Ever wondered what happens when you click "Start Test"? This guide explains SpeedTestAU's testing methodology and what each measurement means for your Australian internet connection.
What it is: The time it takes for a small data packet to travel from your device to our Australian server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms).
Why it matters: Ping determines how responsive your connection feels. Low ping is crucial for online gaming, video calls, VoIP, and real-time applications. High ping causes lag and delays.
Typical Australian values:
What it is: How quickly your connection can receive data from the internet, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps).
Why it matters: Download speed affects how fast web pages load, videos stream, files download, and games update. Most of your internet activity is downloading.
Typical Australian NBN speeds:
What it is: How quickly your connection can send data to the internet, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps).
Why it matters: Upload speed is crucial for video conferencing (Zoom, Teams), uploading files to cloud storage, streaming to Twitch/YouTube, and sending large emails.
Typical Australian NBN speeds:
Note: Upload speeds vary significantly by NBN technology type. FTTP offers the best upload speeds, while FTTN/HFC often have upload speed limitations.
When you run a speed test on SpeedTestAU, here's exactly what happens:
1Initial Connection
Your browser connects to our Australian testing server. We detect your ISP (Retail Service Provider) and approximate location based on your IP address.
2Ping Test (Latency Measurement)
We send multiple small data packets to our server and measure how long each round trip takes. We use the median value to get an accurate latency reading, filtering out any anomalies.
This test typically takes 2-3 seconds and uses minimal data (less than 1 KB).
3Download Speed Test
Your browser opens multiple simultaneous connections to our server and downloads test data. We gradually increase the amount of data being transferred to fully saturate your connection.
The test measures how much data you can download per second, calculated in real-time. We use multiple connections because modern internet activities (like streaming video or loading complex websites) use multiple simultaneous connections.
This test typically takes 15-25 seconds and uses approximately 10-60 MB of data depending on your connection speed.
4Upload Speed Test
Similar to the download test, but in reverse. Your browser sends data to our server using multiple connections, and we measure how much data you can upload per second.
This test typically takes 15-25 seconds and uses approximately 5-30 MB of data depending on your upload speed.
5Results Display
We calculate your final ping, download speed, and upload speed, then display the results along with your ISP information and test timestamp. The results are saved to your browser's local storage so you can track your connection performance over time.
You might wonder why we use multiple simultaneous connections during testing. Here's why:
Several factors can affect the accuracy of your speed test results:
Ethernet (Wired): Gives the most accurate results, testing your connection's true capability. Always use ethernet for authoritative speed measurements.
WiFi (Wireless): Results are affected by signal strength, interference, router capabilities, distance from router, and obstacles. WiFi speeds are typically 30-70% of your actual connection speed. 5GHz WiFi is faster but has shorter range than 2.4GHz.
Older devices, outdated network adapters, slow processors, or limited RAM can bottleneck your speed test. A 10-year-old laptop might not be able to fully utilize a NBN 100 connection, even on ethernet.
Other browser tabs, downloads, streaming services, software updates, cloud backups, and other devices on your network all consume bandwidth. Close unnecessary applications and pause downloads before testing.
Australian internet traffic peaks between 7 PM and 11 PM when families stream Netflix, play online games, and browse simultaneously. Your ISP's network can become congested during these hours, reducing speeds. This is especially common with NBN connections during "busy hour" periods.
The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) requires ISPs to report speeds during busy hours (7-11 PM) because this is when slowdowns are most likely.
Your NBN connection technology significantly affects your speeds:
ISP-provided routers are often basic models. A quality third-party router can improve WiFi coverage, handle more simultaneous connections, and provide better speeds, especially on NBN 100+ plans.
After running a test, here's how to interpret your results:
Your actual speeds should be 70-100% of your advertised NBN speed tier during off-peak hours. For example:
If you're consistently getting less than 70% of your plan's advertised speed during off-peak hours (on ethernet), contact your ISP. The ACCC requires ISPs to investigate speed issues.
It's normal to see slower speeds during evening peak hours (7-11 PM) due to network congestion. However, significant slowdowns may indicate your ISP hasn't purchased enough CVC (Connectivity Virtual Circuit) capacity from NBN Co, which is a common issue with budget ISPs.
Premium ISPs like Aussie Broadband typically maintain better speeds during peak hours by purchasing more CVC capacity.
Always test on ethernet first to establish your connection's baseline performance. Then test on WiFi to see if your wireless network needs optimization. If ethernet speeds are good but WiFi is poor, the issue is your wireless network, not your internet connection.
Each speed test consumes data from your plan:
Most Australian NBN plans include unlimited data, so this shouldn't be a concern. However, if you're on a limited data plan or using mobile data, be mindful of testing frequency.
Follow these guidelines for the most accurate speed test results:
While speed tests are useful tools, they have limitations:
Contact your ISP if you experience:
When contacting your ISP, provide specific speed test results including dates, times, and whether you tested on ethernet or WiFi. Multiple test results over several days make a stronger case.
For the technically inclined, here are some additional details about our testing methodology:
Your test results are stored locally in your browser using HTML5 localStorage. This means:
We do collect anonymous aggregate statistics (average speeds by ISP, region, time of day) but these do not include any personally identifiable information. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Learn more about internet speeds and optimization:
Ready to test your connection? Head back to the main page to run a speed test and see how your Australian internet connection performs!