Wired ethernet connection less than half contracted speed

Before I go any further I should report what seems to be a strange discovery. While writing on this thread, I downloaded the Ookla speed test device from the App Store which allows you to use a range of different servers to make the test.

The results range from the contracted 600+ to just 9Mbps.

Before, I was just using the webpage speed test from my IPS.

This is beyond my tech knowledge but it would seem I can get 600+ in certain circumstances but not in others.

What does this mean??

Thanks for that speedy reply! I have done a complete reset and restart of the router twice but no difference.

I'm probably missing something but I do not see how my partner's PC laptop is getting 650+ via the same connection and cable but I can only get 260. The full speed is there but the Mac, for some reason, isn't getting it!

Is there some check I can make somewhere in the Mac to see if there is a problem?

OK - many thanks rkaufman and den.thed for your speedy help and responses. Much appreciated. As will all these things it can get a bit obsessive if you can't seem to find an answer - it's always good to get another perspective. I'll order a cable online which will take a little while because of the lockdown and get back to you with the results...

Thanks - will do

Sorry, here is a screenshot of the results:

Definitely the latest version. Would still like to know WHY Firefox is giving me these lower speeds...!

Hmm - looks like the way to go. Thanks for your comments in any case!

Hi - back again with a new cable, Cat 7 in fact because it was the same price as Cat 6, so should be future-proofed for good with that…

However, it has not made the slightest difference to the speed - the same as before… around 250Mbps (download) of the 600 I have contracted (tested using my ISP’s own speed test via Firefox).

I have, though, made some interesting discoveries. It seems the problem could be related to the browser.

Since we were last in touch, I decided to install the speed test app by Ookla from the App Store. That straightaway gave me 600Mbps+, even 650. The app gives a choice of server and the speed starts to drop the further away the server. Fair enough but at least the full speed can be obtained.

Then, I thought, try the online (via Firefox) Ookla speed test using the same server - speed back down again to half contracted speed. Which seems a bit odd to me but whatever…

Then, for reasons related to my kids’ online school class material during the lockdown, I installed Chrome, because a lot of it is Google related (for better or worse…).

I then tried my ISP’s own speed test again but this time on Chrome and, lo and behold, I got 600Mbps +.

So what conclusions to draw? It would appear that this is a Firefox issue. I assume the speed test app, which gives 600+, is a more “pure” test because it does not pass through a browser.

And I also assume the Chrome browser is different in some way to Firefox because that too is giving me 600+. Incidentally, Safari returns very similar results to Firefox so I should bundle up the two as having the same problem.

Obviously my connection is, in fact, fine but the internet speed apparently depends on the browser. That’s a bit disappointing because I like Firefox and its reputation for more solid security. I still intend to use it for most of my browsing but for anything like Zoom, for example, then the extra speed is very useful for picture quality. I’d still like to know why this is happening though.

I’m not over-complaining because 250Mbps is pretty OK for most things. Nevertheless, does anyone have any thoughts or observations??