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How a speed test works
Three numbers, a few seconds, one snapshot
When you press Go, the test picks a nearby server, measures a round trip, then pushes as much data as it can in each direction. The result is a snapshot of that moment on that device, which is why two tests a minute apart can differ. New to the terms? Our fiber internet explainer covers the basics.
Ping (latency)
How long a tiny message takes to reach the test server and come back, in milliseconds. Lower is better. It’s the number gamers and video callers feel most.
Download
How fast data comes to you, in megabits per second (Mbps). The test opens several connections at once and fills the pipe for a few seconds, like streaming a show or loading a game.
Upload
How fast data leaves your home. On Dobson Fiber, upload is as fast as download, so video calls, cloud backups and big game clips move just as quickly.
Tip: run two or three tests and look at the typical result, not the single highest or lowest one.
Home vs. device
The speed to your home and the speed on your device are two different numbers
Your plan’s speed is delivered over fiber to the ONT, the box where the fiber ends inside or outside your home. From there, your eero carries it the last few feet or rooms to each device. A test at the ONT or eero shows what’s coming into the house. A test on your phone shows what made it all the way to your hand.
Why a device can test lower than your plan:
- The device’s WiFi. An older phone or laptop with WiFi 5 or earlier simply can’t reach multi-gig speeds, even standing next to a WiFi 7 eero.
- The device’s Ethernet port. Most computers and consoles have 1 Gbps ports, which top out around 940 Mbps in a test. To see more than a Gig, the device needs a 2.5, 5 or 10 Gbps port.
- Distance and walls. WiFi weakens with every wall, floor and room between the device and the nearest eero.
- Everyone else online. Streams, downloads and backups happening at the same time share the connection.
1. Fiber to your ONT
The ONT is the small box where Dobson’s fiber line ends at your home and becomes a regular internet connection.
2. Your eero router
Your gateway eero plugs into the ONT and shares the connection by WiFi and Ethernet.
3. Your device
Your phone, laptop or TV, which has its own speed limits.
eero app vs. Ookla
Why your eero app and your phone don’t match
The eero app tests from Dobson to your gateway eero, the one plugged into the ONT. It doesn’t include the WiFi hop to your device, so the number won’t change as you walk around the house. A Speedtest by Ookla run on your phone or tablet measures the whole trip, WiFi included. eero says it’s “completely normal” for the two to differ (here’s eero’s explanation).
| eero app speed test | Ookla test on your phone or tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | The connection from Dobson to your gateway eero | The full path, including WiFi, to the phone or tablet in your hand |
| Where you run it | eero app → Settings → Speed test (or the Speed test card) | The Speedtest app, or dobson.speedtestcustom.com in your browser |
| Changes as you move around? | No. It stays the same anywhere in the house | Yes. It drops as you walk farther from an eero |
| Limited by your device? | No | Yes, by the device’s WiFi chip, age and battery-saving settings |
| Best for | Confirming your plan speed is reaching your home | Finding weak spots and slow devices |
How to use both: if the eero app looks right but your phone is slow in one room, it’s a WiFi or device issue, not your fiber. If the eero app itself is low, restart your eero and give our 24/7 tech support a call. Dobson’s own speed test at dobson.speedtestcustom.com is powered by Ookla. eero’s guide shows how to run a test in the app.
Go wired
Wired is the way to go when you need every bit of speed
WiFi 7 is fast, but a cable is still king for the activities that need maximum speed and the lowest latency. Your eero has extra Ethernet ports beyond the one connected to your ONT. Plug your most demanding devices straight into them.
eero Pro 7
Two 5 Gbps Ethernet ports. One connects to the ONT, which leaves one open for your most important wired device.
eero Max 7
Four Ethernet ports: two 10 Gbps and two 2.5 Gbps. One connects to the ONT, which leaves three open, including a 10 Gbps port.
Gaming consoles and PCs
A cable gives you the lowest, steadiest ping, with no WiFi traffic in the way. More on gaming with Dobson Fiber.
Work computers
Video calls and big uploads stay smooth when the kids are streaming. See our work-from-home tips.
Streaming TVs and boxes
A TV that never moves is the easiest device to wire, and it frees up WiFi for phones and tablets.
Wiring tips:
- Use Cat6 or Cat6a cable for multi-gig speeds. Old Cat5 cable can cap a connection at 100 Mbps.
- Check the device’s own port. A 1 Gbps port tops out around 940 Mbps; you’ll need a 2.5, 5 or 10 Gbps port to go faster.
- Need more ports? Add a multi-gig network switch to the eero, rather than daisy-chaining an older router.
- Specs at a glance: eero Pro 7 vs. eero Max 7.
Speed villains
What really slows your home network down
Your fiber line isn’t usually the problem. These troublemakers live inside the house, and every one of them can be beaten.
The bandwidth hog
Benny Buffer
Cloud photo backups, 100 GB game updates, security cameras and three 4K streams all at once. Background traffic quietly eats into the speed your test can see.
Hero move: Pause big downloads before you test, and schedule console and computer updates overnight.
The signal blocker
WiFi Gremlin
eeros hidden in closets, cabinets or behind the TV. Brick, concrete and exterior walls. Microwaves, baby monitors and cordless phones crowding the airwaves.
Hero move: Move your eero into the open, up off the floor and away from appliances.
The old-tech haunt
Glitchy Ghost
The ten-year-old printer, smart plugs and an aging laptop still on older WiFi. An old device is mostly slow on its own, but chatty gadgets that check in all day add traffic, and worn cables or 100 Mbps adapters cap wired speeds.
Hero move: Update or retire old gear, swap old cables for Cat6, and keep device software current.
Even with every villain beaten, distance still matters. eero’s own guide to slow speeds in one area of the home lists the same culprits.
eero tips
Top tips for your eero WiFi 7 Pro or Max
Your first eero WiFi 7 router is included with Dobson Fiber, and 5 Gig and 10 Gig plans include the eero Pro 7 or eero Max 7. A few small moves get the most out of them. Just getting set up? Start with our eero Quick Start Guide.
01
Give it a central, open spot
Place your gateway eero near the middle of your home, up on a shelf or table, not on the floor or tucked inside a cabinet.
02
Plug in what you can
Wire consoles, desktops and TVs to the open Ethernet ports so WiFi is free for phones, tablets and laptops.
03
Let WiFi 7 devices use 6 GHz
Newer WiFi 7 and WiFi 6E phones and laptops can use the 6 GHz band, the least crowded lane in your home. It travels best in the same room or the next one over.
04
Add the booster where speed drops
Plans 2 Gig and up include a second eero. Place it about halfway between the gateway and the slow area, not in the dead zone itself.
05
Keep everything up to date
eero updates its own software automatically. Keep your phone, laptop and console updated too, since old WiFi drivers can drag speeds down.
06
Reconnect when a device acts up
Toggle WiFi off and on so the device joins the nearest eero, or forget the network and rejoin. A quick eero restart can clear things up too.
07
Test the smart way
Use the eero app to check speed to your home, then test on your device near the eero and again in the problem room. That shows you exactly where speed is lost.
