What determines how fast my connection is?

First, let’s cover a few definitions:

• Bandwidth – The amount of data can be transferred over time. Typically, this is expressed as megabits per second (mbps)
• Speed – How quickly data is transferred from a source to a destination. This is also expressed as mbps. Another way to put it is, how fast can the thing I want can get to my device.
• Latency – The amount of time it takes data to travel between the source and destination. This is measured in milliseconds.

When you sign up for an internet plan with Haywire, for example 300mbps, that is the bandwidth that is allocated to your specific router.

Downloading a large document from your employer at 50mbps is the speed of the download.

Latency impacts your speed, regardless of your bandwidth. For example, you are playing a multiplayer game on your phone and your delay is 100 milliseconds. Every button press you make is going to take 100 milliseconds to reach the server and return the button press acknowledgement back to you. Your opponent with a 5 millisecond delay is already 3 steps ahead because his latency is lower, resulting in his button presses reaching the server faster than yours. Latency impacts small requests and large requests alike and often feels like things take a while to start loading.

Many things impact a speed test:

• Latency
• Your device’s connection rates to your router
• The ability your device has to process data
• Your routers bandwidth
• The destination’s bandwidth to the internet

Wired vs. Wireless

In general, a wired speed test will be faster and more consistent than a wireless speed test. All Haywire routers and access points have a 1 gigabit ethernet connection. The limiting factor for a wired, ethernet, connection will be your service plan speed (e.g. 300mbps plan).

There are several factors that impact a wireless connection:

• How close your device is to the wireless access point
• Physical barriers between your device and the wireless access point (walls, doors, etc.)
• The Wi-Fi standard used by the device and access point (Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6)
• Interference from neighboring access points
• The amount of data currently being transmitted over Wi-Fi to other devices on your network

Most devices connected wirelessly can expect 50 – 250mbps on a speed test. Devices like smart televisions often use Wi-Fi 4 and may have lower results. This is typically not an issue as most streaming services only use a few mbps.

Why pay for a higher bandwidth plan?

Wi-Fi access points negotiate the speed for each device. You may have a television connected at 100mpbs, a phone connected at 250mbps, and a laptop connected at 200mbps. If all of those devices are in use at the same time, the total bandwidth being used may exceed 300mpbs. Your service plan is set at the router and is the total bandwidth that may be used across all of your wired and wireless devices.

If you only have a few devices that you use at the same time and are primarily streaming and reading websites, then gigabit speeds are not necessary. If you have a roommate and you both stream 4k videos and play online games, a higher bandwidth plan may be a good fit.

Now that you know the rundown of everything powering your internet connection, you're ready to check your network's performance. To get the most accurate readings for your speed tests, please read the Speed Tests – Performing an Accurate Test article.