In 2020 there was a global trend of users starting to work from home. This led to over utilization of Virgin Media’s infrastructure in some areas. This was not a widespread problem as the majority of users actually found very little degradation in their internet service, however there was a very vocal minority of users that were sadly affected.
If you are experiencing jitter and poor latency outside of lock down conditions then it is quite possible that you are actually facing a technical issue rather than an over-subscription of internet services in your area.
To see what your problem could be, we have decided to gather some useful information about what jitter is, and how it could be affecting you and your internet connection.
Table of Contents
- How do I fix the jitter on my Virgin router?
- Change to a different device
- Make sure your router’s firmware is up to date
- If you are using a powerline adapter, remove it
- Connect to a wired network instead of Wi-Fi
- Switch the Virgin Media Hub from router to modem
- Consider upgrading to Gigabit internet
- Your drivers need to be updated
- Flushing Your DNS
- Make use of a VPN
- What is acceptable jitter on Virgin WiFi?
- How do I fix jitter in games?
- Conclusion: Did We Fix You Virgin Media Jitter and Lag
How do I fix the jitter on my Virgin router?
Unfortunately there are no definitive fixes for jitter on Virgin Media, but there are a few things that you can try. Many users have reported some success with a combination of the below steps, so you might be able to solve your own Virgin Media jitter issues all on your own.
Change to a different device
Sometimes you might find that a specific device such as a laptop or smartphone is the only device that is really experiencing issues. Test this by performing some speed tests on both your device and another device in your home. You might be surprised to find that the issue is with your own device and not with the internet connection itself.
If you find that there are jitter and speed issues on all of your devices, then you can try changing your router device, and use a third party Virgin router instead.
Make sure your router’s firmware is up to date
This sounds scary, but it really isn’t updating your router’s firmware is simply a matter of logging into your device and checking the update section of the menu. Each manufacturer is different, so be sure to Google your exact make and model and find out how to perform a router firmware upgrade.
If you are using a powerline adapter, remove it
Powerline adapters are usually great, but sometimes they can introduce complexities into your networking environment that you might not have anticipated. We normally only recommend powerline adapters for scenarios where both WiFi and Ethernet connectivity is not possible.
This can be due to interference on the wireless spectrum on all channels, making for poor WiFi performance, or a lack of viable pathways to run Ethernet neatly.
Having said that, there are sometimes conflicts that need to be ruled out when it comes to using powerline adapters, so it is a good idea to remove them from your current configuration if you suspect issues such as jitter and lag. If you find no difference then you can always reconnect the equipment afterwards.
If you find that your issues are resolved then it might be time to look at upgrading your powerline adapter or even look at a modern mesh WiFi systems that will give you greater coverage and speed throughout your home.
Connect to a wired network instead of Wi-Fi
If you suspect WiFi as being the main culprit then connecting an Ethernet cable will do wonders for your internet speed. Ethernet is almost always preferred to WiFi as it offers a stable connection with speeds that exceed all but the most cutting edge wireless protocols. (Many of which are not yet available affordably to basic consumers)
All you need to do in order to connect this way is to make sure that your device such as a laptop or gaming console has an Ethernet port, and that you have a suitably long enough Ethernet cable that can reach from your internet router to the device’s current location. Once you have plugged in the device, test the application that has been giving you problems, and see if that has resolved your jitter and lag issues.
If this seems to solve your problems then you can start looking at either re-configuring your WiFi, or purchasing a stand alone WiFi access point. Take a look at some of our Amazon Associate links below, and remember that you don’t need to spend big to see great performance increases. (We get a small commission at no additional cost to you for every purchase, so thank you in advance if you use one of our links)
Switch the Virgin Media Hub from router to modem
This step requires that you have a wireless access point that will take over the WiFi operations from your Virgin hub. We have listed some good products that we recommend to our Virgin Media readers, and that operate very well as the primary wireless router for home users.
Consider upgrading to Gigabit internet
This might sound a bit extreme, but honestly, who doesn’t dream of having incredibly fast and stable internet. If you are experiencing jitter and lag due to an over-subscription of users in your area, then upgrading your line might not make a difference unless it connects via a different network path than conventional internet lines.
Your drivers need to be updated
This is one of the easiest things that you can do to your system. Most Windows based systems will automatically update their drivers with Windows Update.
Every device manufacturer is different and needs different drivers, and every operating system is different too. When a device maker releases a new model or a version of an operating system, the manufacturer usually releases updated drivers that enable the new features and fixes that weren’t possible before.
You’ll need to be aware of what drivers are currently installed on your system, and whether or not they’ve been updated in the past few days or weeks.
This process usually works fine. However, it’s always good to double check that your drivers are up to date, especially if you have any new hardware devices added to your system.
Flushing Your DNS
Flushing your DNS is quite simple and can be done by following these steps:
- Type ‘cmd’ into the Start menu’s search bar in the bottom left part of the screen.
- Type ipconfig /flushdns to flush the DNS after you type cmd to launch the Command Prompt.
- Once the DNS cache has been flushed, a confirmation message will be sent to the user.
- If you want to exit, enter ‘exit’ in the Command Prompt or click the red X at the top right corner of the window.
Make use of a VPN
Sometimes using a VPN helps you to bypass ISP related issues by connecting you to a different server and giving your connection different settings. We recommend NordVPN as we are an affiliate, but you can try out any VPN that you prefer. Click below to get a discount when you use our link.
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What is acceptable jitter on Virgin WiFi?
When jitter happens, it can cause issues with online streaming and gaming, which is why we have to pay close attention to our Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Generally speaking, if your ISP is using standard DoCSIS 3.0 like Virgin Media and every other cable company that uses it will experience 3 ms of jitter.
How do I fix jitter in games?
If you want to try and fix jitter and lag then you can try following the steps that we outlined above.
Conclusion: Did We Fix You Virgin Media Jitter and Lag
At the end of the day, Virgin Media needs to support your service if you have tried all of these steps and you are still not having any joy then be sure to contact Virgin Technical Support and find out if a technician can come out and take a look.
Just be aware that there might be a call out charge, so do as much troubleshooting as you can before hand. Thank you for reading and happy surfing!
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