When your video calls keep stuttering or online games lag, it’s easy to blame your internet speed. But here's a secret from the trenches: a high-speed connection can still be frustratingly unstable. More often than not, the real culprits aren't your download speeds, but two other troublemakers: high latency (ping) and packet loss.
Even with a connection that looks great on paper, these issues can cause that dreaded buffering wheel, choppy audio, and sudden disconnects. The first step to a stable connection is figuring out which of these problems is derailing your experience.
Pinpointing Why Your Internet Is Unstable
Before you can fix anything, you have to play detective. Running a standard speed test is a decent starting point, but it really only shows you a fraction of the picture—your download and upload bandwidth. The frustrating gremlins causing lag in your AONMeetings call are usually hiding in plain sight, just not in those big shiny speed numbers.
To get to the bottom of it, we need to look at two far more critical metrics: latency and packet loss.
Understanding Latency and Ping
Think of latency as your network's reaction time. It's the time it takes for a tiny piece of data to travel from your computer to a server and back again, measured in milliseconds (ms). This round-trip time is often called "ping."
A high ping means there's a serious delay between when you do something and when it actually registers on the other end. It’s why you click to mute your mic, and it takes a second to respond, or why your character in a game seems to be a step behind everyone else.
For most online activities, a good ping is anything under 50 ms. Once you start creeping above 100 ms, you'll definitely feel the lag, especially in real-time apps like video conferencing.
Identifying Packet Loss
If latency is a delay, packet loss is when data just disappears into the void. Your internet connection sends and receives information in small bundles called "packets." Packet loss happens when some of these packets get lost along the way and never make it to their destination.
When this occurs, your device has to ask for that missing information again, which causes all sorts of problems like stuttering video, garbled audio, or a screen that freezes entirely. Even a seemingly small packet loss rate of just 1% can wreak havoc on a video call. Getting a handle on your specific bandwidth needs can help you figure out if your current plan is up to the task. You can learn more in our guide on video conferencing bandwidth requirements.
Before we dive into the metrics, here’s a quick reference table to help you understand what you're looking for.
Key Network Health Indicators
| Metric | What It Measures | What's a Good Result? |
|---|---|---|
| Ping (Latency) | The round-trip time for data to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). | Under 50 ms is great. Over 100 ms will cause noticeable lag. |
| Packet Loss | The percentage of data packets that get lost in transit and fail to reach their destination. | As close to 0% as possible. Anything over 1% will cause problems. |
| Download/Upload Speed | The amount of data your connection can receive (download) or send (upload) per second, measured in Mbps. | Varies by need, but at least 25 Mbps download is a good baseline for most households. |
Understanding these three indicators is the foundation of diagnosing almost any connection problem.
This flowchart gives you a simple visual for the diagnostic process, showing how you move from a basic speed test to checking for the real sources of instability.
As the chart shows, after that initial speed test, your next move should always be to investigate the underlying issues that cause instability, like packet loss or high ping.
While internet speeds are getting better across the globe, the reliability of those connections can vary wildly. Ookla's data, for instance, shows the worldwide median for fixed broadband is over 95 Mbps, yet plenty of places still struggle with speeds below 10 Mbps. This massive gap often comes down to infrastructure, which is a major reason for persistent connection problems.
If you're constantly fighting with dropouts, it's worth reading up on why your wireless network keeps disconnecting and how to fix it for a deeper dive into common causes and solutions.
Quick Fixes for Your Home Network
When your internet connection is unstable, the fastest path to a solution often starts right in your own home. Before you get lost in complex network settings or spend an hour on the phone with your ISP, these fundamental checks can solve a surprising number of common connection problems.
The first and most effective tactic is the classic router reboot. It’s a cliché for a reason—it works. This simple action clears out your router's temporary memory (RAM), which gets clogged with minor errors and software glitches over time. Think of it as giving your router a quick power nap to wake up refreshed, ready to re-establish clean connections and clear any processing bottlenecks.
But just flicking the power switch off and on won't cut it. To do it right, you need to let it fully discharge.
- Unplug both your router and your modem from the power outlet.
- Wait at least 30-60 seconds. This is the crucial part. It ensures all the lingering power drains out and the memory gets a full wipe.
- Plug the modem back in first. Let it do its thing for a minute or two until its lights are stable.
- Then, plug the router back in and give it a few minutes to boot up completely.
Reposition Your Router for a Stronger Signal
If a reboot didn't fix things, your router's physical location could be the real villain. Wi-Fi signals are just radio waves, and they're easily disrupted by all sorts of common household objects. A router tucked away in a cabinet or shoved in a far corner of the house is a recipe for an unstable connection.
Your goal should be a central, elevated spot in your home, away from thick walls and big metal objects. Some of the worst offenders for blocking a signal include:
- Kitchen Appliances: Microwaves are notorious Wi-Fi killers, as they operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency as many networks and can cause serious interference.
- Concrete and Brick Walls: These dense materials are like kryptonite for Wi-Fi signals, severely weakening or blocking them entirely.
- Large Metal Objects: Things like filing cabinets, refrigerators, and even big mirrors can reflect and scatter your Wi-Fi signal.
Sometimes, just moving your router a few feet out from behind a TV or placing it on a higher shelf can make a dramatic difference in both signal strength and stability.
Update Your Router's Firmware
Router firmware is the behind-the-scenes software that makes your hardware tick. Just like your phone or computer, it needs updates. Manufacturers regularly release new firmware to fix bugs, patch security holes, and improve overall performance. Running on an outdated version can leave your network vulnerable to the very glitches that cause connection drops.
Most modern routers have an auto-update feature, but it’s always a good idea to log into your router's admin panel and check manually. A quick firmware update can often resolve those stubborn instability issues that other fixes can't touch.
When to Go Wired with Ethernet
Finally, for the devices that absolutely cannot fail—your work computer for video calls, a gaming console, or a streaming box—nothing beats the sheer reliability of a wired Ethernet connection. Wi-Fi is fantastic for convenience, but it will always be susceptible to interference.
An Ethernet cable gives you a direct, physical link to your router. It takes all the wireless variables out of the equation and delivers the fastest, most stable connection your internet plan can offer. If you're constantly dropping out of important AONMeetings calls, plugging in an Ethernet cable is the surefire way to get a rock-solid link. It's the ultimate trump card when wireless just isn't cutting it.
Advanced Wi-Fi and Router Tuning
When the quick fixes just aren't cutting it and your connection still feels shaky, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and adjust your router’s core settings. This means logging into its administrative panel—which sounds more intimidating than it really is. Think of it as the control room for your home network, where you can make powerful changes to fight interference and tell your network exactly what to prioritize.
First things first, you'll need to get into your router’s settings. You can usually do this by typing its IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into your web browser. The login details are almost always printed on a sticker on the router itself. Once you’re in, you can start fine-tuning.
Escape Interference by Changing Wi-Fi Channels
If you live in a dense area like an apartment building, your router is in a constant shouting match with dozens of neighboring Wi-Fi networks. Most routers default to the same few channels on the 2.4 GHz band, creating a digital traffic jam that’s a common reason your internet connection is unstable.
Changing your Wi-Fi channel moves your network to a less crowded frequency, which can instantly reduce interference.
- Use a Wi-Fi Analyzer: Plenty of apps for your phone or computer can scan the area, showing you which channels are slammed with traffic and which are wide open.
- Stick to Channels 1, 6, or 11: On the 2.4 GHz band, these are the only three channels that don't overlap with each other. Hopping onto the least-used one of these three is your best bet for a clean, stable signal.
I’ve seen this one simple tweak completely transform a network, especially if the connection only seems to drop at certain times of day when everyone else is online.
Prioritize Your Traffic with Quality of Service
Quality of Service, or QoS, is a router feature that lets you create a VIP lane on your digital highway. When multiple people and devices are all competing for bandwidth, QoS makes sure your important AONMeetings video call doesn't start to stutter just because someone in the next room fires up a 4K movie on Netflix.
You can configure QoS to give top priority to your work laptop or even to specific activities like video conferencing. This tells your router to always set aside enough bandwidth for those critical tasks first, preventing lag and disconnects when your network gets busy. For more tips on getting ready for important online events, check out our guide on how to optimize your internet connection for seamless virtual meetings.
Split Your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Bands
Most modern routers are "dual-band," meaning they broadcast on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. By default, many routers combine these into a single network name, letting your devices choose automatically. Splitting them gives you two distinct Wi-Fi networks you can connect to manually.
The 5 GHz band is much faster and less prone to interference, but it has a shorter range. The 2.4 GHz band offers better wall penetration and coverage but is slower and more crowded.
By creating separate network names (like "MyNetwork_2.4GHz" and "MyNetwork_5GHz"), you can take back control. Connect your most important devices—like your work laptop and smart TV—to the faster, more stable 5 GHz network. Then, you can leave the 2.4 GHz band for less critical gadgets or those that are farther away from the router. This simple act of separation can dramatically boost the performance of your essential gear.
Optimizing Your Devices and Software
So you’ve tweaked your router, but things are still shaky. Before you start blaming your internet provider, it’s time to look closer to home—at the devices and software actually using the network. I’ve seen perfectly good connections brought to a crawl by a misbehaving computer, a rogue browser extension, or some background app quietly hogging all the bandwidth.
More often than not, the real bottleneck isn’t the network itself but how your own gear is managing the connection. A few simple software adjustments can make a world of difference, especially for real-time apps like AONMeetings where every millisecond counts.
Taming Your Web Browser
Your web browser is probably the busiest piece of software on your computer, which also makes it a prime suspect for performance issues. Over time, browsers get bogged down with cached data, and some extensions are notorious bandwidth hogs.
Let's start with a quick cleanup. A bloated cache can absolutely make your connection feel sluggish. Clearing your browser's cache and cookies is the first thing I do when things feel inexplicably slow, and it often works wonders.
Next, it’s time for an extension audit. We all love our little browser add-ons, but many of them run constantly in the background, chewing up memory and network resources.
- Disable Unused Extensions: Go through your list of installed extensions and be ruthless. Disable anything you don’t use on a daily basis. I’ve personally traced significant lag back to a single, poorly-coded extension.
- Test in Incognito Mode: If you think an extension is the culprit, pop open an incognito or private window (which usually disables extensions by default). If your connection suddenly feels snappy and stable, you've found your problem.
One weirdly common issue I see during video calls is the browser itself struggling to keep up. If you're dealing with video stuttering, try disabling "Hardware Acceleration" in your Chrome settings. This forces your computer's main processor (CPU) to do the heavy lifting, which can bypass strange conflicts with your graphics card.
Managing Background Data Hogs
You'd be shocked at how many apps are using your internet connection without you even realizing it. Automatic software updates, cloud file syncing from services like Dropbox or OneDrive, and other background processes can absolutely saturate your connection when you least expect it.
This is a huge problem on connections with limited upload speed. If a cloud service decides to start syncing a multi-gigabyte folder right in the middle of your AONMeetings call, your video and audio quality will nosedive.
Keeping Your System and Drivers Updated
Finally, don’t forget about the foundational software that connects your computer to the network in the first place: your network drivers. An outdated or corrupted network interface card (NIC) driver can cause all sorts of bizarre problems, like random disconnects and terrible performance.
Make sure your operating system is fully updated, as these updates often bundle in critical driver fixes. For the more technically inclined, you can also head directly to the manufacturer’s website for your computer or network card to grab the very latest drivers. Keeping this low-level software current is a non-negotiable step for a stable link.
If you're still running into trouble specifically with video calls after all this, you might find more targeted solutions by looking into common video call problems.
Dealing with External Internet Problems
Sometimes, you can tweak every last setting, reboot every device in sight, and still be stuck with a choppy connection. When that happens, the real problem probably isn't inside your home at all. The issue could be with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or even a much wider network outage.
At this point, your job shifts from trying to fix the problem to diagnosing it so you can report it effectively. Trust me, recognizing an external issue early on will save you hours of pulling your hair out. If you’ve already gone through all the local network fixes and the instability is still there, it's a strong sign the problem is upstream with your provider.
How to Talk to Your ISP and Actually Get Help
Before you even think about picking up the phone to call your ISP, you need to do a little homework. Just telling them "my internet is slow" is a one-way ticket to a long, frustrating call where they read you a generic script. You need to show up with data.
Here’s what you should have in hand:
- A Log of the Problem: Note the exact times and dates the connection gets shaky or drops entirely. A clear pattern is the most powerful clue you can give them.
- Your Test Results: Tell them the numbers from your speed, ping, and packet loss tests. Saying, "I'm consistently seeing 3% packet loss between 7 PM and 9 PM" is worlds more effective than "my video calls are fuzzy."
- Steps You've Already Taken: Quickly list what you've tried—rebooting the router, using a wired connection, checking for firmware updates. This shows you've done your part and lets them skip the basics.
A little tip from experience: approach the call like you're working with them to solve a puzzle, not just complaining. When you give the support agent the exact ammo they need, they're much more likely to escalate your case and get a real technician involved.
When the Problem Is Bigger Than Just Your ISP
While a flaky ISP is a common culprit, sometimes the instability is caused by something completely out of anyone's direct control. We tend to forget that the internet is a massive, physical thing—and physical things break.
For a business, where a stable connection isn't just a convenience but a necessity, these kinds of persistent issues are a sign it might be time to look into a dedicated business leased line. It offers a much more reliable and consistent connection that isn't shared with every other house in your neighbourhood.
To give you an idea of how fragile things can be, the second quarter of 2025 saw huge internet disruptions around the world caused by everything from undersea cable cuts to fires and earthquakes. In one major event in India, median bandwidth crashed from 25 Mbps down to 9.8 Mbps and latency doubled. It's a stark reminder of how vulnerable our digital world is to physical damage. You can read more about these large-scale outages in this internet disruption summary.
The Corporate VPN Can Be a Bottleneck
If you work from home, there’s one more layer to consider: the corporate Virtual Private Network (VPN). It’s a security must-have, but it also routes all your internet traffic through your company's servers. That extra step can add a ton of latency and create a serious bottleneck.
If you notice your connection only becomes unstable when the VPN is on, the problem might not be your home internet at all. It could be an issue with your company's network infrastructure. If that's the case, your next call shouldn't be to your ISP, but to your own IT department.
Common Questions About Unstable Internet
Even after you've done everything right, some internet stability issues can feel like a real mystery. Sometimes the problem isn't your setup, but when and how you're using it. Let's tackle a few of the most common head-scratchers I hear about all the time.
Why Is My Internet Only Unstable at Night?
If your connection is solid all day but turns into a stuttering mess every evening, you're almost certainly dealing with network congestion. Think of it as digital rush hour.
During peak hours—usually between 7 PM and 11 PM—everyone in your neighborhood is home from work or school. They’re streaming movies, playing online games, and hopping on video calls. All that activity puts a massive strain on the shared internet infrastructure your ISP provides, and you're all competing for the same slice of bandwidth.
Does a VPN Make My Connection Unstable?
A VPN is a fantastic tool for privacy, but yes, it can absolutely be the culprit behind an unstable connection. By design, a VPN routes your traffic through an extra server, which adds a little bit of latency right off the bat.
The real trouble starts if that VPN server is overloaded with other users or is physically located halfway across the world. That distance and congestion can introduce significant slowdowns and even packet loss. If you suspect your VPN is the problem, try turning it off for a bit. If your connection instantly improves, you've found your answer. Your next step should be to switch to a server closer to you or consider upgrading to a premium VPN service known for better performance.
It's easy to blame your own network, but an unstable video call isn't always your fault. The issue could be on the other person's end or even a problem with the service's servers. Don't immediately assume your setup is to blame for every choppy meeting.
Could My Old Computer Be the Problem?
Absolutely. We get so focused on the router and the ISP that we forget the device itself can be a major bottleneck. An older computer might have an outdated network card that simply can’t keep up with modern internet speeds.
Even worse, its processor might be struggling to handle the demands of a high-quality video stream, causing the connection to appear unstable when it's really the hardware that's lagging. The classic symptom is one device constantly dropping connection while your newer phone or tablet works perfectly. Updating network drivers is a good first step, but sometimes, a hardware upgrade is the only real long-term fix.
For a seamless, high-definition video conferencing experience that works flawlessly even on less-than-perfect connections, trust AONMeetings. Our browser-based platform is optimized for stability, ensuring your meetings run smoothly without frustrating interruptions. Discover the difference at https://aonmeetings.com.
