do about it?
Internet Modem and Router
Internet Modem and Router
In your home, you most likely have two devices that help other devices get on the Internet: a modem and a router. The modem is the device that connects and talks to the Internet. It usually has a cable that connects to it from the wall from outside. The router is the device that manages all the wired and wireless devices in your home. Sometimes these can be together in one device. When you get on the internet on say your laptop or phone, that information gets sent from the device, through the router, through the modem and then out to the Internet which then has information sent in reverse back to your device.
Usually Internet Service Providers provide these two devices for you. Sometimes they do charge a fee for "borrowing" these devices from them. If you check your internet bill, you will see a line that mentions a rental fee if they do.
Router technology changes a lot more rapidly than modems do. Routers today have different features like stronger antennas and different frequencies they use to broadcast farther and faster. They also could have features like MU-MIMO which helps a router communicate with multiple devices a lot better resulting in faster speeds. Unfortunately, the router you get from the Internet Service Provider sometimes isn't the most up to date. If you have had the router for a few years talk to your internet provider about trading it for a newer one. If you are paying the company a monthly fee for the router, consider purchasing a brand new one yourself. Not only will it have the newest features, but you may actually save money in the long run when you compare to renting it for an extended time.
Wired vs. Wireless
Wired vs. Wireless
Most of the devices in your home will connect wirelessly to the Internet. While it is convenient for placing devices and moving around in your home, a wireless connection will not achieve the same Internet speeds as a wired device would.
Think of wireless internet as a water sprinkler. Yes you can get wider coverage with the sprinkler, but you will be losing some of the water in the air.
Think of wired internet more of like a drip system. Yes you will have to run drip tubes throughout the garden but you won't have any water loss in the process.
If your device has a network port consider plugging it in directly to your router. Sometimes USB adapters can be purchased to provide a network port for the device. Otherwise know you will lose some speed when you are connected wirelessly.
Number of Devices
Number of Devices
The number of devices that are connected to your router and using the Internet can also have a negative impact on Internet speeds. If you were to run the Speed Test during the day when everyone is working from home compared to the middle of the night, you will probably see a difference in download and upload speeds. The bandwidth in your home is like a freeway. The more cars there are on a freeway the more potential there is for traffic and slowdowns. The same is true for your home network.
You probably don't realize how many devices could be connected in your home. A family of three could each have a laptop they are using, but then there are their smartphones, TVs that are streaming, video game consoles, and other smart home devices in the house which are also connected to the network. If these other devices are on they could be taking away different amounts of the bandwidth from the three people working. Multiple people Zooming at the same time for example can really cause issues since upload speeds are generally lower than downloading.
Leave off the unnecessary devices during work time to increase internet speeds. And if possible, try to use the internet activities that require more speed at different times than others in the household.
Device Locations
Device Locations
If you are connecting wirelessly to your router, then the location of that device can have an effect on its internet speeds. The further the wireless device is from the router, the poorer the connection, which could cause slower speeds. The number of walls between the device and the router can have an effect on the internet speeds as well.
Try running the speed test in different rooms of the house and you will find big differences depending on the size of the house, location of the router, and number of walls between router and device.
If you are experiencing slower connections in one room, try working in a different room that is closer to the router. If possible, moving the router to a higher more central and open location (i.e. high on a bookshelf versus on the floor behind a desk) can help as well.
Internet Service Provider
Internet Service Provider
Ultimately, there is only a certain amount of things to try before the only thing left is to get higher internet speeds from the Internet Service Provider. Like trying to increase the traffic flow on a freeway, at a certain point you just need to add more lanes. Talk to your Internet Service Provider and see what they can do. Sometimes you can negotiate with them for different rates or specials to increase bandwidth.
as you can see there are many factors that contribute toward the internet speed in your home which effects how well your devices work. Hopefully you feel empowered and learned something from this video. Thanks for watching.
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