Ever since I started working here at MUO, I’ve been learning plenty of new things. But one thing that I’ve still struggled with, ironically enough, is with my internet service provider. I was born in 1992, and I’ve seen many different phases of the internet. I can remember when I had to ask my folks to get off the phone so I could go visit my favorite websites. Now, I’ve got 900Mb/s download, and there are times when it feels like my internet is running slower than my rose-tinted glasses remember back in the day.
I wanted to challenge myself to learn more about my ISP, and what makes it “tick”. For the most part, I can’t complain about my internet by any means, but after downloading and using Wireshark, I can finally start fixing those tricky issues that I’ve been encountering in the past.
Packet loss, latency, and everything in between
What does all of this mean? How does it affect users?
I started using Wireshark because I was curious to learn more about my connection and what makes it work. I’m very new when it comes to the world of networking, and Wireshark was highly recommended by colleagues, as well as internet forums. Real-time analytics for every single Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connection that is paired to your device is wild, and frankly, incredibly intimidating. There are so many different things happening at one time, but being able to see what is happening in real time, where your connection is going, and where you have drops and latency issues is incredibly helpful.
I can see the destination, what protocol it’s using, and how long it takes to send and receive information. It’s very interesting to see how everything is working, and by digging into the user manual from Wireshark, I’ve started to teach myself about how I can make my network run smoother than ever. Even if you’re using a mesh network to shave down your dead zones, Wireshark could prove to be an incredibly valuable tool if you’re still encountering network issues. For example, I’ve been having issues with Discord voice calls dropping more often than usual. By running Wireshark during a VoIP call, I can search for “upd” to determine the source port and destination port (56578 & 443, respectively), and drive additional network traffic its way via QoS settings or port forwarding.
I Use These Tricks to Get the Fastest Internet From My Router
This is how I get faster speeds without upgrading my internet plan.
Nothing is worse than your calls dropping
Using WireShark let me see when and where my connection was dropping
Networking is one of the most complex parts of the computing ecosystem, and as I mentioned before, I’m still learning about the finer intricacies myself. Even concepts like self-hosting your own applications are well outside my wheelhouse, even though many people swear by them for monitoring screens and application usage. Wireshark is intimidating to use at first, but after experimenting with it for a while and researching the more in-depth parts of networking, I’m slowly learning how to make my ISP work better. If you’re curious to learn more about networking, YouTube offers a tremendous number of tutorials that explain things simply enough for everyone to understand.
It’s not a program you’re going to learn and understand overnight — even looking at the Wireshark FAQ is daunting, filled to the brim with more information than most other programs. With the FAQ/User Guide being so incredibly in-depth, it gives those willing to learn the perfect chance to take command over their network.
- OS
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Windows, macOS, Ubuntu
- Developer
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The Wireshark team
- Price model
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Free
- Initial release
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1998
How do you actually resolve network issues with Wireshark, though?
Wireshark is the first step; the rest is left in the hands of the user
If you’ve been encountering a tremendous amount of packet loss in your favorite games, movies, music, or anything in between, it may be time to look at the hardware that you’re using. These issues are often temporary and can be easily fixed by restarting your modem & router to refresh your connection with your ISP. Secondly, you may need to try connecting your device directly to Ethernet to reduce packet loss or latency issues — just make sure you’re using the correct cables for what you need.
There’s also a chance the router or modem you’re using just isn’t capable of handling the speeds you’re requesting. Replacing your router with a newer model may be the fastest way to fix these issues. You may find that they offer more than just an increase in speed, and could also come with features that make your smart house even smarter along the way.
Whenever “upgrades” happen in my area, I’m bound to have to reach out
If you’ve been monitoring your data for a while and are still running into a plethora of issues, it may be time to reach out to your ISP to see what is going on with their service. At the start of the year, I had to contact Charter Spectrum after they did “updates and upgrades” in my area, as everything in my house was losing connection. It turns out that my modem was just not capable of dealing with the upgraded speed, and they replaced it at no cost to me. This could end up curing the packet-loss woes you’ve been encountering and bringing additional eyes to the issue.
Sometimes, packet loss and latency issues are out of anybody’s control. While technology is advancing at an alarming rate, there are still some bugs that haven’t been squashed along the way. That’s one of the reasons I started monitoring my own connection: I was genuinely curious to find out what might be causing these issues and what I could do to resolve them .
Checking your network speed can help you realize if there is a problem
There’s a very good chance that you’ve tried using a program like Ookla Speedtest, or even FAST to test your network speed. If you notice a lot of Ping on your network or something that doesn’t look right, using a program like Wireshark may help point you in the right direction.
It could be equipment issues, it could be internet issues, or it may just be something out of your control. At least this way, I can see what is going on and see if I can fix it myself. If I can make it work better, I’m willing to dive in and learn what makes it tick.
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