Broadband Speed Test

Broadband Speed Checker

Our free broadband speed test is designed to give the most accurate results available. The broadband speed checker is best suited to UK broadband users though it will work for broadband connections in other countries. The broadband speed check reports on the actual internet speed for uploads and downloads available through your internet connection. The internet speed test will work for any type of connection including ADSL, cable and mobile broadband. To test your broadband speed:

Close any other applications you have open (as these will affect your internet speed check)

1. Enter details of your current package
2. Run the speed test
3. The results will show your actual speed compared to the speed your provider quotes
4. The results show two types of broadband speed explained below:

Broadband download speed: The speed you broadband can download information from the internet, this is important for downloading music, video, email attachments and other files.

Broadband upload speed test: The speed that your broadband internet connection sends information back to the internet and is important for online gaming and internet phone calls.

If your broadband connection is slow it may be due to speed issue with your computer and you may need to contact a computer repair service

Internet Speed Test

FAQs:

How long will the internet speed test take? Not long at all usually around 10-20 seconds. Other internet speed test may run quicker but by doing so the internet speed check result may be less accurate.

Does you internet speed check measure upload and download speeds? Yes our internet speed check measures both.

Is your internet speed checker accurate? We've run over a million UK broadband speed tests and have continuously developed and an improved our internet speed checker.

Mobile Broadband Speed Test

Our broadband speed test measures all types of broadband and is designed to be able to run an accurate mobile broadband speed test. Thousands of people run a mobile broadband speed check each month and we have no problem with any type of mobile internet.

Broadband Speed Check

We're continuously looking to develop and improve our broadband speed check so if you have suggestions about how we could improve our broadband speed checker please do get in touch. We are currently looking at what we can do to further improve our speed checker so watch this space for future developments!

Slow internet connection?

There are a number of possible reasons that could explain why your internet connection is not as fast as it could be. To see how to speed up your internet connection read our guide to getting faster broadband.

Distance from your phone exchange will affect ADSL broadband (most types of broadband are ADSL other than Virgin Cable broadband).  The further you are from the Contention ratio: This is the number of people sharing the broadband connection. A contention ratio of 50:1 would mean that if you were online you could be sharing your connection with up to a maximum 49 other people. The lower the contention ratio the faster your broadband connection is likely to be, so a contention ratio of 20:1 is better than a contention ratio of 50:1.

Bandwidth Throttling: This is a controversial measure used by some broadband providers where broadband speed is intentionally reduced for very heavy broadband users who download large amounts of data. Virgin Media have been guilty of bandwidth throttling though this has been reduced recently.

For a quick fix to slow internet speed try Onspeed, a nifty piece of software that compresses data your computer downloads from the internet speeding up broadband connections by up to 5X and dialup internet by up to 10X.

Computer problems: Your computer or laptop may be the cause of your slow internet connection in which case you may wish to contact a local pc repair service

How can I increase my internet speed?

There are many reasons for slow internet; we list the most common problems and the best solutions. For a quick fix to slow internet speeds try subscribing to Onspeed, a clever bit of kit that can speed a broadband connection up 5 fold and a dial-up connection up to 10 fold.

If you are unsure of your internet speed, use our speed tester to see what speed your connection is running at.

Browser: This is a common reason for a slow connection and a relatively easy one to fix. Internet explorer is the most common internet browser and some of the older versions don't download web pages in the most efficient way. If you are on Internet Explorer version 6 or lower than upgrade to version 7.  Alternatively try one of the other web browsers such as Firefox or Opera.

If you have upgraded from dial-up to broadband your computer may not realise this and may still be trying to dial up every time you go online. If you browser is Internet Explorer to fix this: go to 'tools', select 'Internet Options' and then pick Connections and make sure that 'Never dial a connection' is selected then click 'apply' and then 'OK'.

Don't share your internet connection: If you have a wireless broadband connection you should ensure it is password protected. If it's not neighbours could connect to your broadband. This not only slows down your internet speed but is also a security risk.

Routers: you may be able to adjust your router to increase your connection speed, check the manual or speak to the router manufacturers to do this as it differs from one make of router to another. If you have a cheap router or one that has been provided free with your broadband connection upgrading to a better router could increase speed and have other benefits including a higher level of security features. Routers can be ordered online from retailers like PC World, Comet or Dixons.

Position your Wireless router in the right place: If you have wireless broadband try and position your router away from walls, above ground level and away from metal objects.

Remove unwanted applications: Applications like messenger, real player, VoIP (internet call applications like Skype), BBC iplayer and many more use bandwidth. If you don's use these applications remove them or make sure they don't automatically run when you turn your computer on. In addition to speeding up your broadband connection by freeing up bandwidth this could speed up your computer.

Call your internet provider: and if they can't help speed up your connection it may be time to switch provider

Onspeed: Onspeed is one of the easiest ways to boost your internet speed and is usually much cheaper than upgrading to a faster broadband package. Onspeed is a yearly subscription service that compresses data allowing your broadband connection to increase up to 5 times and dial up connection up to 10 times. More information on Onspeed can be found at the Onspeed website.

Switch Provider: Use our post code checker to find alternative broadband suppliers in you area.

Contact a specialist: If you are still having issues with your broadband and computer performance try contacting one of these recommended specialist computer and broadband repair services