gamers: any of you use a router that doesn't give to many problems with games?

[acidvoodoo]

MODS: i know this should be in the networking forum really, but noone there seems to play games so know one knows really.


Back to thread: yea, so i'm just looking for a cheap router that's firmware etc doesn't give problems with games

 

[SALvation]

I use a Linksys 4-port router and haven't had any problems with any online games.

 

[acidvoodoo]

BFSR41?

what did u have to do to set up the games

 

[Nothinman]

The problem is most games assume you have an Internet addressable IP address, especially stupid protocols like MS Direct Play, which isn't true for most of the people playing any more. It's the game coder's fault for being stupid, so it's different from game to game. If you get a router that lets you put yourself in a 'DMZ' to play you shouldn't have any problems except now you're 100% exposed to the Internet.

 

[Slogun]

Well, I was thinking of putting this post up myself.

I had a Linksys router a year or so ago, nice to setup, but it did not work for hosting a Counter-Strike game server.

Now, I know a lot of people are happy with their Linkies, so dont' start flaming me. I had contacted Linksys tech support about the issue and they basically said, "we know about that issue and we don't have a fix."

I have for some time been using a Netgear RT314 which has been pretty good. I am troubled by occasional lag and player drops though, again while hosting a server. Don't know if the problem is with the router or the Cable ISP.

A gaming aquaintance said he uses an old pentium computer as a router. I am planning on finding out how to set up such a configuration and see how that works.

Well, ther's my two cents.

 

[Nothinman]

I had a Linksys router a year or so ago, nice to setup, but it did not work for hosting a Counter-Strike game server.

You probably just needed to foward the proper ports to your server. CS is a mode for HL which is based on Q2 and iD games are some of most sane and NAT friendly games out there.

A gaming aquaintance said he uses an old pentium computer as a router. I am planning on finding out how to set up such a configuration and see how that works.

I have a P133 running Linux for mine, it's incredibly flexible but can be very complicated if you've got no Linux experience.

 

[Slogun]

Naw, nothing as simple as that.

I'm no amateur, man.

 

[Nothinman]

Well, it was worth a mention =)

 

[Maleficus]

SMC Barricade

 

[Supahfreak]

Just the thread I was looking for, kinda. I need a cheapish but good router that will work for my Comp./ PS2/ and eventually GCN. Any recommendations?!?!?! My isp is RR if that matters. If possible I'd like one w/ 4 outs for another CPU when I get some cash.

Thanks in advance

FreAk

 

[Gaunt]

I would guess that if you didn't really understand what DMZ or port forwarding was, or how to use it, there would be no simple way to host games using a broadband router. As for not hosting games, just connecting to them, any router should work, but in reality, some are definately better than others. I've stayed away since I can never find one that has all the features I want, and doesn't have firmware issues or some other problem.

A nice linux router will definately work though, but can be complicated, as Nothinman said. To make life easier for hosting games in this configuration, you can run the game server on the router if it is supported on linux. Win2k will work as a router too (my current setup), but it doesn't work near as well as Linux does, and if you use port forwarding to host games, often there are problems with extreme lag.

This site has information on alot of routers, and might help you make a decision once you get a couple of ideas of what to look for from here.

 

[DARRIN]

I have a Netgear and I can not host Serious Sam2 games for some reason. I can join them though.

 

[vash]

My preferance is the Netgear line of SOHO routers. Currently, I am using the RT314 (using Zyxel's firmware) and have no problems with it. Telnet or web interface, easy ways to map ports to IP addresses, etc. This router has lasted me nearly two years and have no desire to change.

Also, I've hosted numerous game servers behind this router and it works just fine. With the latest firmware and port map ranges, its just the perfect solution for hosting games/ftp/shoutcast, etc. I picked mine up for about $100, I'm sure its even less now. With a few packet filtering additions, you can be seen as stealth and secure from every major online security site. The newer routers (of near same cost), have additional firewalling features as well.

vash

 

[SALvation]

Originally posted by: DARRIN
I have a Netgear and I can not host Serious Sam2 games for some reason. I can join them though.

That's weird. That's the only thing I can't do with my router. Everything else works fine.

 

[Slogun]

Originally posted by: SALvation

Originally posted by: DARRIN
I have a Netgear and I can not host Serious Sam2 games for some reason. I can join them though.

That's weird. That's the only thing I can't do with my router. Everything else works fine.

Probably because of the need for port forwarding (or DMZ if Linksys).
You see guys, Windows has tens of thousands of so called "ports" that is uses to make internet connections.

Different games tend to use different ports. Half-Life, Counter-Strike , I happen to know use ports 27011 and 27015 to host an online game. These 2 ports must be "forwarded" in the router setup to the internal router address of your computer hosting the game so that people who want to play the game and try to contact your IP address will have their game info sent through your router's NAT(network address translation) system and sent to the correct computer behind the router.

Again, different games use different ports.
America's Army uses 1716, 1717 and 1718.

For Serious Sam, or other games, you can do a google search to learn the ports those games use.

Do a search such as "serious sam ports"
I just did that and came up with ports 25601,25602

Matter of fact, here is a page that list ports for quite a number of games in the listed config file.

 

[tritium4ever]

None of the games I've tried have had any issues with my Nexland Wavebase router...

 

[YaKuZa]

I'm currently using the BFSR41. It's pretty flexible, you can forward the ports you want into the computer thats hosting. And joining games is no problem either. I've also used the RT314, which wasn't bad, but I am used to the Linksys and prefer how it sets up more than the Netgear. The one I wouldn't recommend is anything by D-Link. They don't come with a lot of options and take awhile to reset after you've changed the configuration.

 

[CubicZirconia]

Originally posted by: SALvation
I use a Linksys 4-port router and haven't had any problems with any online games.

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

The NETGEAR RP614 IS SWEET . All I did was tell it to spoof the MAC address (Hardware address) of the NIC. That was
very simple. Just type in the 192.168.0.1 in the HTTP bar and everything is explained as you go along in the margin. Very
user friendly. I have heard a few things about the Router actually helping to increase you speeds but don't know how justified this
is. Paid $49.99 (59.99 - 10.00 instant rebate) at best buy. Haven't regretted it yet. DHCP is automatically set and off you go.
I love it . My $0.02

SladeZero

 

[acidvoodoo]

Originally posted by: YaKuZa
I'm currently using the BFSR41. It's pretty flexible, you can forward the ports you want into the computer thats hosting. And joining games is no problem either. I've also used the RT314, which wasn't bad, but I am used to the Linksys and prefer how it sets up more than the Netgear. The one I wouldn't recommend is anything by D-Link. They don't come with a lot of options and take awhile to reset after you've changed the configuration.

but when u first got it did u have to open ports to join games, or is that only for hosting. also, if 2 computers are gaming on the router, can it forward the same ports to each computer if they need them?

 

[Slogun]

Forwarding ports is only for hosting a game server.

Which router you have really should have no bearing on how you can play or connect with a game.

It is game hosting (running a server) that requires a little more finesse.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: acidvoodoo

Originally posted by: YaKuZa
I'm currently using the BFSR41. It's pretty flexible, you can forward the ports you want into the computer thats hosting. And joining games is no problem either. I've also used the RT314, which wasn't bad, but I am used to the Linksys and prefer how it sets up more than the Netgear. The one I wouldn't recommend is anything by D-Link. They don't come with a lot of options and take awhile to reset after you've changed the configuration.

but when u first got it did u have to open ports to join games, or is that only for hosting. also, if 2 computers are gaming on the router, can it forward the same ports to each computer if they need them?

I've had both those routers yakuza has had, I've never had to open ports to join games. Quake 3 based games (JK2, MOH:AA, RtCW, etc) all work fine, as do HL based games. Earth and Beyond works, as well as America's Army. Every game I've tried works fine.

 

[acidvoodoo]

oh, well good. so it's just kinda plug and play for joing games? (is that because the router knows it's requested the info from the game server, but doesn't know who all the people are that try to connect to it, if it hosts a game)

what about file sharing apps? do u just tell them which port to use, that u left open

 

[Slogun]

Plug n play for joining games , yes.

For hosting games, router need to know where to send people's game info(which of your computers), that's how router distinguishers gamers from hackers.

File sharing, depends upon the application you are using.

I believe you still can't use Win XP's remote desktop, or AIM file sharing behind a router.

Apps like kazaa, need a port or two opened, I think ports 1214 and 6346.

 

[TheWart]

SMC Barricade. sure you have to configure it, but that is fairly easy after reading a bit. the reliability is truly wonderful!