Gaming online with a shoddy router can be one of the worst experiences. Your connection might seem fine for a few minutes, and then seconds later, your screen is stuck as your character glitches around as the world seemingly comes to a standstill. To alleviate this, making sure that you have a good modem compatible with your Xbox One can be essential. Not only is the proper modem required, but the proper wireless network settings should also be set up to ensure that your Xbox One is able to flawlessly connect to Xbox Live. Of course, your connection with Xbox Live will require an Xbox Live Gold account in order to be able to play games.
In order to connect your Xbox One to Xbox Live, you will need a high speed internet connection and a router or some other method of an access point – of course, a router is the most common and the easiest solution to connect an Xbox One to the internet. For the first time connection, enter “Settings” on the Xbox One menu, go to “All Settings,” then “Network,” then “Network Settings.” Choose “Setup Wireless Network,” connect to your network and input security credentials if necessary, and that’s all that the connection should take! If you use a wired connection, your Xbox One should connect after a few seconds, assuming that your router is properly set up. Keep in mind that “Network Address Translation,” or NAT, should also be open to ensure the best connection – this will vary based on your network, but the Xbox One has a setting which allows for the user to see their NAT type.
Assuming that you don’t directly wire your Xbox One into the router, which router should you go with to ensure the best online gaming experience? Read on more to learn what are some good, affordable picks for routers for your Xbox One.
Sidenote: We searched online to find the best prices online for all the different routers we recommend in this article to save you some time if you decide one of them fits your needs!
The NetGear RangeMax Wireless Router is a great router for a dorm or spread-out location with only a few devices attached – while having RangeMax technology built into the router which should allow for it to reach farther distances than most typical routers, the actual computer in the router itself won’t really allow for more than 10 or 15 devices connected at once. Still, if you have just your phone, a tablet, a laptop and an Xbox One to connect to the internet, the NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router will be your best bet. For under $40 the NETGEAR RangeMax is compatible with all standard 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices, and even includes a signal boost to devices on the N channel, making lag a lot less likely. The NetGear RangeMax comes equipped with one antenna, four full duplex 10/100 ethernet ports, and is a low-powered 12V 1.0A power adapter. The router comes with a stand to be vertical or horizontal. For the low price, the RangeMAX should service your needs quite well and surprise you with how far the signal can reach.
Note: We linked to the list page as it auto updates to the best price currently available.
Belkin Wireless G 4-Port Router
The Belkin Wireless G 4-port router has a much smaller footprint than most other routers.. The Belkin G is a very small, discrete box-shaped router with a simple light-up interface on the front that will glow green for a valid connection, or glow red if a connection cannot be made or if there is an error (as it attempts to reconnect, it will pulse over and over). The Belkin G has 4 full duplex 10/100 connection ports on the back for any CAT ethernet cable needs. When it comes to wireless speeds, the Belkin Wireless G is capable of connecting devices at a speed of up to 54 megabits per second. The Belkin Wireless G can connect up to a minimum of 4 wired devices but up to a maximum of 16, with the clever use of some hubs or repeaters. The Belkin Wireless G offers built-in security protocols including WPA, WPA2, WPS, and 64- and 128-bit WEP. The Belkin Wireless G is only compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b networks, but this should cover about 90% of devices – including the Xbox One. The Belkin Wireless G is also backed by a one year hardware warranty. For the small time user with only an Xbox one and a few other devices, the Belkin Wireless G can be considered a necessity for such a low price.
TP-LINK Wireless N300 Home Router 300Mbps Certified for IPv6 (TL-WR841N)
The TP-Link Wireless N300 Home Router is a nice purchase for anyone trying to spend under $30. With the purchase comes the TP-Link Wireless N300, which is a router that always lays flat due to the dual-antenna orientation. On the back of the N300 are two radio antenna useful for strengthening the signal of the network, as well as four full duplex 10/100 ports. The N300 has a low electric footprint, requiring little power to keep on constantly. The N300 also comes with an Easy Setup Assistant, which will aid in providing a quick and hassle free setup for your router. The N300 is capable of connecting devices of speeds at up to 300 megabits per second, making it the perfect router for any serious Xbox One gaming. The N300 also comes with IP-based bandwidth control, allowing you to throttle down any unnecessary downloading the Xbox One may be trying to do. This can be useful if you suffer from an internet data cap, or just don’t want the Xbox One to sneak in downloads while you just want to grab a quick game. The N300 is available for a low price and is compatible with all 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices, making it an essential part for a new home network.
Although this is advertised for small businesses, there’s no reason you can’t use it in your own home
RV110W Wireless N VPN Firewall Router
If you are a hardcore streamer or gamer and want the best connection, Cisco is your go-to brand. Cisco makes great networking products and the RV110W Wireless N router is a testament to that. While the router boasts the market-standard connection of 802.11b, 802.11 g, and 802.11n devices, the Wireless N also offers a full dual-band signal. In addition, the Wireless N router is backed with Quality of Service protocol (QoS), meaning your VOIP, video and data streaming should never go interrupted as long as the internet connection is consistent. The Wireless N has four 10/100 full duplex ports on the back, and can be connected to with any mobile or desktop browser. The Wireless N also has a sturdy built-in firewall in addition to any firewalls that may be present on the network; Cisco devices are very difficult to break into and hack. The Wireless N is a fair bit more expensive than the other routers we’ve mentioned, but is the ultimate purchase for any enthusiast who is looking to stream or game or otherwise stay connected for a large portion of the day.
Is this thing calling down an air strike or is it just connecting your home network?
ASUS RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router
This is the ultimate router purchase for any gaming and streaming enthusiast. So the most expensive router on the list (over a $100) is a slick router that is capable of hosting a concurrent dual-band at the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz speeds and connecting devices up to 900 megabits per second. On the back are four full duplex 10/100/1000 ports, capable of downloading at a gigabit per second and sending out information at 100 megabits per second per port. The Wireless-N900 also comes equipped with two multi-functional USB ports, which can have a variety of devices plugged into them. The ports work with USB storage devices, printers, and even network scanners; the ports ultimately serve as an expansion to the features of your network. However, should you choose to host more storage on the network, each USB port is capable of hosting up to 2 terabytes of storage (2048 gigabytes exactly per port). The Wireless-N900 comes equipped with three detachable high-powered antennae, and the ASUSWRT Dashboard UI can be accessed through any mobile or desktop web interface. The Wireless-N900 starts at a high price but is so worth it for any home enthusiast who wants a strong home wireless network.
