BroadbandSpeedTest

How to Check Your Broadband Speed

Whether you’re at home or in the office, it’s useful to know how to properly check your broadband speed. A few simple steps will help you see whether you’re getting the performance you expect.

1. Before You Start

To get a fair result:

Use a reliable speed test
Examples include Speedtest by Ookla or your broadband provider’s own checker.
Know your expected speed
Keep your package details handy so you know what you’re paying for (e.g. “up to 80 Mbps download”).
Restart your router
Turn it off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Give it a couple of minutes to fully reconnect before testing.
Pause heavy usage
Ask others to pause streaming, gaming, large downloads, cloud backups, CCTV uploads, etc. These can all affect the result.

2. The Most Accurate Test (Wired Connection)

For the most accurate reading of your broadband service, test using a cable rather than Wi-Fi:

Connect a computer directly to the router using an Ethernet cable.
Close any unnecessary programs and browser tabs.
Open your chosen speed test website.
Click “Go” or “Start” and wait for the test to finish.
Note the results for:
- Download speed (Mbps)
- Upload speed (Mbps)
- Ping/latency (ms)

Run this test 2–3 times and at different times of day (morning, afternoon, evening) for a fair comparison.

3. Testing Your Wi-Fi Speed

Once you’ve checked the speed by cable, you can test your Wi-Fi to see how your wireless network compares:

Move to the same room as the router if possible.
Connect your device to your Wi-Fi and make sure you’re on the right network.
Repeat the speed test using the same website as before.
Try again from other rooms or floors if you use Wi-Fi around the building.

If the speed is good by cable but much lower on Wi-Fi, the broadband into the property is usually fine – the issue is more likely to be:

Distance from the router
Thick walls or metal structures
Old or low-spec devices
Interference from other wireless equipment

4. Understanding the Results

Download speed (Mbps)
This is how quickly you can receive data. It affects web browsing, streaming, downloads and most day-to-day use.
Upload speed (Mbps)
This is how quickly you can send data. It’s important for video calls, sending large files, CCTV, remote backups and cloud services.
Ping/latency (ms)
This measures how quickly your connection responds. Lower is better, especially for video calls, online gaming and remote desktop connections.

5. When to Get in Touch

It’s worth contacting your broadband provider if:

Your wired speed is consistently much lower than your expected package speed.
You see the same poor results at different times of day.
You have already tried restarting your router and checking with a wired test.

Before you call, it helps to have:

Your account details
Your expected package speed
A list of test results (dates, times, speeds, and whether they were wired or Wi-Fi)

If you’re a KTGL customer, you can share those details with us and we’ll happily review them, run checks on the line and advise on the next steps.

6. How to get support from KTGL

Call 01482 291291
Email support@ktgl.co.uk
Alternatively, use our Contact Form