What Is Jitter and How Can You Fix It?

Ever feel like your internet has a mind of its own? Imagine you’re in an important video call but the voices cut in and out like a bad radio signal. One second, you’re on a smooth video call, and the next, voices sound like a glitchy robot. Or maybe your online game lags right when you’re about to win. Annoying, right?

That’s network jitter messing with your connection. Now, you may ask – what is jitter? So, we’re here to answer what jitter is, break down what causes jitter, and, most importantly, teach you how to fix jitter so your internet stops acting up.

What is Jitter?

Jitter is like the hiccups of the internet world. Imagine you’re trying to have a conversation with a friend, but their words keep arriving at unexpected times. That’s essentially what jitter does to your data packets as they travel across the internet.

In technical terms, jitter is the fluctuation in arriving packets’ latencies. When you send data through a network, it’s sent in little packets. Ideally, these packets must arrive at an even rate. But occasionally, the network makes them a bit mixed up, arriving early, late, or not in the right order. Such unevenness is what we call jitter.

When jitter is present, it will cause disruptions such as voice jitter during calls, lag in internet games, or bad streaming. The more the jitter, the worse and more infuriating these are.

Types of Jitter

Not all network jitter is the same. There are a variety of different types that will impact your connection in some way. This is the breakdown:

1. Delay Jitter

This happens when packets come in inconsistently or with a lag. If you receive one packet immediately and the other with some delay, you can experience stuttering VoIP calls or lagged online gaming.

2. Packet Jitter

This happens when packets lack a constant rate of delivery. Suppose you receive a stream of text messages out of sequence; it is annoying and confusing.

3. Inter-Packet Jitter

It is the fluctuation of time intervals between successive packets. It is similar to driving on a road where some cars are traveling at high speed and others at slow speed, causing uneven smooth movement.

4. Random Jitter

Entirely at random, this kind of jitter is most probably due to interference, network congestion, or hardware problems. It’s a random pothole in an otherwise smooth road.

5. Deterministic Jitter

This jittering is the reverse of a random jitter. This is a pattern that can be predicted and is usually caused by fixed system attributes, i.e., bandwidth constraints or router problems.

Every kind of network jitter impacts your connection in a different way, but knowing them can make you diagnose and solve internet problems better.

Difference Between Jitter and Latency

If your internet is acting up, you might blame jitter or latency, but they’re not the same thing. Here’s how they differ:

Jitter vs. Latency: Key Differences

A connection with high latency is slow, but a high network jitter makes it unpredictable and unreliable. Both can be frustrating, but jitter is the bigger issue for real-time activities like VoIP calls, gaming, and video streaming.

What Causes Network Jitter?

Network jittering happens when data packets don’t arrive at a steady pace. Here are the main reasons why this happens:

• Network Congestion: Too many devices using the internet at the same time can slow things down, causing jitter in networking.
• Poor Routing: If data takes a long or messy path, packets may arrive at different times, leading to high jitter.
• Wireless Interference: Walls, other electronic devices, and even nearby WiFi signals can weaken your connection, increasing jitter.
• Weak or Old Hardware: Slow routers, damaged cables, or outdated modems can cause delays, leading to network jitter.
• Not Enough Bandwidth: If your internet speed is too slow for streaming, gaming, or calls, you may notice jitter and latency problems.
• Wrong Router Settings: If your router doesn’t prioritize real-time traffic like VoIP, you may experience voice jitter or lag.
• Long Distance to Server: The farther your data has to travel, the more likely you are to face jitter in networking.

Now that you know what is jitter in internet speed and what causes network jitter, let’s look at how it affects your internet running smoothly.

Effects of Jitter

Jitter basically spoils your experience on the internet. From your voice call being disconnected halfway through a sentence to imposing despicable delays on your favorite game, it is a pain.

This is how jitter affects various activities:

1. Choppy Audio in VoIP Calls

Ever been on a VoIP call when the other guy begins to sound robotic, or his voice cuts in and out? That’s jitter disrupting your audio. It occurs when data packets arrive erratically, slowing down the conversation to keep up.

2. Lag in Online Gaming

Gamers, you understand that jitter will destroy your game. When you experience jitter, you get delays making your character move in sync. You press a button, and it takes forever for the action to occur or nothing.

3. Buffering in Streaming

Suppose you’re halfway through a movie night and… boom 💣 sudden buffering. Jitter can produce interruptions in video streaming, such as slow loads or pixelated, stuttering video. It’s the sort of thing that can completely destroy your night of binge-watching.

4. Unstable Video Conferencing

Video calls are not merely staring at someone; they’re the entire experience of collaborating. Jitter can make the video-audio sync all messed up, and you get the feeling that you’re seeing a bad dubbed movie. The dialogue is uncomfortable, and it’s more difficult to concentrate.

5. File Download Problems

Even file downloading is not immune to jitter. When data packets don’t arrive in a smooth stream, downloads may be incomplete, or files may not open. This is not good if you’re downloading something important!

6. General Browsing Issues

Even when only browsing the web, jitter is infuriating. Pages take ages to load, pictures blink on and off, or links refuse to open. Your internet is behind you, and even the simplest things online are such a struggle.

Jitter may feel like a minor glitch in your connection, yet it can indeed impact your daily online activities. Regardless of whether you’re on a call, gaming, or streaming a program, it’s best to eliminate jitter for a smoother and more pleasant experience. Now, let’s discuss how to quantify jitter and confront it head-on.

Measuring and Testing Jitter

Understanding how to test and measure jitter will help you evaluate the quality of your internet connection. Let’s learn how you can easily test and evaluate jitter in your connection.

How to Test Internet Jitter?

Testing jitter is simple, and you can do it in some quick steps. Here’s how to test jitter:

I. Use Online Speed Tests

The simplest way to estimate jitter is to measure it through online internet speed test websites like Speedtest.net or Fast.com. Once you run the test, the utilities will display the jitter in milliseconds (ms).

The test result is a measurement of how much variation occurs in the time it takes for data packets to travel the round-trip distance from your device to the server.

II. Ping Test (For Tech-Savy)

If you’re comfortable using command-line tools, you can run a ping test. Open Windows’ Command Prompt (cmd) or Mac’s Terminal and enter the command ping [IP address]. This will display the round-trip time for data packets. If the times are quite disparate, then jitter is occurring.

III. Jitter Testing with Specialized Tools

For a more detailed examination, use specialized jitter test software such as PingPlotter or JitterBuster. Not only do they provide you with jitter measurements, but they also chart variations in network performance over time so that you can identify persisting problems.

How Much Jitter Is Acceptable?

You may be wondering now, “How much jitter is too much?” The acceptable jitter level depends on what you are doing online. Here is a general guideline:

Practical Tips for Internet Jitter Testing

To make sure you’re getting accurate jitter measurements, remember the following when you test:

1. Conduct Multiple Tests: Network traffic varies during the day, so test your jitter several times under peak and off-peak hours. This gives a better indication of your network.
2. Test Both Wired and Wireless Connections: If possible, test your jitter on both wireless (Wi-Fi) and wired (Ethernet) connections. Wi-Fi is more prone to interference, so you will probably get more jitter. Testing both and comparing the two results will tell you which connection is most stable.
3. Close Unnecessary Programs: Make sure you close any programs running in the background, especially those using bandwidth (like streaming or downloads), to avoid skewing the test results.
4. Compare with Standards: Once you’ve measured your jitter, compare your results with acceptable jitter levels based on your needs, whether for general web browsing, VoIP, gaming, or streaming.

Regularly testing your jitter will help you catch problems early and maintain a smooth online experience. Now that you know how to measure jitter, let’s explore how to reduce it!

Reducing and Fixing Jitter

Is high jitter making your connection unreliable? Don’t worry, these simple tweaks can help smooth things out:

• Switch to a Wired Connection: WiFi is great… until it isn’t. Ethernet (especially Cat6 or Cat7) keeps things steady and reliable.
• Turn On Quality of Service (QoS): Your router can prioritize important traffic (like video calls) over background apps.
• Upgrade Your Router or Modem: Old equipment = slow and unstable internet. A modern router with MU-MIMO can improve performance.
• Reduce Network Congestion: Too many devices streaming, gaming, and downloading? Limit unnecessary activity to free up bandwidth.
• Optimize Your WiFi: Place your router in an open, central spot, switch to 5GHz, and keep it away from walls and electronics.
• Turn Off Background Syncing Apps: Cloud backups, automatic updates, and background applications can consume bandwidth and cause jitter.
• Set Up a Separate Network: A separate network for gaming or VoIP removes bandwidth conflict and results in smoother performance.
• Check Your Jitter Levels: Take regular jitter tests and update the firmware on your router to obtain optimal performance.
• Contact Your ISP: If jitter persists, ask about business-grade internet with lower latency and jitter guarantees.

Remember, though, that the perfect solution may also depend on the root cause of your jitter. Do not be afraid to try more than one approach. Implement these solutions one by one, and you will be well on your way to a solid, jitter-free connection, perfect for lag-free calls, online gaming, and live streaming!

How to Fix Jitter and Improve VoIP Call Quality?

If your VoIP calls sound like a robot talking underwater, it’s time for a fix! Clear, reliable calls are crucial for business communication, so try these quick solutions:

• Prioritize VoIP Traffic: Adjust your router’s QoS settings to make sure calls come first.
• Upgrade Your Internet Plan: More bandwidth = fewer call interruptions. Simple math.
• Get a VoIP-Friendly Router: Not all routers handle VoIP well. Choose one designed for smooth voice calls.
• Reduce Background Traffic: Don’t let a Netflix binge ruin your business call. Pause heavy downloads during calls.
• Use a Jitter Buffer: If your VoIP provider offers one, it can help even out packet delays for clearer audio.
• Choose a Credible VoIP Service Provider: Choose a business-grade service like Dialaxy that offers great quality, dependable virtual phone numbers; the best for contact centers. This ensures your call to be seamless, with minimal jitter and downtime.

If you work in contact centers, reducing jitter is critical to facilitating good communication. Jitter can ruin the customer experience, so applying some simple fixes will keep calls sharp and responsive. So make these changes, and have frustration-free business calls with crystal clear sound.

Jitter Reduction Tools

It is important to minimize jitter in order to provide smooth and consistent network performance, particularly for activities such as video conferencing, online gaming, and live streaming. Here are some tools that can help you detect, analyze, and fix jittering:

Conclusion

And that is all! We have explored what is jitter, how to test for jitter, and how to eliminate jitters in an optimal way. A little jitter is unavoidable, but excessive jitter is a disturbance to your video streaming, VoIP, and gaming.

By keeping an eye on your network jitter and employing the appropriate tools, you can have a stable and smooth internet connection. For video calls, remote working, or online gaming, the less jitter, the more enjoyable the online experience. So go ahead, test your connection, tweak your settings, and enjoy lag-free gaming, clear calls, and smooth streaming!

FAQs:

What is VoIP jitter?

VoIP jitter refers to delays in voice packet transmission that cause distortion or dropped calls in internet-based voice communication.

What is an acceptable jitter level for gaming?

For gaming, aim for a jitter below 20ms. Anything above 30ms may affect your gaming experience.

How can I measure jitter on my network?

You can use internet jitter tests from online speed test websites or network monitoring tools like PRTG and SolarWinds.

Does jitter affect overall internet speed?

Jitter doesn’t directly reduce speed, but it impacts stability, causing buffering, lag, and delays in real-time applications.

How to fix jitter and improve VoIP call quality?

Reduce voice jitter by upgrading your internet, using an Ethernet connection, and enabling QoS(Quality of Service) settings on your router.

How to reduce jitter on WiFi?

To reduce jitter on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router, switch to a 5GHz band, reduce the number of connected devices, and invest in a Wi-Fi extender.

How can I fix high jitter on my network?

To fix high jitter, upgrade your router, prioritize network traffic with QoS (Quality of Service), and ensure sufficient bandwidth.

What do you call a device that determines the optimal path for data to travel across a network?

A router is a device that manages network traffic and decides the best path for data packets to travel efficiently across a network. When configured correctly, a router can help reduce jitter.