I'm struggling with slow Wi-Fi on my PC, which is affecting my gaming experience. My cousin's Wi-Fi works fine, but I'm consistently getting 40-50 ms ping, along with packet loss and lag spikes that double or triple my normal ping. I really only need to improve the connection for my PC; is there a way to do that? I vaguely remember someone mentioning a solution, but I can't recall what it was.
5 Answers
Make sure you’re not using both Wi-Fi and ethernet at the same time. It can cause issues with packet collisions. Also, check your ethernet adapter settings to ensure it’s set to the highest link speed supported by your router. If the router’s far away, you'll need a better Wi-Fi receiver or consider upgrading your router or its firmware.
Consider getting a Wi-Fi adapter with external antennas. Mounting the antennas higher up can really boost your connection. You might be surprised at the difference it makes for gaming!
The simplest way to improve your ping is to switch to ethernet. If you're using Wi-Fi, that could definitely be causing the higher ping. Just grab an ethernet cable, connect one end to your router and the other to your PC. This should significantly lower your ping and cut down on any packet loss or lag spikes. You don't need a fancy cable; a standard Cat 5e or Cat 6 will do the trick just fine.
A Wi-Fi range extender or repeater could be just what you need, and they’re pretty affordable—around $20. This could help strengthen the signal to your PC without needing to change much else.
I’m already using an ethernet cable, though.