Guides
When the number doesn't explain the problem
Each guide answers one question, cites the primary sources it uses, and shows the date it was last checked.
Ookla vs Fast.com vs Google, and a routine that gives you an answer you can act on.
UploadWhy is my upload speed so slow?Cable's narrow upstream, the modem trap and a five-minute check.
Video callsZoom, Teams and Meet speed requirements comparedEvery figure from the vendors' own documentation, side by side.
LatencyLatency vs bandwidth: why a fast connection still lagsBufferbloat, latency under load and the router setting that fixes it.
GamingHow to test ping to a game serverping, tracert and pathping, and how to read per-hop loss.
Wi-FiWhere should the router go?A 20-minute room-by-room survey and what the pattern means.
DownloadsWhy game downloads are slower than your speed testUnits first, then server, disk, Wi-Fi and app limits.
UploadHow long will my first cloud backup take?Upload times for 100 GB to 2 TB, plus data caps.
MobileHow to speed test a phone hotspotData used per test and why the laptop tests slower.
Slow linksWhat works on a slow connection?128 Kbps to 5 Mbps: page times and vendor minimums.
BasicsHow to read internet speed test resultsWhat download, upload and ping mean after a test.
BasicsDownload speed vs upload speedWhich number matters for streaming, calls, uploads and downloads.
LatencyWhat ping means for gamingWhy a fast connection can still feel slow in a game.
TroubleshootingWhy the internet feels slow when the test looks fineLatency, Wi-Fi and the other side of the connection.
Wi-FiHow to test Wi-Fi speed accuratelyA checklist before you blame your plan.
UnitsMbps vs MB/s explainedBits, bytes and why downloads look eight times slower.
MethodologyHow our speed test worksServers, single-connection measurement, and latency under load.