In Minnesota, this time of year some of our most beloved seasons kick into high gear. There’s harvest season, high school sports seasons, fall color season and hunting seasons. To name a few.

Did you know that there is a popular season in Minnesota that goes fast and lasts all year? It’s Arvig Internet Speed season. And you don’t have to wait. It’s local, it’s fast and it’s Minnesota’s best internet service provider. 

See it for yourself. And the best way to do that is to check your speed. Here’s how: 

Internet speed tests: The 4 things it measures

An internet speed test is a tool that measures the data transfer rate and latency of your internet connection. These tests are conducted by sending a small amount of data from your device to a server and back again. The primary metrics assessed during an internet speed test are:

1. Download speed: This measures how quickly data can be downloaded from the internet to your device. It’s usually the most emphasized metric because it affects how quickly web pages load, videos stream, and files download.

2. Upload speed: This measures how quickly data can be sent from your device to the internet. This is important for activities like video calling, uploading files to the cloud, or posting videos online.

3. Latency (Ping): Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the server and back. It is crucial for activities where timing is important, such as video gaming or any real-time communication. A lower latency (measured in milliseconds) indicates a more responsive connection.

4. Jitter: This measures the variability in how quickly data packets are delivered and is important for understanding the stability of the connection. High jitter can lead to choppy audio or video calls.

Ready to test your speed? Go to speedtest.arvig.com  [Please add a hyperlink to https://speedtest.arvig.com/  for online article] It’s free!

If your home or business internet connection seems sluggish, here are a few tips to consider. 

4 things you can do to get a better internet connection

1. Show your router some love!  Find a central hub in your home for your router, somewhere free from signal-stealing obstructions including microwaves, walls, windows and cordless phones. Proper placement allows for better travel of WiFi signals and ensures a steady signal.

2. When you can, plug it in! Game consoles, desktop computers and streaming boxes will generally enjoy more consistent speeds and less signal interference with a wired connection via an Ethernet cable. 

3. Budget your bandwidth! Downloading and streaming are bandwidth-intensive. Download large files such as movies, music and audiobooks during off-peak traffic times. Save files to your hard drive. You’ll still be able to enjoy them anytime—offline—without gobbling up bandwidth. If you can, schedule automatic system updates on your devices for overnight, when the network is less busy.

4. Upgrade your network! Range extenders, repeaters and mesh networks can help with wireless dead zones or hard-to-reach corners of your home. Range extenders and repeaters grab existing Wi-Fi signals from your router and re-broadcasts them. Mesh networks use a series of nodes set up in the home to distribute a wireless signal.

Enjoy all the seasons Minnesota has to offer. And visit Arvig.com for the best internet, managed WiFi, streaming TV services, phone, security and more.