Understanding and Troubleshooting High Router to Computer Network Latency on 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi

Have you ever experienced a sudden jump in network latency when using 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi? If a router to computer network latency suddenly skyrockets to 1000 milliseconds, it can significantly impact your internet experience. While there can be various reasons, let's explore some common causes and effective troubleshooting methods to address this issue.

Common Causes of High Latency

1. Resource Usage and Data Transfer:

If your router and computer experience high latency on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequencies, it's essential to consider the load of data transfer. When a computer continuously uploads large amounts of data, such as when seeding a torrent or backing up an entire hard drive to cloud storage, it can cause network congestion. Even a single device sending large amounts of data can reduce the network's overall performance, adversely affecting the entire local area network (LAN).

To diagnose this, you can use a resource monitor on your computer to check the wireless adapter's activity. If the adapter is continuously sending data, it's likely causing the latency issues. Additionally, check the ping time to the gateway from all devices, including the computer. If all devices show similar latency problems, the issue is likely related to network congestion. If only the computer is lagging, then the problem may be with the specific device.

The Role of Wi-Fi Protocol

2. Wi-Fi Handshake and Latency:

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Wi-Fi networks operate on a different protocol compared to wired networks. To send a packet, a Wi-Fi device must perform a handshake involving 'Request to Send' (RTS) and 'Clear to Send' (CTS) signals. Between these signals, there is a 'guard time' to ensure that the receiving device is ready and to prevent potential collisions. This 'guard time' contributes to the overall latency.

Hardwired networks, such as 10Base-T, 100Base-T, and 1000Base-T (Ethernet), do not have guard times. Data is transmitted immediately after a collision is detected, as these networks are designed to handle collisions efficiently. This smooth data flow contributes to lower latency in wired networks.

As a result, Wi-Fi networks inherently experience higher latency due to the need for these handshakes and the associated 'guard time.' This explains why you might consistently experience higher latency on Wi-Fi networks compared to wired connections.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Data transfer, particularly heavy uploads, can significantly impact your router to computer network latency on Wi-Fi. Understanding the role of Wi-Fi protocols, like handshakes and guard times, can help explain these latency spikes. By monitoring resource usage and network patterns, you can identify and mitigate the sources of these issues, ensuring better performance and a smoother internet experience.

Key Takeaways:

Tighten resource management to avoid continuous heavy data transfers. Monitor network activity and device lag to pinpoint the source of latency. Consider hardwired solutions for critical tasks requiring low latency.

Keywords: Wi-Fi latency, router to computer network, 2.4 and 5 GHz, network troubleshoot