Every DSL internet provider in the marketplace displays their connection speeds in their advertisements. After all, DSL speed is what separates it from the ultra slow dial up connection, and fast DSL speed is what all internet surfers are looking for when they are online. A DSL speed test can provide results to see if you are really getting what you have paid for or identify connection issues you have been experiencing. Let us define DSL and then describe what a DSL speed test measures.

What is DSL?
To the techie, DSL stands for digital subscriber line; but to the consumer it stands for fast internet connection. There are several, as many as 14 or more DSL technologies that connect a computer to the internet using existing wiring from a copper pair telephone line. Both voice and internet can travel via the same telephone line because of special hardware connected to the switch and user ends of the telephone line. The end result is a continuous digital connection that does not interrupt normal usage of the voice line.

Recent advances in technology have allowed for DSL connections to be available sans the telephone line. The connection is radio based wireless internet, which is comparable to the speeds in wired connections and can be maintained up to 300 feet from the modem.

Testing 1,2,3
You will need to know some of the trade terms involved so you can analyze your DSL speed results properly.

Round Trip Time (RTT)
When testing DSL speed, the RTT is the elapsed time in milliseconds (ms) it takes a small data packet to be sent from your computer to the internet and then receive a reply back.

Quality of Service (QoS)
This represents the level of consistent download capacity from your DSL internet provider. The overall quality and performance of the internet connection is shown as a QoS percentage. Although the percentage should be greater than or equal to 80, it does not mean the user will detect slower speeds at a lower percentage.

Maximum Download Pause (Max Pause)
The longest individual pause recorded during the speed test is the maximum download pause. If the Max Pause is not a very small number, it could indicate online congestion or a bad broadband connection.

Measurement Results
Basically, a DSL speed test measures the uploading and downloading of information packets from your computer to the internet (or other location) and back to your computer. Several factors and influences can affect the data and results, number and location of "hops" form your PC to the internet, physical distance between your computer and the internet, environmental factors, variances in the performance of network servers/routers, and even the capabilities and performance of your computer.

Your DSL internet provider might recommend a DSL speed test that you can use or select from a variety of outside testers found on the internet. Test results for your internet connection can vary widely so ensure you are testing in the best conditions possible and do you research on the testing organization itself.