Understanding Your Speed Test: A Simple Guide

PHOTO BY JKIMSEY ON PIXABAY

Running a speed test is easy—but understanding the results can be confusing. What do numbers like ping, jitter, or download speed actually mean?

This quick guide breaks down each part of your internet speed test so you can make sense of the data. Whether you’re troubleshooting slow Wi-Fi or comparing plans, knowing what to look for helps.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Internet speeds can vary widely—Japan recently hit a world record of 420,000,000 Mbps, fast enough to download Baldur’s Gate 3 in under 4 milliseconds:

But most of us deal with much slower speeds, and understanding them starts with a speed test.

Speed test results show download speed, upload speed, ping, and jitter. Download speed is how fast you receive data, while upload speed shows how fast you send it.

Ping measures delay, and jitter reflects connection stability. Together, they tell the full story of your connection’s performance.

What’s a Good Speed for You?

Your ideal speed depends on how you use the internet. Casual browsing and social media don’t need much—25–50 Mbps is usually plenty for one or two people.

According to the video below, you’ll want at least 10 Mbps for 720p streaming and 25 Mbps for 1080p:

More users or devices? Go higher.

Gamers should look for ping under 50ms. For video calls, stable connections with low jitter matter most.

What to Do If Your Speed Falls Short

If your internet seems slow, start by running a speed test. Tools like Measurement Lab and Cloudflare offer ad-free, detailed results. Mono County even encourages residents and visitors to test and report their speeds to help improve local broadband services:

Try using a wired connection or moving closer to your router. Restarting your modem can also help.

If your speeds remain low, test at different times of day. Consistently poor results may be a sign it’s time to call your ISP or upgrade your plan.