I use a Rogers Xfinity modem in bridge mode with an ASUS AX55 router and a 1 Gbps plan. The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks are separated so devices do not switch between bands. On one desktop, I get extreme latency spikes from British Columbia to California roughly every 30 seconds, sometimes reaching 8,000–14,000 ms. The problem also appears while watching livestreams and when testing outside the game, not just in Counter-Strike. It does not happen on my laptop, phone, or my brother's PC.
The affected desktop uses either a Netgear A7500 or Netgear 6150 USB Wi‑Fi adapter. Signal strength is excellent from my room, and I would prefer not to run Ethernet across the house unless necessary. The issue only started recently. I have restarted and factory-reset the modem and router, reinstalled both adapter drivers, and changed power-management and roaming settings. Rogers says there is no problem on their end. What should I test next to determine whether this is interference, the USB adapters, the computer itself, or the internet connection?
3 Answers
Since the other devices work normally, this is probably local to that desktop or its Wi‑Fi connection rather than the modem. Run two continuous pings at the same time: one to your router’s LAN address, usually something like 192.168.50.1, and another to a public address such as 1.1.1.1. If both spike together, the adapter, USB port, drivers, or wireless interference is the likely cause. If only the public ping spikes, then investigate the router or ISP path. Also try a temporary Ethernet connection if possible; even a short cable test can quickly separate a Wi‑Fi problem from a computer or WAN problem.
Separating the two network names is not inherently wrong, but it will not fix an unstable adapter. Temporarily return the ASUS to a simple default configuration and test with one band enabled at a time. Disable Wi‑Fi adapter power saving in Device Manager and check the adapter’s advanced properties for options such as USB selective suspend, roaming, and preferred band. It is also worth trying the latest driver from Netgear or the chipset manufacturer, not just the driver supplied by Windows.
Try moving the USB adapter away from the computer with a short USB extension cable. USB 3 ports and nearby cables can create interference, especially for 2.4 GHz adapters. Test a different USB port, preferably USB 2.0, and set the adapter to use only 5 GHz with a fixed, non-DFS channel. A nearby access point, Bluetooth device, or microwave can also cause periodic spikes even when the signal meter shows full bars.
The fact that it happens while watching streams and in an external latency test is useful—it makes a game-server issue very unlikely. I would start with the router ping test and the temporary Ethernet test before changing more router settings.