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Performing a Trace Route and Ping Test

3 min read12 steps

If you are experiencing slow browsing, buffering, gaming lag, dropped connections, or websites taking too long to load, a Ping or Trace Route (Traceroute) test can help identify where the issue may be happening.

These tests help determine:

  • Whether your internet connection is responding normally
  • If there is unusually high latency (delay)
  • Where delays may be happening between your device and a website or service
  • Whether the issue is inside your home network or further along the internet route

Before You Start

For the most accurate results:

✅ Connect your device directly to the router using a network cable (Ethernet) if possible
✅ Pause downloads, streaming, gaming, or cloud backups during the test
✅ Run the test while the issue is happening
✅ Test from the same device experiencing the problem

Testing over WiFi may give inconsistent results due to signal interference or distance from the router.

What Is a Ping Test?

A Ping test measures how quickly data travels between your device and a website or server and back again.

Think of it like checking how quickly someone replies to a message.

A lower result is usually better.

What Ping Measures

  • Low Ping (Good): Fast response times, better for gaming, browsing, and video calls
  • High Ping: Slower response times, which can cause lag, buffering, or delays
  • Packet Loss: Missing responses that may indicate a connection issue

Example

ping www.webafrica.co.za

What the Results Mean

  • Time (ms) = Response speed in milliseconds
  • TTL = How many network hops the data passed through
  • Request Timed Out = The destination did not respond

A few occasional spikes are normal. Constantly high ping or timeouts may indicate a network or connection issue.

What Is a Trace Route (Traceroute)?

A Trace Route shows the journey your internet traffic takes between your device and a website or service.

It checks every stop (called a hop) along the route and measures how long each one takes to respond.

This can help identify whether delays are:

  • Inside your home network
  • On your provider’s network
  • On another network between you and the destination
  • At the website or server itself

Example

tracert www.webafrica.co.za

What the Results Mean

  • Hop = A stop between networks
  • ms = Response time for each hop
  • * = A timeout or device not responding to traceroute requests

Seeing an occasional * is not always a problem. Some network devices intentionally ignore traceroute requests.

How to Run a Ping Test on Windows

  1. Press the Windows key and type:

    cmd

    Open Command Prompt.

  2. Type:

    ping www.webafrica.co.za

    Then press Enter.

  3. Wait for the results to complete.

    Look for:

    • Average response time
    • Timeouts
    • Packet loss

How to Run a Trace Route on Windows

  1. Open Command Prompt.

    Press the Windows key, type:

    cmd

    and press Enter.

  2. Type:

    tracert www.webafrica.co.za

    Then press Enter.

  3. Wait for the test to complete.

    This can take a minute or two.

    Look for:

    • Large jumps in response time
    • Repeated timeouts
    • Sudden delays on specific hops

How to Run a Ping Test on Mac

  1. Open:

    Applications > Utilities > Terminal

  2. Type:

    ping www.webafrica.co.za

    Press Enter.

  3. Allow the test to run for around 20 to 30 seconds.

    Press:

    Control + C

    to stop the test.

How to Run a Trace Route on Mac

  1. Open:

    Applications > Utilities > Terminal

  2. Type:

    traceroute www.webafrica.co.za

    Press Enter.

  3. Wait for the results to complete.

What to Do Next

If your internet issue continues:

  1. Restart your router
  2. Run a speed test using a wired connection
  3. Check for known outages on the Network Status page
  4. Repeat the Ping or Trace Route test while the issue is happening

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