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| Date & Time | Duration | Avg Ping | Avg Jitter | Packet Loss | Actions |
|---|
Real-Time Internet Stability & Packet Loss Test
Speed tests only check your download speed. That’s not the full picture. It’s why you can have “fast” internet but still get lag and disconnects.
PingPacketTest checks how stable your internet connection actually is. Instead of a large file download, it sends continuous, tiny data packets. This lets you monitor your connection in real-time and catch issues that standard tests miss.
Interpreting the Live Chart
The main screen visualizes your pingline. The dynamic color system helps you to spot issues.
⚡ Ping (The Dynamic Line)
Ping is your connection's response time. It measures how fast a signal gets to the server and back.
- The Visual: The line changes color based on value.
- Blue: Excellent. Low latency, stable connection.
- Green / Yellow: Moderate. Playable, but latency is increasing.
- Red: Critical. High latency causing noticeable lag.
📉 Packet Loss (Red Vertical Lines)
Packet loss happens when data fails to reach the server.
- The Visual: appear as red vertical lines cutting through the chart.
- The Goal: You want 0% packet loss. Even a single red line indicates data is missing.
〰️ Jitter (Numeric Value)
Jitter measures how stable your ping is. It calculates the variance of ping.
- The Visual: Jitter is displayed as a numeric value (Current and Average) on the dashboard.
- The Goal: Low numbers. If your Average Jitter is high (above 10-20ms), your connection is "shaky."
Troubleshooting Guide: Symptoms & Solutions
If your test shows problems, this guide explains what's going on and how you can fix it.
1. High Ping (Latency)
The Symptom:
Everything feels delayed. In games, your actions feel delayed. Web pages seem to pause for a moment before they load.
Causes & Solutions:
- Distance: You are too far from the server.
Fix: Check the Server Map. If the tool picked a server far away, just use the menu to choose one closer to you. - Congestion (Bufferbloat): Your network is clogged. Someone is probably downloading a huge file or streaming in 4K.
Fix: You may need to enable "QoS" (Quality of Service) in your router settings to limit other user`s bandwith, and prioritize gaming/voice traffic. - Background Updates:
Fix: Check if Windows, Steam, or game consoles are downloading updates in the background.
2. High Jitter
The Symptom:
Stuttering. In voice calls (Zoom/Discord), the audio sounds robotic or choppy. In games, other players seem to move smoothly, then stop, then speed up to catch up.
Causes & Solutions:
- WiFi Interference (Most Common): WiFi is naturally unstable. Walls weaken the signal and it has to compete with your neighbors' WiFi.
Fix: Switch to a wired Ethernet connection. This is the most effective fix for jitter.
Fix: If you're stuck on WiFi, connect to the 5GHz band. It's faster and less crowded than 2.4GHz. - Router Hardware: Old routers sometimes start to drop data.
Fix: First, try restarting your router. If problems continue, it might be time for a router upgrade.
3. Packet Loss (Red Lines)
The Symptom:
Severe disruption. In games, you "teleport", rubberband or disconnect. In calls, whole sentences go missing or the calls drop. Video streams freeze or fail.
Causes & Solutions:
- Faulty Cables: A damaged Ethernet cable is a common cause.
Fix: Swap your Ethernet cable for a new Cat6 cable. - Modem/ISP Issues: If your hardware is fine, the issue can be the line coming into your house.
Action: Get in contact with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). You can use our Export features(link to result, png, csv) to send the test result to your ISP tech support.
Diagnostic Tools & Features
Specific features for troubleshooting.
- Continuous Monitoring: You can leave this tool running for 24 hours. It's perfect for catching those random disconnects that are hard to prove.
- Timeline Scrubber: If you see a lag spike on the chart, just drag the timeline back to that exact spot to see what went wrong.
- Chart Annotations: Click anywhere on the pingline to draw a permanent tooltip. This lets you mark specific events or key data points on the graph before you share it.
- Server Selection: The tool automatically connects to the nearest meaningful server for the most accurate results. The Servers locations are strategicaly chosen near popular datacenters for games and applications. You can manually select a different server location to test other regions.
Data Export & Sharing
- Export as CSV: Download the raw dataset with 100ms resolution. This is useful for IT support tickets that require detailed logs.
- Save Chart as PNG: Download an image of your current graph view, including any annotations you added.
- Shareable Reports: Generate a permanent link to your test results to show others exactly how the internet connection is performing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is my internet fast on speed tests but bad for gaming?
Speed tests measure bulk download speed. Gaming needs a steady, stable connection. It's a different thing entirely. Your connection can be "fast" but also unstable. Our test finds that hidden instability—the ping spikes and packet loss that actually cause your lag.
What are good scores for ping, jitter, and packet loss?
Your ping should be low. On the chart, blue is great and red is bad. Keep your average jitter under 20ms to avoid a shaky connection. For packet loss, you want zero. Any red line is a bad sign.
What is packet loss and why does it disconnect me from games?
Packet loss is simple: your data is getting lost. It never reaches the server. In a game, this causes you to teleport, stutter, or get kicked. The red vertical lines on our chart are solid proof your connection is dropping data.
How do I fix robotic audio on Zoom or Discord?
That robotic sound in your calls is caused by high jitter. It's a sign of an unstable connection, and it's usually your WiFi's fault. The best fix is to use a wired Ethernet cable. If you can't, switch your WiFi to the 5GHz band for a cleaner signal.
How can I prove to my ISP my internet is bad?
Your ISP will dismiss a speed test screenshot. They need proof of instability. Let our test run until you see the problem happen. Then, save the chart as a PNG or copy the shareable report link. That's the hard evidence their tech support needs to see.
How do I find internet problems that only happen sometimes?
For problems that only happen now and then, you have to catch them in the act. Leave this test running in a background tab. After a disconnect, just check the chart. The timeline lets you scroll back and find the exact moment your connection failed.
Is my lag caused by my WiFi or my ISP?
It's easy to figure this out. Run a test on WiFi. Then, plug in an Ethernet cable and run it again. If the test is clean on the cable, your WiFi is the problem. If both tests look bad, then it's time to call your ISP.