Having fast and reliable internet is important for work, entertainment, and everyday life. If you think your Shaw internet connection is running slower than it should be, it’s easy to test your Shaw internet speed to find out. There are a few different methods you can use to test Shaw internet speeds right from your home network.
Why Test Shaw Internet Speed?
There are a few key reasons why you may want to test your Shaw internet speed:
- Identify if Shaw Internet is underperforming based on the speeds you pay for
- Troubleshoot slow internet and high latency/ping times
- Determine if internet speeds are fast enough for activities like video streaming, gaming, large downloads, etc.
- Check for fluctuations in internet speeds during high-traffic times
- Compare Shaw internet speeds over WiFi vs. wired connections
- Confirm if Shaw internet upgrades improved your speeds
Running periodic Shaw internet speed tests can help identify any issues with your internet speeds and connectivity.
How to Test Shaw Internet Speed?
There are a handful of methods to easily test Shaw internet download and upload speeds right from home.
Using Speedtest.net
One of the most popular internet speed tests is Speedtest.net. This third-party site provides a simple way to test the download and upload speeds for your Shaw internet connection.
To use Speedtest.net to test Shaw internet speed:
- Go to www.speedtest.net
- Click “Go” to start the internet speed test
- The site will test ping, download speed, and upload speed from the nearest Speedtest server
- Results will show your Shaw internet speeds in real time as the test runs
- After the test completes, your ping (latency), download speed, and upload speed will be displayed
Speedtest.net also provides a graph showing fluctuations in Shaw internet speeds during the test. This site makes it easy to quickly test download/upload speeds any time they seem slow.
Shaw Speed Test Website
In addition to third-party tests like Speedtest.net, Shaw provides an official speed test site to test your Shaw internet speed. Located at shaw-speed-test.ca, this speed test uses servers located across the Shaw network to measure your internet speeds.
Using the Shaw speed test checks your internet speed on their network, which can help when troubleshooting slow speeds. To use the Shaw speed test site:
- Go to shaw-speed-test.ca
- Click the “Begin Test” button
- The speed test will measure ping, download, and upload from the closest server
- Shaw speed test results show real-time graphs for latency and transfer rates
- Full results display ping, download speed, and upload speed after completion
The Shaw speed test site provides a simple way to test their internet speeds without using third-party tools. Results are displayed in an easy-to-understand graph format as well.
Using the Ookla Speedtest App
In addition to web-based speed tests, you can test your Shaw internet speed using apps as well. The Ookla Speedtest app provides a quick and convenient internet speed test that works similar to Speedtest.net.
The benefits of using the Ookla Speedtest mobile app to test Shaw internet speeds include:
- Easy automated testing with one-tap
- Check ping, download, and upload speeds
- Displays real-time graphs of performance
- Can test WiFi or cellular data speeds
- Provides detailed results and historical comparisons
The Ookla app is available on both iOS and Android devices. So it offers a handy way to test Shaw internet speeds from anywhere in your home.
Using Fast.com Internet Speed Test
Fast.com is another free internet speed testing site provided by Netflix. Located at Fast.com, this speed test checks download speeds using Netflix servers.
The benefit of a simple test like Fast.com includes:
- Quick download speed test
- Minimal interface without graphics
- Conducted from Netflix servers
- Provides Mbps download speed readout
Since the Fast.com test uses Netflix content servers, it can provide a good measure of speed for streaming Netflix videos. This helps validate if your Shaw internet plan is fast enough for streaming movies/TV.
Testing Wired vs. WiFi Internet Speeds
When running a Shaw internet speed test, an important comparison is between WiFi and wired internet speeds. Testing via Ethernet cable removes WiFi as a factor and shows maximum internet speeds.
To test Shaw wired internet speeds:
- Connect your computer directly to your Shaw router with an Ethernet cable
- Run a speed test using Speedtest.net or Shaw’s speed test site
- Compare wired results vs. WiFi speeds
This wired speed test shows your max Shaw internet speeds. Comparing Ethernet and WiFi results can identify if slow WiFi is causing speed issues. If WiFi is much slower than wired Shaw speeds, router adjustments or mesh WiFi systems could help boost speeds.
What Impacts Shaw Internet Speeds?
There are a variety of factors that can impact internet speeds from your Shaw connection at home:
- WiFi Interference – Nearby networks, Bluetooth, microwaves & more can interfere
- WiFi Band Congestion – Many 5GHz networks in an area can slow WiFi speeds
- Device Capabilities – Older laptops/phones may have slower WiFi cards
- Router Placement – Walls, floors, and distance impact WiFi speeds
- Number of Connected Devices – More devices sharing Shaw bandwidth reduces per-device speeds
- Time of Day – Peak evening hours often have slower internet speeds
- Shaw Network Congestion – High neighborhood usage may slow Shaw internet speeds
Testing wired vs wireless and at different times of day can help narrow down what factors may be impacting your particular Shaw internet speeds.
How to Fix Slow Shaw Internet Speeds
If your Shaw internet speed test results show slower than expected speeds, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take:
- Restart hardware – Reboot modem, router, and devices to clear any software issues
- Check connections – Ensure all cables and router connections are snug
- Update router firmware – Shaw may provide firmware updates that improve performance
- Switch router frequency band – Toggle between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands if one is slower
- Change router channel – Try a different WiFi channel away from congestion
- Move router location – Get the router centrally located away from interference
- Remove barriers – Adjust router placement away from walls, and floors and ensure line of sight
- Limit connected devices – Setting bandwidth limits and limiting devices can help with bottlenecks
If troubleshooting your Shaw router and home network doesn’t improve slow internet speeds, contacting Shaw support is the next best step. They can check signal levels, test Shaw speeds remotely, and send a technician if necessary to troubleshoot equipment issues causing slowdowns.
When to Contact Shaw About Slow Internet Speeds?
Contacting Shaw customer support is recommended if you are consistently getting slow internet speeds and self-troubleshooting tips don’t help. Reasons to call Shaw include:
- You pay for faster internet speeds than speed tests show
- Internet frequently slows to a crawl during peak hours
- Buffering or lag when video streaming with capable equipment
- Speeds were previously faster but are now much slower
- Ping/latency times are very high when gaming
- Wired devices also show major slowdowns
Shaw can run remote diagnostics tests from their end, check signals and equipment levels, monitor speeds over days, replace hardware if faulty, and more. Providing them with test results helps identify the extent of speed issues.
Getting Shaw support involved for persistent slow internet can help identify any underlying issues impacting your speeds that may require troubleshooting on their end.
How Do I Check My Shaw Wifi Speed?
Your Shaw WiFi speeds specifically can be tested using Speedtest apps on wireless devices like phones, laptops, and tablets. Comparing WiFi vs wired speeds helps determine how much of an impact your home network is having.
Factors that commonly affect Shaw WiFi speeds include:
- Distance from Shaw router/access points
- Obstacles and interference slowing signals
- Too many devices sharing WiFi bandwidth
- Outdated WiFi cards in devices
- Congested WiFi channels from neighborhood networks
Checking different areas and even outside near the home tests the range and consistency of your Shaw home WiFi network. Newer mesh router WiFi systems help provide full coverage and bandwidth throughout larger homes.
Shaw Internet Speed Test Frequency
How often should you test your Shaw internet speed? There is no set rule, but here are some good guidelines:
- When first installing Shaw Internet service
- If you upgrade to faster Shaw internet speeds
- Occasionally such as monthly to check for consistency
- Any time speeds seem to be running slower than usual
- During peak evening hours when the internet is commonly slower
- Over WiFi and wired connections to compare
Speed tests are most beneficial under consistent conditions in your home network, using capable devices via both wired Ethernet and WiFi.
Comparing Shaw internet speeds over days/weeks at peak times provides trend analysis on whether slow issues are consistent or intermittent.
Shaw Speed Test Tools & Meters
In addition to online speed tests and apps, there are also tools to monitor and track your Shaw internet usage and speeds over time.
Router Admin Pages
Log into your Shaw router admin page and look for tools like:
- Bandwidth monitor showing internet usage
- Connected devices list with IP addresses
- Live bandwidth graph over days/weeks
- WiFi signal strength maps
- Frequency/channel selection tools
Your router web interface provides technical details that can help identify connectivity and usage issues that may be slowing Shaw internet speeds.
Internet Usage Meters
Third-party router tools like Netflow provide ways to visualize your network traffic and bandwidth usage for monitoring Shaw internet speeds in detail over time. Software to create visual graphs and get notified of abnormal internet speed events can pinpoint problems.
The Bottom Line
Running periodic Shaw internet speed tests is useful for confirming you get the fast speeds you pay for. Tests help identify any connectivity issues, WiFi bottlenecks, or plan downgrades slowing your internet.
If your Shaw speed test results don’t match the advertised download/upload rates for your package, contact support to troubleshoot. Slow internet can negatively impact work productivity, streaming entertainment, gaming, and more. By optimizing connectivity issues impacting speeds, you can confirm reliable Shaw fiber internet performance.
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