LAN adapters for online PM

[Cokes-a-Cola]

So I haven't dabbled too much into online play yet, but I have played a few matches with people, some were at an alright response time, others were virtually unplayable.

I wanted to ask if anyone had tried out any of the LAN adapters that are available for the Wii, and how common and viable of an option they are.

Like hypothetically, if I was using a LAN adapter to improve lag, but my opponent wasn't, would I notice a difference in game speed? Or would it be just as responsive if neither of us were using one?
And if I were to get some online games in with people around this community, should I expect to find players who are using similar adapters as a common practice? (Or perhaps decreasing online lag in different ways)

I just want to know what to expect, or if it's worth dropping some money on something like this. Or maybe offered some alternatives if this isn't the best way to go about it decreasing online lag.

(Many apologies if a thread like this has been created before)

 

[jtm94]

Fist off, I am no expert.

I would probably attribute most of the lag to either 1. distance or 2. the Brawl servers.

My friend and I both use wifi and some days we will get really decent matches, but some days it is so bad it cannot be played.(similar to what you experienced) Now, factoring that I have checked my wifi speed to be far above what should be needed and that my friend is also in the same state, but has slower wifi. I do not think getting a LAN adapter will help you out.

The reason i call out the Brawl internet system is that huge scale games like Battlefield can be played over wifi lag free, thusly leading me to believe the cause of lag is the slow disc read speeds and processing power of the wii coupled with a meh matchmaking system.

In conclusion, lag may be inevitable, but you can definitely wait for other's responses.

 

[Anther]

The adapter's approximately $15.
In my experience, when two people have lan connections, the connection has a lot less of the random pauses. It's usually 100% bearable as opposed to some of the conditions wifi usually brings.

Now, I think this also depends on the area that you live in. If you live in an apartment complex that has a lot of wifi and other things interfering with the connection.. I believe wifi operates on a system of.. "2 signals collided, I will try again in a random interval that's twice as long as my previous random interval.. ".. so.. I actually think a lot of the problems with wifi on nintendo's network actually happen because of this.

So.. it won't improve other people's connection, but it definitely improves your own. It reduces the chance of your own connection being the problem.. and if the other person is at a good "wifi" time, then the gameplay will actually be acceptable. Otherwise you can't do anything to improve the other person's connection.

My personal issue is that I can't even play games through wifi on my pc without noticeable problems with increased latency, but I also live in an apartment complex.. so.. there are a ton of wifi networks competing with each other.

 

[DMG]

The increased delay is not from the Wii or disc read speeds. It's entirely network sided and Nintendo being lazy. They set the minimum delay a bit high and have pauses/resynching happen at pretty low levels. Gameplay starts off laggier than other games, and pauses/breaks quicker as well. GG combo

 

[Cokes-a-Cola]

Alright that's good to know, I do in fact live in an apartment complex. I figured it was unlikely that the issue was on my end since my internet speed is... Above average to say the least; but if other wireless signals could become an interference, then the issue might actually be on my end a lot of the time.

I never really thought about the Nintendo servers being the issue, but I guess that makes a lot of sense too.

 

[smashbro29]

The coding on the online play is horrendous, I bet if you were on two Wiis in the same room it would still be awful.