


Refer to your user guide on how to check for updates. Download any software or firmware updates – If your modem or router haven’t been updated recently, it may be the case that your equipment needs the latest software to operate properly.In fact, some internet service providers (ISPs) actually recommend rebooting your router every few months. Restart your modem and router – As any IT person will tell you, turning it off and turning it back on is a good first step.General recommendations to improve your speeds If you’re not getting those speeds, though, there are some actions you can take to try to boost your internet speeds. According to the Federal Communications Commission, your actual speeds should be within 80% of your plan’s advertised speeds when running a test using an Ethernet cord and no other devices connected. If your speed test results closely match your plan’s advertised speeds, then you’re good. playing an online game) can help you pinpoint if the slower speeds are content related. Run a speed test while doing different activities – Running a speed test while performing different activities (such as listening to music vs.Try running a speed test in the same room as your router and in others further away to see if, and by how much, results vary. Run a speed test in different rooms – The strength of your wireless signal will weaken as you get further away from your router.Your tests may reveal that your speeds are slowed during internet rush hour but fine during off-peak hours. Run a test at different times of the day – Speeds can also fluctuate throughout the day, especially for cable internet subscribers who are sharing bandwidth with other users in their area.Run a test with just one device connected to the network and run another test with multiple devices connected to the network. Run a test with only one or multiple devices – The number of devices connected to your network will affect your speeds.Run a test over multiple connections – Running a speed test over Wi-Fi, which is typically a weaker connection since it’s being transmitted through the air, will yield different results than running a test over an Ethernet cord.The best way to get a full picture of your internet speed, though, is to run multiple tests. Your speed test results will be accurate for that moment in time. How can I ensure I’m getting accurate data? Ping – A signal sent to measure latency, or the time it takes for data to travel from a device on one network to a device on another network.Example: Posting a photo on Instagram or publishing a video on YouTube.Upload speed – A measure of how quickly your device can upload data or content over the network.Example: Streaming a TV show or movie on Netflix.Download speed – A measure of how quickly data or content can be transferred to your device over the network.Running a speed test primarily tells you three things:
