Cable internet has much slower upload speeds compared to fiber, and it also can’t deliver impressive (albeit unnecessary) multigigabit speeds. Symmetrical uploads mean you can get up to gigabit-speed throughput on uploads as well as downloads, vastly boosting your ability to hold video calls, upload large files to the internet, and post to social media.Ĭable internet is often just as fast as fiber internet, at least for download speeds.
Nobody really needs internet that fast (not yet, at least), but fiber also speeds ahead of other internet types because it has symmetrical upload speeds. Faster speeds and higher bandwidths mean you can support more devices and do a lot more things online.Ĭomparing bandwidth for different internet typesįiber-optic internet gives you the most bandwidth and the fastest internet speeds, with internet plans topping out at a ridiculous 10,000 Mbps. You can get faster speeds through a fiber connection with a 5Gbps bandwidth than on a cable connection with a 1Gbps bandwidth. Bottom line-Bandwidth is your maximum possible speed Similar problems apply to an internet connection, reducing your speed. A road accident can create a traffic jam, or a slow driver can keep you from passing. Of course, there are issues that can prevent you from adding more lanes or achieving the automobile speeds you expect. This example represents a fast connection. This example represents a slow connection.īut, if you open up the road to add more lanes, more cars can come down the road and they can drive at faster speeds, getting them to their destinations quicker. A small alley takes a long time to drive down, right? You have limited space to maneuver, and you may have to stop or pull to the side if another car is approaching-it’s a 10 Mbps flow, and you have to be patient. If you’re connected via Wi-Fi, turn it off and plug your computer directly into your modem.įeel free to contact us at 88 if you have more questions.Now picture internet data as a flow of digital traffic. Power cycle your computer, router, and modem-disconnect each from the power source for thirty seconds before reconnecting. If you have an older device, it may be a good idea to make sure that your device is capable of receiving the maximum speed you are subscribed to.
The number of devices on your network matters! Your internet connection is shared between all of the devices on your network, so the more devices you have the slower the speed of each device. A small slit in your cable will throw your internet connection off completely. If you have an ethernet cable, check each end of the coaxial connection for any looseness or damage. When relying on Wi-Fi’s radio waves, you’re putting yourself at the mercy of physical barriers such as brick walls and metal frames, appliances, and even fish tanks that will affect your speed test. Keep these handy tips in mind before you perform your speed test:Ĭonnecting your modem directly with an ethernet cable is always going to be a more reliable source than a wireless connection. Keep in mind, that the speed test results are dependent on just that current device and NOT your overall network.
An internet speed test will give you an idea of how fast your internet connection is at that moment.