Data transfers are ubiquitous and are integral to network operations today.
However, many factors affect data transfers such as network latency, congestion, infrastructure, network quality, and more. All these aspects delay the transfer of data packets and even disrupt the process of transmission.
These delays are called jitters. In other words, jitter is the variance in time delay (measured in milliseconds) that happen in the transmission of different packets over a network.
Let’s understand jitter with an example. Let’s say computer X is communicating with computer Y and both are exchanging data packets.
During the normal course of exchange, let’s say each packet takes 10 ms to travel and both the computers process the incoming data as it comes in. When there are network jitters, this delay will increase to about 40ms per packet and in turn, will throw the processing out of sync for the computers.
This is a negative aspect that needs to be fixed at the earliest as it can lead to poor user experience and frustrating delays.
Avoiding these jitters becomes all the more important if your organization relies heavily on VoIP for internal and external communication.
Methodology for selecting the Best Jitter Test Tools
If you don’t take proactive measures to reduce jitter and call quality problems, they could impede your ability to communicate with clients and partners. Hence, for effective network performance, it is essential to choose one of the best jitter test tools from the market. With the help of the right tool, you can precisely measure and analyze jitter in a network.
Here, we have listed a few methodologies that one must consider when selecting the best jitter test tool:
- Can it track services across the internet and LAN connections?
- Does it offer IP SLA tracking?
- Does it allow configuring routers to employ queuing to prioritize VoIP traffic
- Does it offer access to a wide range of VoIP connection quality indicators?
- Does the selected tool instantly send warnings for excessive jitter or latency?
- Do not miss to check if free trial or demo sessions are available before buying.
Best Jitter Test Tools and Software for Identifying VoIP Issues:
As a first step. you should identify the cause of the Jitter and this could be impossible to do manually unless you want to monitor the speed of every data packet in your network. An easier and better option is to use Jitter Testing Tools and software that continuously scan and monitor your network and alerts you when jitter exceeds the threshold limits in your network.
Let’s take a more detailed look at each of these tools, so you can decide which of these tools is ideal for you.
1. SolarWinds Network Jitter Monitoring – FREE TRIAL
The Network Jitter Monitoring tool from SolarWinds is a part of the VoIP and Network Quality Manager suite that analyzes VoIP traffic to calculate jitter and latency from the data packet stream.
Features: Some of the important features of this tool are:
- Helps to maintain the call quality of VoIP
- This tool allows you to analyze call details records from Cisco and Avaya Communication Managers.
- Measures many aspects such as current jitter and maximum jitter to give you a better idea of the performance and quality of the VoIP traffic.
- Makes it easy to identify IP SLA capable nodes, so you can have complete control over the performance and call quality of VoIP.
- You can filter VoIP calls based on network jitter metrics, common error codes, or call quality metrics.
- Gives you a precise idea of the problem areas.
- Offers real-time WAN monitoring and alerting of site-to-site WAN performance.
- Provides a big picture of how a call transits your network.
Pros:
- Easy to determine jitter and latency from the data packet stream by analyzing VoIP communication.
- Aids in maintaining VoIP call quality
- Gives a broad overview of how communication travels through your network.
- Updates about site-to-site WAN performance and sends alerts in real-time
- VoIP call filtering is available based on common error codes, call quality, and network jitter metrics
Cons:
- Exploring all functions can be time taking for new users
Pricing: 30 Day Trial! Download Below to Get started!
Download: Download a fully functional 30-day free trial version.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
SolarWinds Network Jitter Monitoring is a top pick for it helps quickly identify and diagnose issues related to latency and jitter on your network. With the help of SolarWinds Network Jitter Monitoring solutions, users can monitor the network performance in real-time and resolve issues before they become major problems. It further helps analyze VoIP traffic and shares a precise picture of the problem areas. Further, enables quick identification of IP SLA-capable nodes, giving you total control over VoIP speed and call quality. All its excellent features make it an ideal choice for any organization.
Download: Start 30-Day FREE Trial
Official Site: https://www.solarwinds.com/voip-network-quality-manager/use-cases/network-jitter?CMP=BIZ-RVW-NADMNTLS-Jitter-VOIP-UC
OS: Windows Server, AWS, or Azure
2. PRTG Jitter Monitor
PRTG Jitter Monitor stays on top of the transmission of every packet to reduce the possibility of congestion and to identify network jitters at the earliest.
Features: The features of PRTG Jitter Monitor are:
- Reacts quickly to identify jitters and prevent malfunction.
- Includes Cisco monitoring as well.
- Its continuous monitoring process greatly reduces the possibility of congestion in data transmission.
- Comes with a customizable and quick-reacting alarm.
- Provides optimal network stability to avoid interruptions and productivity loss
Sensors: PRTG uses a sensor-based system for monitoring network jitters and some of the sensors used are:
- QoS round-trip sensor – This sensor monitors the quality of your network connection.
- QoS one-way sensor – Monitors the quality of the connection between different PRTG probes.
- Cisco IP SLA sensor – this sensor uses SNMP to monitor Cisco’s IP SLA.
- Ping jitter sensor – Calculates jitter for a series of ping signals to check the availability of your devices.
Pros:
- Quickly runs jitter tests
- Tracks network jitter, VoIP, QoS as well as the connection between the probe and core server
- Sends prompt jitter alerts/notifications
- The interface can be altered using a number of widgets
- Uses different protocols like SNMP, NetFlow, and others to create a clear and accurate image of network and VoIP traffic
Cons:
- Users may take time to understand all its options as it is a feature-rich platform
- Licensing can be tricky
Pricing: The license cost depends on the number of sensors you choose for your organization.
- 100 sensors – Free
- 500 sensors – $1,600
- 1000 sensors – $2,850
- 2500 sensors – $5,950
- 5000 sensors – $10,500
- Unlimited sensors for one installation – $14,500
- Unlimited sensors for five installations – $60,000
Download: Click here to download the free version that can support up to 100 sensors.
3. StarTrinity Jitter and Packet Loss Test Tool
StarTrinity’s Jitter and Packet Loss Test Tool is open-source software for Windows, Linux, Android.
Features: This tool comes with the following features.
- It measures the quality of Internet connection using many bidirectional UDP streams.
- It encodes timestamps into UDP packets for detailed analysis and to identify jitters.
- It reports a plethora of things such as upstream and downstream bandwidth, upstream and downstream jitter, upstream and downstream packet loss, uptime percentage, history of downtimes, and more.
- Measures network quality between two specific end-points.
Pros:
- Sends a range of bidirectional UDP streams to measure internet connection quality
- Uses the embedded timestamps to measure jitter and packet loss
- It is a possibility for high-call-volume networks because it can handle a large number of calls.
- Provides insights on upstream and downstream bandwidth, downtime history, ping delay, etc.
- This tool also provides on-premise and in-the-cloud deployments
Cons:
- It has a lower degree of support compared to other enterprise solutions
- StarTrinity Jitter and Packet Loss Test Tool offers limited support
Pricing: It is 100% FREE.
Download: Click here to download this tool.
Related Post: Testing for Packet Loss on Windows
4. MegaPath Network Jitter Test Tool
MegaPath’s Network Jitter Test Tool is an online service that tests the jitter and ping speeds of your network. It provides valuable information about the state of your network without the need to install new tools or software.
Features: The features of this tool are:
- It is an online service that requires no installation whatsoever.
- It can be ideal for individuals as well as small networks.
- This tool gives information about your upload and download speeds as well, so you can have an accurate idea of your connection’s speed besides its jitter and latency levels.
- Gives you an idea of how many VoIP services your network can support and can be particularly helpful for capacity planning.
Pros:
- Helps test the jitter and ping network speed
- Free and can be easily accessed online
- Generates insights on network status without installing any new tool
- Enables you to estimate the number of VoIP services that your network can handle.
- Provides details about the upload and download speeds
Cons:
- The accuracy of the test relies on the quality of the internet connection
- Does not allow for customization
Pricing: It is 100% FREE and can be accessed online.
Download: Click here to access the tool.
Conclusion
To conclude, jitters are annoying and frustrating delays that can severely impact end-user experience besides causing problems in the processing of data packets.
But identifying these jitters is not easy and requires a reliable tool that will give the delay metrics and possibly even insights into the cause of this problem.
The above tools are excellent in their own ways and we hope the above information helps you to make informed decisions.
