Understanding Download and Upload Speeds
Last updated
Last updated
Download speed is the speed at which data can be transferred from the internet to your personal device, be it computer, tablet, or phone, whereas the upload speed is the one that can be transferred from your personal device to the internet. They are measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
The download and upload speeds correspond to the speed tier your internet service provider (ISP) sells when you purchase your broadband package. You'll have a figure for your download speed (e.g. up to 20 Mbps) and one for your upload speed. These can be the same or different. Upload speed is generally lower than download speed.
For examples of speed tiers and packages, see Understanding Your Broadband Package.
You have installed your Whitebox, logged into your account, and can now see your data on your dashboard in the chart.
By default, you’re shown the download speed test results on your dashboard chart. This is because most people are interested in whether the internet download speed they are receiving matches what they are paying for. You can also click through your results for upload speed, latency, and packet loss.
You should be receiving download and upload speeds that are equal to or better than what you are paying your ISP for. If the speeds are lower than your contracted speed, then you can contact your ISP to ask them about this discrepancy.
A higher (or faster) download speed means that you can download more content from the internet more quickly. A higher (or faster) upload speed means you can upload content quicker.
Note: You can export data to an excel sheet or as an image to share it with your ISP. Go to Analytics, select Create chart, then Download CSV. For more information about how to view and create charts using Analytics, see Introduction to Your Dashboard.
