How to improve your WiFi and internet connection for gaming

If you want to have an enjoyable gaming experience or find the best internet speed for gaming, a reliable WiFi and internet connection is required. Low latency, high speeds and a stable connection are essential for real-time interactions and smooth gameplay.

Without an ideal setup, you might suffer from lag, packet loss, bandwidth congestion and WiFi interference. These issues can lead to delays, disconnections and frustration. Want to get a competitive edge in your gaming? Read on for some of our best tips for getting the best WiFi for gaming.

A fast and reliable internet connection is essential for any gamer. Slow speeds, high latency and weak WiFi signals can be a more formidable adversary than any gamer on the other side of the screen.

To optimize your connection, test your internet speed and identify network weaknesses to get the most out of your internet. Let’s take a look at how to evaluate WiFi and internet performance below.
 

1. Use online speed test tools
   Sites provide quick and easy ways to measure your internet speed. Run the test by visiting the site and clicking the “Go” or “Start” button. The results will show your download speed, upload speed and latency.
2. Use network diagnostic tools
   Tools like PingPlotter, NetSpot or Wireshark can provide information about performance, including latency and packet loss.

Specific apps will show signal strength and can help identify weak signal areas in your home to improve your internet speed.

By accessing your router’s admin panel, you can check for connected devices, signal strength and any interference or channel congestion.

Additionally, try physically moving around your home with a device running a WiFi analyzer to measure signal strength in different locations. You’ll want to assess areas with weak signals or frequent drops and integrate mesh WiFi.

Finally, ensure your router is centrally located and elevated to maximize coverage. Avoid placing the router near large metal objects, appliances or thick walls that can block signals.
 
Use these methods to measure your internet speed and latency and identify weak points in your network for a better gaming experience.

If you have followed the steps above, but still want more out of your WiFi network, there are a few other upgrades that might enrich your gaming experience. With a few modifications, you can enhance your WiFi signal strength for gaming.

If your router supports replacement of the antennas, you can swap out your pre-existing hardware for new by unscrewing your old antennas and replacing them with different omnidirectional antennas, high-gain directional antennas or external antennas.

Make sure to read through your router’s product documentation for specific details before ordering a new antenna.

If a new antenna doesn’t provide the coverage you want, then you might want to look into WiFi extenders and mesh systems. Let’s explain the differences between the two.

• WiFi extender
  A WiFi extender, also known as a WiFi repeater or booster, is a device that extends the coverage area of a WiFi network. WiFi extenders work by receiving an existing WiFi signal, amplifying it and transmitting the boosted signal.
• Mesh WiFi
  Mesh WiFi is a wireless networking technology that uses multiple router-like devices, or nodes, to create a single wide-ranging and seamless mesh WiFi network, as with eero mesh WiFi. Unlike traditional WiFi routers that broadcast WiFi from a single point, mesh WiFi systems leverage several access points.
• The benefits of each
  WiFi extenders can be a cost-effective solution for extending your existing router to hard-to-reach areas, with potential reductions in speed and signal strength. However, if you want an easy-to-manage WiFi experience, mesh WiFi systems offer more advantages.

  Mesh systems provide extensive and seamless coverage, superior performance and the convenience of a single network that supports smooth device transitions without the need to switch networks manually.