Now Broadband Fibre Speed Test

Now Fibre Speed Test

Speed testing your fibre broadband connection is the number one method for determining its quality – in terms of how efficiently it sends and receives data. Slow internet speeds drastically affect your online browsing experience, file transfers, and more.

Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) was first introduced to the UK in 1998, followed by traditional broadband using copper telephone cable in 2000. These technologies have since been surpassed by fibre broadband as it offers countless benefits compared to its predecessors. These include:

1. Increased reliability as there’s wider coverage and decreased network downtime
2. The glass fibre filament is harder to tap into than copper, which protects users from data theft
3. Unlike traditional broadband, which has different upload and download speeds, fibre cable’s speeds are symmetric
4. More resistant to electromagnetic interference
5. A higher bandwidth makes it easier to use cloud-based applications and lower latency ensures a higher quality of voice calls, streaming and file transfers.

What do the speedtest results mean?

When you conduct a Now Fibre speed test with Compare Fibre, you will receive four types of results: download speed, upload speed, ping and jitter.

– Speeds for downloads and uploads are measured in Megabits per second (Mbps) and a healthy fibre connection is a minimum of 35 Mbps. Speed measurements are made by sending sample packets of data from the device (such as a computer or tablet) to a remote test server. Try conducting the test at different times of day to see how the speed differs. It is slowest during weekday evenings.
– Ping and jitter are both measured in milliseconds (ms). Also known as latency, pings measure the amount of time it takes for your test device to respond to a request. Ideally, pings are less than 100 ms. Jitters should be less than 30 ms and this is a measurement of how the ping varies over a period of time. If your jitter is over 30 ms, you will experience issues with buffering and the connection dropping out from time to time.

Speed test results are also helpful for understanding what time of day is best to use large amounts of data. If you find the results unsatisfactory, it’s worth trying again at a different time. Alternatively, contact your broadband service provider for troubleshooting or search our website for new deals with Compare Fibre’s fibre broadband deal finder. Ultimately, you want to make sure that you’re receiving the best value for your money and that your provider is delivering the advertised speeds.

Getting an accurate test result

To ensure reliable Now fibre speed test results, complete the following steps:

1. Shut down any software that’s connected to the internet.
2. Secure all cables connected to your test device and ask anyone using the broadband connection to log off.
3. Electronic devices such as games consoles, Wi-Fi connected cameras, and smart TVs should be turned off.
4. Stop or pause any uploads or downloads.
5. If you’re using a wireless hub with your broadband connection, make sure that you are situated as close to it as possible and that there are minimal obstructions in the way of the signal, such as furniture.
6. Be aware that if you run the test during a weekday evening, you may receive poor test results as this is when the broadband networks are most congested.
7. Click “Now Fibre Speed Test” from the drop-down menu at the top of the Compare Fibre website.
8. To start the speed test, click the “GO” button.
9. When the test is running, make sure you do not use your computer as this may affect the test results. It may take more than a minute to complete the speed test.