Performing a Trace Route and Ping Test

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

Step 1

Press the Windows key and type:

cmd

Open Command Prompt.

Step 2

Type:

ping www.webafrica.co.za

Then press Enter.

Step 3

Wait for the results to complete.

Look for:

• Average response time
• Timeouts
• Packet loss

How to Run a Trace Route on Windows

Step 1

Open Command Prompt.

Press the Windows key, type:

cmd

and press Enter.

Step 2

Type:

tracert www.webafrica.co.za

Then press Enter.

Step 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

Step 1

Open:

Applications > Utilities > Terminal

Step 2

Type:

ping www.webafrica.co.za

Press Enter.

Step 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

Step 1

Open:

Applications > Utilities > Terminal

Step 2

Type:

traceroute www.webafrica.co.za

Press Enter.

Step 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