Broadband speed test

How fast you can receive data from the internet to your device – higher the Mbps (megabits per second), the faster your speed and the quicker you can get downloads (files, photos, music). Powers activities such as streaming videos, receiving emails and online gaming.

How fast you can send data from your device to the internet – higher the Mbps (megabits per second), the faster your speed and the quicker you can do uploads, such as posting photos on social media, emailing files, using cloud storage, video calling and streaming your online gaming.

How consistently data travels through the network – lower, the better. Below 1ms (milliseconds) is a smooth, reliable connection, with good sound and picture quality for voice and video calls, online gaming and smart security cameras. High jitter causes buffering.

How fast data travels from your device to the server – lower, the better. Below 40ms (milliseconds) is a superfast and stable connection. Any higher than 100ms will cause significant lag and make online games difficult to play.

Internet speeds can fluctuate throughout the day, so it’s a good idea to run a WiFi test multiple times over the course of several days to find out your average speed. The more tests you do, the more it’ll help you to get accurate results. Obviously, broadband speed tests are especially useful when you’ve noticed your speed is slower, but running an internet speed check is also a good habit to get into more regularly to make sure your broadband is performing as it should.

Here’s a few possible explanations of what could be causing slower speeds:

• Hub hasn’t been positioned properly or rebooted in a while.
• Too many devices online at the same time.
• Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to work from home, especially during peak office hours.
• Fault with the broadband services in the local area or your home.
• Going online at peak times (8-10pm) or using an older device to connect to the internet.

These tips and tricks can help improve connection and combat slower speeds. You can also follow our guide on how to improve latency. But if you’re getting broadband speed test results that are close to our estimated speeds for your package and you’re finding that the connection is too slow, it may be time to upgrade your broadband to a faster speed.

Check the WiFi Hub

• Is it in its happy place?
  Upright. Lights facing the room. Positioned at least half a metre away from objects such as TVs, wireless speakers, cordless phones and radiators (keep the Hub cool).
• Try restarting the Hub
  Turning the Hub off and on again to reboot it, every two months, helps correct slow speeds caused by buffers.
• Test your connection
  Run our clever tests to find and fix issues with your home’s connection and check for issues in your area.
  
  

Free up bandwidth

Disconnect devices around the home that aren’t currently being used to try to speed up the internet connection and boost WiFi signal. If a device is still struggling with WiFi speed, check the latest software is installed and update your internet browser – quick note: newer devices have better reception than older ones.

Try a wired connection

Using an Ethernet cable to connect devices, like your online gaming console or laptop, to the Hub is a reliable way to get fast speeds. Unlike an Ethernet connection, WiFi signal can be disturbed by obstacles such as walls, furniture and doors.

Using a VPN?

Try disconnecting and reconnecting to the VPN (Virtual Personal Network). If you’re working from home using a VPN, this extra level of protection could be affecting your broadband speed, especially during peak office hours.

Online at peak times?

The internet may be faster in the mornings or on weekdays when fewer people are online, compared to busy peak-times when there’s high local demand for the internet (around 8-10pm or during big events e.g. live-streamed football matches).

Computers, laptops, smart phones, tablets – the internet speed check above works with all modern desktop and mobile browsers. There’s greater accuracy when you’re using an Ethernet cable to connect your device to the Hub, so you may want to start testing on gadgets that have a port or that will connect to an Ethernet adapter, such as a MacBook.

• Start 2 to 3 meters away from the Hub – The most accurate way to run a broadband speed test is to connect your device to the Hub using an Ethernet cable. Alternatively, if you’re running a WiFi test, you’ll want to be able to see the Hub and make sure that walls and obstructions aren’t blocking your WiFi signal.
• Check all around the home – In rooms where the Ethernet cable can’t reach, simply connect your device to the WiFi and run a WiFi test to see how performance differs room-to-room throughout the property.

Broadband speed test results are specific to one device and time. So if you repeat the internet speed check – on a different device, in another room or at a different time of day – it’s normal for results to vary as test conditions will have changed. Such as:

• Distance from the Hub.
• Age of the device.
• Browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, etc) used.
• Available bandwidth – How many devices are connected to your broadband will vary the results.
• Local demand – Results at peak and off-peak times will vary. Or a sudden surge in demand can affect results (network conditions change every second).
  
  

Good to know – Download speed and other internet speed check results are less likely to fluctuate on a wired connection when you’re using an Ethernet cable to connect your device to the Hub.