Internet speed test: how to measure your real speed

Does the Internet feel slow tonight? The first reflex is often to run a speed test on your phone, from the couch. The number that shows up looks disappointing… but it often measures your Wi-Fi more than your line. Here is how to run a speed test that really means something, and how to read the result.

Why a test over Wi-Fi can mislead you

Over Wi-Fi, the signal goes through walls and floors, shares the airwaves with the neighbours' networks and depends on the device you use. An old phone or a tablet far from the router simply cannot receive the full speed of your plan.

The numbers confirm it. In Belgium, the consumer association Test-Achats analyzed nearly 30,000 speed tests run by its visitors since 2023. According to its review, reported by the CallMePower website on October 28, 2026, the average download speed was about 132 Mbps by cable, compared with a little under 100 Mbps over Wi-Fi: about a quarter of the speed is lost along the way. The article's conclusion fits in one sentence: one bad Wi-Fi test is not enough to blame your line.

Running a reliable Internet speed test in five steps

1. Plug a computer in with a network cable (Ethernet), directly into the modem or router. It is the only way to measure the real speed of the line.
2. Put the rest of the house on pause. A show streaming, a console downloading an update or a photo backup in the background use part of the speed during the test.
3. Close the computer's other programs and, for the length of the test, pause your VPN if you use one.
4. Run the test on a well-known site, for example speedtest.net, and always use the same tool so you can compare.
5. Repeat the measurement at different times, including a weekday evening, and note the date and time of each result (a screenshot is enough).

Only then, run the test again over Wi-Fi, in the spot where the connection feels slow. If the cable gives a good result and the Wi-Fi drops, the line is not the problem: it is the Wi-Fi that needs improving.

Reading the result: three numbers to know

• Download, in Mbps: the speed for receiving. It is what matters for watching a video, opening pages or downloading a game.
• Upload, in Mbps: the speed for sending. It matters for video calls, sending photos or online backup. On cable, it is normally lower than download: that is how the plan is designed.
• Latency (ping), in milliseconds: how quickly the connection reacts. The lower it is, the better for video calls, online games and phone service over the Internet.

Then compare these numbers with the two speeds of your plan. At Club Internet, each plan carries its two speeds in its name: for example, the 35 - 11 plan offers up to 35 Mbps download and 11 Mbps upload. These are maximum speeds: by cable, directly at the modem, you should get a result close to them.

In the evening, speed can vary

From late afternoon into the evening, many households are online at the same time. That is why the CRTC will require providers to show a typical speed measured at peak hours, between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays, according to The Canadian Press (September 10, 2026). We explain these new rules in our article on comparing Internet plans. A test run in the evening is therefore a good reference, as long as you run it by cable.

The result is low: what to do next

• The cable is good, the Wi-Fi is slow: move the router toward the centre of the home, away from obstacles, and use the 5 GHz band near the router. Our detailed tips are in the article Slow Wi-Fi at home.
• The cable and the Wi-Fi are good, but everything lags when the whole family is online: your plan may be too small for your needs. Our guide Unlimited Internet at home helps you choose the right speed.
• The cable already gives a result well below your plan, several times and at different moments: turn the modem off for one minute, turn it back on, then run the test again. If nothing changes, contact your provider's technical support with your screenshots.

Are you a Club Internet customer? Call us at 1 833 541-2582, in English or French, with your cable test results: they help us find the cause faster. More answers are in our frequently asked questions.

Need more speed?

Our unlimited cable Internet plans start at $34.95 per month and go up to 450 Mbps download, with free modem rental and no contract. To find out which plans are available where you live, check your address or place your order online.

Sources: CallMePower, “Internet lent : testez en wifi et par câble avant de changer”, updated October 28, 2026, based on a review by Test-Achats (Belgium) dated October 26, 2026; The Canadian Press, September 10, 2026, on Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-238 (consulted November 13, 2026).