How reliable is your internet connection? That depends a lot on how you measure “good” and in how many different ways. Conventional browser-based tests like the ever-popular Speedtest.net can give you a few metrics, but it’s missing a lot of deeper data. A new test from the founders of Ookla, SpeedTest’s parent company, hopes to give you a better, always-on option.
Orb opens today as an app for all major desktop and mobile platforms. It’s designed to give you a deeper, more holistic look at your active internet connection, with real-time monitoring, more useful and active information, and a better look at your connection over time. It shows you zero-to-100 scores for responsiveness (based on latency, jitter, and packet loss), reliability (status over time and packet loss), and speed (download/upload).
In addition to raw data and your overall scores, the system has a couple of other tricks. By logging in, you can actively monitor multiple devices at once, even on separate connections — I’m looking at my desktop connection on my home network and my phone on Verizon in the same window. And for those who really like to keep a tight watch on their network, the Orb app can be installed on a Raspberry Pi or similar device for round-the-clock monitoring of a LAN. I like the “keep awake” option for the Android app, allowing my phone to essentially become an always-on network monitor.
Orb
According to a PR representative, Orb is planning to release “recipes” that will allow you to test your connectivity for specific services, giving YouTube and Microsoft Teams as examples. I can think of a few others that some of the most network-obsessed users would also like to test, such as Valve, EA, and Microsoft’s online multiplayer servers.
Orb is a free download for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. In the current version of the Windows and Android app I tested in pre-release, it can be used without an account, though you need to log in for some of the cool multi-device options.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.