Release Notes issue 1.0: Test your speed, test it right

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Key to getting optimal speed from your home broadband is understanding how speed tests work. I’ll use Ookla’s popular Speedtest app as an example.

The first step is launching the app (or go to speedtest.net on the web) and tapping the Go button to start a test. This sets the app on a search for nearby servers that are set up to work with Speedtest's service. It checks the quality of the connection to that server, called a ping, and chooses the one that will give the best result. 

Next, the app downloads a file and calculates how long it takes to arrive. Your device then sends a file back to the server, testing the upload speed. Finally, you’re presented with the final results, along with other information about your connection.

The key to knowing whether that info is accurate depends on whether you used WiFi. The quality of your WiFi signal, which radio frequency you’re using to the router and the type and condition of your device all play a role.

Pro tip: A good test is one that doesn’t go over WiFi. And the best test may be one that’s hiding inside your home network’s router. Newer routers have a speed test that’s built-in, and diving into its settings (or using an app associated with your router model) will let you run a speed test that talks directly to your modem. If you rent your equipment from your provider, an app on your phone or even on your TV may be available.

If your router does not have a built-in test, the next best thing is to connect a Gigabit Ethernet cable from a laptop or desktop computer directly to the modem, bypassing the router. But you’ll need to make sure that the Ethernet port or the cable isn’t slower than the speed of your service. For example, if you have an older computer with maximum Ethernet port speeds of 100 Mbps, you won’t get a usable result for any internet service faster than that. 

You may also want to try other speed test apps or websites, depending on what you’re troubleshooting. If you’ve got issues with video streaming, you should try using fast.com, a speed test run by Netflix. Another good site is DSL Reports’ speed test, which provides lots of information about your internet connection. 

Questions? Talk to me.

• Most folks know you can create a screenshot on an iPhone or iPad. On a model without a Home button, just press the Up Volume button and the Lock/Power button at the same time. With a Home button, press Power/Lock and Home at the same time. But did you know that, if you’re using iOS 13 or later, you can use this process to create a PDF of the full length of a web page in Safari? 

Although the feature has been around for a while, not a lot of people know about it, given that a story about it took off on the web last week. Here’s what you do: 

Once you generate the screenshot of a Safari page, you’ll see a thumbnail of it on the bottom left of your Home screen. Tap it, and the page will open up. Tap the Full Page button at the top right, and you’ll see a navigation slider appear on the right side. You can scroll down to see what you’ve captured, and the screenshot annotation tools are there so you can doodle on the page if you like. Tap the Done button to bring up the Files app, and you can place the PDF in the appropriate folder. (More details at HowToGeek.)

• If your copy of Windows 10 is up to date, there are two versions of its Microsoft Edge browser. The current version is based on Chromium, the same open-source project as Google Chrome. The other is a browser it built years ago to replace Internet Explorer, and for most it is hidden but still accessible. But when the April 2021 update of Windows 10 rolls around, the older version will be automatically removed. 

• Looking for a unique, virtual party? Play online bingo with some drag queens in Madrid, Spain, via AirBnB. 

A. Let’s start with the least-expensive thing you could do, but also possibly the most complicated.

The root of your problem is that your router is at one end of your home. Ideally, it should be as close to the center of the house as possible. If you have a way to move it there – say, to a cable jack that’s centrally located – that likely would fix the issue.

Your next option would be an extender for the Netgear router. If you can’t place your router centrally, put the extender there instead. Extenders just plug into an electrical outlet, so no connection is needed. Netgear’s EX3700 extender, which would work with your router, is not expensive at under $30. 

You mentioned the Eero, which is a mesh-network WiFi system from a company owned by Amazon. However, you can’t just add one unit, which is called a node or beacon – you’d have to buy an entire Eero system of multiple nodes and a router. Yours is a decent router, but the model dates back to 2014. Depending on how long you’ve owned it, replacing it with a mesh system could be justifiable. Eero systems run between $169 and $599, depending on the system you choose. 

One other thing to consider: Older homes such as yours may have plaster walls with a wire mesh inside. This acts as what’s known as a Faraday cage, which prevents radio waves from passing through them, and can make it difficult to get a good signal. A fix for that: Run a Gigabit  Ethernet cable from the router to your TV. That might require hiring someone who can do wiring work if you’re not up to the task. But that would fix the issue, regardless of what kind of walls you have.

Got a question? Ask me.

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