Definition
Internet speed refers to the rate at which data is transferred between your device and the internet. It’s typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps). There are two key aspects of internet speed:
- Download Speed: The rate at which data is received from the internet to your device.
- Upload Speed: The rate at which data is sent from your device to the internet.
Why Internet Speed Test
Enhance Working Efficiency
Imagine that in our daily life almost 90% of our working time relies on the internet connection. To increase th internet speed can significantly increae our working efficiency
Internet Service Provider (ISP) Cost Estimation
While the monthly ISP Cost is highly depended on the internet speed, to know the current internet speed can let us estimate how much monthly cost we have to increase in order to increase the internet speed
Step By Step on How to Test Internet Speed
Home/Office WiFi
- Connect your laptopt to your Home/Office WiFi. (i.e. NOT to connect WiFi from the Hotspot of your Mobile Device)
- If there is WiFi network with the suffix 5G (e.g. WiFi Network Name = TPLink_5G), always choose this network to do the test.
- https://www.hkbn.net/personal/broadband/en/speedtest
- Record
DOWNLOAD Mbps - Record
UPLOAD Mbps
Your Mobile ISP
- Use directly your Mobile Device Data Plan from your ISP. (i.e. NOT using the Hotspot in your Mobile Device and receive WiFi from shared in your home/office.)
- https://www.hkbn.net/personal/broadband/en/speedtest
- Record
DOWNLOAD Mbps - Record
UPLOAD Mbps
Magnitude of your WiFi Connection
- Login your Desktop Device
- Check if the Receiving bar is full (i.e. You can see 4 waves)
How to speed up your Internet connection speed
Elminiate bottleneck of your Router
The Max Throughput, Bandwidth and WiFi Standard (e.g. WiFi 7 in 2024) will affect the compatibility between your router and the internet connection of your ISP. A fast internet connection but with limited router Max Throughput , Bandwidth and WiFi Standard will slow down your internet connection.
How to check the WiFi Standard of your Router
Check out the Router Brand and Model Number from the Router Specification Label (which normally sticked in the bottom of your Router) and the search the WiFi Standard in Google. When the result show up in Google, please double check the Brand and Model Number in the result is same as the Brand and Model Number that you are seeking for.
How to check the WiFi Standard of your Destkop Device
- Login your Desktop Device
- Find out the connected WiFi Network
- 🛈
- Following Properties affects the Internet Speed:
ProtocolNetwork bandLink speed (Receive/Transmit)
How to check the WiFi Standard of your Mobile Phone
- Search in Google the WiFi Standard of your Mobile Phone Brand and Model Number
Choose appropriate Bandwidth from the WiFi Connection
You may wonder why you can always find 2 WiFi Networks available for connection in our home or office, which they usually show their WiFi Network name as below:
- <<ROUTER_MODEL>>
- <<ROUTER_MODEL>>_2G
- <<ROUTER_MODEL>>_5G
While I don’t want to go through a physics class to explain what is the difference between the two, the rule of thumb is that if both of two networks’ connection level (i.e. weak or strong) are the same , always choose the 5G. The “G” in fact is a unit of the frequency which means:
Higher Frequency > Higher Power > Faster WiFi Transmission Speed
Location of your Device
There are 2 factors affecting the transmission speed of your WiFi in your home or office:
Distance between the Router and Your Device
Every router has its maximum distance of transmission. Not surprisingly, the closer your device is to the router, the faster internet speed you will enjoy. If in reality your device cannot stay close (e.g. 5 meters) to the router, you can consider
- Switch to the WiFi Network with suffix of “5G“. (e.g. TPLinkP84_5G”)
- Purchasing a WiFi Range Extenders in your home/office.
Obstacles between the Router and Your Device
Even though your device stays close enough to the router, if following objects are located between the device and the router, the WiFi connection speed will be slow down:
- Microwave (which is running)
- Glass
- Mirror
- Water
So please stay away from these objects if you want to have a faster WiFi speed. Or if it is not feasible to do so, please consider either a stronger Router or WiFi Amplifier.
Firmware of your Mobile Device
The Firmware of your mobile device will always affect the WiFi connection speed in aspects of its Network Driver, Security Update and Bug Fixing. So simply update the Firmware of your mobile device may speed up your WiFi connection.
Whenever there is a updated version of a Firmware, your device will automatically notify you as long as you are online. So simply don’t ignore the Firmware update notification shown in your device.
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