Best Routers for Xbox Live

For online gaming, your Xbox 360 requires a wired or wireless connection through a router. Some router models offer the best performance and the best support for the Xbox 360. Read on, to learn the top router models for connecting to the Xbox LIVE.

If you have an Xbox 360, one of the best gaming consoles to ever grace the face of the Earth and an Internet connection, you are all set for online gaming. Video gaming is a highly social and competitive activity. Most gamers know their online buddies and fellow gaming enthusiasts better than their own friends and colleagues. And the thrill of battling against everyone and anyone from across the globe is like no other.

But for the best online gaming experience, you need a speedy Internet connection. Cannot connect to game servers, being disconnected in the middle of a game, losing a game because of slow connection speeds… just some problems that are caused due to poor networking equipment. To avoid such complications, you need a good router. The best wired or wireless routers for Xbox LIVE guarantee deliverance of a top-notch gaming experience.

Specs to Look For

What features or specifications make the best routers for gaming on Xbox 360 console? Below are a few:

I. Wireless-N Network

The fastest and most effective networking standard, today, is 802.11 n. It is quickly replacing 802.11 g and b wireless networks. And no wonder. The standard 54 Mbit/s data transfer rate of 802.11 g is increased to nearly 600 Mbit/s with 802.11 n. And less interference with more throughput at greater distances has made this standard, the new “it” trend in networking. High speeds and less lag means better gaming too. For online gaming and accessing the massively popular Xbox LIVE site, high speed Internet is a must.

II. Dual Band

Two different wireless N frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) can be connected to using a dual band router. The advantage is in terms of interference. 2.4 GHz is the standard frequency used by wireless devices to connect like cell phones, Bluetooth etc. But 5 GHz is slightly rarer frequency and also provides a faster data rate of transmission. So in crowded areas or places with a lot of wireless devices and routers, it is best to go in for a dual band router to avoid interference. But in areas with few wireless networks, a single band wireless router will do just as well. At first, a router could only use one frequency for transmission. But a new feature amongst some routers is using both bands simultaneously. So you can connect to both frequency bands at the same time.

III. Gigabit Ports

Wired connections should also be allowed on a wireless router. Nearly all wireless routers are equipped with 4 or 5 LAN ports for connecting other computers and devices. Look for Gigabit Ethernet specification over just Ethernet. Gigabit is a much faster data wire transfer protocol that has a speed of 1 Gigabit per second or 1,000,000,000 bits per second. Such a feature is more of a perk when it comes to router specifications.

IV. Xbox 360 Compatible

The game console Xbox 360 has a list of compatible routers, that offer optimum performance for the console. But router models, not present on the list, can also work well with the Xbox 360. The reason for such a list is with regard to port forwarding. Certain ports must be opened on your router to allow the Xbox 360 to connect. On Xbox 360 compatible routers, such ports are already opened. Other router models will require the ports to be opened manually and sometimes the router might not support such settings. But most of the latest router models are capable of dealing with changes in port settings.

Armed with knowing which features to look for, below is a round up of the best routers for Xbox LIVE.