Gaming lag on Virgin Media Connection

Apologies if I've missed this query already, but I have searched and couldn't find anything on the forum.

Got a VM 250Mbps connection, no issues, Ookla speed test returns good ping times (between 9 and 11ms usually). Speed most often in excess of quoted 250Mbps (sligthtly).
Upload consistently 10% of download.
I don't have any issues with connectivity but my son (who plays a lot of games) says he gets really bad ping times in game (even from UK servers) ~1000ms and up (sometimes 5000ms).
It's making his games unplayable.
He's on wired connection to VM router, decent spec PC, nothing untoward that I can tell on the network.
Done all the things recommended on VM forums (rebooted router, made sure on wired connection, checked cable etc).
The question is this - would using the VM router in modem mode with another router be likely to make any difference?
I don't want to waste money on another router if it's not going to make much/any difference and certainly cannot afford £100+ for a gaming router (if it will make a difference he can buy one with his Chriatmas money - the issue doesn't actually affect me, except for his incessant moaning).

Would port triggering make any difference? - I'm doubtful and wouldn't know what to put in there.

Was thinking about trying a PC running OPNSense of pFSense (with VM router in modem mode) to monitor or see if that makes a difference, or set up QoS (though it's doubtful that it's being caused due to excessive other traffic so not sure QoS would make a difference.

Could it be that the VM boxes are rubbish and getting bunged up with connections, I know they aren't the best hardware in the world.

The game he plays most and has the biggest issues with is Roblox (Rivals).

Any thoughts appreciated.

Dave.

It might just be that you have a rubbish connection from Virgin.

You have done the recommended things. I can suggest some more
It might just be that you have a rubbish connection from Virgin.

You have done the recommended things. I can suggest some more
[you might need to do some work to make it pingable] and post the resulting chart here for comment
and post the resulting chart here for comment




I suggest you don't spend money until you really know what the problem is and can target the spend

Many thanks for the response, I’ll happily try what you can recommend to see if it makes a difference.

It could be a connection issue, I don’t experience any issues personally but I don’t do anything that requires low latency.

When I do a speed test it usually comes back fine but it’s not very often that I do that.

Just a couple of things around VM and Gaming.
If you are on the older DOCIS cable, it is not the best for gaming due to the older cable technology. This is often discussed in the VM forums.
Run the inbuilt Samknows client test with a wired connection and do the full set of tests. This only works with the Hub in router mode btw. www.samknows.com/realspeed This may show something?
As for the Hub, they are a typical ISP unit, built to a price, so even the VM Mods recommend a weekly reboot to "clear the system" ...
If you can offload any thing away from the Hub, e.g. don't pass LAN traffic through it, but use a switch, that will help a bit.
Setup a BQM to monitor the connection, and check the output after a gaming session to see the state of the connection during this period.

I used the hub wired, then stuck it in modem mode with my own router, honestly couldn't notice any improvement on ethernet, as some else said it's just docsis has a terribly variable latency, although never experienced 1000ms just it varies in a 22-35ms band constantly.

DOCSIS can vary a LOT based on the region/area you are in as each of the street cabling that was put in back in the 1990s was done by different companies in different qualities and ways.

I’m in North East Hampshire, on a network that was built by CableTel then known as NTL based out of Guildford. This network is pretty good, but my BQM trace (link in signature below) is not as smooth as a slower FTTC or the new world of FTTP.

Those using Virgin Media who have full fibre, such as nexfibre areas, will see different effects. Those in the middle zone of RFoG where the street is FTTP but it converts to coax cabling at the home, might see half of this .

Thanks, I think I'll have a go with another router/OPNSense and report back if it makes a difference.