Running a speed test is the most effective way to understand your WOW! internet performance. If you have noticed that your movies are buffering or your video calls are dropping, a quick test can reveal whether the issue lies with your service provider or your internal home network. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about testing your connection and how to interpret the results to get the best possible experience.
Why You Should Regularly Test Your Connection
Most internet users only think about their connection speed when something goes wrong. However, regular testing can help you establish a baseline for what “normal” performance looks like in your home. By knowing your average speeds, you can more easily spot when performance dips and address the problem before it becomes a major frustration.
Testing is also important for verifying that you are receiving the speeds advertised in your WOW! subscription. Internet service providers often list speeds as “up to” a certain amount, and while some fluctuation is normal, consistently low speeds might indicate a line issue or the need for a technician’s visit. Knowing your data allows you to have more productive conversations with customer support if you ever need to report an outage or slowdown.
How to Get the Most Accurate Results
Before you hit the start button on a speed test, it is important to prepare your environment. External factors can easily skew the results, giving you a reading that is lower than what is actually being delivered to your home. To get the most accurate picture of your internet health, follow these preparation steps.
- Use a Wired Connection: If possible, plug your computer directly into your modem or router using an Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi signals can be affected by distance, walls, and interference from other electronic devices, which might hide your true connection speed.
- Close Background Applications: Any app that uses the internet can slow down your test. This includes streaming services, cloud backup tools, and automatic software updates. Make sure your browser only has the speed test tab open.
- Disconnect Other Devices: If you have multiple smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs connected to your network, they may be consuming bandwidth in the background. For the most accurate test, briefly disconnect other devices from the network.
- Test at Different Times: Internet traffic can fluctuate based on the time of day. Testing during peak evening hours versus early morning can help you see how local network congestion affects your experience.
Understanding Your Speed Test Results
Once the test is complete, you will see several different numbers. Understanding what these metrics mean is crucial for diagnosing your connection quality. The three most important numbers are download speed, upload speed, and latency.
Download Speed
This is the most critical number for most users. Download speed measures how quickly data travels from the internet to your device. It affects how fast web pages load, the quality of your video streams, and how long it takes to download large files. Download speed is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). If you have a 500 Mbps plan, you should ideally see results close to that number when using a wired connection.
Upload Speed
Upload speed measures how fast you can send data from your device to the internet. This is important for activities like posting photos to social media, sending large emails, or participating in video conferences. While upload speeds are typically lower than download speeds on cable connections, they still need to be high enough to support your daily tasks without lag.
Latency and Ping
Latency, often referred to as “ping,” measures the time it takes for a signal to travel from your device to a server and back. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). Low latency is essential for real-time activities like online gaming or voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls. A ping under 50ms is generally considered excellent, while anything over 100ms may cause noticeable delays.
Common Factors That Slow Down Your Connection
If your speed test results are lower than expected, several factors could be at play. Identifying these can help you resolve the issue without needing to call for professional help. One of the most common culprits is outdated hardware. Modems and routers have different speed ratings; if you are using an old router with a high-speed plan, the hardware itself could be a bottleneck.
The physical location of your router also plays a massive role. If your router is tucked away in a closet or placed behind a large appliance, the signal will struggle to reach your devices. Additionally, physical interference from materials like brick, concrete, or metal can significantly degrade your Wi-Fi performance. Electronic interference from microwaves, baby monitors, and even neighboring Wi-Fi networks can also cause speeds to drop.
Simple Steps to Improve Your Internet Speed
Before you consider upgrading your plan, try these simple troubleshooting steps to boost your current connection. Often, a few small adjustments can make a world of difference in your daily browsing experience.
- Restart Your Equipment: The simplest fix is often the most effective. Unplug your modem and router for 30 seconds and then plug them back in. This clears the device memory and can resolve minor software glitches.
- Update Your Firmware: Check your router manufacturer’s website for firmware updates. These updates often include performance improvements and security patches that can help your network run more efficiently.
- Switch Wi-Fi Channels: Most modern routers operate on two bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band has a longer range but slower speeds, while the 5GHz band is faster but has a shorter range. If you are close to the router, make sure your device is connected to the 5GHz band.
- Limit Bandwidth-Heavy Tasks: If someone in your house is downloading a large video game or streaming 4K video, it will consume a large portion of your available bandwidth, slowing down everyone else on the network.
When to Contact Technical Support
If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps and your speeds are still significantly lower than what you are paying for, it may be time to contact WOW! support. There could be an issue with the physical line coming into your house or a problem with the local node in your neighborhood. Be prepared to provide them with the results of your recent speed tests, as this data will help them diagnose the problem more quickly. For more helpful guides on managing your home technology and optimizing your digital life, explore our other articles on network security and device maintenance.