How do bandwidth speed tests work

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Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Updated on March 24, Tweet Share Email. Heading You can skip this step if you're using an app to test internet speed or are using some other non-browser method. Was this page helpful?

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Please read the definitions and examples below to learn more about these factors. An Example of Throughput You have Ethernet 8. But it will actually take longer as the total information that needs to be transmitted is more than 1MB.

The total information is called Payload. The channel needs to not only transmit the payload but also some addressing details like where it is coming from and where it is destined to. The device that sends this email will break down the message into smaller pieces and package them into what are called IP Packets. The size of these packets is usually determined by your Local Area Network. Some have smaller size, so the message will take more IP Packets to transmit; while others may have larger size which needs fewer IP Packets.

This is where the information like the source IP Address, the destination IP Address and additional information about the payload is included. IP Header is usually 20 Bytes Bits long. And that 1MB message will have to be broken down into 10, payload pieces. That means to transmit the whole message the channel really needs to transmit about 1,, Bytes or 1. It will take at least 1. This is called IP Overhead. Actual Throughput will always be less than line rate of the access service that is communicated by your provider—and this is all based on IP Overhead only.

Ethernet services also have a Layer 2 or Ethernet Overhead. All of this may contribute to a slower bandwidth throughput than what you are expecting. Why do I see a license expiration notice? This notice is in place to protect our test from being stolen and run, mirrored, or framed into another website. We have software in place to block the test from being used in any other domain. Also, you may have an older version of the test cached in your browser. Clearing your cache and Fusion Connect cookies should make the license expiration notice disappear.

How does security software and firewalls impact the test? Our internet broadband test sends packets of empty data back and forth to your computer in order to test your line speed. Since we are a third-party sending a receiving a tiny data packet from your computer to perform the test, some ad block or security services interpret this as an attack and act accordingly. Temporarily lowering the severity should allow the speed test to work. How do I save my bandwidth test results?

Your most recent speed test results are saved in your Results History when tested on desktop or tablet. Back to Top. Speakeasy Speed Test Oops!

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