How to Check Internet Speed

Test your internet speed on Windows and Mac computers

Are files downloading suspiciously slowly, making you question how fast your Internet really is? Knowing your true Internet speed is essential for troubleshooting problems or knowing if your ISP is not delivering the speeds they promised. This wikiHow article teaches you how to measure the upload and download speed of your Internet connection, as well as the speed of the connection between your computer and your router.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• In a web browser on your computer, phone, or tablet, go to a speed test site and look at the results.
• To test your router's Internet speed, connect your computer to your router via an Ethernet cable, then go to "Settings" to see your Internet speed.
• If your Internet speed is fast, but your experience on your computer, phone, or tablet, is slow, troubleshoot your router.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Running an Internet Speed Test

1. Go to the Google Speed Test page. Open a Google search page by going to https://www.google.com in a web browser or open the Google app on your device and type into the search field. This will bring up an "Internet speed test" window at the top of the Google search results.
   
   • You can use this method on a computer, Android smartphone, or tablet, iPhone or iPad.
   • This method will use Google's built-in internet speed testing tool. There are other alternatives you could use, such as Fast.com, Speedtest by Ookla, or Spectrum's Speed Test, if you prefer an alternative.
   • Also try several different speed test sites if you're not getting the results you expected based on your browsing or streaming experience. The results from each site can differ, based on your location.
2. Click . It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the "Internet speed test" panel.
   
3. Wait for the speed test to complete. Google will measure your Internet connection's upload speed, download speed, and latency.
   
4. Review the test results. In addition to telling you whether your Internet qualifies as "fast" or "slow", Google measures three aspects of your Internet's speed:
   
   • Mbps download - The number of megabits per second your connection is allowing you to download.
   • Mbps upload - The number of megabits per second your connection is uploading.
   • Latency - The number of milliseconds it takes for your Internet connection to respond to a command (e.g., a search query or a page loading).

[Edit]Checking Internet Speed on Windows

1. Make sure your computer is connected to your router. To check your Internet speed from your computer's settings, you must connect your computer to your router via Ethernet cable.
   
2. Open Start . This icon is in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
   
3. Click . It's in the bottom-left corner of the Start window.
   
4. Click Network & Internet. It's in the top row of settings on the Settings page.
   
5. Click . This tab is on the left side of the window. Doing so will open your Ethernet settings.
   
6. Click . It's in the upper-right side of the window.
   
7. Double-click the Ethernet connection. You'll see this monitor-shaped icon at the top of the Network Connections window.
   
8. Review the "Speed" value. It's near the bottom of the "Connections" section of information on the Ethernet Status window. The number here (e.g., "90.0 Mbps") represents the speed of the connection between your computer and the router.
   

[Edit]Checking Internet Speed on Mac

1. Make sure your computer is connected to your router. To check your Internet speed from your computer's settings, you must connect your computer to your router via Ethernet cable.
   
2. Open Spotlight . It's in the top-right corner of your Mac's screen.
   
3. Type "network utility" into Spotlight, then press . Doing so will open the Network Utility app.
   
4. Click the tab. It's on the far-left side of the top of the Network Utility window.
   
5. Select your Ethernet connection. Click the box below the "Select a network interface for information" heading, then click your Ethernet connection's name.
   
6. Look at the number next to "Link Speed". You'll see something like "100 Mbit/s" here, which would mean the speed of the connection between your computer and your router is 100 megabits of data per second.
   

[Edit]Troubleshooting

1. Switch to a wired connection. If your wireless connection is experiencing significant lag, then you may need to connect to a wired connection (usually through Ethernet) in order to boost your Internet performance speed.
   
2. Restart your Wi-Fi access point. Sometimes, routers or other devices that can access Wi-Fi may need to be restarted in order to fix any performance issues caused by a glitch or broken connection.
   
   • So if the Internet speed tests show that you have a fast or good connection to the Internet, but you're experiencing lag on your laptop that's connected to Wi-Fi, you need to restart your router or modem.
3. Connect to another network. In order to check if the problem is a network or just your device, connect to another network you have access to and check that network's Internet speed.
   
4. Update your gateway. We frequently update our phones and computers, but we often neglect updating our routers or gateways. A router that's a generation or two out-of-date may impact your Internet speed.
   
   • For example, if your modem is 4 years old and you've recently upped your Internet speed, your old modem may not support the new speeds and will deliver slower speeds if you use it.
5. Run a malware scan on your device. In some instances, a slow Internet speed could mean your device is being slowed down by malware in its system. To remedy this, install an antivirus program with a malware scanner included in it.
   
6. Mention to your ISP that you're not getting promised speeds. If nothing here solves the answer to why your Internet is suddenly slow, you can call or chat with your ISP about your Internet speed and they may be able to help.
   

[Edit]Tips

• Your Internet's true connection speed is often much lower than your router's maximum speed. Using Ethernet allows you to take advantage of your router's speed.
• Benchmarks for common features include: 5 Megabits per second for HD streaming and 90 kilobits per second for VOiP calling.

[Edit]Warnings

• Your Internet speed will never exceed either your router's maximum speed or your Internet plan's maximum speed--whichever speed is lower.

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How to Grow a Mango Tree

An easy guide to germinate and grow your own mangoes

If you love mangoes and want to try your hand at growing them at home, you're in luck! Planting a mango tree is a fairly easy and straightforward process, and we're going to walk you through it every step of the way. In this article, we'll explain how to pick a site location, prep the soil, germinate seeds, and transplant young mango trees in the ground. In a few years, you'll be enjoying a homegrown harvest of juicy, sweet mangoes.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Plant the mango seed deep in a container of soil-less potting mix and wait 2-3 weeks for it to sprout. Water it weekly and transfer it to larger pots as needed.
• Select a planting area with well-draining soil that gets 6+ hours of sunlight daily. Plant the young tree in the ground 4-6 months after sowing the seed.
• Dig a hole 3-4 times bigger than the young tree's rootball. Nestle the rootball into the hole, backfill around it, and water it immediately.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Site Selection & Soil Prep

1. Grow mangoes in warm, humid climates for the best results. Mango trees are tropical plants that thrive best in high heat, and can handle both humid/swampy or arid areas. Most mangoes are grown near the equator, and in the United States they are primarily grown in Florida, California, and Hawaii. Climates with average temperatures of and frost-free winters are perfect for growing mangoes.^[1]
   
   • Mangoes thrive in USDA hardiness zones 10B through 1. Find the hardiness zone map here. ^[2]
   • Temperatures below damage mango trees, and temps below interfere with flowering and fruiting.^[3]
   • Mangoes prefer of rainfall (or less) per year.
2. Select a roomy planting area that gets 6 hours of sunlight daily. Grow mangoes in large pots or pick a spacious area outside that receives full sun (6 or more hours of light per day). Tree size varies by species, but most mango species get quite large and trees can live 40+ years. Choose a spot away from other trees so the mango has room to thrive.^[4]
   
   • Since they prefer heat and direct sunlight, mangoes don’t grow well indoors (although it's fine to bring potted mango trees inside for the winter).
3. Pick a planting location with loose, well-draining soil. Mango trees can adapt to most types of soil (including sandy, loamy, etc.) as long as there's good drainage and adequate space for growth. To prepare and loosen up the soil, till it about deep.
   
   • Check the pH of your soil; mango trees grow best in soil that has a pH of 4.5 – 7 (acidic). Incorporate peat moss into your soil on a yearly basis in order to keep the acidity high.^[5]
   • Avoid using chemical fertilizers, salts, boron and, lawn herbicides since mango trees are sensitive to them.^[6]
4. Plant mango trees in late spring or early summer. Wait until the weather is warm and all danger of frost has passed so the mango tree can establish itself in temperate conditions. Planting time may depend on the species, so check online or with your local nursery if you need more specific details.^[7]
   
   • For example, some mango varieties, such as the Beverly and Keitt don’t need to be planted until August/September.^[8]

[Edit]Seed Germination & Seedling Care

1. Get mango seeds from large, ripe polyembryonic mangoes. Polyembryonic seeds produce clones of the parent tree. If you live in an area that grows mangoes, visit local orchards to select a fruit. If you don’t have access to a healthy mango tree, visit a local grocer or farmer's market to select a fruit. Ask the salesperson for help in choosing a fruit that is polyembryonic.^[9]
   
   • If you don't want to grow from seed, consider buying grafted saplings from a nursery.
   • Mango seeds typically take 8 years to produce fruit. Grafted saplings take 3-5 years to produce fruit.
   • Seed-grown trees tend to be much stronger and hardier, but they may not be as reliable as grafted trees when it comes to fruit-bearing.
2. Remove the mango's flesh and clean the pit. Eat the mango, or remove all of the existing fruit, until the fibrous pit is exposed. Clean the pit with a scrub brush or steel wool pad to remove the hairs and stubborn flesh clinging to the pit.^[10]
   
   • Be careful not to scrub away at the outer coating of the pit! Only to remove the fruit fibers that are still attached.
3. Pry the pit open and remove the seed. Let the pit dry out overnight in a cool location. Then, open the pit with a sharp knife, similar to how you'd shuck an oyster. Take care not to cut too deeply since you might damage the enclosed seed (which resembles a large lima bean).^[11]
   
4. Put the seed deep in a container of potting mix. Use a soil-less potting mix made for citrus plants, cacti, or palms for the best results. Position the seed concave side down and cover it up with soil. Dampen the soil and place the container in a warm, shaded area until the seed sprouts. This process usually takes 2-3 weeks.^[12]
   
   • Keep the soil moist until the seed sprouts.
   • Put the seedling in a warm place that doesn't drop below to make sure it keeps growing. The leaves may drop off if the temperature gets lower than that.
5. Water the seedling 1-3 times per week until it's ready to transplant. Water new seedlings 2-3 times during the first week. After the first week, slow down watering to 1-2 times per week until the seedling is established. As your seedling grows, transfer it to larger pots so it doesn't become root bound. Mango tree seedlings are ready to plant into the ground when they're 4-6 months old.^[13]
   
   • Anytime between 4-18 months is a good time to transplant a young mango tree.

[Edit]Planting a Young Tree & Harvesting Mangoes

1. Dig a hole 3-4 times bigger than the mango tree's rootball. You don't need to add compost to the soil, but if your soil lacks nutrients, you can mix compost into the soil (no more than a 50/50 mixture).^[14]
   
2. Take the sapling out of the container and put the rootball in the hole. The base of the tree/sprout should be level with or slightly above the ground. Fill soil in around the rootball and tamp it slightly to remove any air pockets.^[15]
   
   • Mango trees grow best in loose soil, so avoid applying too much pressure as you refill the hole.
3. Water the soil around the tree and tree roots. Mango trees don’t need a ton of water, but it's important to water the new tree every other day for the first week. Then, water it only once or twice a week for the first year.^[16]
   
   • If there are 5 or more days of little to no rainfall, water your young mango tree (under 3 years old) once a week until the dry period ends.
4. Pull weeds around the mango tree regularly. Pull any plants that sprout up near the trunk of the tree as soon as you notice them. Add a layer of mulch around the tree to help trap in moisture and prevent weed growth.^[17]
   
   • Organic mulch is the best option for mango trees.
5. Fertilize the tree once a month once you notice new growth. Avoid fertilizing the tree immediately after planting it. Once the tree is established and starts growing, fertilize once a month for the first year with a water soluble fertilizer.^[18]
   
6. Monitor the tree for diseases and treat them immediately. The 2 major disease problems for mango trees are powdery white mildew and anthracnose (which are both fungal diseases). If you see white mildew or black spotted fruit, apply fungicides immediately to control the issue and knock out the fungus as quickly as possible.^[19]
   
   • Mango trees are pretty hardy against pests. Mites and scale insects may attack your mango trees, but they won't affect your harvest unless the tree becomes completely infested.^[20]
7. Prune your tree once a year in the early spring. Annual maintenance pruning provides space for branches to form. Remove any dead or sucker branches growing from the main structural branches. Cut branches from the trunk if there's too much crowding near the center, typically after the last fruit of the season (in the fall). To limit outward growth, simply cut off branches that are too tall or wide.^[21]
   
   • Be sure to prune off any damaged branches, as well, especially following winter freezes.^[22]
8. Harvest your mangoes 4-5 years after planting the tree. Mango trees self-pollinate (each tree has flowers with male and female parts), so you'll be able to harvest mangoes from a single tree.^[23] Harvest mango fruit by hand when it reaches the mature-green stage. Fruits should be hard and green when pick them. Pull or cut each fruit leaving a stalk attached.^[24]
   
   • Because mangoes vary in color, shape, and size from species to species, you can’t tell if the fruit is ripe until you cut it open. When the meat is yellow through to the core, it's ready to eat. If the meat still very white and hard, wait 1-2 weeks to ripen the mango and then check it again.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Space mango trees approximately from other trees, or each other, for optimal growth.
• Protect your young mango tree from winter frost by tenting or wrapping it securely with a blanket or bring it inside if it is potted.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Plant a Mango Seed
• Plant Fruit Trees
• Fertilize Fruit Trees
• Prepare Soil for Fruit Trees
• Pick a Good Mango
• Tell if a Mango Is Ripe
• Eat a Mango

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/mango/infos
2. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST404
3. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
4. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
5. ↑ http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/crops/i_mango.htm
6. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
7. ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/mangoes/spacing-soil-preparation-and-planting-mangoes
8. ↑ http://www.tropicamango.com/mangos.html
9. ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/mangoes/propagating-mangoes
10. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/mango/infos
11. ↑ https://www.naplesgarden.org/kitchen-scrap-gardening-series-planting-a-mango-seed/
12. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
13. ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/mangoes/spacing-soil-preparation-and-planting-mangoes
14. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/mg216
15. ↑ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg216
16. ↑ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg216
17. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
18. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
19. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/mg216
20. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
21. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/mango/infos
22. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/mango/
23. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304423816301170
24. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/mango/infos

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How to Deal With Aggressive Customers

Aggressive customers can be a nightmare. Don't confuse them with assertive customers who simply insist on their rights; this article is about the customers who issue threats, shout, ruin the experience for other customers, and make unreasonable demands. They may even grow physically aggressive by putting their hands on employees or causing damage to property. If you work in the service sector, it's smart to educate yourself on how to deal with aggressive customers.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Defusing the Situation

1. Stay calm. The worst thing you can do in this situation is to raise your energy level to theirs, as it might turn a combustible situation into an all-out explosion. However, because you, as an employee, cannot simply walk away from the situation, you must stay engaged with the customer without letting your own temper get out of hand.
   
   • The most obvious thing to avoid is raising your voice.
   • Don’t be sarcastic with the customer. You will convey the message that you do not care, and that will aggravate them.
   • Do your best to maintain a soothing voice and mask any frustration you might feel.
2. Control your own body language. It’s easy to read the nonverbal cues of aggression and anger in other people’s bodies, but be aware of the messages your own body is sending to the customer. It’s not enough to simply keep your voice down — you must soothe the customer’s mood with all the communicative devices in your toolbox. Some nonverbal cues to control and avoid include:
   
   • Pacing
   • Drumming your fingers or tapping your feet
   • Clenching your fists
   • Clenching your jaw
   • Rolling your eyes
   • Furrowing your eyebrows
   • Staring the customer down
   • Crossing your arms or putting your hands on your hips
3. Don’t enter the customer’s physical space. Even when everyone’s calm, violating someone’s personal space can be interpreted as a show of aggression or lack of care for someone’s level of comfort. When people get angry, they need a larger area of personal space, so give aggressive customers wide berth. Otherwise, they may think you’re trying to show aggression of your own, or that you’re not taking the situation seriously by failing to recognize how agitated they’ve grown.
   
   • For your own personal safety, try to stand behind a counter, table, or another barrier to reinforce the physical distance between you and the customer.
4. Listen to the customer’s grievance.^[1] Understand that no matter how unreasonable the customer is being in terms of the scale of their anger, there may very well be a kernel of truth to what they’re saying. By letting the customer air their grievance, you’re letting them vent off some of their frustration and hopefully stopping the situation from getting worse. Furthermore, you’re showing them that you, as an employee, care about the customer’s experience, gaining you good will.
   
   • Don’t ever interrupt the customer, even if you want to respond to something they’ve said.^[2]
   • Even if they’re being unreasonable, allow them to talk themselves out.
   • Use positive nonverbal communication cues to demonstrate that you’re actively listening and engaging with the customer. Examples include maintaining eye contact (but not staring), nodding along, and demonstrating concern on the customer’s behalf at the appropriate moments with facial expressions.^[3]
5. Ask questions to better understand the problem.^[4] In order to calm a customer down, you need to understand why they’re upset in the first place. If the customer is so worked up that they’re ranting instead of providing you with useful information that you could use to assess and resolve the situation, wait until there’s a gap in the conversation to ask guided questions that will help you understand what’s going on. Again, don’t cut the customer off — wait for an opportunity for you to speak. Some questions you might ask include:
   
   • "Is this the first time you've had this issue at our business? Can you tell me more about your previous frustrations, so I know specifically how to instruct our staff to improve customer experience?"
   • "Tell me exactly what happened today, from the beginning. What was the exact employee behavior that triggered your bad experience?"
   • "Was there a single action that ruined your experience with us, or are you frustrated by the buildup of several small problems? Is there one large thing we need to change, or several small adjustments?"
   • "Which employee or employees are you upset with right now? Is there one person in particular, or does our whole staff need to be addressed about their attitudes and performance?"
   • If another employee is involved, use your discretion to determine whether or not it would calm the customer down to involve that employee in the conversation.
6. Try to find a solution to the problem. Ask the customer what you could do to make them feel better about the situation. If what they ask is reasonable and within your power, give them what they ask for. However, aggressive customers are sometimes irrational in their demands, or ask you to do something you are not authorized to do.
   
   • Try to strike a compromise. Explain to the customer that you would give them what they want if you were authorized to do so, but that you would be punished yourself if you did that. Instead, offer them whatever you’re authorized to give.
   • Call a manager. If the customer would like something that you’re not authorized to provide, call a manager or supervisor to see if it can be authorized.

[Edit]Ejecting a Customer

1. Lay out the repercussions for their behavior. If you feel like a situation is getting out of control and either threatening your personal safety or the positive experience of your other customers, tell the angry customer that you will ask them to leave if they don’t control their frustration. Everyone loses their temper from time to time, so give them a chance to get a handle on it. Remain respectful and calm; don’t raise your voice or point your finger at them. Simply tell them what the next steps will be if their behavior doesn’t change. Some things you might say include:
   
   • "I understand that you're frustrated, but we both need to be calm to resolve this situation."
   • "Your frustration at your bad experience is now making the experience worse for the rest of our customers. We'd like to work with you to fix the situation, but don't you agree that the rest of the people here have a right to a pleasant experience too?"
2. Explain why you’re asking them to leave. Customers often take the slogan “the customer is always right” to heart, not realizing that the customer can very often be wrong.^[5] Explain to the customer that their abusive behavior is personally threatening, and that they are ruining the experience for all of their other customers, who have just as much right to good service as they do.^[6]
   
   • "While you have a right to voice your concerns, you do not have a right to be abusive towards our staff."
   • "I am happy to work with you to resolve this situation, but your behavior is making me feel uncomfortable."
   • "As an employee, it's my job to protect my colleagues and patrons, so I have to ask you to leave the building."
   • "If you don't remove yourself from this situation voluntarily, I'll have to call the police to protect my staff and customers."
3. Escort the customer out of the establishment. To reinforce your verbal ejection of the customer, move toward the exit yourself and ask the customer to follow you. Even if the customer does not initially respond to the ejection, lead the way. Do this even if the customer does not take your lead and move toward the exit at first; when they see that the object of their anger is moving away, they will likely follow you toward the exit.
   
   • The objective is to remove the customer from the premises in order to protect both the safety and the experience of the people in your business.
   • Often, when the customer finds themselves removed from the business, they will move on even if they are still upset.
   • Allow them to move away from the business on their own before you return to work. If they see you immediately go back inside, they might follow you back in.
4. Don’t put your hands on the customer. Unless you feel that the customer has grown physically threatening to you, other employees, other customers, or themselves, avoid touching the customer. Touching someone who is overly agitated could cause them to react very poorly, and potentially violently.
   
   • However, if the customer becomes physically aggressive either to you, someone else, or to themselves, you are within your rights to try to prevent injury by subduing them.
5. Call security or the police if necessary. If you don’t feel safe around the customer or if the situation is disrupting your business and doesn’t have an end in sight, call the police or a security service if your business pays for one. Try to limit the customer’s impact by getting them outside of your business. Don’t try to physically detain the customer, as you don’t have any legal right to do so unless they physically attack someone.
   
   • If the customer puts their hands on someone or breaks property, do your best to get them out of your establishment. If they won't leave, move employees and customers away from the aggressive customer to protect them from physical harm.
   • Stay calm and respectful, but do not try to engage the customer any further. You’ve done everything you can to resolve the situation, and you should just disengage and wait for the authorities.
   • Keep the phone numbers for security easily accessible for the entire staff instead of keeping them in the back office. When customers get out of hand, employees almost always call the onsite manager to deal with the situation. If the situation truly gets out of hand, there’s a good chance the manager is already busy with it, so all employees need to know how to reach out for help.
   • Post the phone numbers somewhere out of the way of customer traffic, but regularly visited by employees — behind a cash register, or in an employee break room, for example.
   • Make sure the number is clearly legible. If you have bad handwriting, print the number out using a computer.
6. Use discretion when asking a drunk customer to leave. If you work in a restaurant or bar that served enough alcohol to a customer to get them to that state, you may be held responsible for that person’s actions once they leave your establishment.^[7]
   
   • If the customer seems drunk, offer to call them a cab while they wait outside.
   • If they are with a group, ask a sober friend to drive them home.
   • If they insist on driving themselves, write down a description of the car including the tag number, and call the police immediately with that information.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Deal With Rude Customers
• Deal With a Rude, Arrogant and Mean Subordinate
• Deal With Annoying or Frustrating Salespeople
• Deal with a Cranky Senior Citizen

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.laguardia.edu/uploadedfiles/ce/content/english_language_learning/center_for_immigrant_education_and_training/gp-hotel_t.e.a.c.h/unit5.pdf
2. ↑ [v161801_b01]. 19 May 2021.
3. ↑ [v161801_b01]. 19 May 2021.
4. ↑ https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/app/uploads/sites/751/2020/03/How-to-Deal-with-Angry-Customers-Transcript.pdf
5. ↑ https://www.laguardia.edu/uploadedfiles/ce/content/english_language_learning/center_for_immigrant_education_and_training/gp-hotel_t.e.a.c.h/unit5.pdf
6. ↑ https://cchealth.org/hiv/contractor/pdf/Dealing-with-Abusive-Clients-Difficult-Situations-Policy-Procedures.pdf
7. ↑ https://www.injuryrelief.com/texas-dram-shop-law/how-much-alcohol-is-too-much/

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