Why is my download speed not matching internet speed in the evening?

“Why is my download speed not matching internet speed?” 

That question should be listed in our FAQ because we encounter it almost every day.

Also, this is a fun question because it allows us to clear up a common misconception about the internet.

Download Speed Test

Bit versus Byte

A bit is the smallest unit of measurement in computing. It can only have a single binary value, which is 0 or 1. Bit, in fact, is a contraction “Binary Digit.”

The network was so slow that we used bits to measure connection speed back in the day. However, we constantly upgrade it to be faster and more stable. Currently, internet speed is measured in Mbps, which is megabits per second.

On the other hand, Byte is a unit to measure data storage. A byte is made of 8 bits. To calculate the amount of data transferred in a period of time, we use MBps, which is Megabytes per second. That MBps is also used in modern operating systems to show download speed.

Now, can you see the reason for the most common misunderstanding?

A byte equals 8 bits. Your internet speed is measured in megabits per second, but your download speed is shown in megabytes per second. Therefore, your download speed should be eight times lower than your internet speed.

Slow internet

Also, there are different answers to your question of my internet speed is fast but download is slow. It can be either your device's disfunction or the number of people connected to the internet.

Why is my download speed so slow?

Too many devices connect to the network

If multiple devices are transferring data over the network simultaneously, they all compete for your bandwidth. For that reason, your internet bandwidth will be spreading across the network, decreasing your download speed.

Bandwidth rush hour

Your internet speed is not a fixed number. Depending on the times of the day, it may be slower. When everyone in your neighborhood is using the Internet connection, the speed can drastically drop.

The router is not in the optimal place

Find a better place for your router

The connection will be slow and unstable if you are too far from the router. On the other hand, the closer you get to your router, the faster your internet speed will be.

The location of the router is also an essential factor. A router located next to big objects or metal surfaces will have weak WiFi signals. Therefore, it can affect your download speed, making it slower.

Your router will transmit WiFi signals in every direction. Therefore, the WiFi signals will be a sphere around the router. That’s why you should place your router in the center of the house.

Out of date firmware

If your equipment is not up to date, it can impact your internet connection speed. Make sure to check for new updates for your router’s firmware if the internet download speed fluctuates recently.

How to update your router’s firmware? It’s much easier than you thought. You just need to restart your router, and it will do the rest. You can also measure how it changes by conducting an internet speed test.

MySpeed speed test tool

Conclusion

As you can see, download speed not matching internet speed is normal if it rarely happens. If you encounter that problem every evening, you should contact your ISP and ask for help.