Yes, WiFi extenders can be used for gaming, but they don't offer the best experience. For optimal performance, consider gaming wireless routers or mesh systems. However, if you are a casual gamer, a Wi-Fi 6 extender should suffice your game needs.
WiFi boosters aren't tailored for gaming; instead, they're designed to improve signal range in places where your router can't reach or leaves WiFi dead zones. However, I've researched, tested, and found some of the best-performing WiFi extenders for gaming.
These devices should allow you to play games from any corner of the room. In this article, you’ll learn why and also understand the features required. Additionally, you’ll also learn about the type of games you can play and much more.
Do WiFi Extenders Work for Gaming?
Yes, they do. However, they shouldn’t be your first choice for gaming. Get them only if you're low on a budget and can't invest in a dedicated gaming router.
For gaming with minimal latency, wired connectivity is the preferable option. Luckily, there are WiFi extenders with Ethernet ports that can assist console gaming.
In the world of gaming, you have first-person shooting games, multiplayer online games, role-playing games, real-time strategy games, and loads of mobile games.
Wireless internet has improved to such an extent most households with internet access will be able to play most of the games at our disposal.
But the nature of fast-paced first-person shooting games brings factors like distance to the gaming server and latency (measured in ping) into play. This becomes further complicated if gaming is competitive.
You'll need all the support you can to rank higher. Low ping, traffic priority, etc. With Wi-Fi extenders prone to latency, these factors take a hit. Anyone is better off with wired Ethernet connectivity.
From my Verizon FiOS 1 Gbps internet pack, my TP-Link RE605 Extender sitting two walls away and working in tandem with Archer AX55, clocked downloads at 220 Mbps and uploads at 95 Mbps.
With PS4, I could play God of War, Uncharted, Last of the US, and Cyber Punk 2077 at medium graphics settings. At 720p resolution, I hit 60 FPS with Fortnite, DOOM Eternal, and Borderlands. Any higher the resolution, the gaming was patchy and laggy.
The ping from my extender was ranging from 30ms to 100ms. Ping spikes were noticeable when the wireless bandwidth became congested. That stole all the fun from the gaming experience.
If you expect to play games at 1080p or higher, targeting 90 FPS or more for first-person shooting games or any other game for that matter, it's a no-brainer to go for wired connectivity to the router and choose a server targeting a ping range of 10-40ms.
Bandwidth Requirements for Different Games
This table will give you the bandwidth requirement for some of the popular games on the internet. All these games can be played in an Extender in low-medium graphics settings for recreation and entertainment.
But if your gaming is competitive, you're better with a minimum of 100 Mbps internet wired to your console or PC.
| Game | Platform | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Can You Play It With Extender? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty | PC/Console | 30 Mbps | 5 – 10 Mbps | Yes |
| Fortnite | PC/Console | 30 Mbps | 5 – 10 Mbps | Yes |
| Valorant | PC | 30 Mbps | 5 – 10 Mbps | Yes |
| PUBG Mobile | Mobile | 10 Mbps | 1 – 5 Mbps | Yes |
| GTA | PC | 15 Mbps | 1 – 5 Mbps | Yes |
| Final Fantasy | PC/Console | 15 Mbps | 1 – 5 Mbps | Yes |
| Age of Empires | PC/Console | 5-10 Mbps | 1 Mbps | Yes |
| Company of Heroes | PC/Console | 5-10 Mbps | 1 Mbps | Yes |
| Clash of Clans | Mobile | 5 Mbps | 1 Mbps | Yes |
| Asphalt 9 | Mobile | 5 Mbps | 1 Mbps | Yes |
| Call of Duty | Mobile | 5 Mbps | 1 Mbps | Yes |
How To Improve Gaming with a WiFi Extender?
Please keep these tips in mind before picking a WiFi extender. These features and tips will help you improve your gaming performance on WiFi Extender.
1. Get an Extender from the same OEM as your Router
The performance of your extender will be marginally better if both devices are from the same manufacturer. This gives a better chance of avoiding compatibility and any performance issues arising out of it.
Additionally, some extenders do come with mesh support which only works with routers from the same company. This will help you establish a mesh-like network and achieve seamless connectivity, as a result, a better gaming experience.
2. Look for QoS (Device Prioritization)
Prioritizing the gaming device/application in the router will help you improve gaming performance.
Step 1: Go to the Advanced tab, navigate to the QoS menu, and click on Enable QoS.
Step 2: Add the QoS rule by selecting the device or application.
Step 3: Select by device, from the list or by adding the MAC address.
Step 4: You can set bandwidth and priority for gaming applications.
3. Extender with Dedicated Backhaul
Your extender uses the same Wi-Fi band to transmit data back and forth from the router. This is one of the main reasons for the increased latency and ping duration for your gaming application.
If you want to make the most out of your Wi-Fi network, having an extender with a dedicated wireless backhaul will reduce the latency and improve the ping duration, thereby increasing your gaming performance.
4. Extender with Multiple Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Pick an extender with Ethernet ports. Even if you don't want to send Ethernet lines across your home, you can connect the gaming device to the Extender to reduce the latency if you are bound to have multiple devices using the Extender simultaneously.
5. MU-MIMO and Beamforming
If you have decided to go for a WiFi extender to improve your gaming, ensure you pick the one with advanced features like MU-MIMO and Beamforming. Without these features, your gaming performance is bound to take a hit if there are multiple devices connected to the extender apart from your gaming console/PC or laptop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are bound to increase the ping marginally. The ping is measured in “ms”, which is the time taken for your request to reach the (gaming) server and back. The distance between the server and the quality of your wireless network (Interference, physical & radio) are major factors in increasing your ping duration.
Neither 2.4 or 5 GHz are recommended for gaming. Wired connectivity is preferred by gamers looking to improve their performance. Between these two, 5 GHz is less prone to congestion and a better gaming option if the gaming device is closer to the device.
The ideal place for a WiFi extender is mid-way between the router and the target location. A Wi-Fi captures the wireless signals from the router and relays them further. Weaker the signal at the input, it will starve your gaming device for speed.
No, they are not. Powerline adapters rely on the existing electric wiring in your house to transmit data. This is prone to deliver a lower ping and latency compared to wireless WiFi extenders. Although quality of output in a powerline extender depends on the age & quality of electrical wiring.
Conclusion
If you’re a competitive gamer looking for an edge, a Wi-Fi extender is not your go-to solution. If you’re neither into first-person shooter games nor competitive gaming, you can get away with a Wi-Fi extender.
In any other case, and you are picky about playing in high graphics settings( 2K/4K resolution) and looking for a top-tier gaming experience, an access point should be the one you should be after.
