Tags:.Updated 10/31/13: Added link toKnowing how fast your network can move data is a question for more than just tweakers and speed demons. It's a key skill to have when testing out wireless, powerline, MoCA and other 'alternative' (to Ethernet) networking technologies.Fortunately, it's pretty easy to see how fast the bits fly and it even the pay-for options are easy on anyone's wallet.For all the methods, there are a few things to keep in mind. Start by making a benchmark measurement on your Ethernet LAN.
That way, if you're testing something other than Ethernet, you have a standard for comparison. While you might get 90+ Mbps from an 100 Mbps Ethernet connection, you might only measure 600 Mbps on a Gigabit Ethernet LAN. Don't use an Internet-based test unless you are trying to test your Internet connection speed. There are just too many variables involved for this to be an accurate measurement of your LAN's performance.1. LAN Speed Testis the quickest and easiest way to test network speed. The only thing it needs besides a Windows machine to run on is a target network share.
LST runs from memory on the computer it's running on, so won't be limited by hard (or solid state) drive speed. And it clears cache between writes and reads to ensure that the file actually gets read.Figure 1: Totusoft LAN Speed TestHere's what it does (from the LST Help file). Create a 1 MB random test packet file in memory2.
How fast is your Internet connection? Network Speed Test measures your network delay, download speed and upload speed. Using servers all over the world,. At Ookla, we are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities can access all of the content at www.speedtest.net. We also strive to make all content in Speedtest apps accessible. If you are having trouble accessing www.speedtest.net or Speedtest apps, please email [email protected] for assistance. Please put 'ADA Inquiry' in the.
Start the Write Timer3. Write the file to the network folder you chose4. Stop the Write Timer5. Clear the Windows File Cache6.
Start the Read Timer7. Read the file from the network folder8. Stop the Read Timer9. Delete the file from the network folder10. Repeat this process the number of times youentered in 'Test Packets'I like it for quick 'am-I-in-the-ballpark' measurements without the hassle of setting up client and server machines as other methods require.
All you need to do is browse to a network share, select the test file size, select the output units (Kbps, Mbps, KBps, MBps) and start the test.Unfortunately, LAN Speed Test isn't as accurate as other methods, as you can see when you compare its 441 Mbps (Figure 1) to the 736 Mbps that measured (Figure 3) for the same Gigabit connection. It did better with a 100 Mbps connection between the two test machines, coming up with 81 Mbps vs. IxChariot's 93 Mbps. Even with this inaccuracy, it beats the manual method of copy, measure and calculate and it's fine for relative measurements.Although there is a free V1.1 version, spring for the $5 that V2.0 costs and help support a useful program. NetStressNuts About Nets produces a whole line of commercial Wi-Fi diagnostic tools.
But they have two free tools:, which is like and.NetStress beats hands down for getting a throughput vs. Time look at what your connection is doing. It's a client / server based tool, so you need to install it on the two machines that will be at each end of the LAN connection you're testing.Figure 2: Nuts About Nets NetStress Gigabit connection testI loaded it on Windows XP SP3 and Win 7 Home Premium (64 bit) systems and it ran fine on both. When you launch the program, it prompts to select a network interface if your system has more than one.You then get a nag to choose a remote adapter via a system notification and a flashing Remote Server IP menu bar item. Clicking on the Remote Server IP shows you available partners running Net Stress and you just click to select.You can run up to eight each of TCP and UDP streams and set the segment size for TCP and UDP separately.
You also set data direction, display units and MTU. While you can run TCP and UDP streams concurrently, you can test in only one direction at a time.NetStress' key weakness is that it isn't up to testing Gigabit connections. Figure 2 shows NetStress measured 174 Mbps vs. (Figure 3) coming up with 700+ Mbps for the same Gigabit connection. When I forced port speed on the switch to 100 Mbps, though, Net Stress correlated just fine.Figure 3: IxChariot Gigabit connection testNetStress' other annoyance is that it's a screen hog, automatically expanding to take up your entire screen and not providing any way to resize it. NetMeter (ReadError)The other way to measure network performance is to monitor what's going on while you transfer a file or folder or stream audio or video. You'll want to use this method to get a profile of video content you intend to stream wirelessly.Once you know the bandwidth your content requires, you then know what your network has to deliver.
When you profile, make sure you do it for long enough and especially for scenes with fast motion, which spike bandwidth.is a free network monitor that gives you the basics. You can select adapters to monitor, set the display units and play with display colors and other visual niceties. But as Figure 4 shows, the info displayed is pretty sparse.Figure 4: ReadError NetMeterNetMeter is plenty accurate, though, and able to keep up with a Gigabit connection.
And since it's a monitor, it can be used to track bandwidth consumption and throw an alarm when a limit you set is reached.The price is right (free). But for my taste, the display and features are a bit sparse.
Net Meter (Hoo Technologies)The other, which I think preceeded ReadError's, comes from Hoo Technologies and costs $25 after a 30 day trial. It has tons more display options (Figure 5), better reports and, my favorite, lets you clear the display without having to quit the app.Figure 5: Hoo Technologies NetMeterIt has a mode, which I didn't try, that works with to plot bandwidth use for all TCP and UDP connections in use. And it also has no problem keeping up with a Gigabit connection. Iperf / jperfEven though all the previous options are much easier to use, iperf and jperf still have their fans. Doug Reid did a good job of describing both in his and articles, so I'll just point you there for the details.Be forewarned that the defaults of both programs can seriously understate what your network is really capable of. There are lots of network parameter knobs you can twiddle, which is a strength to some, but has always put me off using them.Don't like any of these?
For three more free options.
How Do WiFi Speed Test Apps Work?Virtually all WiFi speed test apps test the following components: latency, upload speed, and download speed. From the point of view of regular Internet user, download speed is the most important measurement as it dictates how fast websites load and how long it takes for websites to load, but latency and upload speed are also critical for having an enjoyable web browsing experience. What Is Latency?In computer networking, latency is the time it takes data packets travel from their point of origin to their destination. Let’s say you want to download a file from a remote server.
You already have the download link, so you simply paste it into your web browser and press Enter.Depending on your Internet connection, it may take anywhere from several milliseconds to several seconds for the download to begin because it takes a certain time for the server to fulfill the download request. The time it takes for the reply to arrive is latency, and WiFi speed test apps typically test it multiple times before determining the final result. What Is Upload Speed?In the simplest terms, upload speed measures how fast you can send data to others. By others, we mean your friends and family on instant messaging applications, remote servers hosting various websites and services, and also your peers on file-sharing networks.When WiFi speed test apps measure upload speed, they establish multiple connections to various remote locations and send precisely calculated chunks of data. The apps then determine how much time it took before all data were received and use this information to provide you with your real upload speed.
What Is Download Speed?As you can probably guess, download speed measures how fast you can download data from others. WiFi speed test apps measure it by downloading chunks of data from remote locations and calculating exactly how long it takes for each chunk to download. How Can I Increase WiFi Speed?Signal strength is one of the most significant factors that influence the speed of your WiFi connection. A weak signal will result in slower data transmission speed.
It may also be responsible for intermittently dropped connections. In order to reap the benefits afforded by a wireless network, maintaining signal strength throughout the coverage area is essential.Distance is a key element in obtaining a strong signal and acceptable WiFi speed. The farther away from a WiFi router you are, the weaker the signal received by a connected device. Wireless networks that serve extended coverage areas usually employ signal extenders of some variety to provide connectivity to all of its users.Sometimes your signal may be extremely weak, even when standing relatively close to your router. This can happen for a variety of reasons. You may be experiencing interference from nearby appliances such as a microwave oven or cordless phone that emits electromagnetic waves in the same frequency as your router.The signal may also be impacted by walls or other impenetrable objects between you and your router.
Where you place your router can have a tremendous impact on WiFI speed. A such as NetSpot can help you find the ideal location for your router and enable you to increase your WiFi speed. You can use the application to test your WiFi signal strength from anywhere in your coverage area to identify the optimal placement of your router. TEST THE WIFI SPEED FROM A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS. AND CONDUCT THE TEST REPEATEDLY.There are many online tools available with which you can test your WiFi speed. Just Google ‘WiFi speed test’ and you will find a free utility that lets you check WiFi speed.
These tests can be very helpful in identifying issues with your network’s speed. But they need to be used correctly in order to deliver useful information.A single test is not sufficient to show you the true speed your network will deliver.
You need to test the WiFi speed from a number of locations within your coverage area and conduct the test repeatedly at different times of the day. The speeds reported by the tool may vary widely depending on when and where the test was run. Averaging the speeds will give you the best sense of the speed of your WiFi connection.WiFi speed can also be affected by the channel or frequency the network is using to broadcast its signal. This is another area where a like NetSpot can be instrumental in allowing you to identify and address network issues.
You can use the program to survey the area and see any signals that may be impacting you from competing WiFi networks. A SIMPLE CHANNEL CHANGE CAN DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR WIFI NETWORKThe results of a survey will show you which channels are in use by other nearby networks. Using a busy channel will negatively affect your WiFi speed. The information provided by the survey can let you make an informed choice regarding which channel your network should use.
A simple channel change can dramatically increase the performance of your WiFi network.Similarly, the frequency that neighboring networks are using might slow down your WiFi speed. If all of the nearby networks are using the 2.4 GHz frequency, you might consider moving to the 5 GHz band to see if it improves your speed.
One important factor to keep in mind is that the 2.4 GHz band is better at penetrating solid objects and may actually provide more speed in some settings that the alternative of the 5 5GHz frequency. Best Apps to Check WiFi SpeedPeople often ask, “I want to test my Internet speed, but which WiFi speed test app should I choose?” The answer is simple: choose the app that best meets your needs.As you’ll see, some WiFi speed test apps are extremely simple and designed to do just one thing, while others are more complex. If you’re a home user, you probably don’t want to spend long hours learning how to use a professional application that offers 100x as many features as you actually need. Instead, you should pick something that’s easy to use and comes with an intuitive graphical user interface.Simplicity has its merits when you only need to check what your current WiFi speed is, but extra features come in handy when you decide to do something about it. Always select a wireless speed test app that supports the latest WiFi standards and the most commonly used WiFi frequency ranges.
What may be even more important than features, though, is accuracy.The last thing you want to do is accuse your ISP of not living up to its promises only to find out that the WiFi speed test app you’ve been using is inaccurate. There are many wireless speed test apps out there, but only a handful are mature, polished products that are ready for daily use. We recommend you to choose a wireless speed test app from a professional developer that knows how to develop world-class software and always stands behind its customers.We’ve selected the top 4 best WiFi speed test apps that you can use to instantly check WiFi speed and picked our favorite. I tested each system by wandering through my house with a laptop running Netspot, an app that builds a “heat map” of Wi-Fi strength.
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DAVID POGUE. YAHOO FINANCEIf you have selected this option, NetSpot will measure the network speed at each data sampling point by sending requests to various servers and calculating the time needed to send a request and to receive a response. Perform this process for every network you select to test. Once the survey is completed you can review the visualization data for the tested wireless network speed. Are Internet Speed Tests Accurate?There are many online sites that offer to check your WiFi speed.
They will check the upload and download speed as well as the ping rate of your wireless network. Testing your Internet connection with one of these tools will give you some numbers to work with, but can you trust the results?Yes, Internet speed tests are typically accurate, but they are far from perfect. When a doctor measures a patient’s blood pressure, he or she knows there are a number of factors that may influence the measurement and compromise its accuracy. Similarly, there are many factors that may negatively influence the accuracy of Internet speed tests, and you need to be mindful of them in order to obtain accurate results. Among them are:. The location of the testing device: Unless you’re testing a network using a wired connection, your location will have a dramatic impact on the results. The WiFi signal has only a limited ability to penetrate obstacles, and it loses strength with each obstacle it penetrates.
That’s why you probably won’t have a problem achieving the Internet speeds advertised by your ISP when standing right next to the router, but won’t be able to achieve anything close to them in a different room. Best Online WiFi Speed Test ServicesSometimes you don’t want to see detailed statistics about your WiFi network.
You just want to know your current download and upload speed. Online WiFi speed test services are perfect for this purpose, and we’ve picked three popular options.Created by Google for its fiber-to-the-premises service, Google Speed Test is a lightweight online WiFi Speed Test with a material design user interface with a single main button. Although the service is intended for people who want to speed test Google Fiber, anyone can use it without limitations.Speedtest by Ookla is arguably the best-known online WiFi speed test, featuring an appealing user interface that shows your current IP address alongside your latency, download speed, and upload speed. Speedtest by Ookla has servers around the world, so the results it displays always reflect reality.Fast.com is hands-down the simplest online WiFi speed test service there is. As soon as you visit the website, an internet speed test automatically begins. After just a few seconds, you will see your download speed displayed in large-size digits.
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