Jitter and latency are commonly used to refer to problems with VoIP (voice over IP) or telep to or latency, so network administrators check for them to resolve them at the earliest. For an effective communication process, a network should function smoothly without too much latency or jitter. Network efficiency is measured by its capability to carry data packets within five parameters of efficiency such as time, delivery, security, scalability, and reach. Jitter and latency could adversely affect these parameters.
Before we learn to measure jitter from ping, let us understand what jitter and latency are.
Jitter is the delay in the average time difference between a series of data packets. In other words, it is the variation in the intervals of the data packets being received. In an ideal networking scenario, the data packets are sent at regular intervals, and they travel through the network and reach their destination in the correct sequence and interval. However, the network conditions are seldom ideal, and multiple issues, such as congestion, misconfiguration, and wrong queuing, cause these packets to arrive at irregular intervals. The average delay in the arrival of these packets is jitter.
When data packets are transferred at regular intervals, the average time remains constant, thereby low jitter. However, if the packets arrive at various intervals and the time keeps spiking and dropping, it will disrupt the whole network and result in a jitter. A jitter of 20 ms or more will cause delays in packet arrivals resulting in delays and disruptions in your audio and video communications.
Latency is the time taken by data packets to reach their intended host or device. Latency is measured by the echo sent back from the destination or other bridging devices, and it confirms the packet has reached the destination and that the host device is waiting for the next batch of packets. This to-and-fro communication is vital to a TCP/IP networking ecosystem where the source devices always wait for acknowledgments before sending any subsequent data packets.
A latency higher than 150 ms results in unnatural audio and video communication breaks. In the case of a video call, higher latency causes a disparity between audio and video. If this continues to rise, it will eventually lead to call drops.
Jitter can cause latency and vice versa. Hence, for a smooth network experience, both jitter and latency should be avoided. If they are unavoidable, they should be minimised.
Measuring jitter
Jitter is measured in milliseconds (ms). The simplest means to measure jitter is by pinging a remote device with some packets (20 to 50) and then calculating the average time variation between each reply packet sequence. So, by sending different data packets to calculate the average time difference between each packet sequence, you can measure the jitter.
Why measure jitter?
As mentioned above, jitter can affect network performance, so it is crucial to measure jitter if you wish to offer an efficient network experience. The main reasons why you should measure jitter are:
Monitoring network performance – an optimal network is one where the data packets travel from the source to the destination without interruption or delay. Measuring the jitter on a network is an excellent way to understand if data is successfully travelling across your network. If it isn’t, the network administrator can take steps to troubleshoot, optimise, and improve the network performance.
Proactive identification of network issues – measuring and monitoring jitter allows you to identify network problems and proactively work to solve them before they snowball into more significant issues. Network efficiency is vital to delivering a seamless experience while using real-time apps or during video calls. High jitter indicates there are issues in the network, and it isn’t working correctly. The network administrator can address any such cases as they are spotted, thereby minimising the negative impact on the network experience.
Creates a performance baseline – measuring jitter makes it possible to compare the network performances over time and to create a baseline for optimal performance based on the data. It also helps to make impactful changes to ensure a better network experience.
In short, measuring key factors such as jitter along with latency and packet loss provide essential data for establishing good network performance. Continuous monitoring and measurement of jitter are crucial to ensure a smooth network experience. For more information, check out these guides.