Dual Band Router

[luvmygdaughters]

Help!! My husbands son lives in our basement, and no, before anybody suggests, its not nhboy . He is constantly online playing some type of game with others, I think its something like Warcraft. Anyway, when I try to watch anything on demand, I keep getting a message that says "please wait while your video buffers". I was told that a dual band router would help eliminate this problem. I know nothing about this sort of thing, can anyone help please? Will I need to get a new wireless modem? will I have to upgrade anything? Whats the best one to buy? Will I have to buy any accessories with it? etc. Thanks

 

[Tilted]

Help!! My husbands son lives in our basement, and no, before anybody suggests, its not nhboy . He is constantly online playing some type of game with others, I think its something like Warcraft. Anyway, when I try to watch anything on demand, I keep getting a message that says "please wait while your video buffers". I was told that a dual band router would help eliminate this problem. I know nothing about this sort of thing, can anyone help please? Will I need to get a new wireless modem? will I have to upgrade anything? Whats the best one to buy? Will I have to buy any accessories with it? etc. Thanks

In theory a simultaneous dual band router could make a difference. But in most cases the issue is the bandwidth coming into the house.

Is your router old? If you can figure out the model number we might be able to offer input more specific to your situation. Newer routers likely have more bandwidth than is needed.

There can be an issue with interference on the frequency being used. Are you close to other houses that are probably running WiFi networks?


EDIT: Also, do you know the speed of your internet service?

 

[hitchicken]

I'm not an expert so maybe some others could correct any mis-information I might pass along.
Yes, a dual band Wifi might help your situation. The keyword is 'might'.
Are you using Metrocast and do you have their fastest internet service? Can you connect the gaming computer or streaming TV to a broadband cable rather than using the Wifi? Maybe both.
Remember a dual band has both 2.4G and 5G bands, but it's a 2 way street. Your device (computer, tablet, etc...) that is connected to your Wifi must connect with the faster 5G band. Are they new enough to do so?

I have a NetGear Nighthawk AC1900 dual band, but I only have one device new enough to connect with the 5G. Yes, it is a bit pricey, but as John Arbuckle use to say, "You get what you pay for."

A possible tip. If you have the latest Metrocast modem, the bottom light should be blinking. If it's blue, you are fully utilizing your modem's Wifi capabilities. If it's orange, you are underutilizing your modem's Wifi capabilities. Tech told me that. When I upgraded to my Netgear, it went from orange to blue. Nice.

Good Luck, LMD

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Do you have cable internet? What speed plan do you have? As others said, is your modem old? Is the wiring old? Do you have a ton of splitters in the house? Is there a cable amp somewhere in the line before the modem?

 

[GURPS]

a single online game does not required huge amounts of band width ...


https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/3fi5ge/how_much_data_does_wow_use_and_how_to_prove_it/

 

[luvmygdaughters]

I DONT KNOW!!!! Lets see, my internet is thru Verizon. I have a wireless westfall modem and yes, its about 3 or 4 years old. I'm not sure what my speed is. I have a secure wifi network. My stepson and use this for the laptops, his gaming system and directtv on demand. When he is at work and not using the wifi, I can watch on demand, problem free. Its just when he is on the wifi I have this buffering problem.

 

[GURPS]

I DONT KNOW!!!! Lets see, my internet is thru Verizon. I have a wireless westfall modem and yes, its about 3 or 4 years old. I'm not sure what my speed is. I have a secure wifi network. My stepson and use this for the laptops, his gaming system and directtv on demand. When he is at work and not using the wifi, I can watch on demand, problem free. Its just when he is on the wifi I have this buffering problem.

Speedtest.net

 

[PeoplesElbow]

I DONT KNOW!!!! Lets see, my internet is thru Verizon. I have a wireless westfall modem and yes, its about 3 or 4 years old. I'm not sure what my speed is. I have a secure wifi network. My stepson and use this for the laptops, his gaming system and directtv on demand. When he is at work and not using the wifi, I can watch on demand, problem free. Its just when he is on the wifi I have this buffering problem.

Go to one of the internet speed test websites (when he isn't there) and run a speed test. I have Verizon DSL and get a solid 7 M/second which is enough for online gaming and streaming HD video at the same time. If I try to stream two TV's though I get buffering.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

I DONT KNOW!!!! Lets see, my internet is thru Verizon. I have a wireless westfall modem and yes, its about 3 or 4 years old. I'm not sure what my speed is. I have a secure wifi network. My stepson and use this for the laptops, his gaming system and directtv on demand. When he is at work and not using the wifi, I can watch on demand, problem free. Its just when he is on the wifi I have this buffering problem.

Is the gaming console (computer/Xbox/Playstation/etc.) near the router?

If so, try hardwiring it instead of using wifi.

 

[luvmygdaughters]

Is the gaming console (computer/Xbox/Playstation/etc.) near the router?

If so, try hardwiring it instead of using wifi.

Its his laptop and not its not close to the router. The router is upstairs in the living room, he is downstairs in the basement. I'll ask him about hardwiring, not sure exactly what that is. Honestly...I think it will be easier if I just told him to get out!! Which wouldn't hurt my feelings in the least.

 

[Clem72]

a single online game does not required huge amounts of band width ...


https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/3fi5ge/how_much_data_does_wow_use_and_how_to_prove_it/

And neither does streaming video (unless it's 4k). Most 1080P60 streams are 12Mbit or below, so they shouldn't be stressing even the slowest Metrocast package. This would lead me to believe they may have a legitimate issue with wireless interference (from neighbors or each other) and/or using old tech (802.11a/b/g).

First step would be to buy a modern router (or first-er step would be to physically plug in one or both devices if possible), but that may not solve the issue if all of their devices are too old to take advantage of the newer standards (802.11n/ac/ad).

Also of note, unlike old dual band routers that would let you connect any protocol at 2.4 or 5ghz, many of the new ones only do 802.11ac on 5ghz, everything else on 2.4ghz.

 

[Clem72]

Go to one of the internet speed test websites (when he isn't there) and run a speed test. I have Verizon DSL and get a solid 7 M/second which is enough for online gaming and streaming HD video at the same time. If I try to stream two TV's though I get buffering.

specifically, use fast.com if your trying to get Netflix video to work (since it's their servers), or DSLReports speed test. Avoid speedtest.net as many ISPs (Metrocast included) have servers connected to that system, so you may end up testing your speeds completely internal to their intranet and not get an accurate real-world speed.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Its his laptop and not its not close to the router. The router is upstairs in the living room, he is downstairs in the basement. I'll ask him about hardwiring, not sure exactly what that is. Honestly...I think it will be easier if I just told him to get out!! Which wouldn't hurt my feelings in the least.

By hardwire, I mean a Cat5/6 cable connected directly to the computer from the router.

Or your second option works as well.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

specifically, use fast.com if your trying to get Netflix video to work (since it's their servers), or DSLReports speed test. Avoid speedtest.net as many ISPs (Metrocast included) have servers connected to that system, so you may end up testing your speeds completely internal to their intranet and not get an accurate real-world speed.

For my Verizon DSL they both report very similar results.

 

[GURPS]

..... and/or using old tech (802.11a/b/g).

First step would be to buy a modern router (or first-er step would be to physically plug in one or both devices if possible), but that may not solve the issue if all of their devices are too old to take advantage of the newer standards (802.11n/ac/ad).

you should also look at QoS [Quality of Service] on your new router - prioritize your streaming video over gaming

 

[Clem72]

you should also look at QoS [Quality of Service] on your new router - prioritize your streaming video over gaming

QoS has it's place, but it really only solves the upstream problem in this case (OSI layer 3 and above, I.E. one user swamping the connection). But I suspect the issue here may be prior to that, their streaming device just isn't getting a good quality high data rate connection to the router. Unless the kid is doing more than just gaming (streaming, torrenting, etc.)