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Internet Speed: How to Carry out A Speed Test
If you are experiencing any connection issues relating to speeds it is recommended that you carry
out a speed test. Before starting the test please make sure that you have no other programs running
that may be using the internet connection as this will cause the results to be inaccurate. Please
ensure that you are not currently shaped, this can be check by accessing your account details from
our homepage.
To carry out a speed test go to:
http://speedcheck.aussiebroadband.com.au/SpeedCheck.php
Select a file to download (preferably a file larger than 10Mb). Save this file to your desktop or
somewhere that you can easily find to delete it later on. Wait for a minute or two until the transfer
rate settles somewhat and take note of it. This is your current download speed.
Internet Speed: What Affects It?
The speed of your ADSL connection can be affected by numerous factors, as shown below. Some of
these you may be able to improve yourself, while others you have no control over.
•
Distance from the exchange:
One of the main factors that determine the speed of your ADSL
connection is the cable distance from the telephone exchange to your property. The closer
you are to the exchange, the faster your broadband connection speed can be.
•
Number of people sharing the connection & how many tasks are being carried out online at
once:
If there are multiple computers or other devices connected to the ADSL service within
your home, it’s possible that one of them may be causing slow speeds. When a computer
downloads large files or updates they can effectively slow down all other internet traffic on
your network. This also applies if you are attempting to carry out multiple tasks online at the
same time.
•
The Quality of your cables and modem:
The cabling, both to your house and inside it, play a
significant role in determining your internet speed. If the phone lines are in good condition,
your internet speeds will increase. Similarly, the better the quality of the modem or router,
the faster your internet connection. Hence good quality wiring and short cables should be
used.
•
The Website you are looking at:
If there are a lot of people attempting to access the same
website at the same time (such as bank sites) this will affect your internet speed. The server
that hosts the website has to work harder to serve the requests, hence if more people
request the site than the server can handle then the speed of that site will decrease. If this
happens, try accessing the website at a less busy time.
•
Spyware, Viruses & Adware:
If there is any form of infection on your computer, this can
seriously slow down your internet speed. Make sure that you have an anti-virus program
installed onto your computer and that you regularly remove any spyware or adware that may
be on your PC.
