Used measuring methodics

The resulting speed test numbers are, of course, the most important data. So why not take a look at how the test actually works and is performed? Basically, there are two main ways to measure speed. Either we focus on several servers in different locations at once, or we choose only one server instead. Both tests are highly informative, but they operate on different principles.

Together, these tests provide a very accurate picture of how fast (or slow) your internet connection is. If you want the test results to truly reflect the real speed of your connection, do not run any applications and do not connect any other devices to the network during the measurement other than the one you are measuring the internet speed on. So how does the entire measurement process work?

Test with multiple server selection concurrently  indicated on the test start page as 'Your country (number of servers)' - for countries where we have multiple test points

  1. First, a quick ping test to all the servers in the given selection is performed. The ping test determines how quickly a given test server can receive a small amount of data from your computer. The shorter the server's response time, the better.
  2. Servers that manage to respond within approximately 1 second after the first server's response are selected for further testing; the others are excluded.
  3. Finally, the response time is tested on the server that was quickest in this regard. At this point, the 'jitter' value is also measured. Jitter expresses the fluctuation in response times and thereby the stability of the connection.
  4. The next step is a single-threaded download test, which is performed against the server with the shortest response time. A single-threaded test means that it is downloaded via only one connected channel.
  5. Subsequently, a multi-threaded download test is performed. This download test is conducted against all non-excluded servers that manage to open a connection within 1 second. The multi-threaded test measures multiple connections to the servers, but no more than 40 connections at once. It generally provides a better idea of download speed, especially where the connection is relatively fast.
  6. After downloading, it's time to measure uploading. First, a single-threaded test is conducted against the server with the shortest response time.
  7. Next, a multi-threaded upload test is performed. This upload test is conducted against all non-excluded servers that manage to open a connection within 1 second. The multi-threaded test measures multiple connections to the servers, but no more than 40 connections at once.
  8. The test is completed.

Test with a single server selection

  1. First, a quick ping test is conducted against the selected server. If the selected server fails, the response will be tested on all fallback servers. The final server chosen for value testing will be the one with the shortest response time.
  2. The final selected server undergoes a last response time test and jitter (response fluctuation) is measured.
  3. Next is a single-threaded download test.
  4. A multi-threaded download test is conducted against the selected server. Up to 40 connections are opened simultaneously, and only those connections that open within 1 second are considered.
  5. A single-threaded upload test is conducted.
  6. A multi-threaded upload test is conducted against the selected server. Up to 40 connections are opened simultaneously, and only those connections that open within 1 second are considered.
  7. The test is completed.

Why are the measurement results sometimes different?

Have you ever noticed that speed test results vary during repeated tests? Several factors could be to blame:

  • The number of devices currently connected to the network
  • Line utilization and aggregation (e.g., downloading large data volumes or HD video streaming during the test, testing at peak times on a shared line)
  • Operating system or browser characteristics
  • Congestion on the specific server you are downloading data from
  • Your computer's or other end device's load

Does the whole process seem complicated? It's necessary to obtain truly valuable data, so we need to test thoroughly. But for you, it means no additional complexity. You can find out your internet speed here with just one click.