Don’t let slow internet speeds ruin your game!

You’re about to score the winning goal, capture the flag in the newest first-person shooter or strike the final blow in a combat game, then at the key moment everything freezes in the game! When you reconnect you realise you lost and your team lost … just because your internet speeds letting you down.

Gamers, we feel your pain, this has happened to us as well. If this has happened more than once and you have thrown your controller in frustration then it’s time to consider improving your internet speeds or the delay (aka lag) between the game play and connection to the servers. But how you might ask, check out few steps below to help.

5 ways to improve your internet speed

Some say that speeds of 15-20 megabits per second (Mbps) are enough to run your online games, but in a modern household with multiple devices and smart appliances connected, is it really enough?

The modern house now has a smart device, a few smartphones, tablets and streaming service as well as gaming all connected to your internet connection, the strain on your bandwidth could be the reason why your gaming is suffering. Investing in superfast fibre broadband not only delivers faster speeds, but ensures your gaming experience is seamless, stable and swift so the odds of winning are more in your favour. It also gives you the opportunity to stream your games on platforms such as Twitch or YouTube Gaming without the slowdown.

Take a speed test

How many times a week do you test your internet connection to see what speeds you are really getting and at what times? It’s amazing to think that at peak times your neighbours can slow down your internet connection.

By testing your internet connection you get to see the real speeds you are receiving from your current provider, by running it multiple times you can estimate the average download and upload speed. Simply download an app to your smartphone, tablet or computer and check your gaming speeds. Keep an eye on the download speed, that’s essential to your online gaming and if it’s below 10mbps then expect lag.

Simple improvements to your connectivity

There are some really simple ways to improve your connectivity if you aren’t on a fibre connection, very basic options that can give your gaming a boost:

• Microfilters: A simple device that you can purchase that connects to your modem and phone to reduce the noise from your phone line.
• Replace your router: Internet connectivity configuration changes and evolves, so do routers. Make sure your router is up to date with its firmware and software, if it’s quite a few years old, consider a replacement so it can handle the additional internet traffic.
• Check your lights: All routers have status lights for a quick check on your connectivity. Keep an eye out on when they change colour rapidly or get stuck on red, this could be a sign the router needs a reboot, if after that you still have blinking lights it could be an unstable connection. If it’s the latter call your connectivity provider to get the issue logged and resolved.

Get wired in

Households use the Wi-Fi devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and smart devices for day to day usage. Most online gamers won’t use Wi-Fi for their sessions due to the limits on the bandwidth and prefer a wired connection to get speeds at least 10x faster than through the Wi-Fi. If having a wired connection isn’t an option, move your console or gaming PC closer to the router to get the best online experience.

Check your ping

Have you ever checked your ping? the definition of ping is a Packet InterNet Groper which sounds a bit dodgy, but is derived from the submarine term for the sound of a returned sonar pulse. A computer ping is measured in microseconds and is the time it takes for a small data packet to be transmitted from your device to a server on the internet and back again. Try and test your ping using some of the apps from your smartphone or download it from the web. One of the more popular tools is www.speedtest.net which is available on all devices, if your ping test is between:

• 1-30ms (milliseconds) you are all set for some gaming and running at the ideal speed.
• 31-60ms is still great, you might experience a small amount of lag but you probably won’t notice it.
• 61-100 is manageable, but expect some lag in any game you play, also at peak times your connection might lag just that bit more and will affect your gameplay.
• 100ms or more and your game play is going to be ruined, this is a sign to change your internet provider.

Lag is the bane of all gamers in whatever game you’re playing and it seems to strike and the most unfortunate moments, Jurassic Fibre believe that gamers deserve better broadband and we can offer you ultrafast fibre broadband at prices you wouldn’t believe.

Let Jurassic Fibre be your wingman

Find out more by using our postcode checker and registering your details with us, it only takes 1 minute and it could not only save you money, but also take the lag out of your game. Alternatively, speak to our team on 01392 34600, lines open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, Saturday 10am to 4pm.