Speed Test

Ever wonder how fast your internet connection is? Well, here are a few sites that will help you find that out lickety-split:

Speakeasy: the name is a bit misleading but the site is great. The speed tester tests your download/upload rates to 8 US locations.

Bandwidth Place: this is probably the most simple and easiest to understand test out there. There are not bells or whistles to this site (like a little speedometer on other sites).

My Speed Test: This is another good one. I like it because it provides a rubric to which you can compare your results. Simple, basic graphics make it fun. Results are easy to understand. Make sure to scroll down to the actual test on this site. Its just a little bit down the page.

You may want to try testing your speeds at different times of the day. For example, try the test during the middle of the day from your home when traffic is supposed to be lower and from work or school where traffic should be a little higher. Then compare those results to a test later in the night, say 8-10pm. See how the bandwidth changes... it'll be like a science experiment.