Internet Speed Test Tool

How fast is your internet speed?

You can find out right here through our internet speed test tool. Click the graphic below to begin an internet speed test.

Please note: this tool works best when testing speed on a desktop or laptop computer and connected directly to your router’s Ethernet port.

Using The Speed Test Tool

Our internet speed test can be used to test your LAN, Wi-Fi or both. It will measure whichever type of internet is being used when the test is run. This tool can help you determine the best location to place your router for ideal speed when you use it to test your Wi-Fi. Your internet speed may vary slightly between tests due to different levels of network congestion as well as the web browser you use. To get an accurate measurement of your internet speed, it is recommended that you run the test at two or three different times of the day and compare the results.

What internet speed do I need?

Your ideal internet speed depends on a number of factors, such as the type of programs accessing the internet, the number of devices you have connected to your internet and the size of downloads you need to make. For help figuring out what internet speed is right for you, visit the Internet Plan Questions in our FAQ section or contact us. You can also check out Beehive’s tips for helping your Wi-Fi perform more efficiently.

What’s the Difference Between Download Speed and Upload Speed?

Download Speed
Download speed is the rate at which you are able to pull data from a remote system or network to your device, over the internet. Downloading is used more frequently than uploading to the internet.

Upload Speed
Upload speed is the opposite of downloading. When you upload over the internet, you are sending data out. Some examples of uploading would be attaching files to emails, putting a video onto YouTube or other social media channels or having an online video conference.

What is Ping?

Ping is another internet speed measurement. It measures the time it takes for a signal to travel from your device to a remote service on the internet and back to your device. The further the signal has to travel on the internet, the higher the ping time will be which can affect the speed of services you are trying to access. For example, when playing an online video game or browsing YouTube, you are making requests or commands through your device for data to be accessed or shared. If you have a low ping number, this means you have a short response time and a fast connection. A higher ping number means it takes longer for those reactions to occur, which can result in lag — a delayed response — with your internet activities. Nobody likes lag!

What is Jitter?

Jitter correlates with ping. Your ping rate fluctuates depending on how much bandwidth you have available and other network conditions along the way. Jitter is the measurement of how consistent those fluctuations in response time are with your internet connection. A low jitter score means your response times are relatively stable, which is ideal. A high jitter score means there is a large variation in response time. Wi-Fi conditions can also affect ping and jitter depending on your signal strength.

What is Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the maximum data transfer rate between two points through the internet. However, bandwidth doesn’t always operate at its fastest, fullest potential due to the number of users and devices currently running on your bandwidth. Think of bandwidth as a freeway, when it’s nearly empty you can easily drive the speed limit, but during rush hour it gets bogged down by cars and you drive a lot slower. Similarly, bandwidth runs closer to its maximum rate when fewer devices and people are using it. When choosing your bandwidth it is important to consider how much bandwidth you will need and remember that your Wi-Fi will likely run slower than the maximum data transfer rate your internet plan supports. Wi-Fi congestion will also limit your bandwidth.

What is Throughput?

While bandwidth is the maximum transfer rate for data, throughput is the actual speed and coding process that make data transfers process. Because data has rules on how it should be coded and should look when its sent from server A to server B, throughput controls how that data is transferred and makes sure that the data arranges itself properly when it reaches server B. Things like having multiple devices on your bandwidth or a bogged-down router can slow your throughput which in turn keeps your bandwidth from running at its full capacity.