Gaming Router - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
It's not much fun to play when your game freezes or you find yourself constantly one step behind everyone else. You acted first, but it doesn't matter because by the time the signal reaches the game server, your character has already lost the last of his life and all your possessions have been taken. You'll have to start over from scratch. Again. This frustration has nothing to do with your abilities. Your router can't. can't handle the harsh demands of online gaming.
A gaming router could change things. The best allow you to play to your full potential. You could become a champion, owning any world you set up.
But before you buy the most expensive model, read this guide to find out exactly what to look for in a gaming router.
Key Considerations
What does a Gaming Router do?
The most basic routers are postmen. They take information (data packets) from one place and deliver it to another. A router communicates with other routers to determine the best path to take to deliver that information. It will send your data packet from point A to point B to point C. However, if there is a problem at point B, your router will find an alternate route to get your data to point C.
Since online gaming can eat up your bandwidth, and you can't afford to freeze up in a critical situation, gaming routers have special features that allow them to get a little more involved in deliveries. For example, a gaming router can prioritize game data packets to ensure they are delivered and received promptly. It can keep an eye on all the devices on your home network and alert you when they take over the network.
When you are a gamer, the three crucial aspects of your internet connection are upload speed, download speed, and ping speed.
- Upload speed :
This is the speed with which the data can be sent. Most of the time, you will... notice this when sending large files via email. However, if you use video chat while gaming, a slow upload speed could affect your real-time relationship with other players. Also, if you want to stream your session, you'll need to worry about upload speed. The absolute minimum required for gaming is 1 Mbps (megabit per second).
- Download Speed :
This is the speed at which you can receive data – it's important for downloading web pages and streaming videos. You'll need a faster download speed than your upload speed, but that works well because the services provide much faster download speeds than upload speeds. The impact is felt in situations where more than one player is online or someone starts watching a movie while you're playing. The absolute minimum required to play is 3 Mbps.
- Ping Rate :
This is what...is important in gaming. It is the delay you experience when you send a signal to the game server. If you're playing a first-person shooter game and come face-to-face with an opponent, the winner will win... not the most skilled player, but the one with the least lag (lowest ping rate). For gaming, you'll want something under 150ms (milliseconds), which is 0.15 seconds.
Gaming Router Features
Gaming routers have many essential features in common, but different companies give them different names to make them sound more cutting-edge or unique. Below are some key features of gaming routers to look for. Remember that not all gaming routers have all of these features, and some have one option or another. Ultimately, you'll need to determine which features provide the best solution for your particular situation.
- Beamforming :
Beamforming is a technology that can significantly boost WiFi signal using phase amplitude. Does not amplify the entire signal; it only increases signal strength at a designated location where radiating waves from multiple antennas intersect.
- Design :
Most gaming routers have a sleek, dangerous, or futuristic design. If appearance is important to you, find one that fits your aesthetic sensibilities. Just remember that a great design does not translate into a better model.
- Diagnostics :
The best gaming routers can monitor usage across your entire home network. This information shows you which devices might be hogging your bandwidth and allows you to make any necessary adjustments so you can have the best gaming experience.
- Directional Antennas :
A directional antenna focuses your WiFi signal like water coming out of a hose instead of radiating it like ripples on a pond. It is possible to achieve a greater range with this type of antenna, but it will only be in one direction.
- Easy Setup :
Some gaming routers require complex setup that involves a bit of knowledge or experience to set them up properly. If you're not comfortable with this, look for a router that's easy to set up. Some offer push-button technology so the user doesn't have to have any experience or knowledge to get started.
- Ethernet Ports :
These ports allow a wired connection. A physical connection offers the greatest speed potential.
- Filters :
Filters allow you to block players or servers that add to your lag time. Some may allow you to blacklist or whitelist specific individuals, while others work on more general conditions, such as distance.
- Link Aggregation :
This technology allows multiple Ethernet connections to be combined into a single link to increase performance.
- Mesh Router :
A mesh router covers your entire home using a series of modules or satellite nodes that have been strategically placed throughout your home to get rid of all the dead zones on your WiFi network.
- Parental Controls :
If you want to create restrictions to access dangerous or inappropriate sites, you will need a gaming router with a parental control option.
- Quality of Service :
For the best gaming experience, look for a router that uses Quality of Service (QoS) technology. This feature allows you to prioritize your bandwidth. In other words, you can prevent what's important to you and the games from taking a backseat when someone starts a massive download.
- Privacy and Security :
Anything you do online leaves you vulnerable to attack. The best gaming routers keep your network private and have protocols that help protect your personal information. But to be the most effective, you will have to take an active role and follow all the safety instructions in the user manual.
Tips
Be aware of game ratings, such as maturity levels, language, and violence.
Never reveal any personal information to other players. A red flag should go up immediately if another player asks you for personal information.
Downloading cheats is a good way to get a computer virus.
Cyberbullying can happen during the game. During play, children can be manipulated into doing things they wouldn't normally do.
It is possible to become addicted to online games.
The average player is 35 years old. Voice changers can allow adults to sound like children.
Other Products We Consider
The right gaming router can be as individual as a player's technique. Maybe you want something a little different? Something with a bit more style that looks more like you? In that case, the TP-Link AC5400 Tri Band Gaming Router may be a little closer to what you're looking for. It can broadcast on three different bands, one 2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz. And it looks evil, as if Darth Maul collaborated with Spider-Man on the design. If you want to try something a little more cutting-edge, Google's WiFi system could be your solution. Cover your entire home, up to 4,500 square feet, with WiFi coverage that has no dead zones. It is not the answer for everyone because it has some limitations, but many users love it.
FAQ
Que. What is a DDoS attack?
Ans. Digital denial of service attack. During this type of attack, a server is attacked and flooded with unwanted traffic from a wide variety of sources until the network slows down or goes offline. Your IP address is all someone needs to make you a target. Some gaming routers come with extra security features to lessen the chance of a DDoS happening to you.
Que. What is a VPN?
Ans. A VPN is a virtual private network. It provides a secure connection between two private networks that need to communicate over the Internet. This type of connection offers a great increase in security. In gaming applications, it can also help reduce the ping rate.
Que. The router I rent from my Internet provider has more than enough speed. Why should I worry?
Ans. The speed offered by your router is finite. Every device he has running takes a bite out of him at that rate. Often it's not the actual speed that's an issue, but rather the priority of the device that gets the first bite. Your home router doesn't care if you're gaming or watching an HD movie, but the gaming router has your back.