I'm paying for a 1 Gbps internet plan and tested the connection over Wi‑Fi using my provider's modem/router. The results were 722 Mbps download, 40.1 Mbps upload, 26 ms idle ping with 4 ms jitter, 404 ms download ping with 75 ms jitter, 14 ms upload ping with 6 ms jitter, and 8.3% packet loss. I'm not very familiar with networking, so I'm wondering whether these results are acceptable or if I need better equipment or a wired connection. I'm also seeing only about 8–20 Mbps when downloading games on my Xbox Series S.
4 Answers
The 404 ms download latency and 75 ms jitter are also unusually high during the test. That can happen when the connection is being heavily used, a Wi‑Fi signal is weak or crowded, or the router is struggling under load. Test near the router with other devices paused, then repeat over Ethernet. If the high latency only appears during downloads, the connection may be suffering from bufferbloat.
The download speed is pretty reasonable for a Wi‑Fi device, especially if you’re using a cable connection rather than fiber. Internet plans usually advertise speeds “up to” the listed maximum, and Wi‑Fi will often be slower than a wired connection. A wired test directly from the router would show what the connection and provider equipment can actually deliver.
The biggest concern here is the 8.3% packet loss. That is much higher than it should be—ideally it should be close to zero—and it can cause lag, interruptions, and poor gaming performance. Test again with Ethernet, then compare results. If packet loss remains when wired, contact the provider and have them check the line, modem, and connection to the network.
A 722 Mbps Wi‑Fi result can be close to the practical limit for some Wi‑Fi 5 setups, so upgrading equipment may not be necessary just to reach the advertised gigabit rate. However, game downloads of only 8–20 Mbps are lower than expected. Make sure the Xbox is using a strong 5 GHz connection, stop other traffic, and check whether the game server is limiting the download. Ethernet is the best way to test and usually gives the most consistent results.
The Xbox download speed is measured in megabits per second, so 8–20 Mbps is still much lower than the 722 Mbps speed test result. I’ll try an Ethernet test and check whether the packet loss is still present.