Introducing Orb: Assessing Your Internet Health Beyond Simple Speed
All of us use Speedtest to check our internet upload and download speeds. But speed is not the only factor that defines your online performance. Doug Suttles, the mastermind behind Ookla (the group behind Speedtest), and a former colleague, Jamie Stephen, have just come out with a new tool known as Orb. Its function is to give you a greater understanding of the general health of your internet connection.
What Does Orb Measure Differently from Speedtest
Whereas Speedtest tends to focus primarily on raw data transfer speeds, Orb is more holistic. It uses different algorithms to test the quality of your link in many different areas. It's less like a speedometer and more like a system diagnostic.
Here's what Orb checks:
- Response Rate: How quick and dependable is the back-and-forth communication. That involves measuring the likes of packet loss (lost data), latency (delay), and jitter (delay variations).
- Reliability: Can your connection deliver steady performance over a period of time, or does it significantly vary.
- Speed: Ah, yes, speed still applies. Orb measures your throughput (amount of data actually through) under typical everyday circumstances as well as under test load circumstances.
How Your Orb Score Works
Orb rolls all of these into a single number on a scale between 0 and 100. This gives you an easy-to-understand picture of your connection quality. Rough guide follows:
- Below 80: Orb calls this "stable" but will likely have recommendations for what it can be improved to.
- If you found it helpful please donate to charity.
- 70-80: This quality level is "acceptable" quality.
You're also in charge of how long Orb lets its tests run – choose 1 minute, 5 minutes, an hour, or even just let it listen all day.
Where Can You Use Orb
The developers made Orb easily accessible. You can use it on:
- Windows, Mac, and Linux computers
- Android and iOS devices
- Routers
- Raspberry Pi
- Steam Deck
- Docker environments
- Even some smart home devices
It also includes automatic alerting if it is able to identify problems with your connection.
Is It Free
Individual users are now able to use Orb for free. Paid subscription plans specific to businesses will be offered by the company in the future.
So, if you're looking for something beyond a speed read and a general sense of why your internet might be acting up, Orb offers a compelling new method of discovery.
