You get a good internet plan, and your internet provider says it is fast. They get you to run a speed test, and it shows your internet connection is quick, but really, you do not see it. It is common for people to feel that their internet is slow even though everyone tells you it is fast. I got such an enquiry yesterday. No one likes to wait; reliable internet isn’t just a convenience. After all, it’s essential for keeping your business running smoothly.
The Limitations of Internet Speed Tests
People seem to expect too much from these tests. What internet speed tests do is measure your connection under ideal conditions. They don’t often reflect the complexities of real-world internet usage. Here’s why:
Local Testing
Speed tests will often connect to servers geographically close to your location, thus minimising delays and avoiding congestion when connecting to more distant places. Usually, large internet providers use their speed test servers within their networks. These problems cause artificially high results. Also, some providers deprioritise types of traffic that they think can wait. As a result, your speed test might look great, but your experience is much slower.
Simplified tests
Speed tests rely on consistent, high-volume traffic and don’t account for the complexity of everyday tasks like video calls, streaming, or running multiple devices on the same network. These activities introduce variables that can significantly affect performance.
Peak Usage Times
In Australia, internet speeds often fluctuate based on demand. I have noticed in the evening it can slow right down. People tend to ring internet companies for support in the day time when they have some time.
Outdated equipment
Despite what many say, the quality of your modem and router play a significant role in Internet performance. When we replaced outdated equipment on one site, we saw an immediate improvement.
Software and Background Activity
Sometimes, slow internet is caused by what you are doing, if your computer is working, people are doing things in the shop, background apps and/or automatic updates are running often without you realising it. Yeah it can run slow.
External Network Congestion
If what you are doing is going say overseas, who knows where on the chain something could be causing problems. This is especially relevant as many of our customers rely on the internet for contacting their overseas suppliers
Practical Steps to Improve Your Internet Experience
If you’re frustrated by your slow Internet despite good speed test results, there are steps you can take to improve performance:
Upgrade Your Equipment
Check whether your modem and router are outdated; maybe consider upgrading to models that support higher speeds.
Move your Equipment
Check that your modem is away from interference sources, and move cables away from your network cables if possible. We had a customer who was running slow. The cause was that one of their internet cables was running just on top of the fluoro lights.
WIFI
I recommend Ethernet cables for critical devices like POS systems; they are generally faster and more stable. WIFI can sometimes cause problems. We laid a cable in one shop, and the problem disappeared.
Schedule your usage
Often, just moving when you do tasks can help. If it tends to be busy in the evening, move the task to an earlier or later time.
Test
If you are going to use a speed test, try this one
What I like about it is that it can test your speed and then give you a score compared to what other people in your city are getting. It can also check your speeds to overseas countries if that is what you are interested in.
I set it on a computer to run automatically every hour and then see what it says over a day.
Contact Your Internet Provider
If problems persist after troubleshooting, I would like to contact your internet provider for help. Ask them about the area you are in and your expected performance.
A Reliable Connection Is Key for Retail Success
A reliable Internet service is a necessity for running a modern business.
If you’re still experiencing issues after all of this, it might be time to consider upgrading your plan or switching to another provider!
We did!
Written by:
Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.
