- Why Does My Download Speed Not Match Speed Test Free
- Why Does My Download Speed Not Match Speed Test 1
- Speed Test
This article shows you how to measure your internet speed and it sheds some light on all the different factors that affect your internet performance. I propose a host of possible remedies that are easy to apply.
A speed test that does not invoke a test method that matches the application usage will not deliver a measure that will reflect the actual performance of the connection as it relates to that application.
First I would like to recommend a ‘Technology Explained’ article that explains why measured and experienced speed are not necessarily the same: Understanding The Internet SpeedUnderstanding Your Internet SpeedUnderstanding Your Internet SpeedSo you're paying for a certain internet speed but what does that speed actually mean? How fast is it? And why does it seem so slow at times?Read More.
Test Your Internet Speed
- Why is my actual download speed less than that found by by speedtest.net? Doubtful that anything running in the background is affecting your download speed any significant amount. What is the difference in speeds between your speedtest result and your actual download speed? To test your ACTUAL download speed, you can go to http.
- Why You Probably Aren’t Getting the Internet Speeds You’re Paying For (and How to Tell) Chris Hoffman @chrisbhoffman Updated July 10. To get this data, all someone has to do is run a speed test on their connection and compare the actual results to the advertised speeds. While the light green dots are areas which match their.
- Aug 23, 2016 - There are several reasons that download progress windows will never indicate your true internet speed, but the major one is how your.
For accurate results, you should go with an internet speed test tool that provides a local server. Otherwise your result may be flawed, simply because the test has to travel great distances.
With Speedtest.net you can connect to a test server that is physically close to you. Open the > Settings (top right menu) to change your > Preferred Server location and > Save your changes.
When you’re done click > Begin test and wait for the result.
My result is 6.17 Mb/s download and 6.32 Mb/s upload. Other tests that did not match me with a local server returned somewhat different results. Speed.io [No Longer Available] for example determined 5 Mb/s for the download and BandwidthPlace only had me at 3.88 Mb/s for the download. The upload for both was at around 6 Mb/s.
For a more comprehensive speed test, try MyConnection PC Lite, a Windows tool that we introduced here: Check Internet Connection Speed with MyConnectionPCCheck Internet Connection Speed with MyConnectionPC (Win)Check Internet Connection Speed with MyConnectionPC (Win)Read More
Now you’re probably wondering what a bad result is and whether there is anything you can do to improve your internet bandwidth. I would say upload / download speeds that are 30-50% below the theoretical optimum you pay for constitute a bad result, especially when measured during non peak hours. Contact your ISP and discuss how you can improve this situation. And yes, you can do something, too.
But first let’s look at what is beyond your reach.
What You Cannot Change
Many factors have an impact on how fast or slow your internet connection is. Unfortunately, there are several that you have no direct influence on.
- Bandwidth Throttling
Your ISP can throttle your bandwidth, for example when you’re using Torrents. - Distance to Exchange
The further you live from the next telephone exchange, the slower your speed. - Cable Internet
If you and the majority of your neighborhood have a cable internet connection, note that all of you share the bandwidth, which can lead to reduced speed.
To test whether your ISP shapes your traffic you can use a tool developed by the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems. Glasnost simulates BitTorrent downloads on your computer.
What You Can Do To Speed Up Your Internet
- Hardware
The bottleneck could be your hardware. Your modem has a cache, which can impact its performance. To empty the cache, unplug the modem from the power for a few seconds. Make sure your modem supports the output speed your network requires and that cables are properly connected and intact. To find out whether your own network might be at fault in the first place, refer to this article: How To Test Your Home Network Speed (And Decipher The Results)How To Test Your Home Network Speed (And Decipher The Results)How To Test Your Home Network Speed (And Decipher The Results)Read More - Wired vs. Wireless
A wired connection is faster than a wireless connection. You may also experience signal interference when using WiFi. To fix this you can either re-position your router or change your WiFi channel number. Also check out our article 8 Tips To Effectively Boost Your Wireless Router Signal8 Tips to Effectively Boost Your Wireless Router Signal8 Tips to Effectively Boost Your Wireless Router SignalIf your wireless router's signal doesn't seem to reach very far, or if your signal keeps dropping for some weird reason, here are a few things you can do that might fix it.Read More. - DNS Server
The DNS servers from most ISPs are not very fast and can thus reduce your bandwidth. However, you can get free and rather fast DNS server addresses from OpenDNS: Find Fastest DNS and Optimize Your Internet SpeedFind Fastest DNS and Optimize Your Internet SpeedFind Fastest DNS and Optimize Your Internet SpeedRead More - LAN Cable
Although a length of up to 50 m should be ok, try to keep the cable as short as possible. If you depend on a long cable, go with a gigabit rated shielded network cable (STP Cat5e or STP Cat6). In any case, avoid bending or stretching as both affect performance. - Running Processes
Many programs use your connection to transfer data, monitor status, or download updates. You can control which programs access the internet and eat up your bandwidth by using a FirewallThe Three Best Free Firewalls for WindowsThe Three Best Free Firewalls for WindowsRead More. If you use Windows 7, have a look at this article: Manage The Windows Firewall Better With Windows 7 Firewall ControlManage The Windows Firewall Better With Windows 7 Firewall ControlManage The Windows Firewall Better With Windows 7 Firewall ControlRead More - Limit Reservable Bandwidth
Per default, Windows reserves 20% of your bandwidth for automatic updates. You can reduce the amount and prevent Windows processes from receiving ‘special treatment’. Enter > GPEDIT.MSC in the Windows Vista or 7 > Start menu or enter it into the > Run dialog in Windows XP. Under > Computer Policy expand > Administrative Templates, click > Network > Qos Packet Scheduler and double-click > Limit reservable bandwidth. Per default it’s not configured. Click > Enabled and set the > Bandwidth limit (%) to 0. Finally > Apply and reboot. - Malware Protection
Scan for malware and make sure your computer has not been hijacked. Worms can use your network to replicate and thus will slow down your internet connection. Use up to date anti virus and anti malware tools to prevent future infections. Protect yourself with 7 Essential Security Downloads You MUST Have Installed7 Essential Security Downloads You MUST Have Installed7 Essential Security Downloads You MUST Have InstalledRead More or refer to our Best Of Windows Software7 Essential Security Downloads You MUST Have Installed7 Essential Security Downloads You MUST Have InstalledRead More page for alternative tools.
For more tips and tricks on how to speed up your internet, consult these resources:
- Top 5 Vista Tweaks to Increase Internet SpeedTop 5 Vista Tweaks to Increase Internet SpeedTop 5 Vista Tweaks to Increase Internet SpeedRead More by Ryan
- Autobahn Accelerator – Faster Streaming Video and Downloads for Free?Autobahn Accelerator - Faster Streaming Video and Downloads for Free?Autobahn Accelerator - Faster Streaming Video and Downloads for Free?Read More by Ryan
- Faster Internet & Anonymous Net Surfing Through ToonelFaster Internet & Anonymous Net Surfing Through ToonelFaster Internet & Anonymous Net Surfing Through ToonelRead More by Jeffry
- Answers: How can I use my full internet bandwidth?
- Answers: Why does my internet slow down all of a sudden?
- Answers: How can I speed up my wireless internet?
How fast is your internet connection and did any of the tips above result in a significantly enhanced performance? Did I miss a factor or hack that could have a major impact? Please give your feedback in the comments below!
Image credits: Serp, olly
how can i change my 10th results?
how can i change the results?
I use my own speedtest
http://www.willemijns.com/speedtest with a download guarantee.you are an idiot
I use my own speedtest
http://www.willemijns.com/speedtest with a download guarantee.Note that GPEDIT (group policy edit) in item 6 is apparently only available in higher versions of Win7 (it doesn't show up in Home Premium).
Is there a way to get into the GPE if you have Home Premium? I did the test and my speeds were very slow (.88MBPS download and .17MBPS upload), and was hoping that the GPE could help get rid of that 20% reserved.
I'm afraid GPEDIT simply isn't included in Windows XP, Vista, or 7 Home / Premium editions. You could eventually go directly to the registry to find this setting and adjust it.
Let me add though, that 'reserved bandwidth' doesn't mean that it's always blocked. It's not. In fact, it's always available to you, so you usually use 100% of your bandwidth. However, when a Windows program with access to the 'reserved bandwidth' (Qos aware application) needs to make an update, then the 20% reservation will be utilized.
Taken together, this setting may have an effect now and then, but generally won't speed up your internet speed.
Let's cut to the chase: Wired network connections will always be faster, more secure and more reliable than wireless.
If you want top speeds in your home, you'll want to save room in your remodeling budget for running gigabit Ethernet network cables (CAT5e -- or better yet, CAT6) to every room in your home. Ethernet is the only connection standard where the real-world speeds are very close to, or even match, the lofty theoretical speeds.
Of course, wired networking has several drawbacks. Wires are a pain to install, they're unsightly -- and it's just not fun to be tethered. And, of course, not every device is even compatible with wired Ethernet. For your tablet and phone, your streaming stick and even many newer printers, you will have to use Wi-Fi. But that's when you may find yourself poking along at slower speeds than you'd like. Also, even once you've upgraded to the best Wi-Fi solution (run network cables everywhere in your home) your online experience might not change much.
So what gives? Why the slowdown? You need to be aware of the huge gap among these three different attributes: real-world speed, ceiling speed and the advertised speed. There's also the broadband speed that you need to be aware of. (By the way, if you really want to dive in on networking, I'd recommend reading my in-depth look at networking.)
Editors' note: This article was originally posted on June 23, 2016, and is regularly updated.
Ceiling speed vs. real-world speed
The ceiling speed is the maximum theoretical speed of a connection standard determined in a controlled environment, without factors that would adversely affect the connection's throughput data rate. For example, the ceiling speed of a Gigabit Ethernet connection is 1,000 megabits per second, fast enough to transfer a Blu-ray disc worth of data (25 gigabytes) in less than 3.5 minutes. And in this case, the wiring that delivers this speed is protected inside your network cable by a layer of plastic, isolating it from the outside environment. This is why an Ethernet connection is able to deliver real-world speeds close to or on par with the ceiling speed of the standard.
Note, however, the network speed's rule of thumb: The ceiling speed of a connection is that of the slowest device in the chain. In other words, a connection is only as fast as its weakest link. So if you connect a Fast Ethernet device (100Mbps), like a Roku 3, to a Gigabit Ethernet (1,000Mbps) router using a network cable, the connection speed between the two (and only those two) will be capped at 100Mbps.
Wi-Fi, however, is totally different since it uses radio waves to transfer data. Wi-Fi devices share the same airspace not only with each other, but other home appliances as well. That means the speed of a Wi-Fi connection is subject to the Wi-Fi environment it's operating in. That's why your wireless speeds can flatline when you (or a neighbor in a nearby apartment) fires up the microwave.
Here are the main factors that adversely affect Wi-Fi speed:
- Distance: The farther out, the slower the connection gets.
- Signal loss (only applied to home mesh Wi-Fi systems): When an extender unit has to use the same band to both receive and rebroadcast signal at the same time, it will lose 50 percent of the original speed.
- Obstacles: Walls and large objects will block the signals and shorten the Wi-Fi range.
- Interference: The more devices of the same radio frequencies being used in the same area, the slower they get.
- Compatibility: When devices of different Wi-Fi speed tiers, standards and manufacturers are used together, oftentimes they must adhere to a lower speed standard in order for all to function together properly.
This is why the real-world speed of a Wi-Fi connection is always significantly lower than the ceiling speed of the Wi-Fi standard being used. In my experience, at best, the actual sustained speed of a Wi-Fi connection is between a third and a half of its ceiling speed.
Take the Asus RT-AC68U, for example. It's a dual-band router, which means that it can operate on the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz wireless band. (The latter band is far less prone to interference from household items.) The top ceiling speeds on those bands in this case are 600Mbps and 1,300Mbps, respectively. That means the real-world speeds are closer to 300Mbps and 550Mbps, at best.
Advertised speed: The art of marketing
The question is, why do all networking vendors always use the unachievably high numbers for the Wi-Fi ceiling speeds? That's because, as inaccurate as it is when it comes to the real-world speed capabilities of Wi-Fi devices, the ceiling speed is the only thing that's constant and therefore can be used to differentiate one Wi-Fi standard from another. However, to cover their asses, all networking manufacturers precede the top Wi-Fi speed number with 'up to.' It's kind of like the speedometer on your car: It may top out at 160 mph. And maybe the engine is capable of driving at that speed. But you're not going to be going anywhere near that fast in real life.
Take, again, the Asus RT-AC68U. It's classified as an AC1900 product because it uses 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. The 1900 is derived by adding the router's top speeds on both of its bands: 2.4GHz at 600Mbps and 5GHz at 1,300Mbps. But that implication of '1,900Mbps' is completely misleading, because a Wi-Fi connection takes place on one band at a time (the router itself can work on both bands simultaneously, but each client can only connect to one of the two bands at a time) so at most, the ceiling speed of this router would be 1,300Mbps.
But adding together the numbers is a networking manufacturer's favorite way of naming its routers. For this reason, a router with three Wi-Fi bands (two 5GHz bands and a single 2.4GHz band) can have an outrageously high number after 'AC.' Triband routers are only necessary when you have a lot of 5GHz clients (a dozen or more) in use at the same time. The D-Link DIR-890L/R for example, is a triband AC3200 router, suggesting a speed of 3,200Mbps. Completely untrue. The router has two 5GHz bands, each capped at 1,300Mbps, and one 2.4GHz band that tops at 600Mbps. Add those numbers together and you get 3,200. In reality, however, at best, the fastest connection you can get from this router is the same as that of any AC1900 router, like the Asus above.
This kind of naming convention is also confusing because a dual-band AC2400 router (1,733Mbps on 5GHz band and 600Mbps on 2.4GHz band) or an AC2600 router (1,733Mbps on 5GHz and 800Mbps on 2.4GHz) are actually faster than a triband AC3200 router, though it supports fewer concurrent 5GHz clients before slowing down.
And, again, two caveats apply:
- Cut all of those ceiling speeds at least in half anyway to account for real-world performance.
- Your AC speeds will drop to the maximum Wi-Fi speed of the connected device -- so if you're using a phone or tablet with 802.11g or 11n limits, expect even slower speeds.
Your broadband connection
Now it's obvious that you will never get the Wi-Fi speed that you think you pay for. But but the good news is that even those 'slower' real-world speeds, Wi-Fi is often more than two to 10 times faster than you need on many residential internet connections.
This is because fast residential broadband connections generally range from 20Mbps to 150Mbps for download and 2Mbps to 20Mbps for upload -- if you want to find out how fast yours actually is, check out this quick tip. And this means, no matter how slow your Wi-Fi is, as long as it's faster than 150Mbps, which almost all Wi-Fi connections are, it's already fast enough to deliver your full internet speed. And this means that getting even the most expensive router won't necessarily improve your online experience if you have a slow internet connection. The only time a top Wi-Fi route would help is when you have ultrafast internet, such as fiber optic, with a top speed of up to 1Gbps.
But don't worry -- most of the time you don't need superfast internet. Netflix, for example, recommends 5Mbps for HD video streaming and 25Mbps for Ultra HD 4K streaming. On top of that a fast router also helps with local activities, such as wireless backups or data sharing.
Best practices
Now that you know what to expect out of a Wi-Fi router, here are some tips on how to get the fastest home network. These are what I do for my own home. Again, these only apply to the local network and in most case won't help with your internet connection.
Run network cables when possible: I actually have CAT6 cables running to every room in my house, with all of them converging in a single room where the internet comes into the house. This one-time, time-consuming investment pays off big in the long run, since it allows all stationary devices (servers, network media streamer, game consoles and so on) to connect via wired Gigabit connections, giving them the fastest network speed possible.
Use extra access points (or routers running in access point mode): Using access points connected to the main router via Ethernet cables is the best way to extend your Wi-Fi network while maintaining the best Wi-Fi speed. You can name the access point's Wi-Fi network the same as that of the main router (with the same password and other settings), if you want devices to move from one network to another automatically. If you've run network cables, giving each room a superfast wired connection, adding access points is easy.
Why Does My Download Speed Not Match Speed Test Free
Get a router and access point of the just-right standard: Currently AC1900 is the sweet spot for Wi-Fi. AC1900 routers are affordable and support the speed of the fastest Wi-Fi clients on the market, which is 1,300Mbps. If you have many Wi-Fi clients being used at a time, a triband AC3200 router will do, since you can can have multiple devices connected to each of its bands without adversely affecting performance too much. While it doesn't hurt to get a router with a higher ceiling speed (AC5300, AC2600 and so on) that won't result in faster Wi-Fi speeds. Routers with a ceiling speed faster than 1,300Mbps might be appealing thanks to new features (such as extra network ports, security and so on), but their Wi-Fi speeds are only for future-proof purposes.
Get a Wi-Fi system that uses a third dedicated band for backhaul: In a Wi-Fi system -- a product that has more than one hardware unit working in tandem to extend your Wi-Fi coverage -- backhaul is the connection that links hardware units together. If the system uses a dedicated band for this, signal loss (see above) will be minimized or eliminated. Currently there are a few existing systems that support this, such as the Netgear Orbi or the Linksys Velop. There will be more coming up in 2017.
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