Wireless adapter for gaming (Solved)

Quid

So! Got a new computer. Love it. Part of getting a new computer was getting a wireless adapter so there isn't a cord running across our living room to trip us.

However

The adapter I got results in a lag time around 400 ms which won't cut it when playing games online. Is there an option that'll keep me around ~100 ms or am I going to be stuck reconnecting/disconnecting every time I want to play TF2?

kaliyama

I haven't dealt with this in years, but (A) don't rule out some issue between your modem and WiFi router (especially if your modem also does wifi and (B) even if you fix latency, my issue was always packet loss. I fixed it by using Ethernet over power adapters. No long cords, wire-quality service.

i used netgear but no particular preference. http://www.newegg.com/Powerline-Networking/SubCategory/ID-294

Tofystedeth

400ms is not a normal amount of latency for wireless inside your own house. You've got some interference or packet loss or something going on.

bowen

Wireless phones, microwaves, and baby monitors can give off interference with wireless G routers, so, look for obvious things like that.

Then there is your neighbor's wifi. You might find switching channels to work if you've got a neighbor. If you live in an apartment complex, you will have to boost your signal to drown out everyone, so long as you don't need range. Older cell phones/peripherals can be a problem too (before the iphone if you're thrifty).

I actually had to upgrade to dd-wrt because so I could change my wifi's signal and strength because the onboard firmware didn't allow me too. Definitely helped my downstairs wifi and ps3/4 hooked up to the TV in a similar situation like yours.

SeñorAmor

Out of curiosity, what adapter do you have?

Pantshandshake

inSSIDer is a pretty easy to use network survey software. It'll show you what channels are being used that your adapter can 'see,' which should (in theory) allow you to change what channel you operate on to avoid congestion. Worked super well for me.

Draygo

Move yourself to the 5ghz band if you can, 2.4 is crowded with all sorts of shit usually.

Best solution is to properly run a cat 6 cable through the wall. If you have carpet you can run it along the outside of the room, pull up the carpet a little and tuck the cable under, then push the carpet back down.

Enc

Both my wife and I do online gaming (usually WoW and a few steam games) and we both have this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166056

No problems for either of us, even with our media machine streaming netflix at the same time.

Quid

SeñorAmor wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what adapter do you have?

Oh shoot, forgot I made this thread.

This would be it:

http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Wireless-N-Graphical-Interface-USB-N53/dp/B005SAKW9G

Also setting it to channel 11 and bumping up the transmit rate solved the problem. It sits at 130 now which is well within my tolerance.