Internet issues can be frustrating. Speed tests can often show us very general results
that gauge the average health of your internet but when your tasks demand consistent
bandwidth, the best way to test your network is with a Ping test.
A ping is essentially how long it takes to send and receive back a small piece of
information to a destination, whether that be a website, server, or another
device/computer, we generally say that an average ping under 35MS is healthy. We are also
looking for "request time outs" which indicate packet loss, which is data that doesn't get
transmitted.
Here is a link to some quick steps to run a Ping test when you feel your internet or connection is acting choppy. Look for the instructions for your operating system, (Windows or Mac). Make sure to run an extended Ping test of 30-50 pings or packets sent.
The most common place to ping to is Google.com, the average ping command for Window's users looks like this:
1. Open CMD Prompt
2. type in: ping -t google.com (runs an infinite ping test) Macs have a utility that lets you choose how many pings.
3. Let it run for 30-50 pings
4. CTRL+C to end the test and get results.
If you see issues with your ping you should call your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to
figure out what's wrong. Most ISPs often lead you to believe that rebooting your router is the solution. Though this can often clear up issues and stuck data in the router or modem, there may be more happening on the infrastructure level.
Always ask your ISP for advanced support, or a higher tier support agent. Ask them if they can look at historical data to see things like RX power (receive power - think of this as related to download) or TX power (transmit power - think of this as related to upload). If either of these are too high or too low, it can cause issues. If the historical plots for these look erratic, It could be detecting issues that are happening outside of your house.
We do not advise checking the below things yourself but if you get an ISP provided tech onsite here are some things they should check for:
- Splitters and signal boosters that may be unnecessary or acting faulty
- Bad ethernet or coax cables in the house (look for signs at the cable tips and for any
kinks or tears in the cable)
- A junction box outside that is shared by more than one house.
- Any damage to the line feeding in from outside.
Sometimes internet issues can be solved simply by replacing an ethernet cable
Wi-Fi:
Though hardwired connections are recommended, using Wi-Fi extenders improperly, or being far away from your router can cause intermittence/weak signals, as well.
Make sure your Wi-Fi router is elevated and has the least amount of obstructions in the room it is situated.
Wi-Fi extenders or boosters are often used improperly. Extenders need to be placed at the halfway point between the room with the weak signal and the router from your ISP. A common mistake is placing these in the room that has the weak signal giving the extender no signal to extend to begin with.
If you are using a fiber or satellite connections:
Fiber connections, though they are the fastest, they also have
the most temperamental cabling. Most optical cables deployed are essentially made of
glass and can wear or break just by bending the cable.
If you have a satellite connection, even Starlink satellites have to contend with
bouncing the signal at long distances, and tend to have pings higher than 35MS which
simply means it will take longer for data to communicate. This means you may have only limited options to improve it.