One of the most common scenarios is when the device and/or network is using a VPN. There are times, however, when this method can error. This method works and can be correct most of the time. Xfinity says that its speed test uses GeoIP data to determine your location and find the closest of their servers to transfer data to. However, if you choose a server much further away, then the data transfer will have much further to travel & will not be as reflective of the network’s speed capability. These servers are located in a variety of places around the country.Ĭhoosing a server closest to your physical location will yield you a slightly higher speed result. Xfinity tests the speed of your network by checking the time it takes for data to move from your device to one of their servers.

Some hardware will vastly outperform others depending on how they were made and how old each setup is. Such is the way with computer hardware as well. If you take the old beat-up summer car for a drive, it shouldn’t be expected to have the top performance of a brand new Aston Martin.

If this test is being run from an older computer that has older processors, wifi chips, and the like, then it stands to reason that the speed test could be degraded as opposed to the internet plan speed.Ī good analogy can be made with cars. Since the Xfinity Speed Test measures the download/upload speed to the specific device under test, the device’s age, make, and quality could play a big role in the perceived accuracy of the utility. These results may be extremely poor if the network fades in and out of the connection. The further you are away from the wireless network source, the worse your results can be. The most accurate Xfinity speed test utility results can be gained by using a hardwired connection with hardware that can support the network’s maximum speed.Īdditionally, if you are using the test on a wireless device, then the distance from your router (or access point) can directly affect the results. Wireless connections are, by nature, going to be slower than a hardwired connection. Depending on the wireless setup you are connected to, this test can greatly affect the perceived accuracy.įor example, if you have a fiber plan with gigabit speeds but are sending data over the air, then your results for the speed test will be lower than that gigabit speed you are paying for. Oftentimes, users of the speed test will test out their network speed via wireless devices.

The setup can be divided into two basic types: the type of connection and the device hardware. Since the Xfinity Speed Test tests a device’s internet speed and not the network’s maximum speed, then the way the device is set up and the type of device matter very much in the utility’s accuracy. Make Sure You Have the Right Hardware Setup Read on to discover what environmental conditions can affect the accuracy of this handy tool. These ideal conditions can optimize the results and give a very accurate representation of the network under test.Įven though the Xfinity Speed Test is accurate, various conditions can affect the tool’s accuracy. The Xfinity Speed Test is accurate, particularly under ideal conditions. With the plethora of tools out there, it can be hard to know if the Xfinity tool (or any of the other tools for that matter) accurately measures network speed. Xfinity is one of those companies, creating a tool that was originally designed for customers but can be accessed by everyone. Many companies have come out with online tools designed to test the speed of a network connection.

Xfinity speedtest