Understanding Latency, Jitter & Bandwidth

Internet speed is more than just download numbers. Understanding latency, jitter, and bandwidth helps you choose the right service for your needs — especially if you rely on video calls, online gaming, or real-time applications for work or school.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred per second, measured in Mbps or Gbps. Higher bandwidth means faster downloads, smoother streaming, and the ability to support more devices simultaneously. For a typical household with 3-5 users, 100-150 Mbps is usually sufficient. Heavy users with 4K streaming, gaming, and remote work may want 200 Mbps or more.

Latency

Latency (also called ping) is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency means more responsive browsing, gaming, and video calls. Fixed wireless typically delivers 5-15 ms latency, comparable to cable and fiber. Satellite internet, by comparison, has latency of 600+ ms — a noticeable delay on every click and keystroke.

Jitter

Jitter is the variation in latency over time. Even if your average latency is low, high jitter means the delay is inconsistent — causing stuttering in video calls, lag spikes in gaming, and choppy audio in VoIP. Hudson Valley Wireless's fixed wireless network delivers consistent, low jitter because signals travel a short, direct path from tower to your home, unlike satellite which routes through space.

How These Metrics Affect Your Experience

For web browsing and email, bandwidth matters most. For video calls and remote work, low latency and low jitter are critical. For gaming, all three matter — you need enough bandwidth for game data, low latency for responsive controls, and low jitter for smooth gameplay. Hudson Valley Wireless's fixed wireless technology delivers strong performance across all three metrics.

Test Your Connection

You can test your current internet speed, latency, and jitter using free tools like speedtest.net or fast.com. If your current provider shows high latency or jitter, fixed wireless from Hudson Valley Wireless may be a significant upgrade. Call (518) 458-7006 to learn more.