Is wireless networking OK for gaming?

[Kenrick]

Hey everybody - long time, no see!

I'm gonna be getting myself a new computer this summer, in time for HL2 and EQ2.  I'm also going to be getting Roadrunner and setting up a network in our apartment between me and my fiancee's computers.  I want to avoid paying RR the extra $15/mo for an extra connection, and I also want to avoid having to deal with excess wires/cables.  So the obvious solution is setting up a wireless router and cards.

I have a variety of questions, but I'll try to keep them short:

1) Will there be an unacceptable decrease in ping/connection speed if my computer is wireless-ly connected to the router?

2) What's the best standard (802.11b, etc) I can get on a fairly limited budget?

3) From what I understand, the "host" computer has a wired connection to the router.  Is that right?  If that case, if I can manage to have my pc as the host, my lag worries won't really apply because the only gaming my fiancee will be doing is Yahoo. :)

It's good to see a bunch of familiar names here.  Hope everyone's doing well!

[Jon Carver]

1) Will there be an unacceptable decrease in ping/connection speed if my computer is wireless-ly connected to the router?

2) What's the best standard (802.11b, etc) I can get on a fairly limited budget?

3) From what I understand, the "host" computer has a wired connection to the router. Is that right? If that case, if I can manage to have my pc as the host, my lag worries won't really apply because the only gaming my fiancee will be doing is Yahoo. :)

1.  No

2. 802.11g is selling currently for what 802.11b was selling for a year ago.  I'd recommend you go with the g version.  b is a bit more sensitive to distance than g.  b, btw, is as fast as your cable modem  (at least my cable modem) so g is a good buffer to have.  If you can transmit to/from  your router faster than it can handle the net, then you'll be in great shape.

3.  The router is your host.  You don't need to have any wired connetion to anything but the router and modem.  My set up is my main PC is connected via cable to my router (since it's sitting right here, there's no sense in spending money for a wireless card for it) and my three wireless machines connect not to the PC, but to the router directly via wireless.

[Kenrick]

Great, thanks Jon (although your CGGaladriel avatar is oddly hypnotic).

I am just hoping that when Timewarner comes to install RR, they are able to wire it next to where my PC will be.

I'm sure I'll have other hardware questions come up as I get closer to ordering my pc.  :)

[daveNYC]

They'll probably just put a splitter on your existing cable line.  That's what they did for mine.

[Toast]

If you don't have a cable jack near your computer, they will use a splitter and run a long-ass coaxial to where your main system will be.

Your cable modem will sit next to your computer. The cable modem will then plug into your wireless router (which will also be wired to your main system)

It should work fine, just be careful with the various firewall / security settings as they may screw with your ability to connect to a MMORPG.

[Ballast]

If you haven't picked individual equipment yet, I recommend a Netgear product for the router.

Setup is relatively painless, and I've had no issues with it so far.

My only complaint is that the administrative interface is lacking when it comes to port forwarding and port administration. It's usable, but doesn't have enough options, in my opinion.

[Rasix]

They'll probably just put a splitter on your existing cable line.  That's what they did for mine.

Tell them to avoid using a splitter where not necessary. I've had lots of problems with line strength and splitters through the years with Cox cable.  The signal usually ends up going to shit and you have to call one of their fatties in blue to fix your line strength.

[Jon Carver]

If you haven't picked individual equipment yet, I recommend a Netgear product for the router.

Setup is relatively painless, and I've had no issues with it so far.

I'd recommend the Netgear as well.  I've set up networks with D-Link, Linksys and Netgear.  The Netgear is the easiest to work with.

Keep away from D-Link.  For some reason there are periodic issues where games won't play with D-Link.  I have one currently and I cannot play Eve.  I get the message that Tranquility is down, though it's up and I can't even connect to the registration or message boards.  If I bypass the router all works fine but no combination of settings in the D-Link will alllow it to work with Eve.

[Kenrick]

If you don't have a cable jack near your computer, they will use a splitter and run a long-ass coaxial to where your main system will be.

Unfortunately that will probably have to be the case.

If you haven't picked individual equipment yet, I recommend a Netgear product for the router.

Hmm.. I'll look into that.  After doing a bit of research I've jotted down the "Microsoft MN-700 wireless broadband router" to go along with a "Microsoft MN-730 wireless PCI adapter" for the pc that'll be wireless.  CNET gave them both good reviews esp. when used on XP and in conjunction with one another.  No purchases made as of yet though.

[Jon Carver]

Hmm.. I'll look into that.  After doing a bit of research I've jotted down the "Microsoft MN-700 wireless broadband router" to go along with a "Microsoft MN-730 wireless PCI adapter" for the pc that'll be wireless.  CNET gave them both good reviews esp. when used on XP and in conjunction with one another.  No purchases made as of yet though.

I have a problem with any router that claims it needs hard drive space on your computer.  The MN-700 claims to need 40meg of hard drive space on your PC.  No router should need ANY hard drive space on  your PC.

[Disco Stu]

1) Will there be an unacceptable decrease in ping/connection speed if my computer is wireless-ly connected to the router?

If you plan on playing any sort of twitch baised game; yes. Wireless networks will not work 100% of the time. You will experance lag spikes at random intervals. If all your doing is web surfing and playing MMOGs you should be fine but don't expect to be playing HL2 online in any sort of competitive way.

[Snowspinner]

I don't know about Roadrunner, but SBC at least offers a wireless modem. It needs a wired connection for the initial setup, but you can use a laptop for that, set up your other computers to connect wirelessly, and then take the laptop off and the network will work.