You’re paying for blazing-fast fiber internet, but is that what you’re actually getting? Whether you’re troubleshooting a sluggish connection or just curious about your network performance, running a speed test is the first step to understanding what’s happening with your internet.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about testing your fiber internet connection — and what to do if the numbers don’t look right.
WHAT IS AN INTERNET SPEED TEST
A speed test includes three key metrics of your internet connection:
- Download Speed: How quickly data travels from the internet to your device (measured in Mbps — megabits per second)
- Upload Speed: How quickly data travels from your device to the internet
- Latency (Ping): How long it takes for data to make a round trip to a server and back (measured in milliseconds)
Fiber customers should expect symmetrical or near-symmetrical speeds — meaning your upload speeds are just as fast as your downloads. That’s one of fiber’s biggest advantages over cable, fixed wireless and other connection types.
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HOW TO RUN AN ACCURATE SPEED TEST
Step 1: Use a wired connection
This is crucial. Wi-Fi speeds can be affected by dozens of factors that have nothing to do with your actual internet service.
For the most accurate test:
- Connect your computer directly to your router using a Cat5e or higher Ethernet cable
- Use a device with a gigabit Ethernet port if you have gigabit service
- Close all other programs and browser tabs
- Pause all other home internet activity (e.g., streaming, gaming, etc.)
Step 2: Choose a reliable writing tool
We recommend these trusted speed test sites:
- CommandIQ app (tests directly to the speed test server, most accurate)
- Speedtest.net by Ookla (most popular)
- Fast.com by Netflix (quick and simple)
Pro Tip: Run the test two to three times and average the results for the most accurate picture.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR RESULTS
What speeds should you expect?
With Tipmont Fiber, your wired speed test results should be very close to your plan’s advertised speeds:
- 300 Mbps plan: 280-300+ Mbps down and up
- 600 Mbps plan: 580-600+ Mbps down and up
- 1 Gbps plan: 900-1,000+ Mbps down and up
What about latency?
Low latency is important for gaming, video calls and other real-time applications. You should see sufficiently low latency with fiber internet, and here’s a general scale to track latency.
- Excellent: Under 20ms
- Good: 20-50ms
- Concerning: Over 50ms
WHY YOUR WI-FI SPEED TEST LOOKS DIFFERENT
If you run a speed test over Wi-Fi and see speeds significantly lower than your plan, that’s usually not an internet problem. It’s a Wi-Fi problem.
Here’s why:
Common Wi-Fi limitations
Older Wi-Fi devices
- Older smartphones and laptops may not support faster Wi-Fi standards
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): Typically maxes out around 400-600 Mbps in real-world conditions
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Can handle gigabit speeds but only if your router and device both support it
Distance and obstacles
- Every wall reduces signal strength
- Concrete, brick and metal are especially problematic
- Distance from the router significantly affects speeds
Interference
- Neighboring Wi-Fi networks on the same channel
- Microwave ovens, baby monitors and Bluetooth devices
- Cordless phones and other electronics
When to contact Tipmont
Reach out to us at 800-726-3953, ext. 4, or help@tipmont.com if you experience:
- Consistently slow speeds on a wired connection
- Speeds less than 80% of your plan over multiple tests
- Sudden, unexplained drops in performance
- Complete service outages
- High latency (over 50ms) on wired connections
Need an upgrade? If your speed tests are consistently maxing out your current plan, it might be time to level up. Give us a call, and we’ll be happy to investigate with you.
