Can You Use a Powerline Adapter for Gaming? (better than Wi-Fi?)

We know that you are tired of your Wi-Fi connection, and that you want to go back to good old reliable Ethernet and find a powerline adapter for gaming. Can You Use a Powerline Adapter for Gaming?

But before you give up on wireless and get a powerline adapter, we thought it would be a good idea to go though some fixes before you spend money on more products that you might not even need.

Wi-Fi , What’s it good for?
How to Solve Weak Wi-Fi
The best powerline adapters for gaming
Do powerline adapters need to be on the same circuit?
Conclusion
FAQ

Wi-Fi , What’s it good for?

Wi-Fi is a great way to get an internet connection and share it with everyone in the home. But when your signal starts dropping out, you may start wondering about alternatives. This article will take a look at some solutions for weak Wi-Fi connections that are available on the market today.

Wi-Fi is short for wireless fidelity; this means that you’re connecting to the internet wirelessly through your router, which sends signals all around your house and into every room of your home.

The problem with this setup is that these signals can easily be disrupted by other devices like microwaves, cordless phones or even walls! So how do we solve this? There are some quick things you can try before resorting to professional help which we will cover in our article below.

How to Solve Weak Wi-Fi

We have covered Wi-Fi issues extensively in our articles for our UK readers with Virgin Media, but not everybody has the same requirements.

This means that some of the solutions that we have mentioned previously here and here, might not apply to your gaming needs.

With that in mind let’s take a look at some tried and tested methods to help you get the best internet signal possible.

If you are not yet ready to give up on Wi-Fi for your Comcast Xfinity, Virgin Media, or any other ISP connection that you might have, then look at our Wi-Fi booster article here. We have written especially for our Virgin Media readers, but rest assured that these same tips will work for any ISP that you are using.

1.) Reset Your Router

Nothing is more frustrating than thinking that you have an issue with your Wi-Fi when it may actually be down to your router as opposed to the device itself. So one of the best things you can do is to completely reset your router. This will mean that your Wi-Fi network and the settings will be restored to factory default, which may solve any issues with the quality of your connection or signal strength.

2.) Change Wireless Channels

It might be that your Wi-Fi signal is having a lot of interference with other devices, such as microwaves, cordless phones or even walls. To try and combat this problem we recommend changing the wireless channel of your router to one which is less popular; this will mean fewer people around your area are using it. If you’re not sure what channels to select, then check your manual for instructions.

3.) Install a Range Extender

If you don’t have an internet connection in certain areas of your house, then it’s likely that these spots may have poor coverage due to the layout of the building or the design of your home. One way to solve this problem is by installing a Range Extender. These are great if your Wi-Fi is not reaching all corners of your house, and can help with latency if you have poor signal.

4.) Move your router

One of the best ways to get a better Wi-Fi signal is to simply move your router.

The reason for this is that routers are often installed in awkward locations or near interference sources like microwaves, which can affect coverage and quality.

By moving it, you will increase the strength of the connection in corners of your home that previously had little or no coverage. However, if you have a lot of devices this could also create interference because the signals from all the different routers will be interfering with each other.

5.) Use a powerline adapter

Sometimes its a good idea to do away with the inconsistency of Wi-Fi and stick to Ethernet. This is tricky though, because running wires through your house or apartment can be tricky, expensive, and ugly if not done properly.

We highly recommend powerline adapters for their ease of use and reliability. Powerline adapters turn your electricity network into a high speed internet connection, which means that you can send data from one point to another through the wires in your home or office.

The best powerline adapters for gaming

A powerline adapter is a great option to solve the issue of broken or patchy Wi-Fi. This device uses your power outlets electrical wires in your wall and ceiling to setup a new network, so you won’t be limited by the reach of your router. With a powerline adapter, you’ll be able to enjoy gaming from anywhere in your house without interruptions or lag, provided your electrical plugs are on the same electrical circuit.

Do powerline adapters need to be on the same circuit?

Yes they certainly do. This is because the electrical cables in your home will act just like the wires on a network. The transmission method is different, but the requirements are the same- a physical connection between network nodes is needed to transmit data.

You might be wondering what a powerline circuit is, and the answer is actually quite simple. The different elements of your home that run on electricity are sperated into different segments, we call these segments circuits. Some houses have fuses associated with each circuit, so when a fuse blows, or a switch trips the power to that section of your house will drop.

This helps to isolate the electrical segments for safety reasons, and it is essential for modern homes. This is less than ideal for houses that have segments or circuits that don’t extend all the way from one end of the house to the other. This is very rare though, as most wall plugs will be on the same circuit in a small to medium sized home.

If you are really stuck and you aren’t sure if a powerline adapter will work in your home, then you can contact an electrician and ask them to add an existing wall socket onto the circuit that you want to communicate on.

So now we know that powerline adapters do need to be on the same circuit.

Zyxel G.hn 2400 Wave 2 Powerline Kit

If you’re looking for a way to expand your network, the Zyxel G.hn 2400 Wave 2 Powerline Kit is the perfect solution. This innovative kit provides superior powerline performance and Gigabit Ethernet port for blazing speed and faster transfer rates. It also converts your home’s existing power outlets into high-speed network ports with simple Plug and Play Setup.

The Zyxel G.hn 2400 Wave 2 Powerline Kit allows you to enjoy lag-free online gaming, smooth 8K video streaming, fast file transfers without having to worry about running out of bandwidth or range due to its long reach up to 100 meters (328 feet). With this kit, you can easily connect multiple devices in different rooms at once without any need for additional wiring!