New Gaming Router or overclock?
I have a question for the network wizards on this forum 
I emailed Thrax, but I'd like everyone's opinion.
I'm trying to determine if I can benefit from a new router for my gaming needs, or if my WRT54G is sufficient enough. I have a laptop I use around my apartment so I do need decent wireless capabilities, but I primarily use my internet connection to play PS3 games online in which I play somewhat competitively. I hard-wire this connection for obvious reasons.
This router works great most of the time, but there are still random times when it doesn't. It could be the gaming host, the game servers, etc., but I was curious if buying a new gaming router (a friend suggested the Linksys E3000) was worth it. I read a thread here on overclocking on this router and that seems like a potential alternative. Currently on my WRT54G I have setup a DMZ IP, upgraded firmware, turned off the built-in firewall, and used port forwarding. Just about everything I can do (to my knowledge) to maximize my router's gaming capabilites.
I know that the best internet connection a router can provide is based on your max internet connection from your ISP. I have a great Comcast internet package and when I run my connection tests on my PS3 I get around 12-17 kbps d/l and 1.5-2.5 kbps u/l. Am I pretty much maxed out as it is without moving up in my internet package from comcast or can I still tweak my network on my own to enhance my experience?
Any information would be great, I truly appreciate it.
I emailed Thrax, but I'd like everyone's opinion.I'm trying to determine if I can benefit from a new router for my gaming needs, or if my WRT54G is sufficient enough. I have a laptop I use around my apartment so I do need decent wireless capabilities, but I primarily use my internet connection to play PS3 games online in which I play somewhat competitively. I hard-wire this connection for obvious reasons.
This router works great most of the time, but there are still random times when it doesn't. It could be the gaming host, the game servers, etc., but I was curious if buying a new gaming router (a friend suggested the Linksys E3000) was worth it. I read a thread here on overclocking on this router and that seems like a potential alternative. Currently on my WRT54G I have setup a DMZ IP, upgraded firmware, turned off the built-in firewall, and used port forwarding. Just about everything I can do (to my knowledge) to maximize my router's gaming capabilites.
I know that the best internet connection a router can provide is based on your max internet connection from your ISP. I have a great Comcast internet package and when I run my connection tests on my PS3 I get around 12-17 kbps d/l and 1.5-2.5 kbps u/l. Am I pretty much maxed out as it is without moving up in my internet package from comcast or can I still tweak my network on my own to enhance my experience?
Any information would be great, I truly appreciate it.
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Comments
Check the model number and upgrade the firmware to Tomato or DD-WRT. It won't lag any more.
The package I have from Comcast peaks out at 12 down, 2 up (How can I have speeds faster than this?? Maybe I am maxed out? The next package is $10 more and is 20 down, 4 up). I go through a 1 to 3 splitter with the cable to my modem being on the least resistant connection on the splitter
When I say random ther are some days where the "lag" will be bad, some days when it's mild (but mild is still lagand irritates us gamers to no end...might as well be horrible lag lol), and others when it's just perfect. i play the same few games at pretty much the same hours of the day almost everyday so there shouldn't be much variation I wouldn't think. It could be the hosting player's connection or the game's servers themselves which I cannot help of course, but I am always trying to maximize my connection to rule out any lag being an issue on my end.
Why doesn't it need to be in a DMZ? Doesn't DMZ negate having to port-forward?
This won't help my situation at all, will it?
Yeah, when I setup DMZ originally I knew that this function, along with turning off my modem's internal firewall, would essentially open me up security-wise, but I read that a slong as you have sufficient security on your PC you should be fine; and the PS3 is virtually un-hackable.
Yeah I made my PC and PS3 very diff static IP addresses since they seemed to interfere with each other randomly if I didn't. I setup my DMZ with the PS3 IP
Unless your router is in some way damaged changing it won't make things better. Your bandwidth and connection in general from your ISP is going to be the bottleneck. Your router can handle much more bandwidth then what your ISP is giving you. In fact if you are looking at a possible hardware culprit your modem is far more likely to fail then that router.
Now with that out of the way if you can upgrade to Tomato or DD-WRT firmwares there are some settings you can tweak to possibly help speed things up.
Depending on the serial number of your router (post it for me!), we can potentially upgrade you to custom, third-party firmware that dramatically improves the range, performance and reliability of the WRT54G. You will not have lag problems any more.
I'm a layman...explain how this firmware makes my router more stable or efficient? Which features should I be interested in? If I'm reporting speeds around or above the so-called peak speeds of my ISP, then woudln't my issue pretty much be my internet service? It almost looks as if my router is doing more than it's job in terms of speed, but lag/latency is another issue.
There are many points along your network that can be used to explain your lag. Maybe it's your firmware (upgrading will fix that). Maybe it's your PC or modem (we can assess those, too). The point is, let's start ruling out culprits, and the firmware is a good place to start. Linksys firmware is known to be bad.
I go into my router's settings once every month or so and upgrade the firmware as I have been told that's a good way to possibly enhance my connection. It appears that this is not the case though, haha. I would love more efficient firmware. That not only helps me not spend $150 on a router, but I was also debating going up a package from my ISP.
P.S. I'll stop quoting, apparently this forum doesn't use it
This oh my gosh. If you have a router that will support Tomato change to it. Everything that can do it runs Tomato in my house and if it can not then DD-WRT, but I wish it all could run Tomato. Specifically the WRT54G almost always runs better and longer with Tomato loaded on it instead of the default firmware.
It extends the range by increasing the power of the WiFi transmitter in your router.
I think this answers your questions.
Linksys WRT54G ver. 6, 2.4GHz, 54Mbps, with 4-port switch
S/N: CDFD1G1O8971
MAC: 0018F8C36FF9