topic Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router in Broadband & Landline

Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:59:42 GMT

Hello,

I've recently migrated from BT and have just installed my equipment for my Full Fibre 900 line. Our download/upload speeds are great and consistent, but whenever a video buffers I get massive ping spikes. This is a repeatable, reliable thing that I can demonstrate: start pinging 8.8.8.8, open a new tab, play a youtube video and the ping will spike to 2000ms+. This happens whenever a video buffers too.

We have a WiFi 7 router plugged into the ONT downstairs, and I'm using an ethernet connection into the Wifi Smart booster upstairs.

I've tried to disable the 2.4gz and 6hz band and see if only using 5ghz will be more reliable, but the booster refuses to pair when only the 5ghz band is available. Turning on the 6ghz band immediately connects the booster, but the above issue persists.

Can anyone advise me on further steps? I'm trying to use the connection for gaming which is impossible when it has massive spikes every 10-20 seconds.

Another, easier to see example of the spikes happening over a 5 minute period:

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:26:11 GMT

Worth mentioning that I'm unable to use an ethernet connection directly into the router due to the shape of the house, my WFH station and personal PC is upstairs and the router is downstairs, we cannot run an ethernet cable across the house unfortunately.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:48:04 GMT

@JamesG94 It takes time for your pictures to be released for viewing, and you do have far from an ideal situation hardware wise for what you are trying to achieve, did you ever have success in the operation with other specific hardware. Does not matter wether you are plugged in by ethernet or not, you are still relying on the Smart Wireless device to transmit to the EE Pro router over the wireless backhaul and as i do not use any off those specific devices do believe that the 6Ghz band is required for the backhaul to allow them both to work, matter of fact that ALL bands are required so better not switch any off at present.

You need to give more detail on specifics of your installation, position of router to the position of the smart wireless, distance from each other / number of floors etc. And if your previous worked fine with BT then put it all back on.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:57:26 GMT

The previous installation with BT was far from fine, we had their 900 full fibre package and for 5-6 hours a day we got 20mbps and 500 ping on all devices, ethernet direct to the router or wifi. After 2 openreach engineers came out and ran a single test they recommended we just migrate to EE with the brand new hardware and hopefully that resolves it.

I've not purchased any aftermarket hardware, just the default kit sent from the provider(s).

Right now we have these 2 bits of kit running: https://ee.co.uk/broadband/wifi-7

Our router is installed directly next to the ONT mounted on the wall, in a really awkward spot in the corner of the house. I'm upstairs next to the booster wired in, direct distance around 4 meters at most. We live in a 2 floor house.

The bands were turned off at the recommendation of an EE helpdesk agent, I've switched them back on and the issue persists.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:21:13 GMT

@JamesG94 To establish if this is a wireless or a router/fibre issue, and really such a short distance between both, then you are going to require to start from the beginning of it all. Choice is move your PC down to the router temp and connect via Ethernet to the back of the Pro and do test to see if it all works. Second would be to roughly over estimate how long off a cable you would need to get from the EE Pro router to the PC upstairs, say at a guess 15 Meter's would be long enough, buy a cable and place on a temp basis between the two and test that way.

You could also and this would be required, switch of all wireless devices, and only have the Router, Smart wireless and the PC connected, so just 3 devices and try that way, ping 8.8.8.8 -n 300 from a cmd prompt will do approx 5 minute test and see what the max is on that test.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:47:08 GMT

@JamesG94 The results below for a direct to router wireless connected about 4 Metres away same level the 234ms was only ONE response after about 4.30 minutes into the test. All devices on as i KNOW how my wireless behaves device wise.

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
Packets: Sent = 300, Received = 300, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 15ms, Maximum = 234ms, Average = 19ms

2nd example is below direct to my Asus router on wired backhaul to the EE router, copied also a little were ping spiked, probably the wife doing her you tube video and the only high was about 38ms somewhere.

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=89ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=97ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=116
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=116

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
Packets: Sent = 300, Received = 300, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 15ms, Maximum = 97ms, Average = 17ms

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:46:12 GMT

I'd genuinely love to have my PC wired in directly but unfortunately the ONT is in a cupboard at the back of the kitchen, it's not really viable. I'll buy a long cable to test but that wouldn't be a permemant solution, I'd prefer to wire it through the floor but we live in rented accommodation.

For 3 years we had a flawless connection over wifi, max 20 ping when wired into the Smart Hub Disc. I know it's very much possible to have a stable connection, our walls haven't gotten thicker etc. I worked from home and have used that quality of connection for years, its only in the last 6 months it's massively degraded to the point of frustration.

Here are the results of my ping test:

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
Packets: Sent = 300, Received = 300, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 9ms, Maximum = 3713ms, Average = 48ms

Spikes to 3-4000 ping makes this unusable for gaming, it's fine for watching streamed video because you don't notice the jitters.

If this kind of quality had always been in place I wouldn't be complaining but we've gone from a solid, stable, high quality connection to extremely sporadic this year.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:48:25 GMT

Spiking to 80ms would be fine for me, this isn't:

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=1802ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=117
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=117

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:01:12 GMT

@JamesG94 That is what i was trying to get at and you said that the BT system was crap, so prior to the point where it was good, what did you have then, it takes only ONE bad wireless device to jump in and disrupt the whole process, and give you a massive latency ping spike. With trying to game as you are, it may be worth trying a Powerline device between your Router and Gaming unit and leaving all the other devices to get on with it, or you need to track on what is causing the potential interupt to the signal. If as you say you were good for so long on a previous time, then would be looking what is causing the issue, and until you start at one device only then you may never know.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:09:36 GMT

@JamesG94 Try the cloudflare test below it may possibly help to see if it is an down or up error.

https://speed.cloudflare.com/

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:53:48 GMT

Previously we had a BT Smart Hub 2 and their wifi extender disc, on exactly the same hardware with no additional devices connected it began randomly degrading on an evening for around 5 or 6 months. My partner left for work this morning and I've disconnected every device apart from my desktop and ran the same tests as above, same issue. Also the pictures have loaded to demonstrate the ping spikes I believe

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:15:50 GMT

@JamesG94 If you can http://192.168.1.254 to get on the hub manager with your PC, click on the Status tab top left right click capture the screen shot, full page and then the main screen, have done samples from mine so you see. And nothing attached to you latest posting yet.

Status ScreenHub manager screen

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:06:11 GMT

I'll paste it here to dodge the image pending issue:

Check your Hub’s status

This is a quick overview of your Hub's status.

Connection status:

Connected

Connection type:

External (FTTX)

App version:

2.34.2

Firmware version:

r2.64.3-R-1213091-PROD-1

Serial number:

+119746+2437000613

WAN link speed:

1000 Mbps

Network uptime:

7 Hrs 57 Mins

System uptime:

7 Hrs 58 Mins

Weirdly I opened this thread in a private tab without being logged in etc and the images loaded fine, but no bother. The text attached from last night should be enough.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:25:07 GMT

@JamesG94 The norm is that you alone see your images fine, everyone else is a wait just in case there is something that can be used as this is a public forum, so like on my attached if you can see them no problem then they are instant for viewing.

Not disputing in the slightest that you have a problem, 1st up on the new router with a very similar complaint to what goes on with the older Smarthub+ and it is needed to establish, 1 is it the router, 2 is it just the wireless because the wired is great, zero issue's, 3 if wireless what can be done to solve it. I just reinstalled my sister's EE after a OR install, moved it of the floor to height of 5' and went from night to day operation, she now get's her 150mb/s speed wireless / wired throughout every room and has not once complained, and it was not to bad to start with although she was getting around the 100 range.

Edit: and from your paste, i can see that the router was reset 8 hours ago, if that was you powering it off/on.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:39:51 GMT

@JamesG94 And quite honestly if it was not for the requirement to have an Ethernet connection that you are using pushed through the smart wireless extender, at 4M and directly below the router, then i would be surprised that an extender is even really required.

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:30:49 GMT

I've managed to isolate the issue to the booster itself. I powered that off, power cycled the ONT and used my work laptop connected only to the hub wifi which didn't introduce the same latency spikes I was seeing before. I tested for upwards of an hour without any issues at all.

I switched and re-paired the booster, got my laptop to connect to that (the signal is stronger so it's obvious when it has) and the latency issue came back immediately.

I've ordered a wifi card for my desktop and will have to deal with the reduced speeds that delivers, but realistically if the latency issue is only related to the booster itself then it's the best option for right now.

I'll report back when I have the wifi card installed and my PC connected, I hope that is the last step in resolving this

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:58:17 GMT

@JamesG94 It's good that your first step showed the improvement, not knowing were the Smart wireless device is at with respect to the Pro router, but there is in the advanced / wireless / extenders an area that you can possibly look at, now not having any of this wifi 7 kit i cannot say for sure, but would look there to start, especially at the FW to see if it is matching what the router is at, if not take it and ethernet connect to the pro router and leave it for a few day's to see if it gets an update pushed to it, wireless wifi mesh can be a complete cluster (flop) and do hope that your intended wireless upgrade path that you are choosing will work OOB, as for reduced speed's until you try you will not know, my 5 year old asus laptop connects 1760/1760 mostly by default on a 160Mhz EE wide channel and is only a wifi 5 device, but on my Asus XT8 router it jumps back to 860/860 just because the router likes to be 80 wide, and i really don't care because it is fast enough and the Asus is supposed to do 160 wide so what will look see some day....

And it is one off the major constraint's of the ONT position to the EE Router position, best is Router out in the Central location at about head height spanning the whole area, and then wireless extenders placed about as needed, but never have them so close that the fight each other which can happen, speed is speed but there is far too much i bought 900mb/s so i want this all the time, network's just do not operate that way and anyone gaming will see it instantly for sure...👍👍

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:34:44 GMT

Yeah I'm hoping the WiFi 6 card will be more than fine, as long as I have a stable connection that's all that matters frankly. Bit annoying we've had to pay an additional £10 per month for this but I'm over it at this point.

Annoyingly I've installed the old BT equipment so I can use the internet while awaiting delivery, same setup (4m from hub, wifi disc that I'm etherneted into) and this was the ping results while downloading a 5gb update to COD and watching a video, while my partner updates the PS5:

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
Packets: Sent = 300, Received = 300, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 8ms, Maximum = 24ms, Average = 10ms

This is what its been like for years until it randomly degraded!

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JimM11 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:59:06 GMT

@JamesG94 Good old trusted wifi (5) tech, AX wifi (6) is just NO way near as forgiving and with manufacturing adopting the now what seems norm the none allowance to split band naming harder to see what is going on, If you had not been on the FF 900 package or doing what you are trying which by the way is NOT wrong, i would have said stick with the BT Router/Smart wireless, they do appear to be very functional and operate VERY well, but alas you will struggle wireless speed wise from your PC down to the router, BUT if you are as i said earlier not a speed freak, it will be way more acceptable and probably more stable, down side is the STUPID EE app not working with the BT router's but you never know maybe one off these day's it will just all gel together...

It's a hard one for the extra cost, you are well future proofed when wifi 7 does come to light and i will say this, its not for a while yet unless you have deep pockets and plenty money, so it is/can be money well spent, i sure could not go out and buy a router and extender for £240, my 2 Asus router's and the Asus RE alone is £500 but then i never have ANY issues with them...

BB is just so frustrating when not working right...👍👍

Re: Massive ping/latency spikes on new WiFi 7 router

JamesG94 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 19:48:30 GMT

Do you have the models of router you're using alongside the Asus REs?

I'd stick with the BT equipment but they're pending a return as we've migrated to EE, if the connection is stable for a while I might just eat the cost (£130) and keep the kit...