Why All This Lag? Part Deux
This is a funny list I made once for the possible causes of a high ping to the server and disconects. Each of these items has actually happened at least once to someone I've helped.
- You don't have the .exe files for the client set to run as administrator.
- You don't have the game directory set as an exception in your antivirus/security software.
- Your network adapter driver is out of date and needs to be refreshed.
- Your local area network settings are improperly configured.
- You have more than one firewall and don't realize it. (Common with some modems.)
- Your firewall settings are too strict. (VERY common with Norton360, ZoneAlarm, and Commodo firewall.)
- Your router is configured improperly. (Or it's just a cheap router that can't handle the traffic you're putting on it.)
- You have a bad network cable.
- You're using a wireless network connection. (Which leads to another huge list of possible issues.)
- You have a lot of traffic on your local network that is bogging your router/modem down. (All that streaming media eats up bandwidth ya know.)
- There's a fault in your router.
- There's a fault in your modem.
- You have a bad phone cord plugged into your modem.
- There's an issue with your house wiring.
- There's an issue with your outside wiring.
- A squirrel chewed on your phone/cable line at the pole and it's raining. (I have personally had this happen.)
- A switch/router at the CO for your ISP is having an issue.
- One of the many hubs between you and PWI is having an issue. (Most common)
- There is heavy sunspot activity. (Has happened within the past three years)
- There's a regional router outage. (This has happened more than a few times. More often occurs with trunk lines crossing large bodies of water)
That's just a few. Sometimes, the easiest fix is something like shutting down your Modem/Router/PC for three minutes and then bringing them back up. Usually, I'll take the time to additionally perform a static discharge on my PC.
7 Ways to Improve the Wi-Fi Signal In Your Home
Wi-Fi problems got you down? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. All kinds of issues can prevent you from connecting to your wireless network, from the construction of your house to interference from your neighbors and even just old equipment.
So how can you speed up your home wireless network? We’ve assembled some tips and tricks to help you diagnose and solve some of the most common Wi-Fi problems.
1. Router placement is key
Where you place your router in your home makes a huge difference in signal quality, Entrepreneur.com says. Avoid placing the router in corner rooms, or worse yet, your basement. The more walls, piping, or ducting the signal passes through, the weaker the signal is going to be. The router should be placed as close to the center of the room as possible for optimal performance.
Radio signals should be able to make it through walls without much problem, but if you’re in a room with thick walls, expect to have trouble connecting even with a router close by.
2. Dual-band router? Use it!
Many routers come with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity. USA Today recommends you use the 5GHz band whenever possible. With so many wireless networks out there, and Bluetooth becoming more common (it, too, operates in the 2.4GHz band), there is a lot of interference for your router to overcome at times.
We recommend you use the 5GHz band for video streaming and gaming, as data speeds are slightly faster. The 2.4GHz band should work well enough for everyday web use, though.
3. Does everybody need to be wireless?
As more and more Wi-Fi-enabled devices are added to the network, your router will slow the connection speeds of everyone to ensure all devices have enough bandwidth to connect, B&H Photo & Video says. If this is happening, consider networking the old-fashioned way.
Devices closest to the router should be connected via Ethernet cable rather than through Wi-Fi. Almost all Wi-Fi routers include at least two — and usually four — wired Ethernet jacks. Yes, it’s not as pretty, but your wireless speeds should improve, not to mention those jacked-in devices will be cruising.
4. Lock it down!
B&H also brings up another good point, and that’s wireless security. Lock your wireless network down with a password. Anyone can connect to a password-free network and mooch off of your Internet
(i.e., clog up your bandwidth). It’s also a security risk, as hackers may be able to access data on improperly secured devices, PCWorld warns. If you have the option for “public access”
(i.e., an open access version of your network that allows guests to connect without a password, but not access the main network), turn it off. Just give your trusted guests your password when they need to connect to the Internet.
Note: I recently got an email from AT&T stating I was torrenting movies. Turns out they pushed an upgrade which forced the guest wifi mode on, and someone was borrowing my network. There's more to worry about than just your local data.
5. Consider linking routers together
Even with proper placement, large homes or older buildings may have trouble with getting Wi-Fi to reach everywhere. MakeUseOf recommends linking two routers together in order to increase range. There are a few negatives of doing so, such as the fact that you may need to connect the second router via ethernet cable to the original one, but if you’re having problems getting Wi-Fi signals to your entire home, it may be the only option.
6. Maybe it’s time to upgrade
Wi-Fi routers are real workhorses, often operating almost continuously for years without issues. But like any electronic device, they’ll eventually wear out and begin to fail. ITProPortal points out that there’s other benefits to getting a new router: new wireless technologies. Especially if you’ve upgraded a lot of your gadgets and computers recently, there’s a good chance that a years-old router isn’t able to take advantage of the newer wireless technologies that are available.
Of course, sometimes all you’ll need to do is reset the router to fix slowness — but if that doesn’t work, maybe you’ve outgrown the capabilities of the router itself.
7. Try a better antenna
Some wireless routers allow you to replace the stock antennas with better ones, Yahoo reports. There are a variety of options for those routers that can, just make sure they’re compatible with your router. Buyer beware: Try to buy these better antennas from the companies themselves rather than ones made by a third-party that are “compatible” with your router. Sometimes the quality of these antennas found on eBay and other sites are quite low.
Source
drive, or wish to move your save data to a faster drive for better performance.
