The Stability Test sends lightweight probes to a target and charts the response over time. Use a local gateway first when you want to isolate Wi-Fi behavior from the wider internet.
Choose a target
- Router or default gateway: best for diagnosing the local Wi-Fi link.
- DNS server: includes more of the network path and can expose upstream instability.
- Custom address: useful when you control a known reliable target.
Only test systems you are authorized to contact.
Read the metrics
Latency is the round-trip time for a probe. Lower is generally better, but consistency matters more than a single minimum value.
Jitter describes how much latency varies. High jitter can affect calls, streaming, remote desktop sessions, and games even when average latency looks acceptable.
Packet loss is the share of probes that receive no response. Repeated loss to the local gateway can indicate weak signal, interference, roaming, driver behavior, or an overloaded access point.
Compare results
Run one test near the access point and another at the problem location. If the gateway is stable but an internet target is not, the issue likely extends beyond the local Wi-Fi link. If both degrade together, inspect RSSI, SNR, overlap, and channel width in WiFiBuddy.