A broadband speed test is a way of checking your current DSL internet connection to see if it is performing to the standards that your internet service provider states as the expected speed of your connection. The broadband speed test is conducted by sending and receiving packets of data to servers located around the world. You can either test your internet access speeds through one of the vast number of web sites which offer broadband speed test or alternatively, purchase or download software which does the same thing. To conduct a broadband speed test, follow these steps:
-Access the test application. You can use either pre-loaded software on your computer or one of the many popular internet websites that can test your broadband connection speed.
-There are some websites and applications in which you can specify which country you would like the test to be carried out with, though other applications only have one default server with which to test.
-The first step of the test is to determine your connection latency. This is the length of time it takes for the server you are testing with to receive packets from your computer. The latency, or ping, could range from 20ms for a good connection, up to 1000ms and over for a very bad connection. Generally, countries with well established internet infrastructure will average around 30 to 100ms, and developing countries may range from 50ms up to 350ms. In some areas of the world with poor infrastructure, latency could easily be above 800ms.
-The download speed test will be carried out after the latency test. For the download test, the server you are connecting to will transmit packets of data to your computer, thus determining your download speed.
-The next test will be an upload test. Data packets will then be sent from your computer, up to the server. The speed at which they are received will ascertain your data upload capacity.
-The highest upload and download speed that your connection reached will then determine your maximum possible connection speed for that particular server.
Always bear in mind that with broadband speed tests, your highest speeds will most likely be attainable within your country of residence. The further away the server for which the speed test is taking place, generally, the slower the connection.
