—precisely why you should check the ethernet cables.
If you think wires are the main cause of your packet loss, check your cables thoroughly to ensure no visible exterior damage. Even dirty fiber connectors can lead to packet loss. Your network connection points should also be secure.
Detecting Software Issues
The whole point of using a software tool is to transfer data. Therefore, when it stops working properly, it can lead to packet loss.
An error in the programming can make the software dysfunctional, which, in turn, could cause unexpected behavior on the network. This can be because of software bugs or a long due update.
A slow connection is a dead giveaway of pending software issues.
Open Task Manager on your computer to see how the apps are communicating with the network. After that, check whether the specific software or application uses a lot of bandwidth even when it’s not in use.
A tab within Task Manager will show you the application history of the past 30 days. You can use the information to compare the usage with the latency you’re experiencing.
Detecting Weak Wi-Fi networks
Weak Wi-Fi signals hinder the transmission of information packages you send across your network. Even interference over the radio frequency or traveling through thick walls can cause destruction.
Since it’s usually wireless networks or Wi-Fi that suffer more setbacks and interference than wired connections, you should check your Wi-Fi status to determine the packet loss source.
Check the internet on your device. This will have several lines that indicate your Wi-Fi’s strength.
If you see a weak signal, it means the network is overloaded and hence cannot accommodate all of your devices adequately.
Step 3 — Fixing the Different Causes of Packet Loss
Now that you know how to detect the four causes of packet loss, the next step is knowing how to fix it.
Similar to how I explained detection, I’ll tell you how to fix packet loss issues based on the cause.
Fixing Bandwidth Congestion
By tracking your network performance, you can identify the time of the day that’s most congested. You can then easily fix packet loss by sending information out when your network is less congested.
This may not be the best solution for VoIP connections, but you can schedule calls and conferences for non-peak times.
Experts also suggest increasing the bandwidth of the links undergoing packet loss to minimize the loss. You can adjust the arrangement of the network, making it prioritize real-time packets.
This won’t entirely eliminate the congestion, but it can reduce the chances of a drop.
Fixing Faulty Networking Wires
The obvious solution is to replace your faulty wires to create a better connection path (duh!). However, here are a few more tips to help you avoid faulty wire situations in the future:
- Make sure the wire jacket has lots of physical integrity and is durable. It shouldn’t wear off easily.
- Choose the proper wire category. For instance, a Cat 5 is a good option for small businesses, but companies having more than 1 Mbps internet connection would need a higher category to speed things up.
- Get a shield to prevent signal interference if you have several cables running together.
Fixing Software Issues
If you find your software is taking too much of your network’s bandwidth, it’s best to either restart your app or reboot your hardware. There may be times when the software is difficult to adjust, but in most cases, you’ll have an update to boost performance speed.
If the software remains buggy, you’ll simply have to wait for the development team to release an update to solve the issue, or you can choose an alternative solution that doesn’t cause packet loss.
Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Networks
It’s best to reset your Wi-Fi router to improve the signal. If only one device lacks a signal, just reset it to see whether it gets a stronger signal.
You can also use a Wi-Fi analyzer to determine if the packet loss is caused due to an issue in the Wi-Fi settings. If yes, set your device to access another Wi-Fi network or use a wired connection.
Step 4 — Make Other Changes