Gaming interruptions and lags are some of the most frustrating things for these connected gamers, whether they are competing with people in other places or spending time with them. Before playing the game, check the Internet speed using Centurylink Speed Test tools.
There are many reasons that can affect your Internet speed. Depending on the type of activity that is being performed on an unencrypted network, your Charter Spectrum internet service provider (ISP) may limit your bandwidth. Moreover, you could be experiencing high latency, which is particularly problematic in the gaming industry.
In order to increase Internet speed, there are a large number of factors to consider. If you’re interested and want to increase your Internet speed, you need to follow the following steps.
Aim for Low Latency
Whenever you are playing a game, you want the latency to be as low as possible. A latency, or ping rate, describes how long it takes for a device to communicate with a server. Having a low latency indicates that your signal reaches the server quickly and that the server responds similarly quickly. There is a delay in signal transmission if there is high latency.
There is usually a lot of latency associated with Wi-Fi connections due to the presence of more interference than is present with wired connections. You should switch to an Ethernet cable if you wish to achieve low latency that is comparable to that of a professional network. However, here are some tips on how to lower latency via Wi-Fi:
- Get a dual-band 5GHz router:
Most other devices operate on the 2.4GHz band, and a 5GHz signal travels more easily through objects.
- Get a Wi-Fi extender:
Get a Wi-Fi extender if you do not possess physical access to your router. This will compensate for a 5GHz router’s lower range compared to a 2.4GHz router.
- The shutdown of unnecessary background processes:
These processes increase latency. As an example, if Windows and Steam are downloading simultaneously, you will experience a greater degree of latency. In order to avoid this situation, it is recommended that auto-downloads be disabled.
- Make sure you’re malware-free:
The presence of bugs increases the delay.
- Restart your router:
By shutting down your router and rebooting it again, you will be able to clear your DNS cache and reset your IP address for optimal performance.
- Check your gaming server’s location: There are many online gaming networks that have servers located in various locations. Ensure that you are connected to the nearest server.
However, it is possible that latency is not the problem and that bandwidth throttling is the problem. Essentially, bandwidth throttling consists of your service provider deliberately slowing down your internet speed. In order to reduce network congestion, they may do this to regulate traffic.
Check Your Internet Speed and Bandwidth
For online gaming, you will need a connection with a speed of at least 15-20Mbps. Moreover, you should pay attention to the bandwidth available. Data bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of information that can be transmitted via an internet connection. Multi-tasking on the internet (gaming, streaming, video chatting, Etc.) will strain your bandwidth resulting in slower internet speeds.
Tip: before starting to play online games, it is good practice to check your Internet speed by using Centurylink Speed Test online tools. With the use of these tools, you will be able to check your Internet speed easily.
If your Internet speed is not according to your requirement, you need to check your router or complain to your router company.
Use an Ethernet Cable
For gamers, an Ethernet cable is a perfect way to connect to the internet via a local area network (LAN) and maximize speed. Due to the absence of interference inherent in Wi-Fi, you won’t experience any problems.
Broadband data is transferred between your gaming device and your router or modem using an Ethernet cable. There is no latency associated with a direct connection. There are three types of ethernet cables that are considered to be the fastest: Cat 6, which can process speeds of up to 10 gigabytes, Cat 6a, which is twice as fast as Cat 6, and Cat7, which is fully shielded and can handle even higher speeds.
Ensure that your Cat6a or Cat7 are grounded if you use them. Also, Firefold points out that you should make sure your network cards and router are compatible with the cable.
Close Background Apps and Websites
It is important to note that Netflix, YouTube, software, and ongoing downloads will all adversely affect your internet speed. Additionally, reducing the number of devices connected to the router will be beneficial.
Bottom Line
You can follow the above-discussed method to increase your internet speed and optimize it for lag-free gaming. Whereas to check the speed of your internet, there are many ways such as Centurylink Speed Test.
