Guides
Understand your connection
Short, practical guides about speed units, plans, latency and home networking. Start with the basics, then go deeper where it matters for you.
Mbps means megabits per second. Learn how it differs from MB/s and MiB/s, calculate transfer time and compare measurements under matching conditions.
What Is a Good Internet Speed?A good internet speed depends on how many people and applications share the connection.
How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?Estimate download and upload capacity from simultaneous activities. Use specific Netflix and Zoom examples and compare your connection before changing plans.
Download vs Upload SpeedUnderstand download and upload, estimate transfer times and investigate differences between your plan, speed test and apps.
What Is Latency?Latency is communication delay. A ping result usually describes the round-trip time to a specific destination.
Wi-Fi and Ethernet: How to Compare ResultsCompare Wi-Fi and Ethernet on the same device with the same test method. Check the actual connection path, wired limits and what the results can show.
Where Should You Place Your Router?Choose a suitable router position and compare coverage and speed where you actually use Wi-Fi. Follow your model's guidance for antennas, ventilation and connections.
2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz Wi-Fi: Which Band to Use?Compare 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz at the places you use Wi-Fi. Check the connected band, device support, mesh path, interruptions and safe router settings.
How Much Internet Speed Do Games Need?Installed games, cloud gaming and broadcasting your play have different network needs.
How Much Speed Does 4K Streaming Need?Netflix recommends at least 15 Mbps for 4K; YouTube recommends about 20 Mbps. Check the viewing device, playback requirements and simultaneous use as well.
Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7: Should You Upgrade?Compare Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 before upgrading: check device compatibility, coverage, wired speed and the bottleneck that a new router can address.
What Is Bufferbloat?Bufferbloat is excessive delay from persistent packet queues. Compare idle and loaded latency, separate download from upload, and verify any queue-management change.
What Is DNS and Does It Affect Speed?DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses.
What Is IPv6 and Do You Need It?How IPv6 works and what an IP lookup can tell you about your connection.
100 Mbps vs 500 Mbps: Which Plan?Compare simultaneous use, large downloads, upload speeds and extra costs before choosing between 100 and 500 Mbps.
500 Mbps vs 1 Gbps: Is Gigabit Worth It?Compare 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps using large-file waiting times, device and connection limits, upload rates and total extra cost. Monthly data volume alone does not settle the choice.
How to Read Speed Test ResultsInterpret Mbps, ping, bars and quality scores, compare your plan and choose useful follow-up checks.
Ethernet Cables Explained: Cat5e, Cat6 and BeyondChoose Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6A for the link you need, and investigate 100 Mbps links, dropouts and cable swaps with controlled comparisons.
What Is Jitter?Jitter describes changing network delay. Learn how measurement methods, application statistics and controlled comparisons help explain timing problems.
5G Home Internet: When Does It Make Sense?Assess 5G home internet with the offered gateway at your address. Compare placement, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, evening performance and the apps you need.
Fiber vs Cable vs DSL: What Is the Difference?Compare the connection paths behind fibre, cable and DSL. Confirm your actual service, interpret controlled tests and choose by upload, reliability and contract costs.