
What is Jitter?
For example, a latency test is started by using the ping command to a server on the internet with the following results:
- First latency test is 30ms | No jitter can be calculated with only one latency result.
- Second latency test is 35ms | 35ms - 30ms = 5ms of jitter
- Third latency test is 32 | 32ms - 35ms = 3ms of jitter
- Fourth latency test is 50ms | 50ms - 32ms = 18ms of jitter
Jitter is considered to be bad when it is more than 20% of your average latency. Since latency tests require the use of bandwidth, a sudden burst in download or upload usage can cause a larger latency result and, in turn, affect your jitter results. The use of Wi-Fi will also have a large impact on latency and jitter because it is affected by interference and objects blocking line of sight to the Wi-Fi device.