Josh G | Social Media & Content Lead
At Cuckoo, we like to keep things simple. So welcome to Jargon Busters - a series of quick guides that decode the technical claptrap that other broadband providers seem to love. Starting with…ping.
A brand of golf clubs? The other half of pong? A cartoon penguin’s nickname? Actually, when it comes to broadband, ping is very simple.
Think of ping as a sort of digital echo. You ping a message from your device to the server and it pings one back. The speed of this round trip is your ping rate. The lower your ping, the more responsive your internet connection. And the more likely you’ll survive the Heart of the Reich mission on Veteran level. Or get through a Zoom call without doing your freeze face.
Having a high ping is like shouting at a traffic light. Frustratingly unresponsive. Having a low ping is like having a champion sheepdog. It’ll do exactly as you command immediately.
We’re used to seeking out the fastest Mbps speeds and the highest Trustpilot score. But with ping, less is more. It’s measured in milliseconds(ms). Ideally, your ping should be lower than 50ms and if you’re a hardcore gamer, lower still.
To find out what your ping rate actually is, use a speed checker. There are lots of apps and websites available and some routers even have one built in. To get an accurate picture, check your speed at different times of the day with various internetty things going on.
It’s not just gamers who benefit from the lowest possible ping. A low rate will improve almost every part of your internet experience. It’s important if you WFH and spend a lot of time on video calls. And it will make a big difference when you’re streaming your favourite series or blockbusters in 4K.
There are loads of reasons for a high ping. The good news is many of them can be fixed with a few simple changes to your set up. Here are some of the most common:
Sloooooow connection
It sounds obvious but a slow speed means the server responds slowly, causing lag. A faster connection handles more data without slowing. See how to improve your speeds here
Too many cooks
Your flatmate’s streaming Dune, your other half’s video calling mum and your doorbell’s waiting for Domino's. Lose a few devices and your ping comes down.
Unblock your Wi-Fi
Try to plug data-hungry devices like gaming consoles and smart TVs into your router. If not, avoid obstructions like walls, mirrors, microwaves, fish tanks and fairy lights.
Cosy up to your server
One for the hardcore gamers. Choose a server that’s close by and your data won’t have to travel as far, which means lower ping and faster response. 10 miles beats 100.
Our full fibre broadband, with its symmetrical upload and download speeds, properly pings. Time to switch to Cuckoo and find out for yourself?
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