But they can also provide some insight into how much speed you really need by listing how many devices can connect to the network at any given time. If you listen to the above engineer, you can probably get away with the company's cheapest package, which offers download speeds of up to Mbps.
According to the company, that should be enough to accommodate up to eight devices simultaneously connecting to the internet. In many cases, choosing your internet connection speed means weighing how much you're hoping to get versus how much you're willing to pay. But you need to be ready for the possibility that you won't get what you want. Most ISPs offer internet packages with an important caveat: "up to.
So, if you're paying for a Mbps package, you may get that speed if not more at times. But it's also possible that you'll get less. But even if your ISP is delivering the speeds you want, the number of devices simultaneously connecting to your network could give you some trouble that could ultimately slow down your connection. With everything from laptops and smartphones to TVs and connected appliances relying on a steady stream of data, it's easy to underestimate your needs.
Much like a car can go mph, but we rarely drive it that way. So, how can you tell if your network needs a boost? Lavoie said to look for "quality of experience" metrics, including load times, the number of connectivity glitches and connection drop-outs.
It's also important to use online speed-check tools, like the aforementioned Fast. If you're an avid gamer, playing online with friends might be one of the things you enjoy most. And having faster internet is really important for that. Over on its support forums, Microsoft offers a handy reference document to help you know how fast your internet speeds should be to accommodate online play.
According to the document, you'll want a download speed of 3 Mbps or better and an upload speed of 0. Your ping rate a measure of lag your Internet connection causes in online gaming should also be less than milliseconds.
When it's time to stream games between friends on Twitch , you'll need faster connectivity, according to Microsoft and other game companies. According to Twitch's broadcasting guidelines , you'll need a bit rate of at least 2. It then goes up to 3. If you want to stream at p and 30 fps, you need 3. The good news is that internet speeds are improving. A study from internet speed-test company Ookla found that the average download speed increased by Gigabit speed connections, once limited to specific neighborhoods in only the largest cities, is now more widely available than ever.
See our guide to learn what is gigabit Internet. And there are plenty of places to find that out. There are also similar tools provided by various broadband companies, if you want to use a tool that's specific to your Internet service provider:. Even your equipment affects speed. If you use a wireless router and your computer is located at a distance from the router, you can expect slower speeds.
If your router or PC is fairly old, the same may occur. The average DSL internet speed is almost as fast as cable internet connections. However, cable connections are often shared with other users in your vicinity, slowing down the speed. DSL service is not shared with others, so your neighbors' activity doesn't affect your speed. DSL speeds vary by package options. If you plan to binge-watch streaming content, you may want the fastest package your provider offers.
Most providers offer a choice of DSL services with different bandwidths. The slower, less expensive plan works fine for social media, browsing, and email. The faster plan is better suited to gamers and TV binge-watchers. For comparable cable speeds, their fiber plan offers up to Mbps. If your locale is wired for fiber optics , you can get even faster DSL speeds.
Verizon offers packages with Mbps, Mbps, and Gigabit speeds. Lesser known and not nearly as widely available, Google Fiber offers a speed of 1 Gbps. Your DSL speed can change depending on how you use the network.
DSL providers often advertise the speed of their service using a combination of two bandwidth numbers: one for download speed and one for upload speed. Check both the download and upload speeds when choosing a provider. Residential DSL services usually provide faster downloads than uploads because most customers spend more time downloading activities. In ADSL , the download speed is higher than the upload speed. The rated maximum bandwidth of a DSL connection often cannot be reached, and the actual speed varies between households.
Factors affecting DSL speed include:. Since by default it is usually slower than your download speed you may need to contact your Internet Service Provider ISP to increase the upload speed your connection is capable of achieving. This high-speed type of Internet connection is usually obtained through cable or telephone companies using cable modems and DSL to provide the connections.
The best way to find out how fast your Internet is performing is to test it. There are a number of reasons that you might want to conduct an Internet speed test , such as:. If you are wondering how to test your Internet speed there are a number of online testing options available.
In order to get the most accurate results possible from an Internet speed test here are some rules that you should follow. Taking these steps prior to commencing with your Internet speed test will result in a more accurate test that reflects the true speed of your connection.
A quality test will display download speed, upload speed, and ping speed. There are many factors that can affect the speed of your Internet connection. This can make it difficult to pinpoint where the problem lies if you are not getting the speed you expect. Some of the reasons you might be experiencing slow Internet speeds are:. Now you know about Internet speeds and how you can test and potentially improve your connection.
If you are not satisfied with the speed at which your online activities are being performed, it might be time for a little troubleshooting. Good luck! Get NetSpot. NetSpot Best WiFi speed test app. Run the Internet speed test to make sure you are getting the best WiFi speed. Jump to Some Facts About Internet Speed. What Is a Good Internet Speed? How to Check Internet Speed.
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