
Xfinity Speed Test
Have them test your computer's speed with the Xfinity Speed Test. Xfinity will measure the speed from their servers to this computer. Results are usually lower than the planned speed due to WiFi conditions and device capabilities. Distinguish between "to your home" Internet connection speed and the speed of individual devices "in your home" are very important because they are two very different measurements. Internet speed tests, such as this one or the tests found at Speedtest. Net, measure the latter, or the speed to the device running the test. These test results are often lower than your planned speeds due to various factors beyond your Internet provider's control, including WiFi conditions and device capabilities. If you have good coverage, then your device should be receiving a robust WiFi signal. This strong signal will also deliver as fast as your device can handle. As you move further away from the gateway (modem or router), the signal strength decreases, reducing upload/download speeds and reducing coverage area. Gateway placement is key to ensuring device coverage and speed.
Your home WiFi connection is only as good as your gateway (modem or router) because all devices connect through it. They regularly upgrade their smartphones, but often neglect to upgrade the actual device that connects them to the internet. A gateway that is a generation or two behind may not provide the fastest broadband speeds for the latest devices. If you have an older gateway (modem or router), consider upgrading. How different devices handle speed varies by make, model, and age. Compare the speed of a race car to a minivan. You don't expect the same top speed, and neither does your device.
The internet speed delivered to your home is shared across all your devices. If too many devices are connected and using the Internet at the same time, the speed may not be fast enough. The result will be a slowdown on all your devices. Depending on the activity, your device will require different connection speeds to run smoothly. When downloading large files, the faster the better.