Upload Speed
Listen to music on the Internet, stream videos, surf the web or upload/download documents. All this is usually possible without any problems nowadays. However, everyone knows the situation where the video just won't load or the upload of an important document won't work. This is where the bandwidth comes into play, which provides information about how smoothly your activities run on the Internet.
What is the upload speed?
The upload speed becomes noticeable at the latest when you want to upload larger documents. The upload is usually much slower than the download. Every action that you perform on the Internet ultimately results in an upload or download of data. For example, streaming videos counts as a download, and posting pictures (on social networks) counts as an upload. The size of your upload and download speed depends on the bandwidth of your Internet provider.
Role of bandwidth on the Internet
The bandwidth is an indicator of the maximum possible speed of an Internet connection that can be used. It is the difference between the upper and lower frequency, it is the range in which the transmission of electrical signals is possible. The greater the bandwidth, the faster the transmission of electrical signals. It is measured in thousands, for example DSL 6000, which is 6 Mbit.
However, as a customer, you should not believe everything that the providers want to sell you. They often advertise with large numbers, but do not mention that the speed, that can be achieved, depends on the location. In this case, it is also important to take a look at the fine print. Because if you order an Internet connection and find out afterwards that you can't reach the promised speed, you are often bound to a minimum term of 12 or 24 months.
The speed that is ultimately available has technical reasons, because the further away the end user is from the nearest exchange, the lower the speed available to him. Assuming you have a provider who advertises 16 Mbit, but you are two or three kilometers away from the exchange, this distance can amount to a whole 6 Mbit. To avoid such pitfalls, it is advisable to choose a reputable provider who offers you the opportunity to test the expected speed at your connection in advance. This means that you, as the customer, are aware of the bandwidth you will be able to use before signing the contract.
What upload speed is recommended?
There are numerous Internet rates, but many customers don't know what speed they really need and are easily talked into an overpriced rate. For the average Internet user, a bandwidth of 16 MBit/s is sufficient. For larger households or streaming fans, a bandwidth of 50 MBit/s is recommended.
However, you should be careful with LTE rates, because several users share a cell tower, which affects the Internet speed, especially during peak hours. As soon as you have used up a certain data volume, your bandwidth is throttled by the provider.
Check and optimize upload speed
If you already have an Internet provider, but problems with uploading certain documents keep occurring, it is advisable to carry out a speed test first. Here, your ping value is measured, which is used as a parameter to test the response time of the Internet connection. The time span between the sending of a data packet to a receiver and the directly sent back answer is measured. The time span is called packet round trip time (RTT) or ping time. In short, the ping represents the reachability of servers and computers on a network, so the lower the value, the faster your data transmission. The ping time is measured in milliseconds. Since the maximum data rate never reaches your home due to intermediate points or transmission errors, you are in the green zone if you reach two-thirds of the maximum data rate. Basically, values of up to 120 ms are a good value for the ping time.
Apart from the fact that your upload speed depends on the general speed of your connection, there are a few tricks you can use to increase it. First, check if there are any downloads or updates running in the background, as they can reduce the speed. Also, if someone else is on the same internet line, you may experience severe speed drops. Sometimes, viruses or malware can also affect your Internet accessibility. For this reason, antivirus software can help you find malicious programs and remove them. Another option is to switch from WLAN to Lan. Simply connect your device to your router through a network cable. This will avoid any delays between the outgoing signal from the router and the reception of the signal from your computer.
