What are main causes for dramatic lag spikes? How can I monitor my traffic?

[MAME]

I noticed this during a game online. Every minute or less I would lag for about a second before returning to normal. I noticed this in other applications as well, such as ssh'ing to my school's linux account.

What could be some causes for this and which programs does XP have availale (free) to monitor possibly unwanted traffic?

Thanks

Using Comcast Cable in the North Bay area, CA. Also behind a Linksys wireless router (though I'm connected via a cable). There are 5 computers on the network, but I turned off any applications they were running that might cause this issue

 

[MAME]

 

[azev]

Check for file sharing applications on any of the computers. When your upload bandwidth is saturated you will see higher ping time than normal.

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: azev
Check for file sharing applications on any of the computers. When your upload bandwidth is saturated you will see higher ping time than normal.

I turned off any program/computer so that the network would be freed up entirely. I also don't have a higher ping time overall, just spikes

 

[spidey07]

if it is caused within your provider not much you can do about it.

run a progam like ping plotter to see if you really are getting spikes.

also ethereal will show you what your computer is talking to.

if all else fails call the provider.