Fixing Slow Ping on Netgear Nighthawk X4S

When you connect to the internet through a Netgear Nighthawk X4S router, you might notice that the ping time to your favorite game servers or streaming services is higher than expected. A high ping can make online games feel laggy, cause delays in video calls, and generally frustrate any user who depends on a steady, responsive connection. This guide walks you through a systematic approach to diagnosing and fixing slow ping on your Netgear Nighthawk X4S. By following these steps you will understand the underlying causes, tweak router settings, and perform hardware checks that can bring your ping down to the single‑digit range that most gamers and professionals demand.

Understand What Ping Is

Ping is a simple diagnostic tool that measures the round‑trip time for a small packet of data to travel from your device to a remote host and back. The time is expressed in milliseconds (ms). A ping value of 20 ms or less is generally considered excellent for online gaming, while values below 100 ms are still quite usable for most applications.

Because the Nighthawk X4S is a dual‑band router that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi‑Fi, as well as wired Ethernet, several layers can influence ping: the physical medium (cable or radio), interference from other devices, the router’s firmware, and the broader internet path. Understanding where the delay originates is the first step toward resolving it.

Start With a Baseline Measurement

1. Connect your PC or console via Ethernet.
   Using a wired connection removes wireless interference and gives you a clean baseline.

2. Open a terminal or command prompt and run a ping test.

   ping -n 10 8.8.8.8
   

   Replace the IP address with a server you want to test, such as a game server or a popular CDN.

3. Record the average round‑trip time.
   Write down the average, min, and max values. This will serve as your reference point.

4. Repeat the test on a different device (e.g., your smartphone) using the same wired connection, if possible.
   If the smartphone can also be wired via a USB‑to‑Ethernet adapter, compare the results. A large discrepancy indicates a device‑specific issue.

5. Perform the same test over Wi‑Fi on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
   Note how much slower the ping is compared to Ethernet. This will help determine if the wireless interface is the culprit.

6. Save the results.
   Keep a log that includes date, time, device, connection type, and ping statistics.

Having a baseline allows you to judge the effectiveness of any changes you make later. If the baseline is already acceptable, you’ll know that the problem lies elsewhere—perhaps in external network congestion or upstream ISP issues.

Check the Router’s Status Page

Every Netgear Nighthawk X4S runs a web interface that displays detailed status information.

1. Open a browser and enter the router’s IP address.
   The default is usually 192.168.1.1. Log in with your admin credentials.

2. Navigate to the “Status” or “LAN Status” page.
   Look for the following items:

   • CPU Load – A consistently high CPU usage (above 70 %) can cause delays.
   • Memory Usage – Similar to CPU; if the router is running out of memory, it will throttle packet handling.
   • Active Connections – A high number of simultaneous connections can overload the router.

3. Examine the “Traffic” or “Traffic Graph” sections.
   If the inbound or outbound traffic is near the router’s maximum bandwidth, packet queuing might increase latency.

4. Check for firmware updates.
   A bug in older firmware could be affecting performance. If an update is available, schedule it for a time when you don’t need high‑speed connectivity.

Update the Firmware

The Netgear Nighthawk X4S receives periodic firmware releases that fix bugs and improve performance.

1. Back up the current configuration.
   On the router’s web interface, choose “Save/Load Settings” and store the backup file locally.

2. Download the latest firmware.
   Visit Netgear’s support site, locate the X4S model, and download the newest file.

3. Upload and apply the firmware.
   Follow the on‑screen prompts carefully. Do not power off the router during the update.

4. Reboot and test again.
   After the update, perform your baseline ping test to see if there is an improvement.

Firmware updates often address driver bugs and protocol optimizations that can lower latency. Even if your ping was acceptable before, an update can still tighten performance margins.

Optimize Wireless Settings

Wireless interference is a common source of ping issues. The X4S has several adjustable parameters that can help.

1. Switch to the 5 GHz Band

The 5 GHz band is less congested and offers lower latency but shorter range. If your device is close to the router, use 5 GHz.

2. Choose the Right Channel

Channel 1, 6, and 11 on 2.4 GHz are non‑overlapping. On 5 GHz, select a channel that has the least interference from neighboring networks. You can use a Wi‑Fi scanner app to identify busy channels.

3. Disable Band Steering (Optional)

Band steering forces dual‑band devices onto the best band but can sometimes cause ping spikes. Turn it off via the Advanced Wi‑Fi settings.

4. Enable QoS for Gaming

The X4S includes a “Game Mode” feature that prioritizes gaming traffic. Activate it:

1. Go to Advanced > QoS.
2. Turn on “Game Mode” and choose the appropriate console or PC.
3. Save and reboot.

QoS ensures that your gaming packets receive priority over background downloads.

5. Disable Unnecessary Services

Turn off services you don’t need, such as UPnP, WPS, or guest Wi‑Fi. These services consume router resources and may add latency.

Examine the LAN Port and Cable Quality

A faulty Ethernet cable or port can cause high ping.

1. Swap cables.
   Use a known good Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable.

2. Test each LAN port.
   Connect your device to port 1, run the ping test, then switch to port 2 and repeat. If one port consistently shows higher ping, it may be defective.

3. Check cable length.
   Long cables (over 50 feet) can introduce signal degradation. Shorten the cable if possible.

Adjust MTU Settings

Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) determines packet size. If MTU is too high, packets may get fragmented, adding latency.

1. Test with the default MTU of 1500 bytes (typical for Ethernet).
2. If ping remains high, try reducing MTU to 1470 or 1450.
3. Apply changes in the router’s Advanced > LAN Settings or on the client device’s network adapter settings.

Disable IPv6 (Optional)

Sometimes, IPv6 routing can introduce delays if the ISP’s IPv6 path is suboptimal.

1. Go to Advanced > IPv6 Settings.
2. Set “IPv6 Mode” to “Disabled”.
3. Save and reboot.

After disabling, run the ping test again. If it improves, you may keep IPv6 off. If you need IPv6, consider enabling it with proper configuration.

Verify ISP Health

Your ISP’s upstream and downstream routes affect ping. A poor route can cause delays that no router tweak can fix.

1. Run traceroute to the same host.

   tracert 8.8.8.8
   

   Note the number of hops and any unusually high latency on any hop.

2. Check for known outages on your ISP’s website or support channels.

3. Contact your ISP if you see a high hop count or persistent high latency beyond your local network. They may need to adjust peering or fix a line issue.

Test on a Different Network

To isolate the problem, connect your device to another network (e.g., a mobile hotspot or a friend’s router). If the ping is low there, the issue is almost certainly within your own home network.

Reset to Factory Defaults (Last Resort)

If all else fails, performing a factory reset can clear misconfigurations.

1. Locate the reset button on the back of the router.
2. Press and hold for 10 seconds until the LED blinks.
3. Reconfigure the router from scratch, applying only essential settings.
4. Run the baseline ping test to confirm improvement.

Remember to restore any critical settings, such as port forwarding or VPN configurations, after the reset.

Advanced Troubleshooting

For users comfortable with more in‑depth diagnostics, the following steps can help uncover hidden issues.

1. Enable Packet Capture

On the X4S, go to Advanced > System Log > Packet Capture. Capture packets for a minute while gaming, then analyze the file for retransmissions or packet loss. High retransmission rates often point to unstable links.

2. Review Log Files

The router logs can reveal recurring error messages. Look for entries such as “Packet dropped,” “IP conflict,” or “DHCP lease error.”

3. Disable Guest Networks

Guest networks share the same backhaul as the main network. If the guest network is heavily used, it may monopolize upstream bandwidth. Disable it temporarily to see if ping improves.

4. Check for Firmware Bugs

Sometimes a firmware update introduces new bugs. If you notice improved ping after an update, but then it regresses, consider rolling back to a previous stable firmware version.

Hardware Upgrades to Consider

If your router is still struggling after all optimizations, you might need newer hardware.

1. Upgrade the router to a newer Netgear model (e.g., Nighthawk X6 or X12) that supports Wi‑Fi 6 and better congestion management.
2. Add a wired Ethernet switch to distribute the router’s LAN port across more devices without overloading the single port.
3. Use a Wi‑Fi extender or mesh system to improve coverage, but ensure the extender is configured for low‑latency use.

Final Checklist

• [ ] Baseline ping test completed.
• [ ] Firmware updated to the latest version.
• [ ] Wireless settings optimized for low latency.
• [ ] Cable quality verified and swapped if needed.
• [ ] MTU and IPv6 settings reviewed.
• [ ] ISP health confirmed.
• [ ] Device tested on an alternate network.
• [ ] Factory reset performed only if required.
• [ ] Hardware upgrades considered if ping remains high.

Closing Thoughts

Fixing slow ping on a Netgear Nighthawk X4S is usually a matter of systematically checking each component of your network stack: from the physical cable, through the router’s configuration, to the broader internet path. By establishing a solid baseline, updating firmware, optimizing wireless parameters, and verifying cable quality, most users will see a noticeable improvement. If problems persist, deeper diagnostics or hardware upgrades may be necessary. With patience and a methodical approach, you can bring your ping back to the low‑millisecond range that makes online gaming, streaming, and collaboration truly seamless.