How To Perform A Speedtest – GeoLinks
If you are experiencing problems with your Internet connection such as slow speeds, you can run a bandwidth speed test to any computer or device on your internal network. However, doing so may not test the total bandwidth provided by GeoLinks. Tests run in a live, production environment may only provide the results for bandwidth available for your single device.
To perform a speedtest and determine the total bandwidth delivered by GeoLinks you can perform what’s known as a handoff test. To perform this test you will need:
A computer with an ethernet port
An RJ45 cable (you may be able to use the one plugged into your router)
Your GeoLinks Public IP Information which includes:
Usable IP Address(es)
Subnet Mask
Gateway IP Address
Preferred DNS IP Address
Secondary DNS IP Address
Performing a Speedtest from the Handoff
Locating the GeoLinks Handoff
Locate the GeoLinks Handoff
This will either be a
POE Injector (commonly a small black/grey box with two ethernet ports on one side OR a white Y-cable with one side going to power and the other an ethernet cable)
OR
an Ethernet Port on a GeoLinks provided networking device
Follow the cable connected to the LAN port of the GeoLinks handoff to your equipment/router
Disconnect the cable from your equipment/router
Connect that cable into the ethernet port of your computer
Many newer laptops do not have an ethernet port
If this is the case, you may need to use an Ethernet-to-USB adapter
Windows
Go to the Network Settings on your computer
On the bottom right corner of your screen you will see a small Computer or WiFi icon
Right-click on that icon A pop-up will show with Open Network and Sharing Center
Left click on this
A new pop-up screen will appear Network and Sharing Center
Make a note or Record the current settings of the network adapter of your computer; you will use these to reconfigure your adapter after completing your speedtest.
On the screen look for Change Adapter Options
Right click on Local Area Connection or Ethernet
A drop down menu will appear at the bottom. Left click on Properties
A new pop-up screen will appear Local Area Connection Properties
Left click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
Click on Properties
Click the button for Use the following IP address
Enter your GeoLinks Public IP Information
Click OK
In the next box, click OK
The box will disappear leave open Network Connections
Proceed to Performing the Speedtest…
Adjusting Network Settings for Mac
Either using your App Drawer or Spotlight open your System Preferences
Click on Network Settings; it will look like a dark blue globe with white lines on it
You’ll see a list of adapters available
Click on the Wireless/Wifi option
In the bottom corner of the Network Settings window you’ll see a Gear icon
Click on this drop down and select Make Service Inactive
Now click on the Plus (+) icon in the bottom left corner to add a new adapter
Select Ethernet
Click on the drop down listing Obtain Automatically/Using DHCP
Change to Manual
Next box click Apply
Leave System Preferences > Network open
Performing the Speedtest
After completing the steps listed above…
Ensure all programs and services on your computer other than a web browser are closed
Using your web browser, proceed to to an online speedtest site and follow the instructions on the screen
Once completed, revert your computer to the original computer network settings (i. e. its DHCP settings) and reconnect the POE adapter to your router
If you complete the steps listed here and are unable to get online or a properly run speedtest shows that you are not receiving your full bandwidth, please contact GeoLinks Support. This can be done by emailing [email protected] with a screenshot of your results. A ticket can also be opened by calling one of the numbers below.
805-225-4638 Opt. 2
888-225-1571 Opt. 2
How do I interpret my WiFi speed test results? – Minim
There are many reasons as to why you should be regularly testing your WiFi speed at home; and, not for just the obvious instances where you find your WiFi signal strength is weaker than normal. Testing speed on a regular basis allows you to pinpoint performance trends, isolate which devices may be causing issues for your wireless network, and ensure no one is stealing your bandwidth. But, now that you’ve tested your WiFi speed, how do you interpret your WiFi speed test results?
How is WiFi speed measured?
Screenshot taken Jan 24th, 2019 of Speedtest by Ookla results.
If you’ve used any of the free speed test tools out there (see Lifewire’s updated list of the top free internet speed test sites), you’ll likely recognize the terms Download, Upload, and Ping:
Download: The time it takes to pull data, measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Upload: The time it takes to send data, measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Ping: The time it takes between sending a request and receiving a response, measured in milliseconds (ms) and also referred to as Latency.
These are the primary three measures upon which your WiFi speed is tested. Your Download speed is ideally, and typically, the fastest because the majority of our online activities require we pull data from the internet. Upload speeds are important for interactive video calls and sending files to sites and services on the internet. Your ping speed dictates the quality of your voice and video calls, as well as your ability to play online games.
What is a good WiFi speed?
The 2018 Measuring Broadband America, Fixed Broadband Report by the FCC provides detail as to what speeds were advertised by ISPs and what speeds were experienced by subscribers from September to October of 2017. Seeing what your ISP advertises as their Internet speed may be a good place to start when evaluating your own WiFi speed test results.
However, keep in mind that what constitutes a “good WiFi speed” boils down to several factors. One of these is which online activity you are trying to accomplish. Browsing the web, checking your email, streaming 4K video, and playing an online video game each require certain speeds to execute seamlessly and without interruption. (A fun fact: With Minim, users are provided a list of activities that are and are not possible at their network’s given speed, in addition to in-depth bandwidth usage insights per device).
Regarding what speeds you need for these common activities, BroadbandNow provides the minimum download speeds required for each:
1-5 Mbps for checking email and browsing the web
15-25 Mbps for streaming HD video
40-100 Mbps for streaming 4K video and playing online games
200+ Mbps for streaming 4K video, playing online games, and downloading large files
According to the FCC, the average household needs a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps to perform basic functions like checking email and browsing the web with one OTT activity, such as streaming video.
Other factors that affect your WiFi speed test results can be the number of users, number of devices connected, and the frequency at which these devices are used. To get a better idea as to what WiFi speed you need in your household, BroadbandNow provides a Speed Calculator that takes into account each of these factors.
How can I increase my WiFi speed?
Luckily, there are several ways in which you can improve your WiFi speed test results. Here are some options:
Check your router — Does your router support the latest WiFi standard? Is your router dual-band? If you answered no to either of these questions, you may want to consider upgrading your router to a newer model.
Switch to a different WiFi channel— Some channels are more congested than others, so you may be able to improve your WiFi speed by switching to a WiFi channel that’s less crowded.
Use the 5 GHz band— If your router supports it, you may want to switch over to the 5 GHz band. Of the two WiFi frequency bands, 5 GHz WiFi provides less coverage but faster speeds, and there are also more WiFi channels to choose from than within the 2. 4 GHz band.
Choose a strong WiFi password— What could be slowing down your network could very well be others from outside your household using your WiFi and stealing any available bandwidth. To prevent this, never leave your WiFi network unprotected and/or with the default username and password.
Upgrade your WiFi network— To improve your WiFi speed test results, you may want to consider adding a WiFi booster to your network, or consider upgrading to a mesh network. The result of either option is stronger WiFi signal, which in turn can increase your WiFi speed.
To start, I recommend choosing one or two of the options above and running a second speed test— If you find your WiFi speed test results are better, that’s great! If not, give another option a try and run another speed test to compare.
More WiFi 101 topics you may like:
WiFi channels explained
DOCSIS 4. 0, Explained.
WiFi standards explained: WiFi 4 vs WiFi 5 vs WiFi 6
Best WiFi for gaming: can WiFi 6 help you level up?
3 steps to find the best WiFi channel for your router
OFDMA vs OFDM explained
WiFi 6 vs WiFi 5 speed: Which is better?
How Ookla Ensures Accurate, Reliable Data: A Guide to Our …
Read the latest version of this article.
At Ookla® we care deeply about providing data and analyses that are accurate and statistically sound so that consumers and businesses can trust the information they’re receiving. We’ve been doing this for over 14 years.
Speedtest®, our flagship product, is the most reliable tool for measuring internet performance and providing network diagnostics. Every day, millions of people use Speedtest to better understand the performance and quality of their internet connections. Read more about why consumer-initiated testing is more accurate than other methods.
Ookla’s Speedtest Server Network™ is comprised of high-performance servers in every country and major population center. Read more about the Speedtest Server Network and how Speedtest is uniquely able to measure high-speed connections.
We subject this vast amount of data to rigorous aggregation and analysis, making Ookla the preferred data provider for telecommunications operators, regulatory bodies, trade bodies, analysts, journalists and nonprofits worldwide. Read more about how our aggregation methodology sets Speedtest apart.
This article also shares the details of Ookla’s operational definitions and metrics. Read more about the language we use to describe our analyses.
Download the full-length version of this document here.
Speedtest is the most accurate measure of real-world network performance and coverage
Why consumer-initiated testing is the best measure of internet speed
Each time a user takes a Speedtest, a snapshot of the internet is captured for that specific time, place, device and network. Because these tests are initiated by consumers when and where they need performance data, Speedtest gives users accurate information about internet speeds at the times and locations that are important to them. When aggregated, these measurements describe the network’s real-world performance.
Speedtest measures the full capacity of an internet connection
Each Speedtest runs as a dedicated foreground service. This allows the device to use enough data to flood the internet connection and measure the full capability of both the network connection and the device. Only a dedicated foreground service can accurately assess network performance and quality metrics such as: download speed, upload speed, latency, packet loss, jitter and other indicators of network conditions.
Companies that attempt to measure speed using background tests hidden inside of other apps only send small amounts of data back and forth and cannot accurately measure performance, particularly at high speeds.
Because Speedtest operates in the foreground and measures the full throughput capacity of a connection, we can properly assess the performance capability of even the fastest connection. This is why speeds measured with Speedtest are often higher than those measured with other methods. This difference can be substantial, especially when testing the performance of newer technologies like 5G and multi-gigabit fiber.
Mobile Speedtest users on Android devices can also opt in to submit data from background coverage scans. Our users contribute billions of measurements each day on the quality and conditions of mobile networks in their area from over 300 million scans. These coverage scans provide real-time insights into signal conditions, spectrum usage and network equipment at a fine level of geographic detail.
The hidden downsides of background testing from other providers
Other internet testing solutions run in the background of third-party applications that users are often unaware of, such as messengers, call recorders, dating apps and media converters.
Due to protections Apple has in place for user privacy, iOS doesn’t surface information like connection type to apps that run in the background. It is vital that a testing solution run in the foreground on iOS to accurately test the network and collect information about the active SIM and access technology. Aggregate speeds you might see from other network testing providers do not adequately represent the results of iOS users, which make up a large and important segment of the market.
As Google continues to update their data privacy policies for Android, having a dedicated app like Speedtest with a transparent consumer experience and clear user permissions around location data collection is also increasingly important.
Ookla provides a reliable, consistent test experience across devices
Speedtest provides an accurate, consistent test experience that consumers trust across the many device types available on today’s market. Our rigorous methodology applies to all of our applications.
How the Speedtest Server Network ensures accuracy
Testing to the right server eliminates latency and bottlenecks that can skew performance metrics.
Each link and node through which data is transferred can affect the final measurements as the link with the most constraining characteristics (highest latency, lowest bandwidth or highest packet loss) will typically limit the final measurements. Therefore, the fewer links between a device and a server, the more relevant the measurement is to quantifying and understanding the networking capability of a particular device.
Each Speedtest connects to a nearby server in Ookla’s global network of over 10, 000 servers in more than 190 countries. This local connection allows us to ensure an accurate view of network performance that isn’t tarnished by external factors. Ookla takes comprehensive steps to ensure our traffic is indistinguishable from other applications or browser traffic to the server.
Testing to a CDN alone does not provide an accurate picture of network performance
Although CDNs serve a large portion of internet content, platforms that test to a content delivery network (CDN) only test to a single provider, often in a distant location, which only measures the connection to that specific CDN.
Speedtest measures the last-mile service provided to the end user by their ISPs and mobile operators. The last mile is the part of a user’s internet experience that a provider has the most control over — and responsibility for. Consumers can more accurately measure and troubleshoot the network connection they’re actually paying for, based on the location from which they are testing, because Speedtest connects to dedicated local servers. This allows us to provide the most accurate quality of service (QoS) measurement possible and uniquely positions us to evaluate the service provided by every ISP and mobile operator in the world — including removing the variability that comes with measuring CDN performance.
We also recognize the value in measuring a user’s performance beyond the last mile, so Speedtest allows testing to various providers in diverse locations. In this way, users can assess various connection scenarios to understand the full potential of a connection instead of being limited to a single provider. Only Ookla allows you to detect points of network congestion, and gain a better understanding of internet performance as a whole.
Speedtest is uniquely capable of measuring the full throughput capacity of 5G and super-fast fiber connections
Modern network speeds are increasing rapidly with technologies like 4G, 5G and fiber broadband being deployed across the globe. This makes the ability to measure a network’s full capacity more essential than ever. Speedtest uses a client and server testing engine that dynamically scales the number of connections to the server in order to saturate and accurately measure client-side connections up to 10 Gbps. This enables Ookla to overcome the effects of network bottlenecks and measure the full extent of a network’s performance.
Accurate 5G connection detection and identification
Not all 5G-capable devices natively identify the 5G connection type when reporting to applications. That’s why Ookla has directly partnered with device manufacturers worldwide to implement accurate in-app 5G detection in Speedtest. Consumers can reliably see when they’re testing a 5G connection in the Speedtest app, and providers can reliably measure their customers’ 5G network performance and quality.
Testing coverage, availability and quality of service
Fast speeds only matter on mobile when you actually have coverage. Consumer-initiated testing is the gold standard for speed and other performance metrics, but to measure signal and coverage Speedtest also collects over 300 million daily scans of coverage data in the background, submitted by Speedtest Android app users. These coverage scans capture where service is offered, what the quality of service is at each location, and information about a mobile user’s “radio environment, ” including: the technology used (e. g., 5G, 4G LTE, etc. ), the cellular infrastructure to which they are connected, and the accompanying strength and quality of signal.
Combined, consumer-initiated testing and coverage scans provide an unparalleled amount of data on performance and coverage that fully describes the quality of a user’s network connection. Here is an example of that complementary relationship in Brazil:
How Ookla aggregates and analyzes data
The largest volume of consumer-initiated tests
Numbers matter in data collection, and it’s important to look deeply at what the numbers represent. If a testing provider were to run 100 background tests per day on 100 phones for 100 days that record 100 values each, they’d have 1 million measurements. That overall number might sound impressive — until you realize that 100 phones do not give you a very wide (or interesting) distribution of phone types, locations or even experiences. The numbers are even less impressive when you realize that the 100 data points they’re collecting include less significant details like the device’s screen width and battery type that are only interesting to tiny cross sections of our industry.
Each and every day, over 10 million tests are actively initiated by pressing the “Go” button on Speedtest, and we receive additional data from over 300 million coverage scans. We see daily results on almost every mobile and fixed broadband network in the world which provides us with a real-time view of how the internet is performing at a global scale. This constant flow of immense amounts of data allows us to precisely track how networks respond to events like large crowds, the capabilities of new devices, the impact of network upgrades and the rollout of new technologies like 5G.
Unbiased data and a statistical sampling methodology
We use a rigorous statistical sampling methodology to combat sampling bias and ensure data accuracy. Through consumer-initiated testing, Speedtest gives every user a voice to describe what the internet connection is like on their device at the times and places that matter most to them. Whether a user takes a Speedtest once per month or once per hour, our sampling methodology makes sure that each user’s voice is heard and is not drowned out by high-volume testers.
When we aggregate data, each unique Speedtest user’s results are averaged to create a single sample that summarizes their internet experience for that time period and geographic area. We then evaluate each service provider based equally on the samples provided by each of its users. This removes the potential for results to be skewed by individual outliers or short-term fluctuations in service or user behaviors.
To ensure that our results represent the true commercially-available user experience, measurements from some tests are excluded from aggregation and published results, including tests performed in controlled environments by network engineers, tests taken from our CLI tool and results from the following platforms: mobile web tests taken on, tests on Windows phones and tests using the Chrome app and our embedded solutions. Our data scientists and analysts employ a host of tools that allow us to identify and remove any tests that could intentionally or unintentionally bias our results.
Internet performance metrics for mobile and fixed broadband
For definitions of basic internet measures like download, upload, latency and jitter, visit our glossary.
Ookla uses additional performance metrics to describe real-world internet performance and coverage. Our metrics help consumers to understand their network performance and service providers to understand their customer experience, gain competitive insights and identify how to improve their networks.
Top providers
An operator or ISP must account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market for the period to be designated as a top provider. We use this designation to ensure that most consumers in the area actually have access to the provider to qualify it as the fastest, most consistent or having the best coverage.
Modern chipsets
Ookla closely monitors the launch and widespread release of new device models built on chipsets capable of utilizing the latest network technologies. When calculating Speed Score™ and determining the winners of Speedtest Awards, we use results from devices built on modern chipsets so that an operator’s score is not negatively impacted if a portion of its subscriber base continues to use older technology.
Speed Score
We created Speed Score to fully account for the range of speeds a provider offers in a single metric. This makes it easier to compare mobile operators and ISPs on several measures of speed using one metric.
Speed Score incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network speed performance (90% of the final Speed Score is attributed to download speed and the remaining 10% to upload speed because online experiences are typically more affected by download speed). Speed Score uses a modified trimean to combine speeds from the 10th percentile, 50th percentile (also known as the median) and 90th percentile in a weighted average using a 1:8:1 ratio, respectively. We place the most emphasis on the median speeds as those represent what most network providers’ customers will experience on a day-to-day basis.
Competitive Geography (U. S. only)
Not all providers serve the same geographic area. Some focus their efforts more in urban areas, where economies of scale make fast speeds easier and cheaper to provide. Others also serve vast rural areas, where it’s more difficult and expensive to provide fast speeds. Ookla’s Competitive Geography filter ensures a balanced comparison of U. mobile operators by eliminating geographic outliers.
To meet the definition of “competitive, ” a ZIP code must contain samples from at least three top national competitors (those who have at least 3% of market share at a national level), but no competitor can have more than 2/3 of the samples in that ZIP code. Operators are considered present in a ZIP code if they have at least 3% of the samples in the area and show samples on multiple devices. Limiting any operator from having more than 2/3 of samples ensures actual competition in a ZIP code rather than including areas where one competitor dominates the market.
Consistency Score™
While fast speeds are paramount, a consistent experience is also a worthy measure of a network’s quality. Consistency Score is the metric we use to identify fixed broadband or mobile networks that provide a consistent quality of service. It reflects the percentage of a provider’s data samples that meet minimum thresholds for download and upload speeds, depending on the type of network. Consistency Score for fixed broadband uses thresholds of 25 Mbps minimum download speed (the recommended speed for streaming in 4K) and 3 Mbps minimum upload speed. Consistency Score for mobile uses thresholds of 5 Mbps minimum download speed (the recommended speed for streaming in HD) and 1 Mbps minimum upload speed. The higher a provider’s Consistency Score, the more likely a consumer will enjoy acceptable internet performance and quality.
Mean (or average)
We use “mean” and “average” interchangeably unless specifically stated otherwise.
Coverage metrics for mobile broadband
An operator’s geographic coverage is determined using a sample of scans received from devices on that operator’s network in each 100 m2 area. Because coverage is a spatially-focused metric, only scans with precise and legitimate location information are included as we build samples that normalize data by user, operator, location and timeframe. Coverage and availability metrics are based on data from Android devices and require that scans have been received from multiple devices in each area represented.
Coverage Score™
We created Coverage Score to account for both the quality and coverage of service for mobile operators. Coverage Score multiplies the proportion of locations in which an operator was seen with service (its footprint) against the average tile quality score (based on availability metrics) among all locations in which that operator is present. Coverage Score has a range of 0 to 1000 to avoid any potential for confusion that the Coverage Score represents a percentage of an area or population with coverage.
Coverage Score is not comparable across different countries because it is strongly tailored to the unique geography of each market.
Footprint
To calculate Coverage Score, we use Footprint, which is the fraction of locations within a given market, across all operators in that market, where a device has access to service. Operators with a relatively small footprint will have a lower Coverage Score than competitors with equal availability and a larger footprint. we require a footprint of at least 30% in an operator’s market before we will calculate a Coverage Score to ensure that an operator is generally available to the public.
Availability
We divide our data on availability into three separate views: General Availability, 4G Availability, and On-Network Availability. These metrics indicate how likely a user, on average, is to have service available in the places they go. They are individually defined as:
General Availability
The percentage of an operator’s known locations where a device has access to any kind of service (including roaming).
4G Availability
The percentage of an operator’s known locations where a device has access to 4G LTE service (including roaming).
On-Network Availability
The percentage of an operator’s known locations where a device has access to service from that operator.
Time Spent
We use Time Spent to give mobile operators insight into the percent of time that an average user spends on a given cellular technology — both on and off of their subscriber (SIM) network. Time Spent uses coverage scans to construct daily timelines for each device. Then, daily per-device durations on subscriber network, active network and cellular technology are calculated for a given area of interest. Next, the percent time spent on cellular technology per-device, based on the area and time period of interest, are determined. Finally, we aggregate the average percent time over devices for a subscriber network to give the final metrics seen in Speedtest Intelligence™.
We hope this reference guide will give you deeper insight into the metrics we present on Insights. You can also download an extended version here. We also have further information on 5G and a glossary that contains some general terms used when discussing internet performance across the industry. For specific information about what our data has to say about your market, learn more about Speedtest Intelligence.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
Frequently Asked Questions about geo speed test
How do I check my Jio speed?
1-5 Mbps for checking email and browsing the web. 15-25 Mbps for streaming HD video. 40-100 Mbps for streaming 4K video and playing online games. 200+ Mbps for streaming 4K video, playing online games, and downloading large files.Jan 25, 2019
What is a good range for speed test?
Run an Internet Bandwidth Test with SpeedtestGo to www.speedtest.net in your internet browser.Click “Change Server”.Enter “Ashburn, VA” in the search field.Choose any listed server.Press “Go”.
How do I test my IP speed?
Ookla provides a reliable, consistent test experience across devices. Speedtest provides an accurate, consistent test experience that consumers trust across the many device types available on today’s market. Our rigorous methodology applies to all of our applications.Apr 28, 2020
