View Full Version : Cable Broadband for Online Gaming
I've had this problem ever since I started to play online (FPS) games, around 2 years ago, on and off. Basically, my ping/latency times to gameservers are completely erratic and inconsistant. I'm on the VM XL (20mb/s) package, which I have never seen hit full speed (even from gamefiles.virginmedia/fuller.zen). Every single peak-time, my ping/latency spikes up to 400ms~ for around 10-30 seconds and then back down to around 30, making any FPS game unplayable (even Xbox Live). Even at 30 the ping is still fluctuating and never ever consistant. I am from the Bolton area (Greater Manchester), on UBR6. Now, as this only happens in peak-time (working weekdays - afternoon til late, weekends - usually luck determines this, but mostly occurs at night, especially on Sundays), I would of thought this is an oversubscription issue with my UBR, which according to VM Newsgroup tech's - it is (Scheduled update for mid-May).
Now, onto my options. My choices are either stay with VM and wait for the UBR "repull", where the date is still scheduled to change, this means I can't do what I enjoy the most, until the UBR update which also could not even be where the problem lies. Or I could move to ntl:Telewest business, now would this still carry the same problem, as my area is oversubscribed, does ntl:Telewest (part of the VM group) use a completely seperate network? Or will that be oversubscribed too? The last option is moving to an ADSL provider such as Be*, however I am 2KM from my exchange, predicted 4Mbps (thats fine if pings are consistantly low, and the service doesn't degrade at peak-times). This will also require a BT phone line fitted (£125, the most expensive option).
frogstamper
07-04-2008, 23:01
I've had this problem ever since I started to play online (FPS) games, around 2 years ago, on and off. Basically, my ping/latency times to gameservers are completely erratic and inconsistant. I'm on the VM XL (20mb/s) package, which I have never seen hit full speed (even from gamefiles.virginmedia/fuller.zen). Every single peak-time, my ping/latency spikes up to 400ms~ for around 10-30 seconds and then back down to around 30, making any FPS game unplayable (even Xbox Live). Even at 30 the ping is still fluctuating and never ever consistant. I am from the Bolton area (Greater Manchester), on UBR6. Now, as this only happens in peak-time (working weekdays - afternoon til late, weekends - usually luck determines this, but mostly occurs at night, especially on Sundays), I would of thought this is an oversubscription issue with my UBR, which according to VM Newsgroup tech's - it is (Scheduled for mid-May).
Now, onto my options. My choices are either stay with VM and wait for the UBR "repull", where the date is scheduled to change, this means I can't do what I enjoy the most, until the UBR update which also could not even be where the problem lies. Or I could move to ntl:Telewest business, now would this still carry the same problem, as my area is oversubscribed, does ntl:Telewest (part of the VM group) use a completely seperate network? Or will that be oversubscribed too? The last option is moving to an ADSL company.
I imagine they are both on the same network now Chris since the merger, personally Id wait for the ubr upgrade before moving, you never know. As regards adsl steer well clear of the dreaded Tiscali, they are rubbish, I have read some good posts in CF about Be for gaming, either way good luck mate.:)
icestar2
07-04-2008, 23:08
I used to get a similair problem a couple years back. Then we moved from a Pace box to a samsung box and everything work for a good year or so and now lately the problems have come back. I cant play COD4 much anymore because am just getting constant spikes. Saturday was the worse when I was gettin spikes upto 999. Funny enough after 12midnight everything goes fine again. So I think for some reason they are dropping my speed duing the peek hours. And I dont download anything around thsese times so I dont know why they do it.
I used to get a similair problem a couple years back. Then we moved from a Pace box to a samsung box and everything work for a good year or so and now lately the problems have come back. I cant play COD4 much anymore because am just getting constant spikes. Saturday was the worse when I was gettin spikes upto 999. Funny enough after 12midnight everything goes fine again. So I think for some reason they are dropping my speed duing the peek hours. And I dont download anything around thsese times so I dont know why they do it.
Same problem as me, your area is oversubscribed, my advice for you would be to check out the VM newsgroups (a lot better than phone TS), provide them with your account name/alias and they'd be able to give the status and any scheduled upgrades (usually subject to change) of your UBR. And then decide what option you're going to take, much similar to me.
Florence
08-04-2008, 01:42
When I started playing CS I used to have below 20ms on server the last few years this has been increasing to the point the game was unplayable. Pings would spike up and down I tried getting help from support was promised UBR upgrade this seemed to never get a date to be done. Then VM had a bright idea to sell my clicks so I moved to ADSL and suddenly my pings are all low again even when the centrals were on amber at peak time...
hammered
08-04-2008, 10:46
I have a slight different problem in that my pings are pretty much always OK, usually around the 10-30 mark at the most. But one problem that I do seem to have is that as soon as whichever server I'm playing on gets 1 or 2 people with a high ping, then I start to get lagging problems. Even though my pings still stays low, but none of my mates that are on the server with seem to be affected by this...
Chris,
The easiest way to find out about how good dsl connections are in your area is to ask your neighbours and if your really friendly with 'em go round and do some tests from there connection. Make sure you ask who they are with though, some of the LLU providers are rubblish for stable latency.
Plus look here:
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php
My Postcode gives:-
BT ADSL broadband availability
You are connected to the Kidderminster telephone exchange.
ADSL is available in your area
Your exchange is also enabled for ADSL Max services
According to BT Wholesale, houses at your postcode should be able to support a 4.5Mbps or greater ADSL connection via ADSL Max.
Standard ADSL RAG results:
You can receive 2Mbps ADSL
You can receive 1Mbps ADSL
You can receive 512Kbps ADSL
You can receive 256Kbps ADSL
You are approximately 2.03km from the exchange. Note that this is the straight line distance - the actual cable length will be longer!
(One of by neighbours with BT gets 5.5 Mb/s constant day or night + stable latency, another with Sky (LLU) is pants, cheap tho and suits his needs for general surfing)
For low latency to UK + European games servers try:
http://www.aquiss.net/broadband-gaming.php
only company I've found who actually quote average latency to games servers on there webby
or http://www.ukfsn.org/
I Know a few other players using them, London servers always around 15ms from Midlands off-peak and peak + If you go via Business ADSL 8 til 8 peak / off-peak, instead of 10pm switch over point.
I have a slight different problem in that my pings are pretty much always OK, usually around the 10-30 mark at the most. But one problem that I do seem to have is that as soon as whichever server I'm playing on gets 1 or 2 people with a high ping, then I start to get lagging problems. Even though my pings still stays low, but none of my mates that are on the server with seem to be affected by this...
Pretty well exactly what can happen to me, tracerts and all that stuff doesn't show the problem we have.
Ping in any one night can range from 18 - 100 which is usual, on a bad night it can reach 900, or more.
What feels like loss affects me badly every night, unless you game regularly you won't have any idea how bad a supposedly good connection is.
Thanks for the info Noggo, I've been using samknows.com a bit recently, very helpful site. I've come up with a great idea (let's hope you guys can confirm it's possible). Basically, I'll ring up VM and ask them to CANCEL the phone and downgrade the XL package to L (20mbps to 4 [which is being/has been upgraded to 10mbps in my area]). Then I shall give BT a call and ask for a phone line to be fitted (£125!!!!). So this would enable ONLY ME to use the ADSL for gaming. I can run the VM Cable BB off our current modem and router setup. Then just use the BT Phone Line and the ADSL (provider) modem just for my setup (and home telephone). This is all possible right?
Once I've got the BT phone line fitted, I'll call around a few companies, see what download speeds the line is capable (2km [direct line] from exchange, is ping/latency affected by this distance?), even though the speeds won't bother me aslong as it's atleast 4mbps and constant!
So, thanks to Noggo who recommended 2 providers, I'll be giving them a call once the BT line is in place. I'd appreciate some more recommendations from people who live in the North West, namely your line distance, peak-time speed and latency, and ofcourse ADSL provider.
Thanks guys
Thanks for the info Noggo, I've been using samknows.com a bit recently, very helpful site. I've come up with a great idea (let's hope you guys can confirm it's possible). Basically, I'll ring up VM and ask them to CANCEL the phone and downgrade the XL package to L (20mbps to 4 [which is being/has been upgraded to 10mbps in my area]). Then I shall give BT a call and ask for a phone line to be fitted (£125!!!!). So this would enable ONLY ME to use the ADSL for gaming. I can run the VM Cable BB off our current modem and router setup. Then just use the BT Phone Line and the ADSL (provider) modem just for my setup .
Thanks guys
Lol, couldn't have said it better my self Chris L :tu:
Lol, couldn't have said it better my self Chris L :tu:
You do it first and tell me how it goes :D:D
depends on what you're currently paying for XL and phone. If you read into VM webby ATM.
It should be £ 31 / month for XL bb and M phone after 3 months half price BB (£21/month).
and £ 27 / month for L bb and M phone after 3 months half price bb (£19 / month).
BB on it's own is more expensive than BB + phone ATM, I think. VMs' webby is so pants for getting the right info you need, unless it's a latest offer.
(can someone please find a link for just stand alone bb packages)
+ don't forget your free wireless router offer as well (ebay will be happy with the extra listings (oopps sorry `The Wireless router remains the property of Virgin Media at all times')).
I'm kind of not so bothered about the cost Noggo, although you are right as to the ambiguity of the prices at VM. My wife works for VM so I would just downgrade to 4 meg and leave the rest as is (see profile).
I would just need to refit my BT master socket for starters, and I've checked with Sams, which makes me about 400m from the exchange. I would end up paying, probably, about £25 - £30 pm total.
We'll have to see how any upgrades go first and I'll make a decision nearer the Summer hols :P
Could anyone tell me whether being 2km from my exchange would affect ping times using ADSL? (I know it affects download speeds quite dramatically)
matt_2k34
08-04-2008, 23:10
yes it will affect your ping, but by a small margin.
if your 2km line length than you will have a high quality line, i hope you dont mean 2km straight line distance?
Florence
08-04-2008, 23:50
Could anyone tell me whether being 2km from my exchange would affect ping times using ADSL? (I know it affects download speeds quite dramatically)
I am 1.4km from the exchange but the line is longer and my pings are much lower on ADSL
Tracing route to 91.197.34.3 over a maximum of 30 hops
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms my.router [192.168.1.1]
2 14 ms 14 ms 13 ms nutmeg.dsl.enta.net [87.127.229.38]
3 15 ms 16 ms 14 ms vlan4003.telehouse-east2.dsl.enta.net [87.127.22
9.33]
4 14 ms 14 ms 16 ms gi1-8.telehouse-east2.core.enta.net [62.249.192.
125]
5 16 ms 14 ms 14 ms ge-5-2.the.uk.euroconnex.net [87.127.231.90]
6 19 ms 14 ms 14 ms ge-0-635.rt2.the.synergyworks.co.uk [77.75.104.7
0]
7 15 ms 15 ms 16 ms ge-2-638.rt1.bsq.synergyworks.co.uk [195.74.55.1
78]
8 16 ms 15 ms 14 ms 91.197.34.3
Trace complete.
Tracing route to server28.teamhost.co.uk [85.234.155.57]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms my.router [192.168.1.1]
2 15 ms 14 ms 15 ms nutmeg.dsl.enta.net [87.127.229.38]
3 14 ms 14 ms 14 ms vlan4003.telehouse-east2.dsl.enta.net [87.127.22
9.33]
4 15 ms 14 ms 14 ms gi1-8.telehouse-east2.core.enta.net [62.249.192.
125]
5 15 ms 14 ms 14 ms ge-5-2.the.uk.euroconnex.net [87.127.231.90]
6 15 ms 15 ms 17 ms server28.teamhost.co.uk [85.234.155.57]
Tracing route to 82.136.56.7 over a maximum of 30 hops
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms my.router [192.168.1.1]
2 16 ms 15 ms 17 ms nutmeg.dsl.enta.net [87.127.229.38]
3 14 ms 15 ms 14 ms vlan4003.telehouse-east2.dsl.enta.net [87.127.22
9.33]
4 14 ms 14 ms 14 ms gi1-8.telehouse-east2.core.enta.net [62.249.192.
125]
5 15 ms 15 ms 14 ms te4-1.telehouse-north.core.enta.net [87.127.236.
38]
6 14 ms 14 ms 17 ms te5-1.telehouse-north0.core.enta.net [87.127.246
.122]
7 17 ms 14 ms 17 ms fe-2-1-br1.hex.as9153.net [195.66.226.71]
8 14 ms 14 ms 14 ms po-2-0-700-cr2.sov.as9153.net [82.136.0.205]
9 15 ms 16 ms 15 ms 82.136.56.7
Trace complete.
Tracing route to server1.dustworld.net [193.238.84.1]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms my.router [192.168.1.1]
2 15 ms 15 ms 15 ms nutmeg.dsl.enta.net [87.127.229.38]
3 14 ms 14 ms 14 ms vlan4003.telehouse-east2.dsl.enta.net [87.127.22
9.33]
4 15 ms 14 ms 14 ms gi1-8.telehouse-east2.core.enta.net [62.249.192.
125]
5 15 ms 14 ms 14 ms te4-4.telehouse-east.core.enta.net [87.127.236.9
7]
6 13 ms 14 ms 14 ms 62-249-255-78.no-dns-yet.enta.net [62.249.255.78
]
7 13 ms 13 ms 14 ms dustworld.customer.lchost.net [213.230.194.54]
8 13 ms 15 ms 13 ms server1.dustworld.net [193.238.84.1]
Trace complete.
just some servers i play on
2,062 metres (approx) straight line distance
Also, thanks for the tracerts Florence, here's what mine look like atm with 20mbps cable.
Tracing route to 91.197.34.3 over a maximum of 30 hops
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1 2 8 ms 36 ms 21 ms 10.87.16.1
3 73 ms 18 ms 39 ms oldh-t2cam1-a-v103.inet.ntl.com [80.5.165.73]
4 26 ms 13 ms 14 ms oldh-dpim1-7-coc-1-gw.service.virginmedia.net [86.28.65.34]
5 10 ms 34 ms 36 ms man-bb-a-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [213.105.175.1]
6 11 ms 9 ms 14 ms man-bb-b-ge-000-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.187.178]
7 18 ms 60 ms 17 ms win-bb-a-so-100-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.138]
8 40 ms 17 ms 46 ms 212.43.162.194
9 36 ms 29 ms 32 ms tele-ic-2-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.184.6]
10 66 ms 204 ms 206 ms 212.250.14.122
11 17 ms 15 ms 17 ms the-mer.10g.lon.as33970.net [89.238.140.14]
12 33 ms 41 ms 18 ms ge-0-50.rt1.mer.synergyworks.co.uk [89.238.128.6]
13 40 ms 51 ms 40 ms ge-2-638.rt1.bsq.synergyworks.co.uk [195.74.55.178]
14 29 ms 18 ms 55 ms 91.197.34.3
Trace complete.
Tracing route to server28.teamhost.co.uk [85.234.155.57]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 10 ms 52 ms 7 ms 10.87.16.1
3 15 ms 30 ms 28 ms oldh-t2cam1-b-v103.inet.ntl.com [80.5.165.121]
4 30 ms 18 ms 16 ms oldh-dpim1-7-coc-1-gw.service.virginmedia.net [6.28.65.34]
5 22 ms 35 ms 39 ms man-bb-b-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [213.105.242.245]
6 30 ms 11 ms 36 ms man-bb-a-ge-000-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.187.177]
7 14 ms 22 ms 15 ms 212.43.162.214
8 42 ms 45 ms 46 ms tele-ic-1-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.184.2]
9 22 ms 23 ms 19 ms 212.250.14.110
10 21 ms 40 ms 15 ms ge-5-2.the.uk.euroconnex.net [87.127.231.90]
11 54 ms 54 ms 26 ms server28.teamhost.co.uk [85.234.155.57]
Trace complete.
Tracing route to 82.136.56.7 over a maximum of 30 hops
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 8 ms 27 ms 8 ms 10.87.16.1
3 36 ms 21 ms 19 ms oldh-t2cam1-a-v103.inet.ntl.com [80.5.165.73]
4 19 ms 10 ms 10 ms oldh-dpim1-7-coc-1-gw.service.virginmedia.net [86.28.65.34]
5 11 ms 13 ms 11 ms man-bb-a-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [213.105.175.1]
6 15 ms 28 ms 16 ms 212.43.162.198
7 16 ms 42 ms 20 ms telc-ic-1-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.74]
8 48 ms 38 ms 17 ms fe-2-1-br1.hex.as9153.net [195.66.226.71]
9 17 ms 23 ms 29 ms po-2-0-700-cr2.sov.as9153.net [82.136.0.205]
10 18 ms 16 ms 16 ms 82.136.56.7
Trace complete.
Tracing route to server1.dustworld.net [193.238.84.1]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 7 ms 10 ms 12 ms 10.87.16.1
3 9 ms 9 ms 40 ms oldh-t2cam1-a-v103.inet.ntl.com [80.5.165.73]
4 11 ms 39 ms 40 ms oldh-dpim1-7-coc-1-gw.service.virginmedia.net [86.28.65.34]
5 10 ms 48 ms 11 ms man-bb-a-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [213.105.175.1]
6 39 ms 25 ms 14 ms 212.43.162.214
7 18 ms 16 ms 15 ms tele-ic-1-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.184.2]
8 18 ms 18 ms 37 ms 212.250.14.110
9 117 ms 83 ms 18 ms te4-4.telehouse-east.core.enta.net [87.127.236.97]
10 19 ms 37 ms 16 ms 62-249-255-78.no-dns-yet.enta.net [62.249.255.78]
11 16 ms 39 ms 24 ms dustworld.customer.lchost.net [213.230.194.54]
12 16 ms 32 ms 20 ms server1.dustworld.net [193.238.84.1]
Trace complete.
IP address: 62.253.184.6 tele-ic-2-as0-0.inet.ntl.com
I think it's Packet loss central on the VM network. Every time I get routed that way when I try to play on-line games there is always packet loss at that point, day or night.
VM should team up with British Airways, they're good at losing stuff too. :D
ping plotter image attached. Lots of packet loss every minute so, :LOL:
Florence
09-04-2008, 19:26
The dustworld tracert is funny one a friend living in Sweden get s to it in 11 hops server is UK side and VM take 12 hops nice one VM it was 12 for me aswell when I was testing it now it ios 8 hops on my new connection.
Same for me noggo :=
IP address: 62.253.184.6 tele-ic-2-as0-0.inet.ntl.com
The hamster in that server must be knackered.
homealone
09-04-2008, 22:39
Same for me noggo :=
IP address: 62.253.184.6 tele-ic-2-as0-0.inet.ntl.com
The hamster in that server must be knackered.
you do realise that the core routers are designed to reject icmp requests when busy, don't you??
you do realise that the core routers are designed to reject icmp requests when busy, don't you??
Yeah, whatever, it still plays like sh** so something is wrong somewhere.
This will never get sorted will it ?
Just pretend it's ignoring the traffic, I know we've had this conversation before and I can tell you I am a lot more bored of it than you are.
Other people have also come on here and told me the same thing, even explained why and how they do it, fact remains the packet loss to game servers in particular (they're all I'm interested in) is horrendous, not dissimilar to the pingplotter graphs funnily enough.:(
homealone
09-04-2008, 23:28
Yeah, whatever, it still plays like sh** so something is wrong somewhere.
This will never get sorted will it ?
Just pretend it's ignoring the traffic, I know we've had this conversation before and I can tell you I am a lot more bored of it than you are.
Other people have also come on here and told me the same thing, even explained why and how they do it, fact remains the packet loss to game servers in particular (they're all I'm interested in) is horrendous, not dissimilar to the pingplotter graphs funnily enough.:(
I'm not denying that, I am querying your use of pings to a core router designed to reject extraneous traffic to try & 'prove' your point - the final hop is always better than the one you are focusing on - and when the final hop ceases to be the ultimate measure of the trace I'll start to understand the point you are trying to make?
- please note I'm not denying you have a problem, just being sceptical that what seems to be packet loss in a core router defines the problem????
Aye ok homealone, what can I post on here that will be a better measure of my problem ?
I'm not being funny, I just want to satisfy myself and any others what, if anything is wrong with the network. That snapshot I posted had an average ping of 53 and a current ping of 43, now that is high when compared to Florence's, it's high when not compared to anything tbh. I'm just saying why does it go so high ? A lot higher than the one I posted I might add ..
matt_2k34
10-04-2008, 04:42
That snapshot I posted had an average ping of 53 and a current ping of 43, now that is high when compared to Florence's,
you think a ping of 50ms is high? :( :erm: im stuck with ADSL...
my ping is worse than your "current ping" at 4:40am...
ive added my traceroute for you, i think 50ms is ample for gaming imo...
The *only* gameserver i playon (playing SA:MP) i get a ping of ~100ms and its still playable.
note that i *know* my line length is 4.79km - because the BT engineer told me on his last visit that i was "just in range" :angel:
Edit* :: Noggo those RAG results you posted before arent accurate anymore, RAG results were when "up to 2mb" was available, now its ADSL MAX and its a completely different kettle of fish - which is why your neighbour gets 5.5mb, and its saying "up to 2mb" is available to you.
Edit* #2 :: DO NOT get ADSL just yet, wait for WBC to roll out, this *should* bring a reduced line rental (save £1 :o) and it means you wont need an active PSTN service on that line(which i believe you still require atm), so you can keep your VM telephone, tv etc. and just use your ADSL for gaming/broadband...
or thats the theory anyway
And the only real recommendation is to go to Be* .. Enta resellers tend to be good for speed but your sacrificing them not having direct control over the network, which Be*/O2 has.
Edit* #3 :: As for you Florence, if you look closely you will see that the dustworld server is going over an Entanet connection (one of their resellers..) so why is it a problem that VM gets their in a few extra hops?
1) - extra hops isnt a problem provided the throughput between each hop is good, which it should be and appears to be on your route throughs.
2)YOUR ON CABLE - someone in SWE is *probably* using Telia, Telia has an enormous network, which is ADSL 2Stylee BB - in the UK there are extra hops to get from VM to BT because it costs less - end of. BT Has their fibre network, VM has theirs, why would they pay stupid amounts of money to be linked in at every available location? So naturally its going down VMs backbone to where it meets its first 'transition point' - in this case it gets straight through to BT exchanges - therefore its already on the "backhaul" or "second mile" network, which in turn goes through to Enta - (as they only buy centrals from BT, they dont actually have their own equipment like LLU providers have, therefore i expect them to go with the 'all out' approach when it comes to WBC - which will mean presence at 20 "key nodes" throughout the uk - at which point some providers (e.g. VM) will have a few extra hops in place) ISPs have peering agreements for this exact reason, it cuts costs yet still allows huge amounts of dataflow.
Anyone not understanding why peering agreements are necessary, should look at these costs. (http://www.btwholesale.com/application?origin=spplDocumentList.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=spplSubpartDetail&nodeId=navigation/node/data/service_and_support/pricing/sppl/44/Part1/navnode_8_11_1_1_44_1_8_2)
*phew* :)
you do realise that the core routers are designed to reject icmp requests when busy, don't you??
Yes I do know routers are designed to take icmp requests as low priority. Would that still be the case if ping plotter is set for UDP packets (unix-style or targeted)?
Edit* :: Noggo those RAG results you posted before arent accurate anymore, RAG results were when "up to 2mb" was available, now its ADSL MAX and its a completely different kettle of fish - which is why your neighbour gets 5.5mb, and its saying "up to 2mb" is available to you.
I know my neighbour is on ADSL Max. Thats what came up from samknows webby when I click on BT ADSL link for my location. I assumed it was showing details for upto 8Meg BB, as the max speed for the line stated was 4.5Mb/s.
i think 50ms is ample for gaming imo...
The *only* gameserver i playon (playing SA:MP) i get a ping of ~100ms and its still playable.
I thought `plusnet' offered a good gaming connection?
Plus it depends on what type of games your playing. I'm guessing SA:MP isn't a first person shooter.
Yep around 50ms would be ok for German servers, but not UK. But in the end it comes down to how stable your connection is, so you can predicate where other players are going to be. If you get get very large spikes in your ping (double, triple or quadruple your norm all the time) and bucket loads of packet loss, it makes the game unplayable.
matt_2k34
10-04-2008, 12:49
they do do a 'gaming' package - which i do not use
Id prefer the extra bundled bandwidth - with my legacy product tyvm.
And ofc pingspikes could be coming from both your end - (incorrect settings on your pc for MTU and RWIN - most problems seem to occur on VM because people have been tweaking) - a bad route, which you seem to think is the problem, but as said before doing a simple tracert isnt going to be any use in finding that, you might find a "slower" - but could be offering good data transfer.
And it doesnt matter what package im on with Plusnet, i currently have a fault on my line - hence poor speeds.
I know my neighbour is on ADSL Max. Thats what came up from samknows webby when I click on BT ADSL link for my location. I assumed it was showing details for upto 8Meg BB, as the max speed for the line stated was 4.5Mb/s.
both the RAG results and the "up to" are different checkers.
And yes, ICMP packets should be dealt with as low priority no matter what.
If your struggling you could try setting up QoS within any routers you have?
And just for the record, SA:MP = San Andreas Multiplayer. so ping affects it quite abit.
So, MY best bet would be to go with Be* matt? All I want is consistency (download/upload and ping) and a decent download speed (however, I'm 2km "as the crow flies" from my exchange).
matt_2k34
10-04-2008, 17:04
Be*/ o2 will be able to offer you the best speed available to you -
i hear raving almost every day about how "good" Be* is, torrents at full line speed during "peak" times... no - or "unnoticable" shaping.
I think Be* is a good choice for anyone, especially because the same technology is used across their packages... So if you go for the 'value' £14 package, your still using ADSL2 to sync with the exchange - to get that 'little' bit extra speed, truely taking it to an "up to 8mb" service.
Best thing to do Chris is give them a ring. i think you might be pleasantly suprised - their support is supposed to be 'pretty good'. :)
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