Bufferbloat

[Christmas themed thank]

I only just found out about Bufferbloat.

When you're downloading/uploading, if your ping skyrockets and then when the download/upload finishes, it goes back to normal, you've got Bufferbloat.

QOS in the Gargoyle firmware didn't help (even though it is designed to reduce the ping when downloading/uploading) so I installed OpenWRT on my TP-Link WDR3600, after researching the issue. I also installed the SQM QoS package. It turns out I didn't really need the package as OpenWRT reduces bufferbloat so much anyway. I'm sure the package helps a bit however.

So if you're having issues with the ping when downloading, see if your router supports OpenWRT.

 

[Christmas themed thank]

I suggest you have a read of this - it explains very nicely why this works and keeps the pings very low when downloading.

 

[Christmas themed thank]

I'd say the 500Kb hit in order to keep the ping times low when downloading is worth it, wouldn't you?

 

[Christmas themed thank]

It is bufferbloat - most consumer modems aren't optimised to reduce it so you have to get your router setup to overcome it.

Essentially your modem is sending data too quickly and so it has to be buffered - that's the delay you get.