How fast is your internet connection?
The internet has become a necessity for this modern era. Technological advancements such as the invention of cool and state-of-the-artmobile devices increased the need for internet usage. Because of this, you can use the internet conveniently with just a touch of a button. Different establishments like malls, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and even buses are now offering free Wi-Fi connection.
Be entertained by playing media files and games. Chat applications such as Skype and Yahoo! Messenger allow you to communicate easily with friends and families. You can also socialize using social media sites like Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Know the latest news by reading blogs and news releases from online news portals. These are just some of the things you can do with the help of the internet. But how can we enjoy these online activities if we have a slow internet connection? Here are some factors that will determine if you have a reliable and fast broadband speed:
No-Buffer Streaming
One of the fun activities you can do with your internet is streaming videos on Youtube, Facebook, and even on Vine. Have you ever experienced watching your favourite band’s music video on Youtube, then suddenly the video stops playing? That annoying thing happening is called buffering. It usually occurs when your internet connection is slow or unstable. It delays the progress of media files even while it’s still on play.
Ever tried searching for a podcast or webcast? These are other forms of multimedia digital files that can be streamed live. Some of these are recorded so they can be downloaded too. If you are fond of listening to these recordings, you may need a faster internet connection to keep the stream playing properly.
Playing these online multimedia files can be considered as one of the factors that may help you determine the speed of your broadband’s internet connection. If it takes too long to buffer a video, your connection is slow.
Also, take note of these terms: The download speed refers to rate of information received, while the upload speed refers to rate of information sent by the device which allows your PC, smartphone, or what-have-you to connect to the internet. These are measured in kilobytes per second (Kbps) and sometimes reach up to megabytes per second (Mbps), and the accumulation of data use by your broadband is measured in gigabytes per second (Gbps).
Do You have aData Limit for Your Broadband Plan?
You may also find out the speed of your broadband when you know the data limit. Also known
as Bandwidth, its the minimum unit of measurement is called bits per second (bps). It refers to the amount of data that passes through a network connection over time and represents the overall capacity of the broadband’s connection. You can achieve better performance if the capacity of the bandwidth is greater. The minimum rate is 64 Kbps while other broadband can reach more than 300 Kbps.
Network providers also offer broadband service powered by fibre optics. This innovation provides faster and more reliable connection. It offers stability and lessens dropouts that often happen with slow internet connection. You may also use websites that provides free speed test. Those sites check the speed by running a network diagnostic based on ping tests run on your internet connection.
Peak Hours
Don’t get too frustrated with your broadband connection if it’s too slow. There are certain times within the day (or night) when your internet connection may drop out or slow down. During peak hours, there’s traffic in the network connection caused by there being too many people using it at the same time.
Hardware
Another possible reason why your internet connection may be slow is because of the hardware you are using for your broadband. There are different models and brands of broadband connections that cater only to a specified capacity. If your broadband device can only run on 3G, then you cannot maximize the speed of the internet connection greater than that. Even Wi-Fi routers have this feature.
Technically speaking, the performance and the speed of your broadband connection will mostly depend on the service provider and plan you purchased. You may also take a look at the said factors and evaluate if it you also experienced these affects the speed of your broadband connection.
*pictures for illustrative purposes only.
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This article is exclusively written for KeeManXP.com by CompareHero.my. The Malaysia’s leading comparison portal for broadband plans which helps consumers in finding the best speed and affordability at the right price. Please do check our website to learn more.
