by "66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
Published 09/14/2017 at 12:56
by "66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
Published 09/14/2017 at 12:56
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STARS: 0
I need some help...
I‘ve been getting lag spikes while gaming and browsing the internet on my desktop (the internet will “turn off” for a consistent amount of seconds and “reconnect” afterwards). This has been happening for a little while now and happens sometimes more than others. I recently got some new roommates in the house, I’m not sure if they are part of the problem, but I was thinking of switching my wifi adapter from 2.4 to 5 ghz (my current adapter does not support 5 ghz).
I’ve doing a bit of research and I think maybe the problem could be conflicting connections, and I’ve also read that 5 ghz has less range and can’t penetrate as well. I’m in the floor above my router, so the distance is rather short but obviously the signal has to come through the one floor. I’m currently getting full bars, never got any less with my current adapter. From any of your experience, do you think I’d be fine getting consistent connection with 5 ghz? Thanks for any and all help.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
09/14/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 1
Shorter waves generally penetrate better but have worse range.
"Azrek" (azrek)
09/14/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 0
X + 1 > X
You can get a 5ghz, but depending on the floor or housing material you may need a booster. You may need a booster regardless. First World Problems at its finest right here, folks.
I refuse to game on Wifi because of this. I have a wire from router to my PC and then a 30foot wire to the TV so I can watch movies without worrying about my cat tackling the WiFi signal.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
09/14/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 0
Have you tried other WiFi channels on your router?
5 GHz will be worse on the signal power front from where you’re sitting (less bars), but throughput may still be similar, and stability should be the same.
If you’re gaming, I’d suggest a wired connection, but that probably isn’t an option?
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
09/14/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 1
Ethernet or why even bother?
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/14/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 0
Sounds like your issue is with network congestion. I would recommend looking at a router with multiple channels (for example a router which provides both a 2.4G and a 5G channel at the same time) and then splitting the devices in your house across the multiple channels. You could also just get a second router and have 2 wifi networks to spread across.
"Nibbles" (nibbles)
09/14/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
One floor? 5G should be fine. My 5G is only partially affected by three walls and a brick facade when I’m internetting by the fire pit
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 0
I’ve got a long ethernet cable, I’m just not too crazy about the idea of running it throughout the house or drilling a hole through my floor, and knowing my landlord, I don’t think she would be either.
Also, by stability remaining the same, do you mean I’d still be getting lag spikes caused by what might be interference?
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 0
I think my router has both 2.4 and 5, its my USB adapter that doesn’t. I’d rather avoid a second router if 5 ghz would fix the lag spike issue.
"boredalways" (boredalway666)
09/14/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 0
Are you using an ISP provided modem that you rent, or do you own your own?
If you own, is it DOSCIS 2.0 or 3.0/3.1?
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:21, STARS: 0
I don’t know if it was clear, but my router has 5 ghz capability, my USB adapter does not.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
09/14/2017 at 13:21, STARS: 0
Try a router that dynamically swtiches between the two depending on the needs/speeds?
I use an Onhub. For a UI and every day experience it’s great! It is not a gaming router, but it is good.
"e36Jeff now drives a ZHP" (e36jeff)
09/14/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 0
If it’s only going through a floor, and there are no ducts or pipes in the way, the signal strength is a complete non-issue. 5Ghz is going to have much greater bandwidth than 2.4Ghz can even dream of. Assuming this is a desktop and have a free PCI-E port, the ASUS PCE-AC68 is an excellent wifi adapter. I have one of those on my wife’s desktop which is 3 rooms away from the router yet connects on 5GHz with zero issues. If you can only do a USB adapter, make sure its a 3.0 adapter and it would be best to find one with external antennas. the antenna should be oriented the same as your router. i.e. if the antennas on the router are vertical, yours should be as well.
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 0
It is most likely ISP provided... I pay for internet through my rent, my landlord deals with it so I’m not to keen on trying to switch it all up on her.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/14/2017 at 13:24, STARS: 0
Try switching the wifi channels instead? Most routers have 11 or so channels IIRC. Your channel might have some interference with other devices in the area.
"Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)" (galileo-humpkins)
09/14/2017 at 13:26, STARS: 0
Are your 5 and 2.4 ssids the same on your router? If not split them up by giving them different names and putting the less demanding devices on the 5 and see if that helps you out keeping the 2.4 adapter.
Also, is your router MIMO or MU-MIMO? Check for prioritization/qos settings.
How far is your adapter from your router? Lots of walls in between?
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 1
I’d rather avoid going through getting another router and going through with it with my landlord about it if getting another adapter with 5 ghz compatibility would fix the problem.
"boredalways" (boredalway666)
09/14/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 0
Ouch. It’s unlikely that your landlord would bother dealing with the ISP unless A) she’s a tech geek, or B) she’s cool enough to allow her tenants to contact the ISP for service call. I don’t see another option other than deal with it. You buying modern tech equipment won’t solve the source.
...unless your personal wifi router is older than 4 years. Dual band 2.4/5gHz with 802.11ac makes a world of difference over 802.11n. Not sure if their is a higher standard than 802.11ac or not.
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0
I was thinking that the 2.4 connection is likely overcrowded and maybe going to 5 ghz (meaning a new usb adapter that supports 5 ghz) would be a less congested and more stable connection?
Maybe, possibly my current adapter is biting the dust? I’ve only had it for 1 year so I don’t think that would be the issue (it only starting having this issue for maybe the last month and a bit)
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/14/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 0
Have you tried/would you be able to try different channels?
"boredalways" (boredalway666)
09/14/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 0
Have you checked for a firmware update for your router?
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 0
I’m not sure I’m willing to put so much money towards an adapter...
Also I’m 90% sure I’ve got USB 2.0, by a 3.0 adapter you mean USB 3.0?
I guess that would be ideal but I’m thinking it would suffice just to make the switch from 2.4 to 5, especially considering range isn’t an issue, and that this only started happening recently. Before this, my latency in gaming was good, and it still is, minus the lag spikes.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/14/2017 at 13:49, STARS: 0
Run a really long ethernet cable (or through the floor would be shorter). Fuck wireless connections for desktops! Im only fine with wireless for my phone and tablet. But any sort of gaming on my desktop or streaming shows on my PS3 will always be hard wired.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/14/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 1
You do not necessarily have to drill a hole in the floor to get through. Often the easiest solution is to remove an electrical socket or a phone jack cover and then feed the wire through there and out one on the other floor.
"e36Jeff now drives a ZHP" (e36jeff)
09/14/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 0
yeah, USB 3.0. if you are using 802.11ac on a USB 2.0 connection, your wireless connection will be faster than your USB connection. And I know that adapter is expensive, but keep in mind, it’s a part that you won’t need to upgrade for the foreseeable future. If you have a good router your connection speeds will be very close to a wired connection and the PCI-E standard isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 802.11ac is going to be the standard for quite some time, as its replacement, 802.11ax relies on using 160Mhz wide channels, which are virtually impossible to use if you aren’t in a pristine signal environment.
And before anyone mentions 802.11ad, that is short range only and will drop connection if you put a sheet of paper on the router, its unsuitable for whole-home networking.
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 13:57, STARS: 0
I have not, but tbh I can’t even log into the router site (or whatever it’s called) using the default username and password for my router.....
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 14:04, STARS: 0
I stand corrected, my motherboard supports USB 3.0. (that 10% lol)
I think my best bang for buck option would be to go for a USB adapter with an antenna (that of course supports 5 ghz this time), considering that my actual distance to the router is quite close actually, just has the one floor in between.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
09/14/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 1
If they’re caused by interference by nearby networks (which is plausible), 5 GHz should help, but so should changing the router’s 2.4 GHz channel to a less used one.
If it’s interference caused by another type of 2.4 GHz source (like a microwave oven), 5 GHz would be the only real solution.
If they’re caused by too many concurrent users on the same network, 5 GHz should help, but only if most other people stay on 2.4 GHz. If your roommates have 5 GHz compatible devices, you can ask them to switch over for a test, and see if your connection on 2.4 GHz improves.
Have you tested your current USB adapter on other networks and PCs? Might be that there’s an issue with it.
In any case, I’d test those three things (channels, roommates @ 5 GHz, functioning USB adapter) before shelling out for a new network card/USB adapter.
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 14:12, STARS: 0
Interesting that you mention the microwave, because the router is actually very close to it, in the same room.
"boredalways" (boredalway666)
09/14/2017 at 14:13, STARS: 0
you might need to do the 30-30-30 reset
https://www.lifewire.com/hard-reset-rule-for-routers-3971318
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
09/14/2017 at 14:14, STARS: 0
Haha, that makes for an easy test: turn it on and see if your connection lags/drops!
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 14:15, STARS: 0
As of right now I’, unable to logon to my router, which sucks.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
09/14/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 0
you’ve gotten a ton of advice in here (that looks really solid) but the issue is, in my opinion, definitely the lack of 5g on the adapter.
If you’re on android I recommend an app called Wifi Analyzer. It’ll show you what networks in the area are on what channels. If your neighbors are all using channel 2, jump up to 10. This will identify who’s using what and let you dodge it. Like others have said it could be a congestion thing. Also, if your new room mates are also gaming or streaming the mbps might not be enough to share for everyone.
I actually run 2 routers in my house, both are capable of 2.4 and 5 so I have 4 available wifi networks at all times (plus tons of hardwire options, yes I’m a nerd).
I did this because I wasn’t getting the range I wanted out of the first router. Which was AC900 or so. I upped to an AC1900 with badass antennas and....still could only get the 2.4g up in our bedroom which ran like crap. So I took the old router and set it up to link in to the new router and create new networks. Worked fantastically and I can get full and stable connections to the extended 5g in the bedroom now. I thought I’d lose a bunch of power bouncing through another router but I haven’t lost anything.
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/14/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 1
I’ve got class in half an hour, but will get to it right after, will let you know.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/14/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0
drill a hole in the danged floor and run Gigabit Ethernet.
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/15/2017 at 01:49, STARS: 0
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be the issue.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
09/15/2017 at 09:36, STARS: 1
Would’ve been to easy I guess. Good luck resolving the issue, let’s hope it’s one of the other things listed in these comments!