When it comes to connecting your gaming console, such as a PlayStation or an Xbox, to the internet, you have two options to choose between. You can either opt to wirelessly connect your console through Wi-Fi or connect it directly to your router using an Ethernet cable.
While both of them have their sets of perks, such as a relatively long-distance connection with a wireless connection and less latency with a wired connection, I personally believe that a wired connection holds superiority over a wireless connection.
Here are some reasons why.
You Experience Lower Latency
As I mentioned earlier, one of the biggest perks of going for a wired connection is that you face as little latency as possible.
Latency is just another term used for the lag that you experience while you are playing online games. Connecting your console to your router using an Ethernet cable mitigates all sorts of latency issues caused by a wireless connection.
Having a LAN connection means that there is less delay between your actions and the game’s response, something that is crucial during competitive multiplayer games. If you still face latency issues, you can contact your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP’s) customer service for a solution.
Whenever I face even the slightest lag during my online gaming sessions using Xfinity Internet, I always contact Xfinity Customer Service, and they hook me up with a solution in no time! In fact, they were the ones who recommended using a wired connection in the first place.
It Gives You Better Internet Stability
A stable internet connection is all you need when you are playing online games.
Picture this, you’re playing Fortnite Battle Royale, and you’re on your way to winning the game. With only you and your opponent left, you’re about to take that winning shot when your internet goes out and costs you the entire match. Frustrating, isn’t it?
In that case, it is always best to opt for a wired internet connection rather than a wireless one since it gives you more internet stability.
A LAN connection gives you a dedicated data lane, which helps reduce unnecessary interference and makes the connection more stable in contrast to a wireless connection. This gives you all the more reason to opt for a wired internet connection instead of a wireless one.
Relatively Faster Internet Speed
When you connect your console to a router wirelessly, the router sends out signals that are received by your console. These signals can be dissipated by obstacles such as pieces of furniture and cement walls, which leads to your internet connection getting slow.
Also, if you are further away from your router, your console will have a hard time receiving all the signals, which results in poor internet performance. However, the case is entirely different with a wired internet connection, as there are no wireless signals to begin with.
The data travels through the cable starting from your router and ending at your console, which eliminates any chance of performance degradation.
It Has a Consistent Performance
Like I said earlier, consistency is key when you are playing an online game. If your internet connection is spotty, then you won’t be able to make the most out of your gaming session. If you connect your console wirelessly, you will likely face a spotty internet connection.
However, when you connect your console to the internet using a LAN cable, you make sure that your internet is as consistent as possible. You also lessen the odds for your internet to start acting up, which is great for online gaming, especially if you are playing with your friends. This, in turn, increases your reliance on your internet connection for gaming.
However, if you connect your console using Wi-Fi, then your internet connection won’t be as consistent as you would want it to be. Therefore, you should try to connect your console to the internet using a LAN cable.
You Can Tweak Your Wired Connection for Better Performance
While a wired connection already gives you a lot of perks, you can make it even better if you tweak it a bit. For instance, it may be likely that your current connection may be set to NAT Type 3, which is a stricter protocol and affects your online gaming experience negatively.
You can turn on Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) through your router settings and switch it to NAT Type 2 instead. This helps you achieve a balance between security and online gaming, and it allows your console to communicate with the game servers in a better way.
These were all the reasons you needed to switch to a wired internet connection for your console. Now all you need to do is head out so that you can get a LAN cable and then make the most out of your online gaming experience.
