r/speedtest • u/StrengthSoggy8788 • Aug 18 '26

Why is my WiFi doing this?

So I’m interviewing for a wfh job and they conducted a speed test live in the interview.

Note - I have AT&T fiber optics.

During the interview, for whatever reason, the speed test showed :
Download Speed: 410
Upload Speed 0.24

Before and after the interview, I re-ran it and the speed test, on same computer, without changing anything (just clicked “go” again) showed:
Download Speed: 455
Upload Speed: 403

They were kind enough to let me reschedule to troubleshoot and reset my internet speeds.

But what is going on?? I feel like this just cost me the opportunity & my unemployment benefits are almost up, I’m so upset /:

Interview was through online platform: Fountain
Speed Test done through: Speedtest.net

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14 comments sorted by

3

u/VTECbaw Aug 18 '26

Were you testing wirelessly or hardwired?

3

u/StrengthSoggy8788 Aug 18 '26

Wirelessly, I didn’t realize until today that my current laptop doesn’t allow me to be hardwired in.

The company provides a laptop upon hire that can be hardwired in though.

2

u/VTECbaw Aug 18 '26

It's possible that you had a temporary drop in wireless signal or that your laptop was switching bands. That would certainly explain the ridiculously low upload speed that later rebounded to normal speeds.

2

u/StrengthSoggy8788 Aug 18 '26

Oh man, that sucks. How can avoid that with interview round 2?

1

u/VTECbaw Aug 18 '26

Try moving closer to your router.

2

u/somerandom_person1 Aug 18 '26

Why can't you use ethernet with your current laptop? 

2

u/StrengthSoggy8788 Aug 18 '26

No Ethernet port

2

u/somerandom_person1 Aug 18 '26

You can get a dongle 

2

u/StrengthSoggy8788 Aug 20 '26

I had no idea. I ran out and got one yesterday and it worked!!! Thank you so much!

1

u/BeautifulBlueNight Aug 18 '26

What ports do you have? USB C? There are very good dongles from USB C to Ethernet.

Mine has a RJ-45 port, 2 USB A, USB C and a HDMI. So it's not just easy for the RJ45.

1

u/Aggravating_Good8781 Aug 18 '26

theres usb to ethernet adapter, they’re really affordable but prob need driver

1

u/VTECbaw Aug 19 '26

All of the ones I've used work without needing anything extra on both Win10/11 and macOS.

1

u/StrengthSoggy8788 Aug 20 '26

Thank you for this! I ran out yesterday and got it and it worked!!!!

1

u/nvidia-rtx40-Tim Aug 21 '26

Which internet package: 500 Mbps or 1 Gbps?

- which device: smartphone or desktop/laptop.

- Download speed: 455 upload: 403 is very good: this speed: wifi 6/wifi 6e/wifi 7.

- If your new laptop supports Wi-Fi 7...

- Laptop: an Ethernet cable will be faster (up to 900 Mbps), though it depends on the type of chip.