The Internet is one of the most important tools today. Actually, survey carried out by the National Institute of Statistics demonstrate higher 95% internet use among people aged 16 to 74, during the last quarter of the year. Being some of the most common activities: instant messaging, information search, online shopping and viewing video content. The current health situation has further boosted the use of the internet.
Therefore, with the widespread use of the Internet, you have certainly heard of speed tests. It consists of a test that takes care of measure connection speed. Also, when the connection fails, it can tell you a lot about your service. But how does it actually work?
What is an Internet speed test and what is it for?
An Internet speed test consists of a tool that is responsible for sending and receiving data at the same time that it measures the speed at which it is transmitted. These tests collect information about upload and download, latency speed, and connection stability, in order to make a network diagnosis.
For this task we can use the free internet speed test service from speedcheck.org
With just one click, we will be able to see in moments how is the performance of our internet service.
Many times we turn to these types of tools when the Internet is slower than normal. In other words, we go to the Internet speed test tests, when something goes wrong with our network. Thus, the figure that this tool gives at the end of the exam is useful for diagnose faults, examine service performance and check what you have at your disposal of the speed what has your operator promised you from Internet.
How to interpret the Internet speed test: essential concepts?
- Loading speed: Refers to the speed at which a file is transferred from the PC or other device to an Internet server. In other words, the megabytes that the Internet connection goes up in a second.
- Download speed: This is the time it takes for any file to be downloaded from the server to a device. In addition, it is measured in megas per second.
- Theoretical speed: This concept refers to the upload and download speed that the service operator has promised. In other words, the speed you pay for in your contract and which is generally higher at the speed you really enjoy due to a number of factors.
- Mbps: This term means "megabits per second" and is used to measure upload and download speed. One megabit is equivalent to 10⁶ bits, the latter being the unit of measurement of information similar to a digit in the binary numbering system.
- Ping: Consists of the milliseconds it takes for the device and the server to communicate. Thus, the lower the latency or ping, the better. When this ratio is low, it means that your device and the server take less time to connect, something that you will certainly appreciate while watching content on streaming.
- Latency: Is he time it takes for a data packet to transmit from a device to the server or vice versa. Also, latency is measured in pings.
How an internet speed test works
Now that you know the basic terms, it is easier to learn how it works and how to read an Internet speed test. As we mentioned before, during this test the speed of your Internet connection is calculated.
To do this, the test first determines who is the service provider and locates the servers closest to select where to test. Once done, the latency measurement is performed when sending pings from the device to the server, and a packet is loaded and unloaded. This results in a final figure: lat average speed obtained.
Now, knowing how to read an Internet speed test is simple, you just have to pay attention to the theoretical speed (the one that the provider promised you) and the speed obtained through the test. Thus, the closer these two figures are, the better.
This is the report that we will receive once the test is finished Speedcheck. Here we will be able to what is the download speed and the upload speed. In this way we can compare it with the specifications of our Internet provider
In spite of everything, to understand how to interpret the Internet speed test, it is not enough that the two figures are similar. In other words, it is a combination of this figure, the number of connected devices, the saturation of the server and, especially, the distance from operator server and device. This is so, because when the provider offers you the service, the speed is measured in optimal conditions: connecting to the server by a cable.
Advantages of these speed tests
Being free tools that are available to anyone, they are the ideal way to get a quick and easy diagnosis the moment the connection fails. Another great utility is that, by measuring the speed of the network, you can know precisely what you are paying for and if your service provider has installed the speed you have requested.
