Usually, when I try to use my Switch for online connectivity the system is connected but I keep getting error messages and won’t actually connect to the online servers I try to access.
I live in the countryside with my family, so maybe that’s why my Internet is so wonky?
But I’m still able to access the online classic games for the NES, SNES, and Game Boy at least: I just can’t play the regular Switch games.
Any advice for a better connection?
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So, if you’re playing undocked (either because you have a switch lite or because you have nowhere to set up a dock) my advice won’t help. But if you connect the switch dock directly to your modem via Ethernet cable (if this is possible for you) using a USB A to Ethernet dongle, you’ll at least have a more stable connection than connecting via wifi. We don’t know the age of your wifi router or anything else about your setup though, so it may be any one of those factors as well.
Assuming the NAT type is one that supports peer to peer connectivity, you could try using Ethernet instead of wireless (of course this only helps when docked). This would alleviate issues with WiFi signal not being strong enough, potentially increase bandwidth, and reduce latency. Ethernet can’t improve the connection beyond the incoming connection from the ISP, it only will improve issues that stem from wireless connectivity.
I live in the countryside with my family, so maybe that’s why my Internet is so wonky?
it could very well be this, when I visit my parents in the countryside the internet is sometimes not good enough, and other times it is adequate (satellite internet, so weather can impact it).
Have you done the internet test from your Nintendo switch? https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22462/~/how-to-use-the-internet-connection-test
The most important result is the NAT type. What’s the score?
Not recently, but I’ll try it…
Edit: The NAT score is D.
Whelp, it’s not great. Ideally, you’ll need at least NAT type B to be able to play online without issues.
You may improve the score by assigning a static ip address to your nintendo switch in your router settings, then add it to the router’s DMZ. But this is assuming the source of the problem is the router’s firewall. If the source of the issue is your ISP using CGNAT, then not much you can do beyond changing ISP or talk to your ISP to see if they have any online gaming-friendly internet plans.
Could tunnel to a VPS using a VPN. VPN deals with the CGNAT traversal, and VPS gives your home network a static public IP. But would need to do it at a network level cause I doubt a switch can do that directly
I would recommend looking into a USB Ethernet adapter.
So a bunch of people have already said about using the ethernet adapter. Which is exactly what I would say.
But for argument sake and for people who are using the switch lite, get yourself a Wi-Fi analyzer. Like this one https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vrem.wifianalyzer
You’re living in the countryside you shouldn’t have a lot of EMI. Could be just poor signal. The analyzer will help you visualize what the Wi-Fi is where the switch is.
Of course this is all assuming that the problem is on your side of the connection and not from your ISP.
Have you ran a speedtest? You can do so, even from your phone, at speedtest.net. Since you are in the countryside, I’m guessing you just don’t have the speeds available for online play
I was told I could get a WiFi extender, though.
A wifi extender only lets you get further from your wireless access point. It won’t increase your speeds unless they’re slow because of a weak signal
Yeah you should really figure out what sort of service you are getting from your isp. Like I said, out in the countryside it’s not uncommon to have piss-poor mbps (at least in the US)
And if it’s a repeater, it will halve your bandwidth. Actual mesh APs are a bit better, but you’re still taking every packet and rebroadcasting it. And if the device only has one radio, I don’t think they can listen and transmit at the same time.
