Packet loss/high jitter

[applefan289]

When I run speedtest.net and pingtest.net from my 2009 27" iMac, I get high pings, high jitter, and some packet loss. When I run it from my Windows 7 based computer, I get perfect results. I am assuming this is a problem with my wireless card, right?

 

[samh]

When I run speedtest.net and pingtest.net from my 2009 27" iMac, I get high pings, high jitter, and some packet loss. When I run it from my Windows 7 based computer, I get perfect results. I am assuming this is a problem with my wireless card, right?

Is your Win7 computer also on the wireless network? If so, where is each system located with respect to the wireless access point or router?

 

[applefan289]

Is your Win7 computer also on the wireless network? If so, where is each system located with respect to the wireless access point or router?

The Windows 7 computer is actually further away than the iMac from the router.

Both computers get full-bars for Wi-Fi.

 

[samh]

The Windows 7 computer is actually further away than the iMac from the router.

Both computers get full-bars for Wi-Fi.

Signal strength and signal quality are not the same thing. Lots of things can disrupt the pattern of the signal (reflection from walls, metal framing in walls, etc.) without diminishing the STRENGTH of the radio waves. Try moving the Mac closer to the router with a good line of sight (but not so close that you'll overwhelm the antennas -- at least a few feet away).

 

[applefan289]

Signal strength and signal quality are not the same thing. Lots of things can disrupt the pattern of the signal (reflection from walls, metal framing in walls, etc.) without diminishing the STRENGTH of the radio waves. Try moving the Mac closer to the router with a good line of sight (but not so close that you'll overwhelm the antennas -- at least a few feet away).

I tested the connection using an Ethernet cable right into the iMac's Ethernet port, and I still get some packet loss/high jitter/higher ping on pingtest.net

Very strange...if there is something wrong with the iMac, would it affect both the cable connection and the wireless connection?

Just checked my cable modem stats and my signal levels are great. Not sure what's happening! Tried pingtest.net on the PC w/ Windows 7 again, and got much better results...

 

[MobiusStrip]

I have a similar problem. I have a 27" 2014 iMac and can't even play relatively undemanding games on it, because of crippling jitter, even with a wired connection. I had a much older MacBook Pro with far inferior graphics, and it trounced the iMac's gaming performance.

I suspect another unpublicized defect that "affects a small number of customers."