How to Improve: Your Ping

The situation:

When playing online games, sometimes you notice the ping bar that states your ping. This indicates how well you are connecting to the server or to other people you are with. The lower the ping, the better and faster your connection is.

However, some users suffer from slower pings, which might affect gameplay and game experience. Problems that may result include lag, and even possible disconnection. You, as well as others playing with you, may get rather frustrated by unexpected turn of events caused by ping problems.

The problem and possible solutions:

Ping issues may result from a number of problems. When connecting to a server, make sure you are going to the CLOSEST server to your geographical location. This is usually the biggest factor in ping speed. Because the connection has a physical speed limit (theoretically the speed of light, but significantly slower due to noise and packet loss), the closer geographically you are to the server, the lower your ping will be. If you live in China, you don't want to be connecting to a server in North America.

ISPs and your Internet service may affect your ping. Budget plans that limit your download and upload speeds can cause slower times for you to send and receive packets from your server. The only real solution to this is to get a better Internet service. Nowadays, faster download speeds are offered at much lower prices than before, so now is a good time to upgrade if your Internet service is incapable of handling the minimal use of bandwidth that most games require.

Lastly, your ping may be funnelled for blocked partially by routers or firewalls. Make sure your firewall has unblocked the programs that you are using, so nothing is interfering at that end. Also, check to see if there are problems with your router if you are experiencing unnatural ping problems that you can't pinpoint. A defective router might slow your ping because it is routing your connection incorrectly.

With a quicker ping, you'll be able to enjoy your games and other online experiences more smoothly and comfortably.

This is how to improve your ping.