5 PowerShell commands that tell you more about your network than any speed test

5 PowerShell commands that tell you more about your network than any speed test Afam Onyimadu / MUO By  Afam Onyimadu Published May 30, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT Afam's experience in tech publishing dates back to 2018, when he worked for Make Tech Easier. Over the years, he has built a reputation for publishing high-quality guides, reviews, tips, and explainer articles, covering Windows, Linux, and open source tools. His work has been featured on top websites, including Technical Ustad, Windows Report, Guiding Tech, Alphr, and Next of Windows. He holds a first degree in Computer Science and is a strong advocate for data privacy and security, with several tips, videos, and tutorials on the subject published on the Fuzo Tech YouTube channel. When he is not working, he loves to spend time with his family, cycling, or tending to his garden. Sign in to your MakeUseOf account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap I use speed tests a lot. However, the problem is that their scope is limited; they show you how fast your device retrieves and sends data from the internet. Raw bandwidth is just one aspect of network performance, which means that speed results don't always surface why websites lag or why downloads may freeze halfway . There are, however, a handful of PowerShell commands that reveal details you don't see in speed tests, surfacing DNS latency, packet loss, adapter errors, and bad routing priorities even better than most GUI tools. They are my go-to for network troubleshooting. Trace where your connection actually breaks down Find packet loss and unstable hops in real time Afam Onyimadu / MUO I feel frustrated when my fast internet starts to feel slow. With speed tests only measuring throughput to a nearby server, I still feel stuck because the problem is