About Starlink Gaming: Starlink Internet is an option that is becoming a rapidly growing choice for people living in arrears with little access to traditional broadband internet.
It was only recently that this Satellite Internet became an exciting new development in online gaming.
But can the Starlink Internet hold up against competitive online gaming?
In this guide, you’ll find out everything there is to know about Starlink Gaming.
You’ll also learn how it compares to other internet gaming options and different ways to improve your gaming performance.
Is Starlink Even Good for Gaming?
Starlink is the better choice for hobby gaming as it offers low latency and faster speeds than most conventional networks. Apart from that, avoid peak hours and use Ethernet to optimize your gaming experience.
However, Starlink is unsuitable for competitive gaming due to packet loss fluctuation and possible latency.
Since even rising millisecond latency can be a huge challenge in professional gaming, fiber internet users have a slight advantage.
What Factors Affect It When Gaming With Starlink?
Here are the major factors that impact your online gaming experience on Starlink Internet.
1. Quality of Internet Connection
Speed
Internet connection concept
In most cases, a high-speed internet connection ensures that data is sent and received from the server effectively. It also implies faster download and upload speeds, low latency, and a smooth gaming experience.
A high download and upload speed is very important in multiplayer games that demand frequent updates between players.
Latency
Latency (ping) is a measure that simply shows how long the data takes from your device to the server and back. In gaming terms, latency is how long data travels from the game on your device to the servers and back.
High latency would normally cause all kinds of problems with your game, including lagging and wrong positioning on the map. Therefore, the lower the latency, the better the network.
Packet Loss and Reliability
Packet loss occurs when the data transmission from or to your home is incomplete or corrupted.
It could be due to either software or hardware problems, packet collisions, high latency, or network congestion.
Packet loss can lead to stuttering, delays, and lagging, making it difficult for gamers to respond to inline games efficiently.
But even if you have minimal packet loss, there is the issue of reliability.
2. Game Type
Professional players
Games like online multiplayer or first-person shooters need a faster internet speed and more bandwidth. Startlink is only ideal for hobby gaming but not competitive gaming.
3. Invest in a Better Internet Connection or Upgrade Your Gaming Hardware
It is crucial to perform routine maintenance on the network and ensure your gaming gear is up-to-date to improve your online gaming speeds.
Ensure you update the software programs and clear old files and cookies from your computer. Also, invest in a better internet connection to optimize your in-game experience.
Starlink Compared to Other Internet Gaming Options
Strategy video game
1. Fixed Broadband
Fixed broadband networks include wired fiber, cable internet, and DSL connections. These networks are faster and more reliable than satellite internet connections.
Fiber
Fiber Internet is the best internet option you can acquire today. It is a fiber-optic internet connection with 1 Gbps or more speeds. Usually, this network connection also has low latency and fast upload and download speeds, making it ideal for gaming.
Cable
After fiber, Cable Internet is the next best option. Most residential cable internet offers speeds close to 500 Mbps, while those with coaxial connections can offer up to 1 Gbps. The connection has a latency of 20ms in most locations.
DSL
A DSL is a phone-line-based interconnection commonly used in areas where fiber and cable are unavailable.
This internet option has low latency, ranging from 40ms to 100ms, and provides enough speed for Zoom calls, streaming services, and gaming.
2. Wireless
Wireless data includes mobile data plans using tethering, a dedicated hotspot device, or a mobile hotspot mode. The wireless connection includes:
4G Internet
This internet connects to your home using cellular signals, making it available anywhere as long as you can get a good phone signal.
Since it is a wireless connection, it is also affected by the same issues as a satellite connection.
These include susceptibility to weather conditions and restrictive data caps. However, it experiences much lower latency than satellite connection.
Wireless 5G
The wireless 5G uses the same cell towers as mobile phones. You can use an in-home internet connection directly to the wireless 5G network or a phone as a WiFi hotspot to connect to this.
Though the 5G speeds have improved the speeds on mobile networks, Starlink is still faster.
The wireless 5G upload speeds rarely crack double digits while its download speeds are 70 Mbps or less.
The latency is, however, not that terrible, with 60 ms provided by most carriers.
3. Other Satellite Providers
Apart from Starlink, other satellite internet providers like HughesNet and Viasat exist. These are the only satellite options for people in rural areas or pre-Starlink areas.
HughesNet
The HughesNet has a high latency like other providers with geostationary satellites. It also has lower speeds, making gaming challenging or impossible. If you are using HughesNet, look for games that do not rely on fast reflexes and speeds.
Viasat
Viasat can play turn-based games online, though not games that require fast or real-time action. It has high latency, meaning it can not handle anything that requires precise button presses and quick responses. However, you can still enjoy turn-based games.
Is There Any Way to Improve Starlink Gaming Performance?
A few of the things that you can do to improve your Starlink Gaming performance include:
- Surge Protect Your Router: Connect your router to a surge protector to help prevent it from power surges that may cause disruptions.
- Check Connections: Ensure all the cables connected to your router or modem are in good condition and firmly plugged in. Faulty connections may lead to connectivity issues.
- Placement of the Starlink Kit: Place the Starlink Kit to face the sky without obstructions. Also, keep the router clear of any objects and place it centrally away from potential sources of interference.
- VPN Set Up: You can set up a VPN on your device and then choose a country to hide your location. It might help prevent ISP Throttling, unstable internet speeds, and limited Bandwidth.
- Ethernet Over WiFi: While WiFi might be the convenient choice for gaming, it is still prone to transmission loss and interference. For a more secure connection, turn to an Ethernet Cable.
- Play Off-Peak Hours: Peak hours are typically in the evening when many people actively log onto the network. So, consider playing on off-peak hours.
Conclusion
There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Starlink regarding gaming online. While it offers high-speed internet connectivity, it is not good enough for competitive gaming.
Starlink would only be more suitable for those who prefer hobby gaming due to packet loss fluctuations and possible latency.