Terminology | |
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Packet | The unit of data that is routed between an origin and a destination on the Internet or any other packet-switched network. What does that mean? a packet is a container of data. Learn More |
Data | Information that is translated into a binary form. Learn More |
Latency | is an expression of how much time (usually in milliseconds) it takes for a packet of data to get from one designated point to another. Learn More |
Jitter | is the variation in latency as measured in the variability over time of the packet latency across a network. What does that mean? Jitter is basically a way to measure the difference that it takes multiple packets to reach their destination. Learn More |
Ping | is a small program that will send a packet of data to a source and measures the time it takes for the packet to return or echo. Learn More |
Contrary to popular opinion all speed tests are not the same. Depending on what speed test you use, they all have different software to perform their test, and they all have different locations at which they perform the speed test.
What a speed test does with a web browser or App is connect to a server, which then measures the latency to that site using a ping. Then it either downloads or simulates a download of a file of a known size and measure the time it takes to receive all of the packets sent, that will show it’s download speed, it will then upload or simulate the upload of that file and measure the time it takes to receive all of the packets sent by your computer. That will determine your upload speed. Learn more
While the process sounds simple, all speed test companies will accomplish the desired test a bit differently and at different locations, let’s take a look at why a location would make a difference. Let’s take a look at three different companies that offer speed tests;
Company ABC is located in Brisbane Australia and offers free speed test to their servers.
Company XYZ is located in Seattle Washington and offers free speed test to their server.
DFN which is your Internet Service Provider offers free speed tests to their server
As described above the test sends a ping from their server to your computer and listens for an echo, that communication will travel from their server to your computer and return. The distance from your computer to the server at Company ABC is approximately 7222 miles. Resulting in that packet traveling from their server to your computer and returning to their server. Therefore that packet will have traveled 14444 miles to complete its latency or ping test, that will obviously take some time to travel that far which is about twice the distance between the north and south pole.
The distance from your computer to the server at Company XYZ is approximately 250 miles so that packet must travel from their server to your computer and return to their server, therefore that packet will have traveled 500 miles to complete its latency or ping test, that is approximately the distance from your home to San Francisco.
The distance from your computer to our server is definitely much shorter than either of the above name companies.
Now, why would that make a difference? First, we would need to understand how that packet would get from your computer to their server and back. To go from your computer to Company ABC in Austraila that packet would go from your computer through your router to our equipment and then through multiple switches on our network to our router. From there it would travel through our upstream provider, through multiple switches on their network to their upstream provider, through multiple different companies until it finally reaches the destination all the way on the other side of the planet. After all of that, it then has to turn around and come all the way back. The process would be the same for company XYZ although quite a bit shorter.
To use our speed test the packet would leave your computer, through your router, to our equipment and through our network to our server and return. As you can see there is much less time and distance that communication needs to travel.
Does DFN offer free speed test? Yes, Click Here!
DSL 5, 15, and 40 meg packages
Windows | Mac | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Microsoft mainstream-supported Windows operating system | Apple-supported OS X operating system |
Browser | Up to date version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer or Safari | Up to date version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer or Safari |
Network Card | 10/100 Fast Ethernet interface or adapter for wired connection | 10/100 Fast Ethernet interface or adapter for wired connection |
Ethernet Cable | Cat 5 | Cat 5 |
CPU/Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 | Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 |
Memory | 2 GB DDR2 | 2 GB DDR2 |
Hard Drive | SATA II 64 GB reading speed over 200 MBps | SATA II 64 GB reading speed over 200 MBps |
Fiber to the Home 100 meg packages
Windows | Mac | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Microsoft mainstream-supported Windows operating system | Apple-supported OS X operating system |
Browser | Up to date version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer or Safari | Up to date version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer or Safari |
Network Card | 10/100 Fast Ethernet interface or adapter for wired connection | 10/100 Fast Ethernet interface or adapter for wired connection |
Ethernet Cable | Cat 5 | Cat 5 |
CPU/Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 | Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 |
Memory | 2 GB DDR2 | 2 GB DDR2 |
Hard Drive | SATA II 64 GB reading speed over 200 MBps | SATA II 64 GB reading speed over 200 MBps |
Fiber to the Home 250 meg packages
Windows | Mac | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Microsoft mainstream-supported Windows operating system | Apple-supported OS X operating system |
Browser | Up to date version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer or Safari | Up to date version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer or Safari |
Network Card | 10/100/1000 Gigsbyte interface or adapter for wired connection | 10/100/1000 Gigsbyte interface or adapter for wired connection |
Ethernet Cable | Cat 5e | Cat 5e |
CPU/Processor | Intel Core i5 (or faster) processor | Intel Core i5 (or faster) processor |
Memory | 4 GB DDR3 | 4 GB DDR3 |
Hard Drive | SATA II 64 GB reading speed over 200 MBps | SATA II 64 GB reading speed over 200 MBps |
Fiber to the Home 1 Gig packages **Note: Due to Ethernet overhead, actual download speeds are limited to 940 Mbps over a hardwired connection.**
Windows | Mac | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Microsoft mainstream-supported Windows operating system Windows 8.1 (64 bit) or newer | Apple-supported OS X 10.8 or newer operating system |
Browser | IE 11 or newer; MS Edge browser (Windows 10); Firefox 40.0.3 or newer; Chrome 44.0.2403 or newer | OSX Browsers: Safari 6.2.8 or newer or Firefox 40.0.3 or newer or Chrome 44.0.2403 or newer |
Network Card | 10/100/1000 Gigsbyte interface or adapter for wired connection | 10/100/1000 Gigsbyte interface or adapter for wired connection |
Ethernet Cable | Cat 5e or better | Cat 5e or better |
CPU/Processor | Intel Dual Core i5 2.5GHz or better or AMD Dual Core K10 2.5GHz or better | Intel Dual Core i5 2.5GHz or better or AMD Dual Core K10 2.5GHz or better |
Memory | ||
Hard Drive | SSD recommended to achieve maximum download speeds 64 GB or larger | SSD recommended to achieve maximum download speeds 64 GB or larger |
For More information on Microsoft Mainstream Operating systems Microsoft Windows lifecycle fact sheet
For More information on MAC OS.
Speed Tips
If you have hardware, software and related equipment configurations that can connect to the Internet but that are different from the above recommendations, they will still work with your Internet service; however, our testing has shown that these recommendations will work best to achieve your provisioned broadband speed.
If you are not experiencing the speeds you expect, remember to test using a hardwired connection to the Internet. Also, make sure you are not in the process of downloading or uploading anything, close all programs using the Internet and power off any other devices that are sharing your home network.
Remember, there are a number of external factors that may limit your speed; as a result, actual speeds may vary. For the best performance, contact your device manufacturer or software provider to learn about required upgrades, configuration updates or to find troubleshooting guides.
WiFi Speed Tips
For wireless connections, you can improve your WiFi speed by positioning your Wireless Gateway centrally in order for it to broadcast its strongest signal. For better WiFi performance see these tips.
Customers receiving Gigabit Internet service should be aware that while these services can be delivered over WiFi, these speeds can be faster than some of today’s most advanced smartphones, laptops and tablets are capable of running.
To help Gigabit Internet service customers better understand what download speeds can be expected over WiFi, listed below are some know devices and the speeds these device can deliver.
Although download speeds up to 940 Mbps are possible with a hardwired connection, maximum WiFi speeds could be limited by your device’s age and model. Other factors could include how many WiFi-connected devices are in use, website traffic and content provider server capacity.
Device | LAN Port type |
---|---|
Chromebox | GigE |
Samsung Chromebook 550 | GigE |
Acer C7 | GigE |
HP Pavilion | 10/100 Mbps |
Samsung Chromebook | no Ethernet NIC |
Chromebook Pixel | no Ethernet NIC |
Samsung Series 5 | no Ethernet NIC |
CR-48 | no Ethernet NIC |
Acer AC700 | no Ethernet NIC |
Laptop Computers | Expected Maximum Speed |
---|---|
MacBook Pro 2015 | Up to 435 Mbps |
MacBook Pro 2016 | Up to 396 Mbps |
Dell Latitude E7470 | Up to 310 Mbps |
MacBook Air | Up to 266 Mbps |
MSI Laptop | Up to 248 Mbps |
HP Omen Laptop | Up to 245 Mbps |
Razer Laptop | Up to 226 Mbps |
Acer Aspire S 13 | Up to 200 Mbps |
Microsoft Surface Book | Up to 184 Mbps |
ChromeBook Plus | Up to 156 Mbps |
Lenovo IdeaPad | Up to 130 Mbps |
Mobile Devices | Expected Maximum Speed |
---|---|
Google Pixel | Up to 268 Mbps |
Samsung Galaxy S8 | Up to 266 Mbps |
iPhone 7 Plus | Up to 231 Mbps |
iPhone 7 | Up to 211 Mbps |
Nexus 6P | Up to 211 Mbps |
Nexus 6 | Up to 207 Mbps |
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 | Up to 202 Mbps |
Samsung S7 Edge | Up to 200 Mbps |
iPhone 6S | Up to 191 Mbps |
Samsung Galaxy S5 | Up to 175 Mbps |
Samsung Galaxy S6 | Up to 174 Mbps |
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | Up to 141 Mbps |
iPhone 6 | Up to 120 Mbps |
Samsung Galaxy S4 | Up to 113 Mbps |
iPhone SE | Up to 83 Mbps |
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini | Up to 58 Mbps |
Nexus 7 | Up to 42 Mbps |
iPhone 5S | Up to 41 Mbps |
Tablets | Expected Maximum Speed |
---|---|
Nexus 9 Tab | Up to 362 Mbps |
iPad Mini 4 | Up to 238 Mbps |
Surface Pro 3 | Up to 211 Mbps |
Surface Pro 4 | Up to 205 Mbps |
iPad Air 2 | Up to 199 Mbps |
iPad Pro | Up to 199 Mbps |
Galaxy Tab S2 | Up to 178 Mbps |
MacBook Pro 2013 | Up to 127 Mbps |
Kindle Fire HDX | Up to 76 Mbps |
iPad Mini 2 | Up to 73 Mbps |
iPad Air | Up to 64 Mbps |
iPad 4 | Up to 51 Mbps |
Zenpad S 8.0 | Up to 27 Mbps |
iPad 2 | Up to 23 Mbps |
Other Devices | Expected Maximum Speed |
---|---|
ASUS AC 88 | Up to 502 Mbps |
Apple TV4 | Up to 257 Mbps |
Netgear A6210 | Up to 192 Mbps |
D-Link Wireless DWA-182 | Up to 174 Mbps |
XBox One S | Up to 112 Mbps |
Linksys WUSB6100M | Up to 111 Mbps |
Netgear A6100 | Up to 107 Mbps |
PS4 Pro | Up to 96 Mbps |
Tplink TL-WN823N | Up to 53 Mbps |