Testing my Broadband Speed

Hub 4

1. In your browser, head over to RealSpeed
2. The test will start immediately and will take a few seconds to complete
3. Click on the Show more metrics button to find more details about your speed

Hub 3, Hub 2, Hub 2ac and Hub 1**

1. In your browser, open this page here

2. On the page that loads, on the right hand side it should say 'Virgin Media'

3. If it doesn't, select Change Server. Choose a Virgin Media server from the dropdown list.

4. Hit GO and the speed test will run.

5. After a few seconds, your download and upload speeds will be displayed.

Hub 4

Download speed – this tells you how fast data can be downloaded from the internet to either your device or the Hub, depending on the test you’re using

Upload speed – this tells you how fast data can be uploaded from your device to either the internet or the Hub, depending on the test you’re using 

There are a bunch of things that can affect these results, like:

• The connection between your device and the speed test site – things like your device’s WiFi limitations, how far away you are from the Hub and the type of Ethernet cable you use to test your speeds can limit your results
• The time of day – the speeds you get depend on how many people are using the internet at the same time (but rest easy, our network is built to handle even the busiest times)
• The type of connection you use – a wired connection will be more reliable than a WiFi connection
• The device you test our speeds on – the results you get on mobile devices will usually be lower than using a computer browser because of hardware limitations – for example, the iPhone 6 can only go up to 120Mbps on WiFi, while the latest laptops and desktop computers can go as fast as 1Gbps with a wired connection

Latency (also known at the ping rate) – measured in milliseconds (ms), it’s the time it takes data to get from A to B. The lower the latency the better your connection will be for gaming and things that need a faster response

Packet loss – when accessing the internet, small units of data called ‘packets’ are sent and received across the network. The lower the packet loss the better your connection

Jitter – this is a measure of stability and the variances of the intervals between data packets being delivered. The lower the jitter the better your connection will be for gaming and things that need a faster response

Hub 3, Hub 2, Hub 2ac and Hub 1**

Ping – this is reaction time of your connection. The faster the ping the better your connection will be for gaming and other uses where a fast reaction is required

Download speed – this will tell you how fast data can be downloaded from the Internet to your device

Upload speed – this will tell you how fast data can be uploaded from your device to the Internet

There are many factors that can affect these results including which speed test site you use:

• Your test result will only be as fast as the slowest part of the connection between your device and the speed test site
• The time of day and days of the week can affect your test result, so run multiple tests to ensure the tests are not affected by one off factors or high usage of the speed test site
• Tests using a wired connection will be more reliable than a WiFi connection
• Mobile device test results will usually be different than tests using a computer browser due to hardware limitations, and may be lower than your broadband service. As an example, the Apple iPhone 6 has a maximum WiFi connection speed of up to 120Mbps - recent laptop and desktop computers can achieve up to 1Gbps via a wired connection

Hub 4

To check your current speeds using our handy tool please click here.

Hub 3, Hub 2, Hub 2ac and Hub 1**

To check your current speeds using our handy tool please click here.

For more information on Virgin Media broadband speeds check here.

Many companies use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to provide employees with a secure and encrypted connection to work safely from home.

Due to the additional protection provided by VPN, the broadband speed you receive may be impacted. This is because all your internet traffic needs to go through your employer's network and servers. During peak office hours and with more people working remotely, it may take longer for the data to pass through.

If you're experiencing slower speeds, disconnecting and reconnecting to your VPN can help.

When running a speed test, make sure you turn off your VPN to see if you are experiencing slower speeds.

We've also got some handy tips to help improve your household's broadband speed

A bunch of things outside our control might affect your broadband speeds at home, including the location of the Hub, how you use your WiFi, the devices you use and the wiring in your building. Plus, unlike our Hub 4, our Hub 1, 2 and 3 can only measure speeds to themselves, not to your devices. To get the most out of your in-home WiFi, or to fix any WiFi issues, check out our help pages.