When you click Broadband Speed Test, a 3.5 MB (500 k for the Slowband Speed Test) file is downloaded from our local servers, within our network. The download time is measured, your throughput is calculated, and the results are displayed.
To test your connection speed on the Internet, check out: http://www.bandwidthplace.com/speedtest
Time Warner Cable offers high-speed access to the Internet. However, the speed of your connection is determined by a number of factors. Depending on the time of day and the site you are trying to access, you may not be able to attain the full transmission rate possible with a cable modem.
The Internet as a whole is affected by limitations on site speeds and traffic problems. Your cable modem can only transmit data as fast as the weakest link in the connection. If the site you are connecting to can only transmit data at a speed of 56 Kbps, that’s the maximum speed at which you will be able to access the site, even though your cable modem is capable of much faster speeds. If several people are trying to access that same site at the same time, the total bandwidth available will be divided between the users, and your speed may be further reduced.
Your connection speed may also be limited by your computer’s central processing unit (CPU). Some older CPUs can only process data at a fraction of the speed at which cable modems are capable of delivering it.
Browsing the Internet at the same time as you are running the test can also affect your Speed Test results. Also, other software programs like ad blockers and virus scanners process content first. Or, if you are on a home network, other users share the connection with you.
If you’re downloading files directly from Time Warner Cable’s servers, the speed of your connection should be exceptional. Time Warner Cable’s backbone is engineered to provide superior throughput within our network.