Testing your broadband speed and connection

In geekland broadband speed is the be all and end all of Internet usage. Even the not-so-geeky are constantly seeking faster-better-more out of their Internet connection - and, seduced by the marketing hype around speed, sometimes paying for more than they really need. So how fast is your connection? Before you switch providers you might want to know how good you've already got it.

Speed testing: finding the tools

No, you don't need expensive gadgets to check your speed. What you do need is to access an online speed tester. The speed tester will ping your machine and give you a rating. If you are close to the hub for your Internet Service Provider you can expect a faster speed. Further away from the ISP's base and your speed will be lower - this is why ISPs say "advertised speed" - the reality can be very different depending on where you are down the line. That said, many people who do speed testing for their broadband connection are often pleasantly surprised. Bear in mind, however, that test results can vary, as do speeds from day to day, hour to hour.

While most people simply test their connection speed out of curiosity, using an onlilne speed test tool can also be a useful way of troubleshooting any connection problems. Also, when configuring your Internet access, it is useful to know the actual speed of your connection. This is also handy information to have when you are browsing the Net, so that there’s no confusion over when you should click high or low streaming, for instance.

Where you can test broadband speed

There's a large number of speed tests on the Internet, however it's best to find one based in Australia, as this will cut down the time it takes to send files from their server to your computer. Some speed tests are also inaccurate and can provide only estimated results, whereas we have a speed test on this site that can perform a highly accurate assessment. View our broadband speed test to see the speed of your connection and compare it with other types available.

Broadband testing requirements

In most cases, you do not need to download anything in order to test. However, as most speed tests are JavaScript-based, if you do not have the latest JavaScript installed, you may need to update this first. There are a few tests out there that are a little more elaborate, such as "Dan Elwell’s Broadband Speed Test", which also tests pings and trace routes, among other things. Unfortunately, this test is only available to Windows users.

Varying broadband speeds

Firstly, speed varies depending on your connection type. It's all about bandwidth: how wide your bandwidth is decides how much information can travel along it at one time. Cable and ADSL have a wider bandwidth than dial-up, so it’s faster. In a nutshell, what speed testers are testing is how much bandwidth you have.

Internet speeds vary greatly, depending on where you are located. If you were to compare broadband in Australia with broadband New Zealand, you might notice a difference on a national scale, however Internet speed can vary on a much smaller level, between states, cities and even suburbs. For instance, if you have an ADSL broadband connection that is a long way from a telephone exchange, your connection will be slower than someone closer to the exchange, due to the fact that ADSL is geographically sensitive technology.

Speed can also vary depending on how many people are using the line at any one time. The more packets of information traversing the Net, the more congested it will be, and the slower it will become. Like most things, it’s only as strong as its weakest link.

For an idea of speeds available, you can compare some of our fastest broadband plans.