Speedtest In Termux: A Quick Install Guide

Hey guys! Ever wondered how to check your internet speed directly from your Termux terminal? It's super handy, especially when you're deep into some network troubleshooting or just curious about your connection. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to install and use Speedtest in Termux. Let's dive in!

What is Termux?

Before we get started, let's quickly touch on what Termux is. Termux is essentially an Android terminal emulator and Linux environment app. It allows you to run a Linux-like environment on your Android device without needing root access. This opens up a world of possibilities, from running command-line tools to managing files and even coding on the go.

Why Use Speedtest in Termux?

Lightweight: It's a command-line tool, so it's much lighter than running a full-fledged app or website.
Automation: You can easily script speed tests for monitoring network performance over time.
No GUI Needed: Perfect for servers or situations where you don't have a graphical interface.
Convenience: Quickly check your speed without leaving your terminal.

Prerequisites

Before installing Speedtest in Termux, make sure you have the following:

Termux App: Download and install Termux from the Google Play Store or F-Droid.
Stable Internet Connection: You'll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages.
Basic Termux Knowledge: Familiarity with basic Termux commands like apt update and apt install will be helpful.

Step-by-Step Guide to Install Speedtest in Termux

Okay, let's get down to business. Follow these steps to install Speedtest in Termux:

Step 1: Update Package Lists

First things first, we need to update the package lists to make sure we have the latest information about available packages. Open Termux and run the following command:

apt update && apt upgrade

This command does two things:

apt update: Refreshes the package lists.
apt upgrade: Upgrades any outdated packages to their latest versions.

Why is this important? Updating ensures you're working with the most recent versions of packages and their dependencies, which can prevent compatibility issues and improve security. Always a good practice to start with!

Step 2: Install Python

Speedtest-cli, the command-line tool we'll be using, is written in Python. So, we need to make sure Python is installed on our Termux environment. Run the following command:

apt install python

This command installs Python and any necessary dependencies. Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Python is installed correctly by checking its version:

python --version

You should see the Python version number printed in the terminal. If you do, you're good to go!

Step 3: Install Speedtest-cli using pip

Now that we have Python installed, we can use pip, Python's package installer, to install Speedtest-cli. Run the following command:

pip install speedtest-cli

This command downloads and installs Speedtest-cli from the Python Package Index (PyPI). Pip makes it super easy to manage Python packages and their dependencies.

Note: If you encounter an error saying pip is not found, you might need to install it separately. You can do this by running:

apt install python-pip

Then, try installing Speedtest-cli again.

Step 4: Run Speedtest

Alright, the moment of truth! Now that Speedtest-cli is installed, you can run a speed test by simply typing:

speedtest-cli

This command will start the speed test, and you'll see output in the terminal showing your download speed, upload speed, and ping. The tool automatically selects the nearest Speedtest server to give you the most accurate results.

Understanding the Output:

Ping: The latency of your connection, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower is better.
Download Speed: The rate at which data is transferred from the internet to your device, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Higher is better.
Upload Speed: The rate at which data is transferred from your device to the internet, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Higher is better.

Step 5: Using Speedtest-cli with Options

Speedtest-cli comes with several options that allow you to customize your speed tests. Here are a few useful ones:

List Servers: To see a list of available Speedtest servers, use the --list option:
```
speedtest-cli --list
```
This will display a list of servers with their IDs and distances from your location.
Specify a Server: To test against a specific server, use the --server option followed by the server ID:

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```
speedtest-cli --server <server_id>
```
Replace <server_id> with the ID of the server you want to use.
Simple Output: For a simplified output that only shows the ping, download speed, and upload speed, use the --simple option:
```
speedtest-cli --simple
```
This can be useful for scripting or when you only need the basic results.
Share Results: To generate a shareable image of your speed test results, use the --share option:
```
speedtest-cli --share
```
This will upload your results to Speedtest.net and provide you with a URL to share.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are a few common issues you might encounter and how to fix them:

Command Not Found: If you get an error saying speedtest-cli: command not found, make sure you've installed it correctly using pip install speedtest-cli. Also, ensure that Python's scripts directory is in your PATH. You can usually fix this by closing and reopening Termux.
Permission Denied: If you get a permission denied error, it might be due to file permissions. Try running the command with sudo (though this is less common in Termux, as it doesn't usually require root).
Slow Speeds: If you're getting slower speeds than expected, try testing against different servers using the --server option. It's also a good idea to check your internet connection and make sure no other devices are consuming excessive bandwidth.

Automating Speed Tests

One of the coolest things about using Speedtest-cli in Termux is the ability to automate speed tests. You can create a simple script to run speed tests at regular intervals and log the results. Here's an example:

Creating a Script

Create a Script File: Use a text editor (like nano in Termux) to create a new file, for example, speedtest.sh:
```
nano speedtest.sh
```

Add the Following Content:

#!/bin/bash

DATE=$(date +"%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")

PING=$(speedtest-cli --simple | grep Ping | awk '{print $2}') DOWNLOAD=$ (speedtest-cli --simple | grep Download | awk '{print $2}') UPLOAD=$ (speedtest-cli --simple | grep Upload | awk '{print $2}')

echo "$DATE, $PING, $DOWNLOAD, $UPLOAD" >> speedtest.log ```

Make the Script Executable:
```
chmod +x speedtest.sh
```

Running the Script

You can run the script manually by typing:

./speedtest.sh

This will run a speed test and append the results to a file named speedtest.log. You can view the log file using cat speedtest.log.

Scheduling with Cron

To run the script automatically at regular intervals, you can use cron. However, Termux doesn't have cron installed by default, so you'll need to install it:

apt install cronie

Then, start the cron service:

crond

Now, edit the crontab:

crontab -e

Add a line to run the script every hour:

0 * * * * /data/data/com.termux/files/home/speedtest.sh

Save the crontab file. Now, the script will run automatically every hour, and the results will be logged in speedtest.log. Important: Make sure to use the full path to your script in the crontab.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've successfully installed and used Speedtest in Termux. This powerful tool can be incredibly useful for monitoring your network performance, troubleshooting connection issues, and even automating speed tests. Whether you're a seasoned Linux user or just starting out, Speedtest-cli in Termux is a valuable addition to your toolkit. Now go forth and test those speeds! Happy testing, and feel free to experiment with the different options to get the most out of Speedtest-cli.