Wireless for gaming?

[TruculentTucan]

If a wireless network can deliver speeds of 11 Megabits per second, and my cable line is only up to 1.5 Mbps, then shouldn't it work fine for gaming? I need to know because my dad wants a wireless network and I want a CAT5 cable one. Any thoughts?

 

[ScottMac]

Wireless might have a tad too much delay, especially if you have the encryption enabled.

Check what kind of "ping time" your game will tolerate, and compare it to the latency/delay numbers of the access point (might be posted on the vendor's web site).

Probably easier is talk to someone that has wireless, and have him do some pings for ya to whatever goame site you're using.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[TruculentTucan]

ok, does anyone know if a wireless network plugged into a cable modem has too much of a delay to play games (such as UT and Half-Life)?

 

[HansXP]

I have a wireless network here and it is working fine. The wireless network adds less than 10 ms to the latency, so it isn't a big deal at all. I play CS a lot and usually have less than 100 ms pings.

 

[TruculentTucan]

that may be the best news I've heard in a while! Thanks a lot! BTW, what router do you use? and does anyone recommend one brand over another?

 

[HansXP]

Shot ya a PM

 

[Muadib]

Which brand of wireless modem do you recommend? I have a friend looking to share an dsl line, but she didn't want to run cat5 in the house. I thought her best bet was 2 wireless, one for each pc, and then a nic card in the pc closest to the dsl modem. Then tie it all together with ICS. Will this work?

 

[HansXP]

I'd recommend an ORiNOCO Residential Gateway and 2 wireless ORiNOCO NICs. The gateway plugs into the DSL modem and allows all the computers on the wireless network to share the connection. It even has a built in DHCP server so it's basically plug and play. You also don't need to use ICS if you get a gateway. See the details on the gateway and NICs at www.wavelan.com. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Eug]

Here is my wireless gaming review.

In short, it seems to add a few ms of latency, but nothing major. However, my set up, the Netgear access point and PC Card seems to have a better connection than even the ORiNOCO stuff supposedly, especially with WEP enabled. YMMV.

If you have a choice though, get CAT-5. Wireless is cool, but CAT-5 is the gold standard. I wouldn't give up wireless for my place, since I like surfing on my patio with my laptop, but for desktops there's no benefit.

 

[Shadow07]

I would have to agree. Although wireless is pretty cool with a laptop and surfing the Internet, I don't think it is ready for prime time gaming. I would use the ORiNOCO system if you were going to get any of the Wireless systems out there.

If your dad has a laptop, get the Residential ORiNOCO system, and put CAT5 cabling to your computer. If you really wanted to put in a wireless system, wait for the 802.11A (55Mb/s) systems. They will be expensive, but latency will not be an issue.

 

[HansXP]

Well, there are a few uses for putting wireless in desktops. If your computers are in different buildings (like mine); or if you're too lazy to wire your house with Cat5 (I am). Also, if you've got a lot of money to spend, it's the perfect choice

I'd say that <10 ms worth of latency really isn't really as issue, although I can't wait to see what 802.11a does to improve latency.

 

[Shadow07]

With my experiences and testing of 802.11B systems, I usually get above 40MS when PINING a machine outside of the local subnet. And no. The router is not the issue. With my systems that are wired, I can get pretty close to 15MS.

I have tried playing Unreal Tournament on a Wireless system, and I experienced so many lock-ups and slow performance, I said screw it. I went with the wired connection and didn't experience a lag. And this was on the local subnet, not playing with other people on the outside.

I can't wait for the 802.11A systems either! I am so geeked up for them!

Damn. Does this make me a super geek or what?

 

[HansXP]

hehe...yes, we're both Super Geeks

That's kind of strange that you experienced that much latency. My signal goes through 2 outer walls that are covered with aluminum siding, traveling about 75 feet. Latency is usually less than 10 ms, occaisionally peaking at 10 ms. Maybe I'm just special.

 

[Eug]

<< I have tried playing Unreal Tournament on a Wireless system, and I experienced so many lock-ups and slow performance, I said screw it. I went with the wired connection and didn't experience a lag. And this was on the local subnet, not playing with other people on the outside. >>

While it does seem there is a slight increase in lag, I thought wireless was perfectly fine if the connection signal strength is good - good network performance, including gaming. One has to wonder if you were outside the effective range for 100% connection reliability - I was only one floor away.

Also, I'm not sure I agree anymore with the unreserved recommendations for the ORiNOCO access point. I have not tested it, but the severe crippling of speeds with WEP active and the overall slower throughput that people report detracts from it's overall usability IMO (although I still see it as a good product). ie. The reviews of the ORiNOCO access point are that it is good, but less than exceptional. There are definitely other options one can consider.

The ORiNOCO Gold PC Card seems like a good quality product from the reviews, but it is a tad expensive though. I probably would stay away from the ORiNOCO Silver because it does not support 128-bit WEP.

 

[HansXP]

<< Also, I'm not sure I agree anymore with the unreserved recommendations for the ORiNOCO access point. I have not tested it, but the severe crippling of speeds with WEP active and the overall slower throughput that people report detracts from it's overall usability IMO (although I still see it as a good product). ie. The reviews of the ORiNOCO access point are that it is good, but less than exceptional. There are definitely other options one can consider. >>



Any encryption can be turned off, but it doesn't seem to really affect the speeds I get. There are a lot of options in the wireless arena, I'm just recommending what I have experience with and what I have found to be of good quality.



<< The ORiNOCO Gold PC Card seems like a good quality product from the reviews, but it is a tad expensive though. I probably would stay away from the ORiNOCO Silver because it does not support 128-bit WEP. >>



Honestly, I don't think 128-bit encryption is needed for most situations. If someone goes to all the trouble of cracking my 64-bit encryption, then they'll be disappointed with the results. I have no secret information on my computer that I wouldn't let someone else look at if they really wanted to.

 

[Eug]

<< Any encryption can be turned off, but it doesn't seem to really affect the speeds I get. >>

Good to hear about the speed. As for turning off encryption, I would never do that in my situation. I live very close to my neighbours (ie. stacked townhomes), and I have a home network with shared drives - not a good combo with unencrypted wireless. Interestingly, I've been hearing rumours of maps of parts of some cities (made by people with too much time on their hands) which show which spots have unencrypted wireless 802.11b access. Indeed, with the owner's permission, I tried accessing my local coffee shop's unecrypted 802.11b network because I wanted web access while I drank my morning coffee. The owner had the service, but it was a third party who set it up. It turned out the company who set it up had excluded unknown MAC addresses so I couldn't freeload the bandwidth. That's another feature I think any low budget access point should have, but neither the ORiNOCO nor my Netgear has that feature.


<< Honestly, I don't think 128-bit encryption is needed for most situations. If someone goes to all the trouble of cracking my 64-bit encryption, then they'll be disappointed with the results. I have no secret information on my computer that I wouldn't let someone else look at if they really wanted to. >>

I would disagree. While my own access point only supports 64-bit encryption, I made a point of buying a card that supports both 64 and 128. It seems like a lot of institutions and companies are now using wireless, but many run 128 only. If you ever plan on using the laptop via wireless away from home, then you may be out of luck. Considering that it's easy now to find good quality, highly rated cards that support 128 for cheaper than the ORiNOCO Silver, I don't think it makes a lot of sense getting the Silver. Of course, none of this applies if you know you'll never use the wireless access in a place with 128-bit only.

 

[TruculentTucan]

when does all the new wireless gear come out?
how expensive is 'expensive?

any thoughts?