Have you ever wondered if your provider 1000 Mb/spackage sells you, yet you barely see 300-400 Mb/son your phone? You are not alone. The difference between advertised and actual internet speed is one of the most common issues internet users encounter in Hungary.
The good news: in most cases, your provider is not cheating you. The reality is that there are several well-identifiable reasons behind the speed difference – and most of them you can fix yourself.
In this guide, we will go through the 7 most common reasons and provide practical solutions for each.
WiFi vs. ethernet – the biggest speed killer
If you measure your internet speed over WiFi, you will almost certainly get a lower value than what your provider promises. This does not mean your package is bad – it is simply due to the physical limitations of WiFi.
What happens in the background?
The WiFi signal travels via radio waves and is weakened by several factors:
- Distance from the router: the farther you are, the weaker the signal. Even 5-6 meters and a single wall can cause a 30-50% speed reduction.
- Shielding: concrete walls, thick brick walls, metal structures, or even a large mirror can block the signal.
- Interference sources: microwave oven, cordless phone, neighbor's WiFi networks – all share the same frequency band.
What can you do?
Connect your computer with a cable (ethernet) directly to the router, and measure the speed again on the speedtest365.hu page. If the wired measurement approaches your package speed, the source of the problem is WiFi, not your provider.
Tip: if you cannot connect with a cable, try moving the device closer to the router, or switch to the 5 GHz band instead of 2.4 GHz – 5 GHz is faster, although with a shorter range.
Physical limitations of the router and devices
Not all routers are the same. A cheap, 5-6 year old router simply cannot handle a modern, high-speed internet package.
Where does the issue usually get stuck?
- Router with old hardware: the processor of an entry-level router becomes saturated above 200-300 Mb/s.
- Device limitations: your laptop or phone's network card can also be the weak link.
- Too many connected devices: if 10-15 devices are on the network at once, the router distributes the bandwidth.
Solution:
Check your router's specifications. If it is 5 years old or older, consider getting a WiFi 6 (802.11ax) standard device.
Provider congestion during peak hours
Between 7 PM and 10 PM, the whole country streams, plays games, and makes video calls. The provider's network operates during this peak time .
Your provider has limited infrastructure in a given area. If everyone in your neighborhood is watching Netflix in the evening, the shared capacity may be insufficient.
- Measure the speed at multiple times – at 8 AM, 3 PM, and 9 PM.
- Use the speedtest365.hu repeat test function.
- If congestion is regular, contact your provider.
Network congestion in your area
Sometimes it is not the provider, but the local infrastructure the bottleneck. This is especially common in panel buildings, apartment buildings, and densely populated areas.
- Do several neighbors also complain about slow internet in the evenings?
- Do you see 10+ other WiFi networks besides your own router?
- Does your speed change when the neighbor's kids come home from school?
These all indicate that network congestion in the area is causing the problem.
ISP throttling – service provider speed limiting
A throttling (speed limiting) means that the provider intentionally slows down your data traffic under certain conditions.
- When reaching the data usage limit: many unlimited plans include a „fair use” policy.
How to measure accurately?
Accurate measurement is the first step to understanding the problem. If you measure incorrectly, you draw wrong conclusions.
Accurate measurement step by step
- Close all other applications – don't stream, don't download, don't game during the measurement.
- Connect with a cable (if possible) – WiFi measurement can distort results.
- Use the same server – it speedtest365.hu automatically selects the server closest to you.
- Measure multiple times – the average of 3-5 measurements gives a realistic picture.
- Measure at different times – morning, afternoon, evening.
What can you do to improve speed?
We have summarized the most important steps that you should try in order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why do I measure lower speed on my phone than on my computer?
The WiFi antenna of phones is smaller and weaker than that of a desktop computer or laptop.
Summary
The difference between advertised and actual internet speed is not a scam – it is the sum of physical and technical limitations.
👉 Measure your actual internet speed now!