Jitter

What is jitter?

Jitter is the inconsistency in network timing. If data packets usually take 30 milliseconds to arrive but sometimes take 20ms and other times 80ms, that variation is jitter.

Think of it like a commute: you might average 30 minutes to work, but some days it takes 20 minutes and others take an hour. That unpredictability is jitter. For networks, this inconsistency causes problems even when your average speed is good.

Why it matters

Video calls and voice chat need data to arrive at a steady, predictable rate. When jitter is high, your video app can't smoothly play back what it receives. It has to either wait (adding delay) or skip ahead (causing choppy audio and frozen video).

High jitter is especially frustrating because everything else might look fine—your speed test shows fast internet, yet calls still sound robotic or break up frequently.

What you can do

Before an important call:

• Use a wired Ethernet connection if possible—WiFi timing is inherently less consistent
• Close other applications, especially anything downloading or uploading
• Ask others in your household to pause streaming or large downloads
• If on WiFi, move closer to your router for a stronger, more stable signal

Long-term fixes:

• Consider a mesh WiFi system if you have dead spots or inconsistent coverage
• Upgrade your router—newer routers handle multiple devices more smoothly
• If your router has a "QoS" or "Quality of Service" setting, enabling it can help prioritize video calls
• Switch to fiber internet if available—it typically has lower and more consistent jitter than cable or DSL

What Network Weather shows you

Network Weather measures the variation in packet timing to identify jitter problems.