Troubleshooting Ping Spikes with PingPlotter: A Gamer's Guide

When gaming latency becomes an issue, it can be frustrating and affect your overall gaming experience. If you're experiencing ping spikes while playing online games like CSGO or Counter Strike 2, you're not alone. In this article, we'll explore how PingPlotter can help you identify the root cause of these issues.

I've recently upgraded to a FTTP connection with an Aussie BB 100/20 plan and was excited to test my gaming latency using PingPlotter. However, I soon noticed that ping spikes were still present while playing online games. To rule out any other devices or connections affecting the results, I performed the tests on Wi-fi, Ethernet, and directly connected to NTD. Surprisingly, the results remained consistent across all connections.

Using Bufferbloat, another tool designed to test network latency, I received a C rating for my connection. This suggested that there might be an issue with my router or satellite setup. To further investigate, I ran PingPlotter tests and observed brief, very consistent, and significant ping spikes every 2 minutes while playing Counter Strike 2.

At first, I attributed these spikes to the game being new and possibly garbage. However, upon closer inspection using PingPlotter, it became clear that the issue was not specific to the game. The tool provided valuable insights into my network's behavior, helping me identify the potential cause of the ping spikes.

In my case, I'm using a Netcomm nf20mesh router with one satellite connection. While this setup has been reliable for general internet use, it appears to be contributing to the gaming latency issues. If you're experiencing similar problems, it may be worth exploring alternative router and satellite configurations or upgrading to a more advanced solution.

In conclusion, PingPlotter is an invaluable tool for troubleshooting ping spikes in online gaming. By using this software in conjunction with Bufferbloat, I was able to identify the potential cause of my latency issues and take steps towards resolving them. If you're struggling with gaming latency, consider giving PingPlotter a try to help you pinpoint the problem and improve your overall gaming experience.

Pingplotter to test gaming latency