Internet Speed Test

Running Your Speed Analysis

When you run a SpeedSmart Speed Test, your device connects to a nearby server for accurate measurements. The test will analyze different aspects of your connection’s performance, namely ping, jitter, download, and upload speeds. What makes this process fascinating is how it measures the data flow between your location and where the test server resides. From my experience testing various broadband connections, I’ve learned that timing matters – if you’re streaming on multiple devices simultaneously, your results might show slower speeds than what you actually pay for.

The beauty of an internet speed test lies in its ability to determine if there is something wrong with your network setup. High ping values or slow download rates can mean issues with your gear, while consistent jitter problems often indicate network congestion. I always recommend running tests when your favorite website feels sluggish – this helps ensure you know whether the problem stems from your connection or if the issue originates from the website’s server. Getting these results allows you to pinpoint exactly what needs attention in your home network.

Internet Speed Test

Understanding Bandwidth vs. Speed

It’s best to understand what you’re buying before starting your search for an internet plan. All internet plans focus on the amount of bandwidth you’ll receive from your provider, and bandwidth is measured by megabits per second (Mbps). So, when looking at a plan that says you’ll receive 25 Mbps, that is the maximum amount of data your internet connection can handle at one time.

While a higher bandwidth increases your amount of data, it does not necessarily mean you’re getting better performance – more on that later. Internet speed, on the other hand, is the rate at which data can be downloaded or uploaded on a given device. This is also measured in Mbps. Keep in mind that, when comparing internet plans, the speeds listed are only the maximum speeds you could possibly receive.

Think about a highway when comparing bandwidth and speed. Bandwidth represents the number of lanes on a highway – the more lanes on a highway, the more cars that can be on the highway at a given time. When there are fewer cars on the road, the cars move quickly. However, the more cars you add to the highway, the slower the cars move because the route becomes congested.

With bandwidth, the more users and devices you have on one connection, the slower your ability is to upload and download data. In my years of testing various connections, I’ve noticed this phenomenon countless times. Basically, internet traffic is similar to real-life traffic – understanding this comparison has helped me explain to clients why their streaming slows down when multiple family members are online simultaneously.

Why Should I Test My Internet Speed and Quality?

Most Internet speed tests start and end with download and upload speeds, but Internet speed is only part of the story. While conventional speed tests measure throughput, you should also test the Internet quality of your connection. From my years of working with various business networks, I’ve learned that depending on whether you are using your connection for VoIP, video conferencing, or mission-critical applications, you may need a higher quality service. These, along with other factors, could impact latency, jitter, and packet loss.

How Does Speed Test Plus Work?

Fusion Connect’s Speed Test Plus checks broadband speed and is also an internet quality test. We give you more, leveraging decades of experience to formulate new performance quality benchmarks – latency and jitter – that directly affect the day-to-day realities of today’s businesses. Our Internet quality test does this for you and helps highlight potential risks to your business.

Understanding Key Performance Metrics

Download Speed represents the speed at which your Internet connection transmits data to your computer. This is the largest amount of data you can receive in a specified amount of time. Download speed is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). Upload Speed, the opposite of download speed, measures the largest amount of information that you can send from your computer using your access provider’s connection.

Upload Speed Your connection’s upstream bandwidth determines how efficiently data travels from your device to external servers through your ISP’s network infrastructure. Measured in megabits per second (Mbps), this metric becomes particularly important when transmitting large documents, conducting voice communications, or managing web hosting services.

Latency (Ping) represents Internet latency – a measurement focused on how long it takes a packet of data to complete a round trip between two points. In my experience testing enterprise connections, this metric often reveals hidden network issues that standard speed tests miss entirely.

Jitter Network stability requires consistent packet delivery timing. When data packets experience irregular delays during transmission, this creates jitter – a measurement of timing inconsistencies that can disrupt real-time communications. Excessive variation in packet arrival times often leads to audio synchronization issues, including echoing effects or overlapping speech during voice conversations.

Corporate internet usage demands sufficient incoming data capacity to support multiple simultaneous activities. Essential business functions including voice over internet protocol communications, multimedia content delivery, standard web browsing, and electronic mail operations all depend on adequate downstream throughput to maintain productivity levels.