Speed, Latency, Jitter, Packet Loss – the Elements that Define Connectivity
Fast internet is not the same as reliable internet. A connection can measure well on a speed test and still ruin a video call, because of the delay before data arrives, the uneven timing between pieces of it, and data that never arrives at all, which you see as freezing. If the connection drops out completely, see getting back online after a lost connection.
Speedify is an app that uses Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet, Starlink and satellite internet connections simultaneously, so a wobble on one of them is covered by the others. Speedify can only keep you online through a drop when it has two or more internet connections to work with, for example Wi-Fi plus your phone’s 4G/5G cellular. On a single connection, Speedify works as an encrypted VPN and cannot stop that connection from dropping. Each of those measurements is explained here in plain terms, with how to tell which one is hurting you and what using Speedify does about it.
Speedify keeps you online when your connection keeps dropping.
Troubleshooting Connection Issues: Internet Speed
Everybody talks about internet speed. It is the most common attribute for any connection, and ISPs sell packages that promote maximum and guaranteed speeds. Most people want more bandwidth, or at least the most they can afford.
Internet speed refers to how much data you can transfer to and from your devices every second. The more, the better. Do not confuse this with bandwidth, which is the maximum amount of data you can transfer through your connection. Speed varies a lot from one region to another and from one ISP to another. It is influenced by the other factors covered below: latency, jitter and packet loss. When talking about countries stats, you can always check Speedtest’s Global Index.
Internet speed issues: symptoms
- slow downloads / uploads
- buffering videos
- video calls that stutter
- websites / apps take forever to load or refresh
Speed connectivity issues: troubleshooting steps
- Run a speed test on a wired connection or as close to the router as you can.
- Check the contract with your ISP: are the speeds you see close to what you’re supposed to get?
Solutions for Internet speed issues:
- Restart your device and the network equipment (modem, router) if possible.
- Use wired connections instead of Wi-Fi, as much as possible.
- Move closer to the Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Update router / modem firmware and your computer’s network adapter drivers.
- Using public Wi-Fi? It’s possible you’re stuck on a bad hotspot. Connect to another network.
- Combine multiple connections at once using an app such as Speedify.
- Upgrade to a superior plan or change your ISP.
Troubleshooting Latency (Lag) and Jitter, a Gamer’s Worst Enemies
Latency (or lag) refers to how much time it takes for data to travel to its destination and back. So, it’s a delay indicator measured in milliseconds. The lower, the better. Latency and bandwidth are the main components that influence Internet speed. Best case scenario: low latency, high bandwidth.
Jitter is the fluctuation of latency over time, meaning the deviation from your average latency. It’s also measured in milliseconds, with lower being better. Think of jitter as lag spikes in gaming. It appears when network packets don’t arrive in the same order they were sent, so they’re queued up in a buffer.
Latency and jitter issues: symptoms
- websites / apps take forever to load or refresh
- slow gaming
- latency spikes in games
- huge delays (with spikes, if jitter is high) between broadcaster and viewers in live streaming
- sync issues and freezing video calls
Troubleshooting latency and jitter issues:
- Measure your latency and jitter. Run a speed test that offers such data.
- Is the latency under 100ms as a general rule?
Solutions to minimize Internet latency (lag) and jitter:
- Restart your device and the network equipment
- Use wired connections instead of Wi-Fi or cellular, as much as possible
- Using satellite Internet? Try to switch to cable or DSL.
- Update router / modem firmware
- Connect to another Wi-Fi network
Packet Loss and How It Affects Internet Connectivity
Packet loss occurs when one or more network packets fail to reach their destination. It is measured as a percentage of packets lost vs. packets sent. You can read more details about the causes of packet loss.
Symptoms of packet loss:
- videos stuttering, buffering and even disconnecting
- unintelligible calls
- fragmented gaming experience
- dropped frames when live streaming
Troubleshooting packet loss:
- Depending on the symptoms, you might be able to get data from the apps / software you’re using to live stream, play games, etc.
- If you want to get a general idea on how lossy your connection is, check out this test.
How to fix packet loss:
- Restart your device and the network equipment.
- Use wired instead of wireless. Wi-Fi and cellular are more prone to packet loss because of their nature.
- Upgrade firmware for your modem / router.
- Eliminate any source of electromagnetic interference, such as other wireless devices and motors.
- Set up your Wi-Fi network to a less crowded channel.
- Use 2 or more connections together at once.
Speedify Helps with Troubleshooting Connectivity Problems
As explained above, many factors influence the quality of your internet connection, and finding the one at fault takes time. Speedify helps with that diagnosis, and with the drops themselves.
Speedify combines internet connections, so you can use all of them at the same time, and the app shows how each one is performing:
- real-time graphs show you more details about the speed of each of your Internet connections.
- detailed connection information includes real-time data about latency, jitter and packet loss, as well as a MOS-type connection rating.
So you have all the connectivity data in your pocket when running Speedify. With two or more internet connections, Speedify also keeps these problems from cutting you off. If something goes wrong and you notice one of the symptoms above, open Speedify and check the stats to see which connection is at fault.
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Speedify combines Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet, Starlink and satellite into one faster, more reliable internet connection. Free to try: 5 GB a month with a free account. No credit card required.
🚀 Speed
Faster uploads and downloads, because Speedify uses all your internet connections at once.
📶 Stability
If one internet connection drops, Speedify moves your traffic to the others in milliseconds.
🔒 Security
AES-256 encryption on every internet connection, on any network you join.
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