ISP Routing Evidence Checklist: How to Prove a Bad Path
Routing issues are real, but support won’t act on feelings. You need evidence: consistent times, reproducible tests, and proof that the problem persists on Ethernet with minimal background load.
Evidence Checklist
- Wired test results (remove Wi-Fi).
- Time-of-day pattern notes (3+ days).
- Under-load vs idle comparison (bufferbloat ruled out).
- Multiple targets/regions (not one server only).
- Screenshots/logs of spikes and loss symptoms.
What to Say to Support
- Issue is reproducible on Ethernet, minimal load.
- Not a Wi-Fi/interference problem.
- Time windows and patterns documented.
- Request line quality and routing escalation.
Rule: don’t escalate until you’ve isolated your local path. Evidence turns ‘maybe’ into action.
Related Guides
Jitter Spikes ChecklistFind the trigger before escalation.
Packet Loss TriageLoss evidence and isolation.
Modem/ONT IssuesRule out the physical/link layer.
Matchmaking Lag MythsRouting can vary per match.
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