[Written By External Partner]
Games are massive for many people. They are an exciting pastime, and with streaming services like Twitch and Kick, they have become an income source for many pro gamers worldwide.
They have become popular, with an industry estimated to be worth just under $400 billion, because of the wonderful experience they give people who pick up their console gamepads, keyboard and mouse controllers, or high-end mobile phones. However, this much-talked-about experience is usually only accessible with a quality internet connection, requiring people to turn to wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) connections for their ease of setup, among other things.
However, there have been several complaints from people trying to enjoy their favorite gaming titles noting that their gaming experience is severely hampered by poor Wi-Fi connection or slow Wi-Fi speed, causing the games to lag when played. There are a number of reasons why this might be happening, each with its unique solution, all of which will be addressed below:
1. Too Many Devices Connected
The first thing people do when they notice their Wi-Fi speed is less than optimal is to disconnect other mobile phones and computers. Sometimes, this improves the speed, and other times, it does not. More often than not, the reason it does not improve is that even after removing the usual suspects, many home appliances are on the IoT (Internet of Things) network, and they are also connected to the same Wi-Fi.
And no, your router is fine, and replacing it with a new one does not guarantee better results.
Let me explain.
Different Wi-Fi Technology
You might experience better speeds when you upgrade from a router with old technology like 802.11n (also known as n Wi-Fi) to newer technology like 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), which is up to three times faster than n Wi-Fi or the 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), which is the fastest of the three, up to nine times more than the n Wi-Fi. However, it still does not guarantee that the speed will hold up when gaming.
How Routers Work
The secret is in how these routers work, which is especially true for older models. While some might have multiple bands, a connection is made for each device on either band when packets of data are shared between both devices. When other devices join the same band, they have to wait their turn to share their data packets, sharing the bandwidth allotted to the particular band being used, and this is what causes the speed to slow down.
One way to know how much of the bandwidth is being used when devices connected to wifi are concerned is the use of spy apps, which Krishi Chowdhary explains let you monitor devices connected to your home wifi. This helps narrow down what devices you need to take off your network, and it should allow you to enjoy higher speeds when launching your favorite games.
2. High Latency or Ping
The ping is a metric that measures how long it takes for a packet of data to be sent to another computer on the same network, which then responds with a signal of its own. How long it takes for you to send and receive the data is the ping or latency, and it’s measured in milliseconds. With a lot of information being traded when gaming, from your controller inputs to general announcements to all the players and in-team communication, the sooner you can send and receive information, the more competitively you can play.
What qualifies as optimal ping for gaming?
Casual gamers should be able to enjoy their gaming with ping anywhere between 20 and 50 ms; pro gamers, on the other hand, should strive for ping anywhere between 10 and 20 milliseconds. Low ping is ideal for pro gamers and games like multiplayer video games and live dealer games at online casino sites, which rely on high-speed internet access for the best experience.
Factors that influence ping or latency
The following are some factors that determine how much latency you will have to contend with.
- Internet service provider quality: Sometimes, the problem is not with your router or your setup. It’s possible your ISP does not have packages ideal for gaming, or you are subscribed to a package that does not work for gaming. You will need to reach out to a customer agent for clarity on the matter.
- Server location: If the latency is determined by how quickly you can send and receive data on the server, it makes sense that if the server were closer, the time would be cut down. If you use a relatively distant service, you might need to consider local or closer options and see how much influence they have on your Wi-Fi speeds.
- Your equipment: Better equipment means better speed. Consider upgrading to a modem that is built to enhance 5G wifi speeds, or, consider going wired, which we’ll talk about below.
3. Go Wired
The problem might be that you need to ditch your wireless system and go wired. This is not to say there aren’t good wireless systems; it’s just that they are likely to cost more than their wired counterparts for the same quality of internet over the same distance.
If you have ever experienced rubberbanding, also known as teleporting or warping, as a result of poor Wi-Fi speed, that might be your cue to switch to a wired internet connection. MoCA and Ethernet are opinions for you to consider.
MoCA or Ethernet
MoCA stands for Multimedia over Coaxial Cable. Although similar to Ethernet, it uses the network of cable or coaxial cables running through your home to create an internet network that offers increased speed and performance compared to most wireless setups. The coaxial cables can offer up to 1 Gigabit (Gbps) in speed because the networks are designed to transmit high-bandwidth television.
This setup has drawbacks. It might be fine for most as they might not need too many devices on the network, with most setups limited to 16 MoCA devices. However, there’s a workaround using Ethernet switches connected directly to the MoCA device.
Also, there’s a chance that you run into the same problem with MoCA as the setup is a shared resource for all the devices connected, and the more they are, the higher the chances that you might see the speed drop. It only edges wireless connections because it is able to deliver more speed, more consistently, without having to worry about interference.
Ethernet, on the other hand, while wired like the MoCA setup, allows each cable to get the most out of the bandwidth. Whether 1Gigabit or more, you are guaranteed that every device connected using Ethernet will be able to access that speed without having to share the resource. It is for this reason that it is very popular with most gamers, particularly the pro players. It offers protection from outside interference and is easy to scale up to as many devices as possible without having to worry about the speed slowing down and affecting your gaming experience.
It also has some drawbacks. The first one is that for every device you want on your ethernet network, you will need a separate ethernet cable, and this can quickly become expensive, especially if you are trying to connect devices that are separated by great distances. Depending on the size of your network, you might need to buy other accessories to maintain the integrity of the network.
Lastly, setting up an ethernet network is not typically a DIY project. It requires you to check as many product reviews as possible to figure out which is most compatible with your system, which fits into your budget, whether it’s shielded or non-shielded, and what type of performance you are to expect.
Conclusion
Figuring out what’s wrong with your Wi-Fi speed can be an endless uphill battle if you do not know what to look for. Thankfully, this article provides three troubleshooting areas that are likely to fix your problem. If they do not, do not hesitate to contact your installer.
