Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest app, is launching a new gadget to help diagnose network problems, which should make it easier to nail down those pesky Wi-Fi problems and get them fixed.
Called Speedtest Pulse, the new gadget can help verify network performance and identify where problems are, whether they’re in the Wi-Fi setup or something wrong with the line coming into the home.
Speedtest Pulse works in conjunction with a smartphone app to output the data. It’ll need a wired connection at launch, but later will work over Bluetooth as well. Moreover, the device supports MagSafe, allowing users to attach it to the back of their MagSafe-compatible phone.
The gadget will offer two modes to help diagnose problems. The first, dubbed ‘Active Pulse,’ is an instant check intended to help technicians verify new installs. The single, guided test can help them detect problems, such as issues with the inbound service or with the Wi-Fi setup, or possibly even with specific devices using the network. Importantly, Ookla says Pulse can translate complex, technical data into helpful insights technicians can use to address issues.
The second mode, ‘Continuous Pulse,’ will be released sometime next year. It’s intended as a “leave-behind” testing tool that can collect performance data over a longer period. It can monitor for intermittent problems and detect performance degradation, helping to catch problems that are hard to reproduce and ultimately reducing the need for repeat technician visits.
That latter feature would have been incredibly useful for me in the past. For example, when I lived in Whitby, I had occasional issues with my home internet cutting out, and whenever the technician came out, they’d tell me a different cause, claim to fix it, and leave. But inevitably, the issue would come back, and I never got a clear answer on what the actual issue was. Ookla’s Active Pulse device might have helped diagnose the actual problem and help get it fixed.
Unfortunately, Ookla isn’t making Speedtest Pulse available to regular consumers yet (though it might be in the future). For now, Ookla is targeting enterprise customers and internet service providers (ISPs). Additionally, the device will be available in Canada.
Hopefully we see some Canadian ISPs equip technicians with Pulse, as I can see it being extremely helpful for diagnosing problems with home internet setups. Ookla didn’t share pricing, but noted Pulse would be priced “aggressively.”
You can learn more about Speedtest Pulse on Ookla’s website.
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