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Many people feel the urge to check their broadband modem's download and upload speeds. As a result, numerous speed-testing websites have emerged. However, these tests do not measure your internet connection's actual speed. Instead, they measure the bandwidth between your modem and the test site, with a maximum limit determined by the modem's speed. The bandwidth between two points on the internet depends on the capacity of the least available path, and if that limiting bandwidth is lower than the modem's, the speed test will return that reading. This result may or may not represent the typical speeds you can expect from other sites or at different times, depending on the location and timing of the bottleneck.

If you happen to select a test site where the available bandwidth on all paths is greater than your modem's speed, the test site will accurately measure your internet connection speed, as it becomes the limiting factor.

One of the most user-friendly speed test sites is fast.com. Hosted by Netflix, the site is free of ads, flashy colors, and complicated displays. The download speed is displayed prominently in the center of the window, making it straightforward.

One more thing: If you are using Bendbroadband (TDS), try this speed test first: speedtest.bendbroadband.com. For Bendtel users, use this: speedtest.bendtel.com. If you're on Verizon, try this: www.verizon.com/speedtest. For Webformix clients, use this: www.webformix.com/support. Centurylink users can use this: www.centurylink.com/home/help/internet/internet-speed-test.html. Why? Instead of testing the connection between your computer and my website, you're testing the capacity of your internet connection between your computer and your internet provider.