Guides
Clear, practical explanations of what your speed test results mean and how to fix common connection problems.
What is download speed?
Download speed explained simply. Learn what Mbps means, how it differs from MB/s, how much you need for streaming and why results vary.
Read guide →What is upload speed?
Upload speed decides how well video calls, cloud backups and live streams work. Learn what a good upload speed is and why it is often lower than download.
Read guide →Ping vs latency
Ping and latency are often used to mean the same thing. Learn what each really means, what a good ping is, and why it matters more than speed for games and calls.
Read guide →What is jitter?
Jitter is the variation in latency from one moment to the next. Learn how it is measured, what a good value is and how to reduce it at home.
Read guide →Bufferbloat explained
Bufferbloat makes latency jump when your connection is busy, causing lag in calls and games during downloads. Learn how to test for it and how to fix it.
Read guide →What is packet loss?
Packet loss means data that never arrives. Learn how it affects calls and games, why browsers can only measure it in special ways, and how to fix common causes.
Read guide →How to test correctly
A practical checklist for accurate speed tests. Find out what to switch off, when to test, how to test Wi-Fi vs cable, and how to read results fairly.
Read guide →Why is my internet slow?
Step-by-step troubleshooting for slow internet. Find out whether the problem is your Wi-Fi, a device, your router or your provider, and what to do about each.
Read guide →Improve your Wi-Fi
Practical, low-cost ways to get faster and more reliable Wi-Fi at home, from router placement and frequency bands to mesh systems and wired backhaul.
Read guide →How much speed do I need?
Work out the internet speed your household really needs, based on published requirements for streaming, video calls, gaming and working from home.
Read guide →Internet for gaming
For online gaming, latency, jitter and packet loss matter far more than download speed. Learn what to aim for and how to reduce lag at home.
Read guide →Internet for video calls
What your connection needs for smooth video calls, using published bandwidth figures, plus fixes for frozen video, robotic audio and dropped calls.
Read guide →Why results differ
Different speed tests, and your provider's advertised speed, rarely agree exactly. Here is why, and how to compare results fairly.
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