How Speed Tests Work

Internet speed tests measure your connection's performance by transferring data between your device and a test server. The process involves multiple phases designed to provide accurate, reliable measurements.

Each test phase uses different techniques to ensure accurate measurements while minimizing the impact on your network and other users.

Testing Protocol

Our speed test follows industry-standard protocols to ensure reliable and comparable results.

Measurement Accuracy

Several techniques ensure our speed tests provide accurate and reliable results.

Multi-Stream Testing

Modern connections can handle multiple simultaneous data streams. Our tests use parallel connections to fully utilize available bandwidth and provide more accurate measurements.

Adaptive Load Testing

The test gradually increases the number of concurrent connections and data transfer rate to find your connection's maximum sustainable speed without causing congestion.

Statistical Analysis

Raw speed measurements can vary due to network conditions. We use statistical methods to filter outliers and provide stable, representative results.

Cross-Platform Consistency

The same testing algorithms run across all platforms (desktop, mobile, tablet) to ensure consistent results regardless of your device.

Server Selection Strategy

Unlike traditional speed tests that connect to the nearest local server (often your ISP's own server), SpeedCheck uses a Standardized International Benchmark approach.

The Fixed Reference Point

We deliberately test against a high-performance datacenter in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This provides a consistent "fixed point" for all measurements, allowing for accurate comparison of international connectivity over time.

Why Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is one of the world's primary internet hubs (AMS-IX). By testing connectivity to this central location, we measure your ability to access global content, rather than just your connection to a local ISP node.

Benchmark vs. Local Testing

Local tests measure your "last mile" capacity. Our test measures your effective international throughput, which is often the bottleneck for real-world usage like streaming foreign content, international video calls, or accessing global cloud services.

Data Handling & Privacy

Your privacy and security are paramount. Here's how we handle test data:

No Personal Data Collection

We do not collect, store, or share any personally identifiable information. Speed tests are completely anonymous.

Test Data Usage

Test data consists of randomly generated bytes designed specifically for bandwidth testing. No actual user files or personal data are transmitted.

Secure Connections

All tests use HTTPS encryption to protect data in transit. Test servers are secured with industry-standard security measures.

Data Retention

Test results are not stored on our servers. Any temporary data generated during testing is immediately discarded after the test completes.

Latency Measurement

Latency (ping) measures how quickly your device communicates with servers on the internet. It's a critical factor for real-time applications.

How Latency is Measured

Latency is measured by sending small data packets to the test server and measuring how long it takes to receive a response. This process is repeated multiple times to ensure accuracy.

Jitter Measurement

Jitter measures the variation in latency over time. Consistent latency is important for smooth video calls and online gaming.

Latency vs Speed

While speed measures data transfer capacity, latency measures responsiveness. Both are important for different types of internet usage.

Next Steps

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