Most speed tests run over WiFi, which rarely reaches gigabit speeds. Test on a wired computer plugged directly into the router. If wired speed is still low, check the modem, router ports, and cables — any one slow link limits everything after it.
Common causes
Testing over WiFi
Even good WiFi usually delivers well below a gigabit plan, especially at a distance or through walls.
Slow cable or port in the chain
An old Cat5 cable or a 100 Mbps port on a router or switch caps speed at about 94 Mbps.
Router can't handle the speed
Older or low-end routers can't route gigabit traffic, especially with security features turned on.
Old or rented modem
Provider modems that are outdated may not support your current plan's speed.
Testing device limits
Older laptops and network adapters can't reach high speeds even when the network can.
How to fix it, step by step
- 1
Test wired, close to the modem
Plug a recent computer directly into the router (or modem) and run the test with other devices idle.
- 2
Check link speed
On Windows, check the adapter's status for Speed. 100 Mbps means a cable, port, or adapter is limiting you; it should say 1.0 Gbps.
- 3
Replace old patch cables
Use Cat5e or Cat6 cables and avoid long, damaged, or flattened cables.
- 4
Check the modem model
Make sure the modem supports your plan. Ask your provider for a free upgrade if it doesn't.
- 5
Test the router's limit
If speed is good straight from the modem but drops through the router, the router is the bottleneck.
When to call a technician
We trace speed from the modem to every desk, find the slow link — modem, router, switch, cabling, or WiFi — and fix it, so you actually get what you're paying for.
On-site support across Orange County · see our business networking and WiFi installation services.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I only get about 94 Mbps on a fast plan?
That's the typical limit of a 100 Mbps connection. A cable, switch port, or network adapter in the chain is running at 100 Mbps instead of 1 Gbps.
Can WiFi deliver gigabit speeds?
Only with modern WiFi 6 or 7 equipment, close to the access point, on a compatible device. In practice, most office WiFi delivers less.
Which speed test is most accurate?
Use a well-known test and run it several times, wired, with other devices idle. Your provider's own test is useful to compare with what they promise.