Decision examples
| Evidence | Decision | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Typical plan speeds are below the calculator result | Consider a faster plan | The purchased capacity is too small on paper. |
| Near-router median passes and room median fails | Improve Wi-Fi first | More provider Mbps does not remove the measured room-to-room gap. |
| Plan passes on paper but near-router median fails | Troubleshoot delivery first | The current plan may be adequate if the delivered connection is repaired. |
| Plan and both medians pass | Keep the plan for capacity | Only change for price, reliability, data limits, or another documented need. |
Use typical plan values
Broadband Facts labels provide performance characteristics for comparing an offered plan. Enter Typical Download and Typical Upload, because the plan name or maximum alone does not show the capacity normally delivered.
Sources: United States Government (S21)One speed test is not enough
A single result can be unusually high or low. Repeated tests at two locations distinguish a broad delivered-capacity problem from a room-specific Wi-Fi gap. This guide does not recommend a router model or claim that new hardware will correct every coverage problem.
Higher raw capacity can have diminishing returns when delay under load is the real problem.
Sources: IETF / RFC Editor (S20)