What to do to test the speed of the network
If you have reached this article it is because you are interested in knowing what your internet speed. It is essential to have a good one to download files, use the cloud or watch streaming content in high definition. But to really know what speed it reaches, it is important that you take into account what we are going to mention and not have an incorrect measurement.
Use cable and Wi-Fi
The first thing is that you should do a speed test both wired and Wi-Fi. This will help you to better know if the connection is good or you could do something to improve it, either by cable or also wirelessly. By doing a test in both ways you will be able to know if, for example, you have a problem with the wireless network card.
Sometimes you will only be able to do one Wi-Fi test, for example if you connect from a laptop that does not have an Ethernet port or you do it with a mobile. In this case, it is best to connect as close to the router as possible, so that the speed that reaches you is maximum and thus have more information.
Also, if you are going to do the Wi-Fi speed test it is important that you connect to the correct band. The 5 GHz is ideal if you are close to the router and it is the one that offers the highest speed. Instead, the 2.4 GHz is slower but less sensitive to distance.
Prepare the equipment well
Of course, you should prepare the devices well to perform the speed test. You should not have any programs that may be interfering or affecting the connection. For example, avoid having the VPN and also check if you have any firewall or antivirus that could be causing problems.
It is also important that you have everything updated. On the one hand, you should have the latest version of the router’s firmware, but also the latest version of the operating system of the device you are using. Avoid having outdated software, as that can mean that the Internet speed is not going to be good.
Disconnect everything else
After having done all of the above, we recommend that you disconnect all other devices. Although modern routers are designed so that you can connect many devices, the truth is that having many can decrease quality. You can especially have problems if they are consuming bandwidth.
To have more accurate results when testing speed, the ideal is to have all other devices turned off and do the test from the one you are interested in. This way you will be able to know better what speed is reaching you, without there being anything that could affect the data.
In short, by following these steps you can prepare your equipment to do a speed test and know how much you get. You can always keep in mind certain tips to improve Internet speed on Windows and other systems.
