Is Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi good for gaming?
In 2017 Cox (among the biggest internet service providers in the United States) issued a press release stating the availability of their new Panoramic Wi-Fi router. While this was great in theory, questions still linger on whether it is worthwhile for gaming use and other bandwidth-heavy activities.
The Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi was an exciting release – the Cox magic box is among the best Wi-Fi routers in the market, allowing customers faster access to more consistent internet connections. However, questions are coming up among consumers who know better than believing some catchy buzzwords at first glance – the most common being whether it can handle gaming.
Even though it is sufficient for most general users wanting a cost-effective way to access the internet,Cox Panoramic is not as good as it may seem for gamers due to packet loss and ping issues.
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What issues do Panoramic Wi-Fi routers face during gaming?
The main problem that Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi routers have is their data packet losses, which is quite evident when you are streaming content online or playing online games.
When you connect to the internet when streaming media or playing online games, the device you use and the streaming/gaming servers pass information to each other through packets, which should be seamless, but sometimes these packets are lost, and your connection slows down. In severe instances of packet losses, you can be disconnected from the server entirely – forcing you to reconnect and start again. In very severe instances of packet losses, you can be disconnected from the server entirely – forcing you to reconnect and start again.
The other problem is ping – which allows smooth gameplay by monitoring the speeds your device uses to communicate with gaming servers. Some games alert you if there are changes in responsiveness, and the Panoramic Wi-Fi tends to have too high ping speeds that make it unsuitable for most gamers.
Ping requirements are not the same throughout games; each will have its own ‘comfortable’ speeds. For instance, some games will become unplayable when the ping is more than 200ms, while others need much less. Depending on your environment, you aim to get the lowest ping, though there are some general guidelines to give you an idea of determining your speeds, as we will outline in the table below.
Ping range |
Rating |
What it means for gamers |
20ms or less |
Great |
This is an optimal speed for a gamer, as the action is quick and visuals are crisp. It should not experience glitching or lagging. |
20 to 50ms |
Good |
This is a common range for most gamers and should allow for responsive and smooth gameplay. |
50 to 100ms |
Fair |
An average ping range for a gamer connecting to an international game server. Depending on the game and its settings, you may experience some lagging. |
100 to 300ms |
Poor |
Delaying and lagging is common, though this will not disrupt gameplay most of the time. You may experience some dips in responsiveness and performance. |
Above 300ms |
Unplayable |
You will notice significant lagging, lost shots. Inconsistent movement, and response delays. |
Additionally, the nature of the game you play is a consideration when figuring out the best ping speed, as the table below shows.
Nature of the game |
Acceptable ping range |
Racing and FPS (first-person shooter) games |
Aim for a maximum ping of 50ms because timing is essential. |
MMO (massively multiplayer online) games |
Can allow for more ping without sacrificing playability, with some allowing for 250ms. That said, a real-time PvP (player vs. player) game should use a maximum ping of 150ms. |
RTS (real-time strategy) games |
These can use a ping of less than 200ms, though the ideal is less than 150ms. |
How can I fix high ping?
- Close any background applications on the device – these easily take up memory that you could use to access the internet while playing.
- Choose geographically close servers – online games rely on location, and closer servers will allow for faster communication with your device.
- Using wired connections – wireless connections are poor because they serve multiple devices simultaneously while suffering more packet losses. Ethernet cables will have less of this problem, especially when playing online games.
- Turn off updates – while you are gaming, turn off updates to prevent file downloading or competition for bandwidth.
- Choose a high-bandwidth internet plan – if you are a gamer, you should benefit from this as it boosts your gaming sessions.
Conclusion
Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi is a great option for the average consumer of the internet, as the packages are reasonable in pricing. However, for a frequent heavy-bandwidth activity such as gaming, you will find their speeds insufficient and are better off choosing another provider with faster speeds.
FAQs
Is Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi good for gamers?
It depends on the games you play. If you are a heavy gamer and prefer FPS, racing, or multiplayer games, it may not be a good choice because of its data packet losses. However, lighter games are better as they do not demand as much.
Why does my Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi experience issues?
This could be due to having an older modem, which you should upgrade to ensure a better user experience.
