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📶Diagnosing High Jitter: A guide

This article will explain the impact of high jitter on video and audio, outline methods to reduce it, and provide additional tips for a smoother experience:

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✅Impact of high jitter on video and audio

The main reason high jitter is harmful to video and audio is that it disrupts the synchronized playback required for a smooth experience.
  1. Audio degradation:
  • Choppy/stuttering audio: Packets arriving at inconsistent intervals lead to gaps or overlaps in the audio stream, resulting in a choppy or broken sound.
  • Distorted speech: Words or phrases may be cut off, distorted, or sound metallic due to the inconsistent timing of audio samples.
  • Echo and feedback: In two-way communication, significant jitter can cause delays that lead to echoes or feedback loops as audio is played back at the wrong time.
  1. Video degradation:
  • Jerky motion: High jitter can cause noticeable skips or jumps in motion, making the video appear unnatural and difficult to follow, especially during fast-paced scenes.
  • Frozen video: When video frames arrive out of order or with significant delays, the decoder struggles to reconstruct a smooth image. This often manifests as frozen frames, blocky artifacts, or pixelation.

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✅How to reduce jitter

Reducing jitter often involves optimizing your network path and equipment. Here are key strategies:
  1. Use a wired ethernet connection:
Wi-Fi is inherently more susceptible to interference and variable latency compared to a wired connection. For exams and interviews, always opt for an Ethernet cable directly from your device to your router.
  1. Reduce simultaneous downloads/uploads:
If other devices on your network are downloading large files, streaming high-resolution video, or uploading substantial data, it will consume bandwidth and increase jitter. Limit these activities during the tests and interview sessions
  1. Damaged ethernet cables:
Inspect your Ethernet cables for any visible damage. Frayed or kinked cables can introduce signal degradation.
  1. ISP network issues:
Sometimes, the jitter originates on your Internet Service Provider’s network. You can run speed tests and ping tests to servers further afield to diagnose this.
💡Additional tips:
  1. Reboot your device: If you experience connectivity problems, restarting your mobile device can sometimes resolve issues by refreshing the network connection.
  2. Run a Network Speed Test: Before starting your test or interview, it’s a good idea to check your connection speed </aside>

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🆘Contact support

If you’re still facing issues:
  • Take a screenshot of your speed test results
  • Reach out to Talview Support with:
    • A short description of the issue
    • What you’ve tried so far