Latency, Ping, Jitter, and Lag are all terms that you will hear when it comes to internet speed for gaming and steaming. Here is what they mean and how they can be improved for a better gaming or streaming experience.

Latency

Latency is how fast data transfers between a source and its destination, basically a delay of information communication. For instance, if you are in a video call with someone in another city you will have a higher latency than if you were in the same city.

Ping

A ping test is what is used to determine latency. Generally, an acceptable latency (or ping) is anywhere around 40 – 60 milliseconds (ms) or lower, while a speed of over 100ms will usually mean a noticeable lag in gaming or streaming.

Jitter

Jitter Is the measure of the variability in ping over time. Jitter won’t be noticeable when browsing websites, but when streaming video or gaming a high jitter can result in buffering, lag spikes and other interruptions. Lower is better, 30ms or lower is best. It is much more a result of wireless connectivity.

Lag

Lag is the result of high latency. It can result in game-breaking connection issues such as input delay or connection errors. Lag can be a hindrance in a fast-paced competitive game, and should be avoided whenever possible.

How to fix lag & jitter to improve latency

1. Use an Ethernet cable. While WiFi is convenient, for gaming or working from home, it can increase latency.
   • WiFi Interference can cause jitter in the speeds, causing spikes in latency
   • Other devices on the wireless can drag down connectivity rates
2. Close out of other programs
   • Close out of any other applications that may be stealing bandwidth.
   • Check other devices on your network for heavy traffic activity. Even their online activities can hinder your gaming speeds.
3. Check for driver updates. All systems need updates. Ensuring network adapter drivers are up to date can eliminate issues with the adapter running inefficiently on old drivers.
4. Check game server status. Occasionally the issue can be with the gaming platform itself.
5. Priority & QoS - With QoS settings in your router you can prioritize certain traffic types over others. This would be something for the advanced user. Tbaytel technicians will not adjust QoS functions in routers.

Things you may not be able to change when it comes to latency

1. Geographical location: The physical distance between your internet router and the server can affect latency. So, if the nearest game server is on the coast of the US, there is a higher risk for Latency. European and Asian servers have even greater Latency.
2. Internet connection type: If you are gaming over Copper DSL or Canopy, you will experience more latency than if you were on Fibre.
3. Bandwidth Limitations: Depending on the limitations of the physical connection between your home and our core, there may be a limit to the bandwidth your device is capable of receiving especially over copper.