Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

Last Updated: January 14, 2014

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In today’s connected society, nearly everyone spends time on the Internet. But what is Internet bandwidth? Fewer people are familiar with this term and what it means for the quality of their internet service. Bandwidth is the data speed supported by a network connection. The definition comes from the field of engineering where bandwidth represents the distance between the highest and lowest signals on a communication channel (band). Greater bandwidth indicates a greater capacity; however, it doesn’t necessarily indicate higher performance.

Factors That Determine Your Actual Internet Speed

If you’ve ever purchased a wireless-G router, chances are you’ve seen boxes which advertise speeds of 54 Mbit/s. Despite this, the average Internet connection doesn’t come close to putting this speed to the full potential because many Internet service providers simply don’t offer 50 Mbit/s speeds to the general public. Typically, 15 Mbit/s is what most internet companies will provide. Of course, depending on your location, quality of the infrastructure, and number of people on the network, your overall internet speed will vary greatly.

On the other hand, if you are on a cellular connection, the Internet speed will vary depending on if you are using a 3G vs. a 4G connection and also the quality of the signal. 3G has a max speed of 1-4 Mb/s while 4G is on average 8-12 Mb/s.

How to Keep Optimum Performance

Ultimately, when using the Internet, your speeds will be different from the Internet bandwidth promised by your Internet service provider. Fortunately, you can maintain a reasonable Internet speed by following a few common-sense measures such as avoiding illegal file sharing, using a residential rather than cellular Internet connection for heavy business activity, and also making sure that the speeds you’re consistently getting match the demand you need.

Although the question of “what is Internet bandwidth?” covers a vast field, to keep things simple, remember that Internet speed is what matters since bandwidth only tells you the potential peak speed. If you want to measure your Internet performance, you can use an internet speed test to evaluate if your Internet service provider is providing you with the service you pay for, regardless of if you are on a mobile or desktop device.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

Slow Streaming TV: How to Get the Best Possible Performance

Last Updated: January 10, 2014

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Watching TV without cable or satellite keeps companies like Netflix and Hulu at the forefront of the media news. But what are you supposed to do when dealing with slow streaming TV? What are the best ways to improve the performance of live online videos? Here are a few simple steps to take to improve your online video streaming performance.

More Bandwidth Always Helps

The easiest way to improve your video streaming performance is to bump up your Internet service to a faster speed. Netflix recommends at least a 3.0 megabits per second (Mbps) Internet connection to watch videos at DVD-level quality; a 5.0 Mbps service is the minimum recommended speed for HD quality. Many Internet service providers offer speeds up to 100 Mbps, which makes sense if everyone in your family wants to stream different HD movies simultaneously.

In some cases, those extra-fast Internet connections might not be available, especially in rural regions. Thankfully, there are other ways to optimize streaming video performance.

Improve Video Streaming on the Computer

It may be stating the obvious, but make sure to close any unnecessary web browser instances and chat apps when suffering from slow streaming TV. These extra apps stress out system resources that are better allocated for video performance. Use your smartphone for in-program chatting and social activity.

There are also a variety of freeware software video acceleration apps that optimize video streaming. These types of programs tend to work better with major video streaming sites like YouTube.

If possible, use a wired connection instead of your WiFi router when streaming video. The wired connection tends to be faster, especially if you are streaming on a device located a good distance from your wireless router.

While some of the methods used to optimize video streaming rely on spending money — especially upgrading your Internet service — experimenting with software video acceleration apps might improve things without the cash outlay, and you should always run a speed test to make sure you’re getting the most out of your Internet service. No matter your choice, it is a relatively easy task to improve slow streaming TV performance.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

What to Do When Your PS4 Internet Speed Is Running Slow

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The PS4 is currently the top-selling console machine in the US. People were already anticipating its release two years ago and were put on a waiting list a year before it came out. When you’ve waited so long to bring this new computerized gaming guru home, there is nothing worse than when your PS4 Internet speed isn’t as fast as it should be.

You may have expected to spend more time that night with his new best friend — the PS4 — than with your girlfriend. But you were probably expecting to spend your night playing that sizzling new video game, not staying up all night waiting for the console to download the game. By the second hour, you probably had a few choice words for your game console — but it may not be the PS4’s fault at all.

Software

Newly released consoles, computers, DVD players, and other electronics are usually pushed out the door with a few bugs still in them. The development team makes these bugs a priority and sends out a fix as soon as it’s ready. One of the first things new PS4 owners should check for is a software update to make sure they are running the most current drivers for their system.

Other software applications can slow down the bandwidth speed on the PS4, or the entire network. Verify that firewalls, antivirus programs and other third-party programs are not interfering with the PS4. If the software is on the computer, then it is nothing to worry about, but software that may be running on the modem or router can slow down the bandwidth speed.

Remember that removing firewalls or antivirus programs increases your risk factor against hackers.

Hardware

Routers and modems will slow down the bandwidth speed on a network, but they are a necessary evil. The better one you have, the less bandwidth that will be absorbed by the device. If your computer or other devices on the network are running fine, then consider other options. If the PS4 is wireless, then connect a LAN cable to it to see how it runs. Change the LAN connection to one of the other ports in the router to make sure the port has not gone bad. Change the LAN cable.

Wireless connections always get less bandwidth than wired connections. Wireless connections must travel through the air to get to the device, and air is not very conductive.

Playstation’s User’s Guide says to select Network, and click Test Internet Connection to test your Upload and Download speeds. Run a speed test on your other devices on the network and compare their speeds to the PS4’s. If they are all about the same, then you may have to contact your ISP to resolve the issue. Let’s face it, if your computer or other devices are running a little slow that’s fine, but if your PS4 Internet speed is slow, that’s just not right.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

Internet Speed on a Kindle Fire: Why It Matters

Last Updated: January 9, 2014

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The Kindle Fire is one of the most popular tablets on the market because it is an affordable device well suited for many tasks. Of course, most activities require a decent Internet connection, which is why being able to measure the Internet speed on a Kindle Fire is crucial to pinpoint trouble with downloads, video streaming, and other bandwidth-intensive activities. Despite the rising popularity of high-speed Internet connections in the US, when compared to other developed nations, the US is lagging in Internet performance.

Why Does Internet Speed Matter?

Although it sounds like a technical topic, Internet speed is a fairly simple concept to understand. Internet-intensive activities such as streaming video and downloading apps require high Internet speeds to ensure that the files are able to complete successfully. On the other hand, when you have slow Internet, downloads often need to be repeated, which, aside from taking up time, can also lead to extra data charges if you are using a cellular data plan on your Kindle.

Common causes of slow Internet speed include too many customers being on a given provider’s network or degradation in the infrastructure that provides the Internet service.

How to Measure Internet Speed

Although Internet speed varies greatly from location to location, you can easily measure your Internet speed with a simple speed test. For maximum accuracy, you will want to use a responsive speed-testing tool because that allows you to test your Internet speed simply by loading your webpage in a browser. This ensures that if you test your speed on other devices, you are getting the same measurements. Even if you are just focusing on the Internet speed on a Kindle Fire, being able to run a speed test on multiple devices is crucial to making sure your Internet provider is truly providing you with the services that you pay for.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

How to Perform a Xbox One Internet Speed Test

Last Updated: January 8, 2014

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The Xbox One has already sold millions of units globally. One of its features is the ability to connect to Xbox Live, which gives users the ability to connect to Skype, watch TV shows and movies, play games, and much more. Minimum bandwidth speeds are required to properly use some these actions, as well as play some games. Players need to perform an Xbox One Internet speed test to make sure their bandwidth meets the Xbox One’s requirements in order to fully enjoy this gaming system.

Run the Speed Test

You can verify your bandwidth connection before you connect your Xbox One to your network. The Xbox One does not have an option to verify the connection through its system; instead, it relies on your overall network speed. For optimal performance, perform the speed test on your computer, and have it hooked up the same way you will have your Xbox set up; i.e., wireless or wired. Our speed test at BandwidthPlace.com is a Microsoft-suggested site, and can quickly determing your internet speed. Write down the download speed, upload speed, and ping. These numbers can be important later if you have issues and need to get a hold of Xbox support.

Recommended Minimum Requirements

Microsoft recommends a minimum download speed of 3 megabits per second for online gaming, 1 megabit per second for SD video streaming, and 3.5 megabits per second for HD video streaming. Minimum upload speed for online gaming should be faster than 0.5 megabits per second. Streaming does not utilize upload speeds. The ping should be less than 150 milliseconds for anything done on the Internet. The lower the ping number, the more effective the connection is.

Connect to the Internet

Just plug the LAN cable into the back of the console box to connect to the network in a wired configuration. To connect wirelessly, you will need to go into the Network Settings screen. Select the “Set up wireless network” option from the screen. A new screen will open that shows a list of available networks. Select your router, enter the required password, and you are connected to the network. The Xbox One will only support one network configuration at a time. If you go to a friend’s house and connect to their network, then when you return home you will have to create a new connection when you get home.

An Xbox One Internet speed test should be performed periodically to verify there has been no loss in bandwidth. If lag develops over time, the first thing to do is perform a speed test. If any issues arise, support is always going to ask you your bandwidth speeds. If the speeds are not meeting the minimum requirements, it is an issue with your ISP and you should contact them for further support.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

Measure Your Tethered Internet Speed With This Simple Guide

Last Updated: January 7, 2014

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Even in an era of smartphones and mobile devices, occasionally you’ll need to find a way to get internet on your laptop and other non-cellular devices sans WiFi. In these situations, it is vital to measure your tethered internet speed to ensure that you have enough bandwidth to browse on multiple devices and that you will not hit your data plan caps.

What Is Tethering?

Whether it’s because you don’t want to add more devices to your cellular plan due to cost, or if you are at a slow WiFi hotspot, tethering is a great way to share your smartphone’s data plan with other devices. For those unfamiliar with the term, tethering simply means turning your smartphone into a hotspot in order to share your data plan with other devices. As discussed in articles by Lifehacker, tethering on your iPhone and Android can be done simply by downloading an app to enable the capability.

The Impact of Tethering on Your Cellular Plan

Overall, one of the biggest caveats to tethering is that you will be using significantly more data than if you were using your phone alone. If done excessively, you can find yourself way above your data plan limits and paying significant sums of money in overage fees. This is because mobile websites and apps are optimized for smaller devices and are designed to use less data. On the other hand, if you are browsing on a laptop, you can easy go through half a gigabyte of data or more just with routine browsing.

How to Measure Your Tethered Internet Speed

When you’re on the go it is vital to measure your internet speed because tethering often is bandwidth intensive. By using a responsive internet test tool, you can measure your internet speed on any smartphone, tablet, and laptop without worrying about compatibility issues. Although apps are available for this purpose, using a responsive tool is vital because it allows you to use the same tool on all devices, therefore ensuring uniformity across tests. By measuring your internet speed, you can better determine whether you should use cellular data or WiFi, plus you can also ensure that your cellular carrier is not throttling your data.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

How to Test Internet Latency on Your Computer

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Whether you’re playing online games, streaming online video, or engaging in other bandwidth-intensive activities, ensuring that you can test internet latency is vital for the smooth operation of your computer. Latency is a delay in the processing of network data. In the industry, high latency means that a connection experiences significant delays, while low latency means that the connection is performing fairly well. It is important to note that while the bandwidth going into your home is technically fixed, the actual internet speeds you experience will vary based on the level of latency on your connection.

Common Causes of Latency

The most common causes of internet latency include excessive internet usage during peak times, slow servers on the end of the website operator, and weather and other natural interference that can trigger performance issues on the network. The reason your internet might be slower during peak hours is that you’re sharing a massive bandwidth pipe with all the customers in a region. In fact, the reason many rural areas still rely on dial-up connections is that the regions don’t have enough subscribers to justify the investment.

As internet speeds have improved, many internet providers have been scrambling to upgrade their infrastructure to support the demands of the consumer. Unfortunately, between deteriorating copper/fiber and exponentially increasing usage, internet latency is a significant issue in today’s society.

How to Test Your Internet Speed

If you feel that you are experiencing significant latency on your network connections, your best course of action is to use an internet speed test tool to measure your network speed. In particular, you will want to use a responsive tool because that means you will be able to run the exact same tool on smartphones, tablets, and traditional computers without needing to worry about compatibility. If your internet speeds turn out to be lower than what your service provider advertises, you will need to contact your provider and have them test internet latency from their end.

Once the test is complete, the provider will then make the needed adjustments to ensure that your portion of the network is able to reach the advertised speeds.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

WiFi Booster: How to Use a Internet Signal Booster

Last Updated: January 6, 2014

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Despite advances in modern society, one of the biggest issues people face when using the Internet today is dealing with slow Internet speed. Although in many cases slow speed can be attributed to infrastructure issues and excessive load on the network, sometimes the culprit of slow speeds lies on your devices. As wiseGEEK discusses, an Internet booster can be used on most computers to boost speeds. By definition, an Internet booster is a program designed to optimize your computer so it performs more efficiently.

How Internet Booster Tools Help You

One of the biggest ways Internet boosters help to fight slow Internet speeds is through running tests on your hard drive and then correcting any errors it encounters. In theory, these tweaks help the hard drive to operate faster and also make sense of an Internet connection much sooner. Aside from Internet browsing, Internet boosters also can help improve email speeds — especially helpful for people who often deal with large attachments — while also helping to reduce broken connection issues.

Speed boosters can be used on both traditional and mobile devices to improve your speed. In particular, on mobile devices an Internet booster can be a great tool to help cope with bad Internet connections caused by low reception.

How to Test Internet Booster Effectiveness

The best way to determine if your Internet booster is working to fight slow Internet speed is to use an Internet speed test to measure performance. By using a responsive tool, you can use the same test on all your Internet connected devices without having to worry about compatibility issues. With only a couple of clicks, you can get a precise reading of your speeds and know for sure if your Internet booster is working.

In some cases, you may have to contact your Internet service provider to have them fix your connection. Common reasons for this include excessive load on the network due to too many subscribers, or even worn-out infrastructure. Fortunately, many Internet service providers are attentive to these issues and will work with you to resolve them in a timely fashion.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

How to Use a 4G Speed Test to Check Cellular Performance

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As consumers continue to rely heavily on their mobile devices for accessing Internet on the go, many cellular companies have been struggling to keep up with demand. Mobile internet usage in 2013 doubled due primarily to faster cellular networks and larger smartphone screens. This shift has caused a significant demand for 4G speed test tools to ensure that networks are operating efficiently. Unfortunately, this increased usage has also caused many cellular carriers to charge a premium for data plans to help improve cell network infrastructure.

Choosing Between 4G or WiFi

When you’re on the go, chances are you often have the option of choosing between WiFi hotspots or 4G cellular networks. Since many carriers often throttle your Internet after a certain level of usage, running a 4G speed test can be useful to evaluate if it’s worth using WiFi or if you are better off using a cellular network. By using a simple testing tool, you can save yourself from lag and other side effects associated with a poor Internet connection. Additionally, you can minimize reliance on expensive cellular data, therefore helping to keep your phone bill in check.

The Importance of Responsive Speed Tests

When you need to use 4G data, you need to be sure that your cellular carrier is providing you with the service that you are paying for. Internet speed varies greatly on most mobile networks. By using a responsive 4G speed test, you can ensure that your cellular carrier is providing you with the performance you’re paying for. “Responsive” is a common industry buzzword which refers to a website that works the same on traditional and mobile devices. This is vital when testing your Internet speed, because a responsive tool ensures that you’re getting the same metrics whether you are on your smartphone, tablet, or traditional device.

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Learn What Is Internet Bandwidth and How Is It Measured?

Dealing With Home Internet Lag Issues

Last Updated: January 3, 2014

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Despite Internet connections being faster than ever, chances are if you live in a typical house, you have experienced home Internet lag issues at least once in your lifetime. The reason behind lag isn’t that Internet speeds are going down, but rather that more devices are using increasingly large amounts of bandwidth. In most homes, there typically is a single bandwidth pipe which is then connected to a router and split among all the devices in the house. Streaming videos, playing online video games, having multiple mobile devices running continuously, and more all are common activities which can easily use up all the bandwidth in a home, leading to significant lag.

There are many causes of lag on computer networks, such as Internet traffic load, online application load, weather, and interference from other systems. These factors make it somewhat complex to resolve Internet lag in one shot.

The Importance of a Bandwidth Test

If you feel that you are having home Internet lag issues, your first course of action should be to use an Internet speed test to measure the speed going to your computer and mobile devices. If the speed seems to be reasonable, it might be possible that the lag on your computer is due to malware or other infections on your system. On the other hand, if the speeds seem to be low for your Internet plan, you will want to contact your Internet service provider and request that they send an engineer to test your connection.

As mentioned earlier, most homes rely on a single bandwidth pipe to provide Internet to every device in the house. In most cases, however, you’ll also be sharing bandwidth with the other Internet subscribers in your area. Over time, the infrastructure can deteriorate, requiring the Internet provider to make adjustments to restore your Internet speed. Additionally, as more subscribers are added to the network, the service provider needs to determine where to allocate resources. This is why lag typically occurs only during peak hours when resource usage is at its height. Regularly running a speed test can help you detect any patterns in your Internet lag and help you determine when you should contact your Internet service provider.