Ping Spikes whilst Gaming & Streaming Video

[seanloki]

Hi,

I am currently experiencing high ping spikes whilst gaming and another device is streaming Netflix or any online videos. I can see that this is a common issue for some BT users. I am on Fibre with BT Halo 1. My ping is usually a stable 20-30, but as soon as a stream is started it fluctuates between 30 to 200, which makes it unplayable. I am not receiving any packet loss and the PC which is used for gaming is connected directly to the router via ethernet.

Please advise.

Thank you!

[NeilO]

Hi @seanloki, sorry about that. There is a known network issue that can affect streaming and gaming at the same time, this is due to be fixed in the next couple of months.  I'll send you a private message so you can get in touch and we can check if anything can be done in the meantime. We're quite busy at the moment so it will take a few days before we'll get back to you. 

[Puplett015]

I have the exact same issue, its causing us all sorts of issues working from home as well. Please help!

[NeilO]

Hi @Puplett015 I'm really sorry you're having issues with your ping when streaming video, I'll send you a message so you can get in touch and we'll be happy to help but could you also disconnect any powerline adapters or ethernet switches from your home set up if you have any and check if the issue is still there?

We've came across a few of these issues where the problem has been caused by these if the ping issue is still there connect everything back up as it was before and we'll get the external network checked.

[littlepbmj]

Hi, This is something I have been struggling with recently. Fortnite ping is incredibly variable, though other applications don't seem badly affected.

I have a smarthub and wholehome wifi. Is there a fix for my setup please?

[DavidM]

Hi @littlepbmj and welcome.

Thanks for posting. Sorry you're having problems. Is this only with Fortnite? How are you connecting? Can you run a tracert and post the results? 

Cheers

David

[littlepbmj]

Thanks David. Fortnite gives the most problems (mostly because my 14 year old spends so much time on it). I haven't tested this, but he says it becomes a problem in multiplayer, and when also running discord.
The desktop is connected via wholehome wifi discs to the smarthub.
Which server should I run a trace route to?

[DavidM]

Thanks for getting back @littlepbmj. 

If you can run the tracert to the game server and one to the BBC site for comparison that would be great. Have you tried connecting directly to the hub to test? If not can you do that?

Cheers

David

[littlepbmj]

I had to run the direct connection via another pc as shifting the gaming desktop would be a chore.

Here are the results:

BBC via WLAN

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18363.778]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\plitt>tracert bbc.co.uk

Tracing route to bbc.co.uk [2a04:4e42:600::81]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    26 ms    10 ms    68 ms  broadband.bt.com [2a00:23c5:6585:6a00:42c7:29ff:fe0d:73bf]
  2     7 ms     6 ms     5 ms  2a00:2302::1102:203:209
  3     *        *        9 ms  2a00:2302::1115:100:16
  4     *        *      208 ms  2a00:2302::1115:100:17
  5     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  6    10 ms    24 ms     9 ms  peer8-et7-0-1.telehouse.ukcore.bt.net [2a00:2380:13::7f]
  7    12 ms     9 ms    11 ms  2620:11a:c000:357:fa57::
  8     9 ms     9 ms    12 ms  2a04:4e42:600::81

Trace complete.

C:\Users\plitt>

Fortnite via WLAN

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18363.778]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\plitt>tracert qosping-aws-eu-west-3.ol.epicgames.com

Tracing route to qosping-aws-eu-west-3.ol.epicgames.com [52.47.178.167]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     1 ms     3 ms     8 ms  bthub [192.168.1.254]
  2     5 ms     5 ms     5 ms  172.16.14.22
  3     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  4    45 ms    21 ms     9 ms  81.139.56.172
  5    10 ms     8 ms     8 ms  core2-hu0-16-0-7.colindale.ukcore.bt.net [213.121.192.42]
  6    10 ms    11 ms    10 ms  194.72.16.82
  7    11 ms    10 ms     9 ms  99.82.181.176
  8    11 ms    11 ms    18 ms  52.94.32.146
  9     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 10     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14    16 ms    18 ms    18 ms  52.46.94.86
 15    18 ms    16 ms    21 ms  52.46.94.91
 16    17 ms    18 ms    17 ms  52.46.93.137
 17    16 ms    18 ms    18 ms  52.46.93.42
 18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 21    15 ms    15 ms    15 ms  ec2-52-47-178-167.eu-west-3.compute.amazonaws.com [52.47.178.167]

Trace complete.

C:\Users\plitt>

BBC via Ethernet

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\JanaBMP>tracert bbc.co.uk

Tracing route to bbc.co.uk [2a04:4e42:600::81]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    12 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  broadband.bt.com [2a00:23c5:6585:6a00:42c7:29ff:
fe0d:73bf]
  2     4 ms     4 ms     4 ms  2a00:2302::1102:203:209
  3     8 ms     8 ms     8 ms  2a00:2302::1115:100:16
  4     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  5     8 ms     *        *     2a00:2380:3013:8000::36
  6     9 ms     7 ms     6 ms  2a00:2380:13::97
  7     8 ms     8 ms     8 ms  2a00:2380:2001:8000::1b
  8     7 ms     7 ms     7 ms  2a04:4e42:600::81

Trace complete.

C:\Users\JanaBMP>

Fortnite via Ethernet

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\JanaBMP>tracert qosping-aws-eu-west-3.ol.epicgames.com

Tracing route to qosping-aws-eu-west-3.ol.epicgames.com [52.47.107.154]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    91 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  bthub [192.168.1.254]
  2     5 ms     4 ms     4 ms  172.16.14.22
  3     *        *        6 ms  81.139.56.181
  4     8 ms    11 ms     8 ms  81.139.56.180
  5     8 ms     7 ms     7 ms  core2-hu0-6-0-8.colindale.ukcore.bt.net [213.121
.192.28]
  6    10 ms     7 ms     8 ms  peer1-et-7-0-4.interxion.ukcore.bt.net [62.172.1
03.128]
  7    12 ms     7 ms     8 ms  99.82.181.50
  8     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  9     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 10     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 17    15 ms    15 ms    16 ms  52.46.94.118
 18    18 ms    17 ms    17 ms  52.46.94.129
 19    15 ms    15 ms    14 ms  52.46.93.129
 20    16 ms    17 ms    16 ms  52.46.93.0
 21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 24    16 ms    15 ms    15 ms  ec2-52-47-107-154.eu-west-3.compute.amazonaws.co
m [52.47.107.154]

Trace complete.

C:\Users\JanaBMP>

[mrjunk]

I have the same issue - here you can see before and after netflix starting. first spikes are through browser, second set through chromecast on the telly. There seems to be a lot of jitter. Suring this test my youngster is playing Fortnite battle royale online. 

The effect on more competetive games like Valorant, Call or Duty is catastrophic. There is simply no point tryign to play. Switch off Netflix and they are smooth as butter