Internet connection spikes to 3000 ping every 40 seconds or so

Understanding and Resolving Consistent Internet Latency Spikes: A Case Study

Introduction

In today’s digital age, a stable and responsive internet connection is essential for both work and leisure. However, many users encounter unpredictable latency issues that can disrupt online activities. This article explores a real-world scenario where a user experiences frequent ping spikes reaching 3000ms approximately every 40 seconds. We will examine the problem, investigative steps taken, and a successful solution, providing insights for others facing similar connectivity challenges.

Background

The user operates a Windows 10 desktop computer and subscribes to Hyperoptic, a gigabit broadband provider. The issue manifested immediately after moving back into a residence with a Wi-Fi setup, specifically from a university dorm to a home environment. Notably, the user’s previous experience in the dorm included occasional Ethernet-related latency spikes, which were mitigated by switching to Wi-Fi. In the current scenario, the problem is isolated to the user’s personal computer and Wi-Fi connection, with other devices showing no similar issues.

Problem Details

• Frequent ping spikes to approximately 3000 milliseconds occur roughly every 40 seconds.
• The problem appears exclusively on the user’s desktop computer.
• The Wi-Fi network operates at 5GHz with an 80MHz bandwidth.
• The user has attempted multiple troubleshooting steps without success, including router restarts, network resets, power management adjustments, and testing with alternative devices.

Diagnostic Steps and Observations

The user conducted thorough diagnostics to isolate potential causes:

1. Hardware Checks
2. Connecting a different laptop nearby confirmed the Wi-Fi connection remains stable on other devices.

3. Using a mobile hotspot (both 2.4GHz and 5GHz) showed different behaviors; 2.4GHz had high latency with frequent spikes, and 5GHz was not detectable when initially tested.

4. Network Configuration and Settings

5. Resetting network settings within Windows.
6. Ensuring the network card’s power management settings were set to maximum performance.

7. Verifying that Windows could not turn off the network card to save power.

8. Router and Network Testing

9. Restarting the router to eliminate temporary glitches.
10. Connecting to other networks on the same router at 2.4GHz bandwidth revealed similar periodic spikes, sometimes peaking at 9000ms.

11. Checking the event viewer yielded no relevant logs linked with the timing of the ping spikes.

12. Additional Observations