| In today's world of computers and internet | | | | performance. In other words it figures out the speed of |
| communication speed is vital to success. The speed | | | | the service provider that you utilize and compares that |
| that your internet connection is operating at is probably | | | | with the speed that your system is running at. |
| very important you, even if you just use high speed | | | | To get a better understanding of this imagine the |
| internet for down loading YouTube videos. In order to | | | | internet as the communication highway, as it is often |
| see how effectively your system is running you can | | | | referred, and imagine all the traffic that is running on |
| run a bandwidth speed test. | | | | that highway, then imagine being able to gauge your |
| You probably do not desire to wait for slow | | | | vehicle (computer) against the rest of the traffic. Your |
| downloads. In the past if you had a large file or | | | | speed will also be dictated by the amount of traffic |
| program to download to your PC over the internet it | | | | that can travel down the highway, this translates into |
| may require being connected to the internet overnight. | | | | additional lanes. Obviously the more lanes a highway |
| In many cases this involved tying up a phone line. | | | | has the more traffic it can handle. |
| As technology has improved very few people use | | | | When you purchase internet connection with your |
| dial-up internet connection anymore. Most people have | | | | service provider they may provide you with an option |
| replaced dial-up with DSL broadband communication | | | | of different packages. The faster connections are like |
| methods. However, just because you are utilizing high | | | | highways with more lanes. If you want a highway that |
| speed internet does not mean you are actually | | | | has several lanes compared to a highway that has |
| receiving high speed connections. In some cases the | | | | only a few lanes you will have to pay a higher price. |
| speed you are getting is not the same as what you | | | | Of course, if you are paying a higher rate for faster |
| might think you are receiving. | | | | communication then you want to know that you are |
| It is possible to test your speed with a bandwidth | | | | actually receiving what you are paying for. The |
| speed test. If you are getting tired of waiting for | | | | bandwidth meter will provide this information to you |
| connections to take longer than you think they should | | | | and allow you to know if you are traveling at the |
| be, or if you feel your system is running sluggish then | | | | speed that was promised by the service provider. |
| you may want to run a bandwidth test. In order to | | | | If you decide to use a bandwidth speed test website |
| access these tests you will need to get online and find | | | | then you will be guided through the process. This will |
| a broadband test web site. These websites provide a | | | | include uploading a predetermined amount of data to |
| method to determine how efficiently your connection is | | | | your computer. The site will measure the time it took |
| running. | | | | your pc to handle this information. The results of this |
| These websites offer a bandwidth meter that | | | | test will appear on a graphic display or may appear as |
| provides the answer of how quickly your connection is | | | | a speedometer. It is important to keep in mind that all |
| functioning. This is accomplished by comparing your | | | | applications that are running in the background of your |
| current speed with the internet service provider's | | | | system will affect the speed that you are running at. |