If you’re wondering how fast your Internet truly is, the best way to test out your speed is to perform a speed test. Speed tests aren’t 100% accurate but they can give you an idea of how fast your Internet connection is. To help you understand how these tests work, we gathered up a list of the five most commonly asked questions about speed tests.

What is a speed test?

A speed test measures your Internet connection’s maximum speed by downloading files and recording the time it takes for them to download and mimicking your internet activity. The results will give you an idea of how quickly your device can import data and your Internet’s overall performance. But keep in mind: speed test results do not tell you the speed of your overall network, just the current device.

Why am I not getting my full speeds?

It’s nearly impossible to get a speed test to show your true connection. The best way to get an accurate speed test result is by connecting your device (laptop or PC) directly to your UTOPIA Fiber equipment with an Ethernet cable. Speed tests from any wireless device or over a wireless connection are only as good as the wireless signal your router is putting out. Wireless signals from routers or extenders can degrade over distance or going through types of structures such as metal buildings, concrete walls, mirrored walls, etc.

Any speed test that is run while someone else is using your Internet connection will only show you the remaining bandwidth available. For example, if you have a 250 Mbps plan and are using 40 Mbps on other devices, your speed test results should be around 220 Mbps.

How can I get the best results for my speed test?

• Directly connect to your UTOPIA Fiber device.
• Do not run a test from a smart phone, tablet, or gaming system.
• Do not run speed tests while connected to your employer’s VPN.
• Make sure there are no programs running on your computer in the background like automatic updates and Google Drive synchronization.

What could be impacting my speed test results?

Device

Phones, PCs, laptops, etc. can have different Wi-Fi capabilities. So you may get one speed test reading on a device and a different result entirely on another. The best way to alleviate this issue is to do a speed test while directly connected to your UTOPIA Fiber ONT device.

Speed test platform

Each speed test platform can read and interpret results differently. Try using multiple different platforms to ensure you’re getting accurate results.

Speed test server

It’s important to select the correct server when running a speed test. Generally, you will get the best speeds from the servers that are closest to you. We recommend testing to a variety of test servers to get the most accurate speed test reading.

Browser

Each browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.) will have different capabilities and can give you different speed test results. Try using multiple browsers to see if your results vary.

What speed test platforms do you recommend?

Speedtest.net:

When using Speedtest.net we recommend downloading their app for more accurate results. You can find their app in your App Store under “Speedtest by Ookla.” They have a mobile version for your phone and a desktop app for your laptop or computer. Here is what a test with their app should look like:

fast.com

This speed test is owned by Netflix and can be helpful for measuring your speeds to Netflix.

Google Fiber

Speedof.me 

TestMy.net

If you have any other questions about how to run a speed test, interpret your results, or troubleshoot your connection, check out our How to Run a Speed Test blog post. For advanced speed test tips and more information about performing speed tests, go to the speed test tab on our Troubleshooting page.

We want to see your speed test results! Reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook to show us your lightning-fast speeds. To sign up for the fastest speeds in the nation, visit our sign-up page.