What Am I Using?

Internet very slow?

Compare speed near your router, in another room and over Ethernet. Separate weak Wi-Fi, a shared broadband slowdown and delays before a page loads.

Where does the slowdown happen?

Compare the same activity and use the speed test when downloads, backups and video calls are paused.

A repeatable difference with distance points towards Wi-Fi coverage. One slow device beside a faster one can point towards its settings or workload.

Use the same device for one test near the router and one at the problem spot. Write down download speed and latency.
At the problem spot, compare another device at about the same time. If only one device is slow, pause its background transfers and try again.
If the whole room is affected, try a better router or mesh-node position and repeat the same test.

A wired result helps distinguish Wi-Fi from the router or broadband path.

If you already have Ethernet, connect one device to the router and run the same test with Wi-Fi turned off. Re-enable Wi-Fi when finished.
If wired speed is also low, check your provider’s status and repeat once at a quieter time.
Send your provider both results and times. Include whether the connection was wired or wireless.

A single speed reading is useful when you can describe how and when you measured it.

Record the time, room, Wi-Fi or Ethernet and whether other people were using the connection.
If only one service feels slow despite a good repeat result, compare a different service. If names fail to load at all, use the DNS guide to interpret the error.

A faster wired test on the same device makes Wi-Fi coverage or interference worth checking first.

Repeat the Wi-Fi test in the same room as the router. Note the network name and the distance from the router.
Compare the same device in another room and another device in the same room. Report which combination slows down before moving or replacing equipment.

A long wait before a page starts can have a different cause from a slow download once the connection is open.

Try several familiar sites and note the exact error. A name resolution error points to a DNS lookup problem, while a slow first load can also involve the browser, server or connection.
Compare on another device and network if possible. If only one website is affected, contact its support. If several names fail on the same network, tell the network owner what you tested.