How do I check the real speed of my internet?

Question

Ok so I know there are ISP limits, obviously mine is 54.0 mbps. But, my internet was always saying low or very low connection, so I bought a wireless-G repeater. Now, my signal strength is excellent and downloading at 54.0 mbps. The problem is, now my internet is slower! everyone in the house has slower internet now; downloads on steam download at 20-30kbps. Internet pages take forever to load. everything appears fine, but obviously it's not because it's worse than before. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

Check your internet upload/download speeds at http://www.speedtest.net/

That is not the limit of your internet speed, that is the maximum data transfer of your router. It might be a defective router. What make and model is the router? Try using OpenDNS (http://www.opendns.com), it should speed up your internet browsing capabilities.

*Edit: Ranthescape has a good point. It could also be that you have too many people sharing the internet connection at the same time. How many people in the house are using that internet? Is your wireless internet password protected from neighbors?

Answer 2

Google a bandwidth website and it will test you interenet speed it will give you a number for ur upload and download

Answer 3

54 mbps is the maximum throughput speed that your router can handle, not necessarily your actual speed. 54 mbps internet, either via DSL or cable is not generally available yet from internet providers. The maximum available is currently around 22mbps.

Also, the speed that your ISP sold you is only a theoretical maximum speed. There are many factors which influence the speed that you will see on your computer including the number of other people also connected to your ISP from the same area as you (contention), distance from the telephone exchange (in the case of DSL), number of people in your house also connected and using the internet etc. You may only get half or two thirds of the maximum speed stated by your ISP.

Go to www.speedtest.net and check your connection speed there.

Answer 4

This is hard to diagnose when im not there but suggestion is..

1) your router it may send little packages to each computer (the more computer the less package will be sent because its sharing internet packages)

2) your ISP is giving you bs service.

3) i can speed up your internet browser, download speed, ect.. 100x quicker for a small fee.

Answer 5

DavidE's answer is good.  You may have some comm parameter wrong.

When I first upgraded from dialup to dsl, I didn't get the speed I expected.  I eventually found the little program DrTCP which revealed an incorrect TCP parameter.  Take a look at DSLReports Tools section.  There's a lot of useful tests and information there, including DrTCP.

http://www.dslreports.com/tools