YOUR ROUTER is NOT running at 100%!
Do you have these problems?:
- Lag
- Skipped commands
- Jerky motion
- skippy updates
If you have purchased your router and have NOT changed its firmware to a third party firmware, then your router is
PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF MOST OF YOUR LAG!!!
[Firmware = the built in software in your router hardware]
Even so-called "Gaming Routers" are no where near as good as the latest open source firmware out there. It has gotten so efficient and streamline that manufacturers of routers are now offering their products as "open source ready" OR with the open source firmware already installed!
I recently purchased yet another router and tested STO before upgrading and after upgrading. The performance difference was astounding.
Here is a list of firmware that supports various routers:
(recommended)
DD-WRT
Tomato
(untested and looking for feedback)
FreeWRT
HyperWRT Thibor
OpenWRT
Tarifa
X-WRTWARNING! Improper application of firmware updates may lead to broken routers!
Read the instructions VERY carefully. If you are not technically minded, do NOT attempt these procedures!
You may purchase open source ready or open source updated routers from the manufacturer or on ebay.Background:
There are half a dozen micro-controllers and two dozen boards used in ALL routers.
Manufacturers sell watered down versions of routers using the same boards and processors as their high end $600 routers. The difference is in the firmware. Many purposefully reduce performance for their low end products. Others are simply not capable of producing adequate firmware at all.
It is 98% certain that you will NOT be able to buy a router below $600 that is operating at full capacity (based on the hardware) off the shelf (from any manufacturer). Even if you think your router is performing well, it probably could perform much better (in most cases significantly better).Try it if you can. You will see the difference in game performance. In most cases that difference will make the game perform MUCH better.
Comments
I use an off-the-shelf LinkSys router ($50) and I NEVER lag, I transfer between systems in mostly only 10 seconds.
Basically, you don't need a super-crazy expensive router with the latest new of everything like you're making it out to be.
Plugging directly into the router forces your software firewall to handle the firewall load. This is ok if you dont mind placing the burdeon directly onto your processor. I prefer to have my processor executing the game instead of the game and firewall load.
Routers utilize a store and forward method of routing and most routers do not expose Nagel or any of trhe other cruicial settings required to minimize the delay between store and forward. New generation of firmware utilizes minimum delay FIFO algorithm and is not required to wait for buffer half full interrupt (software based) nor a timer to offload the buffer.
Everyone that has installed tomato or DD-WRT that I know has reported better performance on STO than either no router or any other router they have tried.
I recommend you give it a second look.
Thanks.
P.S. I have nothing to do with these companies, nor do i sell updated routers online.
Linksys routers may take advantage of the HyperWRT Thibor firmware (direct replacement for the factory firmware). Please investigate the reviews on this upgrade. You might want to try it, much higher thruput, much lower latency.
Reader be ware, you can totally ruin your router if you are not sure what you are doing, this is not for the novice beginer (or speller).