How to Choose a Broadband Package for Gaming
A long time ago, a gamer could probably play even the most demanding of games through his 56k connection. That time, however, has passed. Modern online gaming involves transferring huge amounts of data, and, because most gamers already use high-speed connections, demands that data be transferred as quickly as possible.
But not all high-speed (or broadband) connections will give the same results, even with the same advertised specifications. If you are a gamer who wants to upgrade to broadband, you should consider many factors in order to be sure that you get the best deal possible for the amount of money you are willing to spend.
One such factor is location: how far away you are from the provider’s server. The farther away you are, the longer it will take for data to transmit. But ping, also known as latency, is also a factor. Since ping is the round-trip time between two computers, lower is better. Obviously, server location does affect ping, but so does the type of cable used.
Many companies are switching to fiber-optic cables. But some still use old cables even for their broadband lines. These cables are not designed to transmit such massive amounts of data and therefore perform poorly on broadband. This can increase ping and, therefore, lag.
Some packages limit your upload or download. These include “unlimited” bandwidth packages, though these usually only do so when you use a “disproportionate” amount of bandwidth. Though this has understandable uses, such as reducing illegal file sharing, it causes problems to gamers. Therefore, try to avoid such throttled connections.
One way to find out this information is to call each company you’re considering and ask the average speeds users get in your area. Most legitimate companies will be willing to answer this question; in fact, if they aren’t, be wary. They could be trying to hide complaints from users, and the worst time to find this out is after you sign up since they usually require a year-long contract for service. Don’t worry if you move around often, however, since all companies are willing to move your subscription to another address if you move and will terminate the contract without issue if they cannot provide service at your new location.
A special problem arises if you want to create a home network, such as if you have two computers – one for gaming and one for work. You need to check that your router can handle gaming. Many routers, especially those labelled “business”, can’t. The best ones are gaming routers, such as those from D-Link.
Also, many broadband providers aren’t happy when you make a home network. Some will try to cancel your subscription if they find out, though the law isn’t clear whether they can forbid it.
Recently, some companies have been offering mobile broadband. This usually comes in the form of a USB dongle (similar to a flash disk) which allows you to connect anywhere. These are unsuitable for gaming. First of all, they provide lower speeds and bandwidth than landline connections. In addition, however, they tend to drop connections rather quickly.
Usually, a good gaming connection will cost significantly more than a regular one, even if both plans you’re comparing are broadband. However, if you plan to play a lot of online games, you should shell out the extra money. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying extra for slight gains in your gaming compared to a 56k connection.
This is a Guest post by Spencer Hogg who writes for Broadband Expert where you can compare broadband for gaming
