You've got a gaming PC or console, a great monitor or TV, and a high-speed internet plan. So why are you still experiencing lag, rubber-banding, or random disconnects during crucial moments?

The answer might be simpler than you think: WiFi.

The Problem with WiFi for Gaming

Don't get me wrong — modern WiFi is impressive. WiFi 6 and 6E have made huge strides in speed and reliability. But for competitive gaming, WiFi still has fundamental limitations:

Latency (Ping)

Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server and back. In gaming, this is measured in milliseconds (ms) and called "ping."

  • Wired connection: Typically 5-15ms to your router
  • WiFi connection: Typically 15-50ms to your router (often more)

That might not sound like much, but in fast-paced games, those extra milliseconds matter. Add in the latency to the game server, and you're starting at a disadvantage.

Jitter

Jitter is the variation in latency over time. WiFi latency isn't just higher — it's inconsistent.

One moment your ping is 20ms, the next it's 80ms. This inconsistency causes rubber-banding, hit registration issues, and that feeling that the game isn't responding correctly.

Wired connections have minimal jitter. WiFi, by nature of dealing with radio interference, has more.

Packet Loss

Sometimes data packets don't make it. On WiFi, this happens more often due to:

  • Interference from other devices
  • Distance from the router
  • Physical obstacles (walls, floors)
  • Competing network traffic

Even 1-2% packet loss can make games feel terrible. Wired connections typically have 0% packet loss on a healthy network.

Bandwidth Competition

When your roommate starts streaming 4K video, your WiFi gaming session suffers. Both devices are competing for the same radio spectrum.

Wired connections don't have this problem — each cable is its own dedicated lane.

When Wired Really Matters

Not all gaming requires a wired connection. Here's when it matters most:

Competitive Multiplayer

  • First-person shooters (Call of Duty, Valorant, CS2)
  • Fighting games (Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat)
  • Battle royales (Fortnite, Apex Legends, Warzone)
  • MOBAs (League of Legends, Dota 2)

In these games, reaction time is everything. A wired connection gives you the best chance.

Ranked/Tournament Play

If you're playing ranked modes or in tournaments, don't handicap yourself with WiFi. Every advantage matters.

Streaming While Gaming

Streaming to Twitch or YouTube while gaming doubles your bandwidth needs. A wired connection handles both more reliably.

Large Game Downloads

Modern games are massive (100GB+). Downloading over WiFi can take hours or be interrupted. Wired connections are typically faster and more stable.

When WiFi is Fine

  • Single-player games
  • Turn-based games
  • Casual multiplayer
  • Cloud gaming (as long as your WiFi is solid)
  • Nintendo Switch in handheld mode (no choice)

The Ethernet Solution

The best solution for gaming is a wired Ethernet connection. Cat5e or Cat6 cable from your router/switch directly to your gaming device.

Benefits of Ethernet:

  • Lower latency — Often 5-10ms or less to the router
  • Consistent performance — Minimal jitter
  • No packet loss — On a healthy network
  • Full bandwidth — No competition with other wireless devices
  • No interference — Microwaves, neighbors' WiFi, Bluetooth — none of it matters

The Challenge

The problem is that routers are often in living rooms or home offices, while gaming setups are in bedrooms, basements, or dedicated game rooms.

Running an Ethernet cable across your house isn't always practical — or pretty.

Solutions for Getting Wired

Option 1: Run Ethernet Cable (Best)

This is the gold standard. A proper Ethernet run through walls, attics, or crawl spaces delivers the best results.

Pros:

  • Best possible performance
  • Permanent solution
  • No additional equipment needed
  • Clean, hidden installation

Cons:

  • Requires professional installation or DIY skills
  • More expensive upfront
  • May not be possible in some rental situations

At Finally Fixed Home Services, this is what we do. We can run Ethernet from your router to your gaming setup with clean, concealed cable runs.

Option 2: Powerline Adapters (Okay)

Powerline adapters use your home's electrical wiring to transmit network data.

Pros:

  • Easy to set up
  • No new wires visible
  • Relatively inexpensive ($50-$100)

Cons:

  • Performance varies wildly based on your home's electrical wiring
  • Older homes often have poor results
  • Still not as good as direct Ethernet
  • Can be affected by electrical noise

Option 3: MoCA Adapters (Good)

MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) uses your home's coaxial cable wiring for network data.

Pros:

  • Excellent performance (often nearly as good as Ethernet)
  • Uses existing coax runs
  • Low latency

Cons:

  • Requires coax outlets in the right locations
  • More expensive than powerline ($100-$200 for a pair)
  • Not every home has suitable coax runs

Option 4: Better WiFi (Compromise)

If wired isn't possible, optimizing your WiFi can help:

  • WiFi 6/6E router — Latest technology handles gaming better
  • 5GHz or 6GHz band — Faster and less congested than 2.4GHz
  • Mesh system — Better coverage, especially in larger homes
  • Access point near gaming area — Reduces distance and obstacles
  • QoS settings — Prioritize gaming traffic on your router

This won't match wired performance, but it can significantly improve your experience.

Gaming Setup Cable Management

Once you're wired, don't let cables ruin your setup's aesthetics:

  • Cable raceways — Hide cables along walls and baseboards
  • Cable sleeves — Bundle multiple cables together
  • Under-desk management — Trays and clips keep things organized
  • Behind-wall runs — The cleanest solution for permanent setups

We handle cable management as part of our network installations, so your gaming setup looks as good as it performs.

What We Offer for Gamers

  • Ethernet runs — From router to gaming setup, through walls
  • Network switches — When you need multiple wired devices
  • Gaming area network drops — Multiple connections in one location
  • Cable management — Clean, organized setups
  • WiFi optimization — When wired isn't possible

The Bottom Line

WiFi technology keeps improving, but physics is physics. Radio waves will always have more latency, jitter, and interference than a direct wire.

If gaming is important to you — especially competitive gaming — a wired connection is one of the best upgrades you can make. It's not sexy, it's not the latest tech trend, but it works.

Contact us or call/text 720-933-3501 to discuss getting your gaming setup properly wired.

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