Extremely inconsistent latency

[Inkz]

Hi guys, so my wireless speed is extremly inconsistent. I have Comcast 100mbs down, yet both my ping and download rate sometimes go to abysmal levels. Like if I am playing a game sometimes it will go from the normal 34ms to like 800ms and back down or sometimes just stay there. Also the download rate will randomly drop to like 80kbs. Sometimes it will be fine or bad for hours at a time without switching. I have checked and found that it will happen even if I am the only one on the wifi at like 3 in the morning. The modem I have is a Motorola surfboard sb6121 if that helps. Do you guys have any advice?

[MellowCream]

Wireless internet and stability/consistency do not belong in the same sentence, from interference, to poor router firmware wifi just sucks, however, you can ensure you're getting the best speed possible by making sure your wireless NIC's drivers are up-to-date along with your routers firmware. Router settings are good to check as well, QoS, channels, transmission power, etc.

 

Personally, If I had to use Wifi, I'd buy a decent router and NIC and make sure I was using the 5GHz band, the 2.4GHz band is too cluttered with everything these days.

[Enderman]

Don't use wifi.

[Inkz]

35 minutes ago, MellowCream said:

Wireless internet and stability/consistency do not belong in the same sentence, from interference, to poor router firmware wifi just sucks, however, you can ensure you're getting the best speed possible by making sure your wireless NIC's drivers are up-to-date along with your routers firmware. Router settings are good to check as well, QoS, channels, transmission power, etc.

 

Personally, If I had to use Wifi, I'd buy a decent router and NIC and make sure I was using the 5GHz band, the 2.4GHz band is too cluttered with everything these days.

 

3 minutes ago, Enderman said:

Don't use wifi.

While I appreciate the feedback, that won't help me much. My room is in the most inconvenient possible spot for wired. I would either have to drill through my floor or run a 70 foot cable down stairs and around my house, both I don't think I would be allowed to do. Plus it is out of the question for my phone.

[kirashi]

2 hours ago, Inkz said:

Hi guys, so my wireless speed is extremly inconsistent. I have Comcast 100mbs down, yet both my ping and download rate sometimes go to abysmal levels. Like if I am playing a game sometimes it will go from the normal 34ms to like 800ms and back down or sometimes just stay there. Also the download rate will randomly drop to like 80kbs. Sometimes it will be fine or bad for hours at a time without switching. I have checked and found that it will happen even if I am the only one on the wifi at like 3 in the morning. The modem I have is a Motorola surfboard sb6121 if that helps. Do you guys have any advice?

What games does this happen in? Asking because certain games just have shit servers. I work for an ISP and get people playing PUBG, Rocket League, and LOL calling in all the time about ping spikes only when playing these games, or complain about slow speeds during updates from Steam or Origin when their speedtests are showing exactly what they're paying for.

 

Also, if you can't game or internet over a hardwired network cable, that's totally fine - we don't want you to drill holes all over the place or renovate. However, no one can guarantee how WiFi will perform in your house, nor can anyone guarantee that WiFi won't slow down or have increased ping due to interference, since it is a radio signal that the FCC mandates can accept interference as follows:

Quote

  This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.  Operation is 
  subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not 
  cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any 
  interference received, including interference that may cause 
  undesired operation. 

 

[Inkz]

2 hours ago, kirashi said:

What games does this happen in? Asking because certain games just have shit servers. I work for an ISP and get people playing PUBG, Rocket League, and LOL calling in all the time about ping spikes only when playing these games, or complain about slow speeds during updates from Steam or Origin when their speedtests are showing exactly what they're paying for.

 

Also, if you can't game or internet over a hardwired network cable, that's totally fine - we don't want you to drill holes all over the place or renovate. However, no one can guarantee how WiFi will perform in your house, nor can anyone guarantee that WiFi won't slow down or have increased ping due to interference, since it is a radio signal that the FCC mandates can accept interference as follows:

 

Well the only real multiplayer game I play is Overwatch. However, the slow download speed will also appear on my phone as well. I understand some level of interference, but I can't understand me getting 11 mbs at one second to 8kbs the next second. I guess I can wait, but during a game I just lose if it shoots to 800ms ping. Also I don't know why I posted my modem, I need to check on my router model in the morning.

[kirashi]

12 minutes ago, Inkz said:

Well the only real multiplayer game I play is Overwatch. However, the slow download speed will also appear on my phone as well. I understand some level of interference, but I can't understand me getting 11 mbs at one second to 8kbs the next second. I guess I can wait, but during a game I just lose if it shoots to 800ms ping. Also I don't know why I posted my modem, I need to check on my router model in the morning.

OK yeah if download speeds in general are randomly dropping that low on multiple devices, there's definitely something odd happening with the connection. When you can, let us know your wireless router model and we'll maybe be able to give you some advice as to what's going on.

[Bcat00]

Did you ever mess with your main internet wire like using your own splitter or not tightening the cable properly?

 

the sudden drops sound like a signal issue. Call your internet provider and get tech support and see if the signals are good.

[Inkz]

On 3/12/2018 at 2:07 AM, kirashi said:

OK yeah if download speeds in general are randomly dropping that low on multiple devices, there's definitely something odd happening with the connection. When you can, let us know your wireless router model and we'll maybe be able to give you some advice as to what's going on.

Sorry for the late reply, I had some life stuff happen and I forgot for a week. The router is a Trendnet Tew-652brp, do you know if that would have anything to do with it?

[kirashi]

5 hours ago, Inkz said:

Sorry for the late reply, I had some life stuff happen and I forgot for a week. The router is a Trendnet Tew-652brp, do you know if that would have anything to do with it?

I would absolutely replace that with something more modern that at least supports 5GHz networks, if not AC wireless too. Your router came out in 2008 so is now 10 years old, and is not up to the task of handling today's traffic, especially if you have multiple devices on the network. I'd recommend something that can run AdvancedTomato firmware, such as Netgear's R7000 for around $180, which is good for multiple devices all being connected at once in a 1600-2000sqft 2 story home, as long as you don't have some weird layout or basement area. The more budget friendly option would be getting a TP-Link Archer C7 for around $100 as it would still be a huge upgrade from what you have now.

 

Wireless G/N will only ever reach around 25-40mbps on average on a 2.4GHz network, where as a wireless N on a 5GHz network can hit around 80-90mbps, and wireless AC on 5GHz can hit around the 180mbps mark. Keep in mind this will vary with distance from router, other interfering signals, walls, appliance, and other larger objects in the way, and your device as well. However, an iPad Air 2 in the same room as a wireless AC router connected to the 5GHz network can for sure get 170mbps on our 150 down 15 up connection.

 

The ping issue may resolve itself once you replace the router, however, ping is dependent on everything from your local connection (wired/wireless) to factors beyond your ISP's control, such as the game server you connect to itself. Looking at you EA, Riot Games, Psyonix, and BlueHole software. All of these providers have servers that are notorious for randomly becoming absolute shit in terms of connectivity issues.

[Inkz]

On 3/25/2018 at 7:36 PM, kirashi said:

I would absolutely replace that with something more modern that at least supports 5GHz networks, if not AC wireless too. Your router came out in 2008 so is now 10 years old, and is not up to the task of handling today's traffic, especially if you have multiple devices on the network. I'd recommend something that can run AdvancedTomato firmware, such as Netgear's R7000 for around $180, which is good for multiple devices all being connected at once in a 1600-2000sqft 2 story home, as long as you don't have some weird layout or basement area. The more budget friendly option would be getting a TP-Link Archer C7 for around $100 as it would still be a huge upgrade from what you have now.

 

Wireless G/N will only ever reach around 25-40mbps on average on a 2.4GHz network, where as a wireless N on a 5GHz network can hit around 80-90mbps, and wireless AC on 5GHz can hit around the 180mbps mark. Keep in mind this will vary with distance from router, other interfering signals, walls, appliance, and other larger objects in the way, and your device as well. However, an iPad Air 2 in the same room as a wireless AC router connected to the 5GHz network can for sure get 170mbps on our 150 down 15 up connection.

 

The ping issue may resolve itself once you replace the router, however, ping is dependent on everything from your local connection (wired/wireless) to factors beyond your ISP's control, such as the game server you connect to itself. Looking at you EA, Riot Games, Psyonix, and BlueHole software. All of these providers have servers that are notorious for randomly becoming absolute shit in terms of connectivity issues.

Hey long time no talk. So I am looking at the Netgear ac 2350 and the Asus 2400, which would you recommend for gaming as highest priority?

[Spyder1384]

I'd say it sounds like one of 2 things. Either 1) Using a cluttered wifi channel on auto setting, try setting manually. Or 2) Your router isn't MU-MIMO and is getting bogged down by running too many devices on WiFi.

 

My personal router is the ASUS RT-AC5300 running on Merlin WRT firmware. In my desktop (which, like yours, is not in an ideal location for wired) with an ASUS PCE-AC68 WiFi card. My connection speed floats between 702mbps and 877mbps with my overall average ping sitting around 1.3ms for connection to my router verified by ping test.