XBOX Live Disconnections

[Albie]

Anyone else being disconnected from xbox live every couple of minutes? Also the connection is dropping when watching live video. :td:

[Hom3r]

I get this occationally.

I have a XBL friend who lives near Belfast, I'll contact them to see if they have had similar issues.

[Albie]

It started last night and is worse today. If I'm playing MoH and the action gets hot it'll just disconnect.

[SnoopZ]

No problems here when im using the FREE live weekend as i don't have gold.

[Jayster]

No problems at all last night and Friday night.

[Foo Fighter]

Theres big thread on the virgin community forums with problems with xbox live.

Seems the traffic management is thinking xbox live is peer to peer and causing all sorts of problems but virgin deny it and havent been able to figure it out for over a month

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Gaming/Host-and-connection-interrupted-Black-ops-on-xbox-360/td-p/429663

[craigj2k12]

its a problem they are having with the p2p management, which is targetting other traffic like xbox live and call of duty, this is active from 5pm to midnight weekdays, and midday to midnight weekends, outside these times there shouldnt be any problems, and if there is, then something else is wrong

[markie1966]

its a problem they are having with the p2p management, which is targetting other traffic like xbox live and call of duty, this is active from 5pm to midnight weekdays, and midday to midnight weekends, outside these times there shouldnt be any problems, and if there is, then something else is wrong

are you sure its during those hours???
ive had nothing but problems trying to play cod at anytime of day for weeks now...tho im playing thru a pc and not xbox live
been losing packets....see my other thread on it to believe me....for ages and im getting really ****ed off by it
and on the VM forums i now see theres hundreds of gamers now noticing that theres packet loss while play WOW and other games
its obvious that theres p2p management going on here and if virgin dont stop it then people will leave by their thousands...and rightly so in my opinion
the gamers that use VM just want a stable connection to play games at any time of day....not reduced hours
after all virgin promised that games would run faster and smoother on their network...and were the ones that are paying good money to use what is fast becoming a shoddy network

[pip08456]

after all virgin promised that games would run faster and smoother on their network...and were the ones that are paying good money to use what is fast becoming a shoddy network

Not the first time they've been found out telling porkies!:D:D:D

[craigj2k12]

if your seeing packet loss to particular servers, particularly to the maidenhead area, you should see this:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33676892-is-this-vm-congested-transit-issue.html

[hedgie]

Yup I have been having problems for ages, mostly I get MTU errors. I even struggle to use the xbox live website on the laptop.

Really struggling with this try explaining it to a 10 year old :mad:

Come on, surely some of the VM staffers can escalate this the "offiicial" forum is full of this but there seems no drive to fix it. XBOX Live is a major part of broadband useage, if it does not work I will have to change to another ISP and I really don;t want to.....

Feel free to PM me I am willing to be a test dummy if it helps !

[peachy001]

I'm having major issues with this. Can rarely get through two games in a row on Battlefield B C 2. The guys I play with all are on 2 meg but have no issues. I'm on 10 meg and get a very stable 1.1mb per second if downloading anything. Playing online has got very bad and I can't carry on like this. I've tried resets of the router, the Xbox, everything. New cables didn't help. This has to be an issue with Virgin playing silly devils. I don't hog bandwidth and the main use of my connection is for Xbox Live gaming sessions. Done those speed test things and all is well for everything except gaming.

Virgin have touted there prowess for gaming and even had a big advert/feature on Xbox Live. So I find this even more frustrating.

Not sure how I find out if I am losing packets.

[peachy001]

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2011/04/32.png

Just called VM and they say my power levels are wrong. I am not convinced. My Downloads on my PC are superb. they say they can send an engineer around. I actually think my speeds and ping are good and am very cautious about letting them tinker with it when I am 99% sure that power levels are not the cause of the Xbox live problems. They say that my downstream is too loud and my upstream is too low. The speed I am getting looks good to me (Doncaster is not scheduled to have the upstream upgraded for another month so not sure what is happening there).

Could the power levels be the issue? I sincerely doubt it.

[pip08456]

Yes, they could. Pity you haven't posted them so we could confirm.

[craigj2k12]

download and upload are spot on, the ping is brilliant, i doubt its power levels, unless they are miles out (which they probably arent because the speeds and ping are fine)

[peachy001]

How do I get them?

I remember during the call that the lady at VM said my downstream should be 4db but was actually 7db.

Excuse my ignorance, but surely if I was having these power issues the speed test and any internet use would be affected too. I was quite pleased with my results posted above.

---------- Post added at 14:38 ---------- Previous post was at 14:30 ----------

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2011/04/32.png

If I let the guy send an engineer and they do alter the power levels is there a chance the figures above could get worse?

The guy I spoke to from the retentions team said they may have to alter my modem. I said that I did not want them to change anything or try and push me onto new equipment, and he said I shouldn't believe everything I see on the forums. He referred to the Superhub and said that the issues with those were all fixed now.

I explained a few more times to him that I was 99% sure the power levels were not the problem. I even mentioned the VM forum that ran to 28 pages regarding the Xbox issues. The frightening thing is they mirror the problem I am having, and they seem to have happened around the same time. I actually posted on the Xbox.com forums regarding some errors I was getting in February and I now know that it is all linked.

[craigj2k12]

http://192.168.100.1

follow the link, downstream and upstream pages have the connection stats on them

[peachy001]

Gave me 7.9dBmV on the downstream receive power level

33.4dBmV on the upstream

How do they stack up?

[pip08456]

SNR? It's actually better to copy and paste the full page so we can see other things like modulation etc.

[peachy001]

Sorry, was not sure what you needed.

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 98
Downstream Frequency : 307000000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 7.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 32.9 dB


Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 8
Upstream Frequency : 45800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 5120 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 30.4 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 4


How do they look?

[hedgie]

Mine as well ;)
Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 2
Upstream Frequency : 22200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QAM16
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 46.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 0
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 0.7 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 40.2 dB

Any thoughts

:confused:

[pip08456]

For QAM64 your downstrean is on the high side.

I'd like to see both SNR and upstream power a little higher.

---------- Post added at 16:00 ---------- Previous post was at 15:59 ----------

Mine as well ;)
Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 2
Upstream Frequency : 22200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QAM16
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 46.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 0
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 0.7 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 40.2 dB

Any thoughts

:confused:

Yours are fine.

[peachy001]

would it cause the issue though? And would it improve those other stats if I get them to come and check my power levels?

I will be on Battlefield BC2 again tonight but expect the same issues. Might put in a call to VM again and organise an engineer visit.

[craigj2k12]

would it cause the issue though? And would it improve those other stats if I get them to come and check my power levels?

it should do, it should also increase reliability, but dont let them install a hub or superhub

[peachy001]

To be honest, this connection has been superb in all the years I have had it, never an issue. I wanna stay with VM as I have had no other issues. Never had to call them for issues before (apart from some billing problems where the cost went up without telling me).

[gjbxxx]

Being host on Black Ops I get disconnected every few games. VM are a disgrace.

[peachy001]

Not played Black ops for a few months. But I know Battlefield BC2 is shocking for me at the moment. I am on tonight and I know what is coming. Turned it off last wednesday night as I just couldn't take any more of the disconnections, not been on since.

Called VM again, they still suggest getting my power levels fixed. So I will ask them to come out this week, they say they will come friday morning.

[nick2xuk]

I played for several hours on Saturday, Sunday and this morning with no problems whatsoever...

[*sloman*]

same for me in derby on black ops had random boot with 'disconnected from xbox live' messages.

Jager o'clock for me now so will try tomorrow.

[craigj2k12]

I played for several hours on Saturday, Sunday and this morning with no problems whatsoever...

it obviously never picked you as host

[nick2xuk]

it obviously never picked you as host

Possibly, I did play for several hours each day though - lots of games on CoD and didn't notice any drops outs or problems at all.

[peachy001]

They are sending an engineer on Friday am. I will see what he thinks and post the results of the visits. Did another speed test, same results as yesterday virtually.https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2011/04/20.png

When the guy comes he will change my modem I suspect and possibly the wireless kit too. Any thoughts on what I might get or what I should avoid?

[Chrysalis]

if the modem is swapped then you will get the hub or superhub. Thats all VM supply now via techs.

[pip08456]

They are sending an engineer on Friday am. I will see what he thinks and post the results of the visits. Did another speed test, same results as yesterday virtually.https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2011/04/20.png

When the guy comes he will change my modem I suspect and possibly the wireless kit too. Any thoughts on what I might get or what I should avoid?

As the problem does not appear to be with your kit (you may have a FPA fitted) but perhaps at trhe CMTS then your kit may not be changed. Most likely what will happen is the tech will come out, fit the FPA to reduce the downstream and then escalate to networks for whatever needs sorting at the CTMS or cab.

[peachy001]

FPA? They did tell me yesterday not to believed everything you read on forums. An told me th super hub was not too bad. The guy from Virgin said his was fine, since he changed the settings. He actually said wireless was not good though but because I had a Xbox it didn't matter as it would be wired. Pretty lousy comment if you ask me. Especially as it suggests that the super hub won't do wireless.

Big Battlefield bc2 session tonight so I will see how it holds up.

[craigj2k12]

FPA? They did tell me yesterday not to believed everything you read on forums. An told me th super hub was not too bad. The guy from Virgin said his was fine, since he changed the settings. He actually said wireless was not good though but because I had a Xbox it didn't matter as it would be wired. Pretty lousy comment if you ask me. Especially as it suggests that the super hub won't do wireless.

Big Battlefield bc2 session tonight so I will see how it holds up.

FPA = Forward Path Attenuator

[peachy001]

My stats seem to be getting worse (based on loudness)
PREVIOUS:
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 98
Downstream Frequency : 307000000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 7.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 32.9 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 8
Upstream Frequency : 45800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 5120 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 30.4 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 4


CURRENT
Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 97
Downstream Frequency : 299000000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 8.7 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 33.0 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 8
Upstream Frequency : 45800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 5120 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 33.4 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 4

Virgin say something has been altered at their end yesterday. I tried it last night and the difference was major. I didn't get a single disconnect. All Xbox menus loaded really quick too.

Tried youtube today and it seems to buffer better.

How do my stats look now?

---------- Post added at 21:22 ---------- Previous post was at 21:12 ----------

Can anyone tell me which high demand services are subject to some kind of throttling/shaping and to what extent. For example:

Xbox Live gaming
Xbox Marketplace downloads
Youtube
Skype
Facebook

Are the above limited to a % of the bandwidth or limited at certain times or what? Is there a max ceiling that the above features are limited to?

I just want know how much of my bandwidth is available for the above. I have looked on their site but can't find anything.

[peachy001]

Engineer has just been. Here are today's stats.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2011/04/10.png

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 99
Downstream Frequency : 315000000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 0.5 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 33.0 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 8
Upstream Frequency : 45800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 5120 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 39.2 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 4

[pip08456]

Those stats look much better.

[craigj2k12]

Those stats look much better.

yeah power levels are fine now, the only thing that should affect you is the p2p traffic management

[peachy001]

Cheers to the pair of you.

[Chrysalis]

you still have a noise issue affecting your upstream channel (QPSK) but that is probably something not localised to you but the rest looks good.

[peachy001]

Went on last night and the difference is night and day different to last weeks sessions. Even Youtube loads up and doesn't require constant buffering.

XBox Live was massively improved. I cannot confidently state though that it was not a hardware issue. The service improved on wednesday as VM changed the software at their end.[COLOR="Silver"]


If anyone knowledgable is still visiting this thread, got a question. If I move up to 30Mb do they have to send me new kit to do it?

Also, assuming they send me new kit, will my ping or other settings get worse. I am thinking they are OK at the min and my speed has been consistantly 9.75Mb or above since day one and my ping has been 9 or 10 since day one too.

[craigj2k12]

Went on last night and the difference is night and day different to last weeks sessions. Even Youtube loads up and doesn't require constant buffering.

XBox Live was massively improved. I cannot confidently state though that it was not a hardware issue. The service improved on wednesday as VM changed the software at their end.[COLOR="Silver"]


If anyone knowledgable is still visiting this thread, got a question. If I move up to 30Mb do they have to send me new kit to do it?

Also, assuming they send me new kit, will my ping or other settings get worse. I am thinking they are OK at the min and my speed has been consistantly 9.75Mb or above since day one and my ping has been 9 or 10 since day one too.

your ping might change, on 30mb you will be on docsis3 which may be more utilised depending on where you are, theres no way of telling apart from going for it, but if its rubbish, you can change back in 28 days.

you will also receive a superhub to replace your modem for the 30mb package

[peachy001]

The Superhub... oh, that's a pity. Even the guys on the disconnections team at Virgin said it was not the full shilling. One even stated that it is OK if you play around with the settings and don't need wireless. Kind of missing the whole point me thinks. Even then he said it was not perfect but pretty good. In fact everyone I spoke to at Virgin (aside from one chap that just wouldn't accept anything I may have got from a forum) said the Superhub was not there yet in terms of performance.

[pip08456]

I'm sure Masque will be along soon singing it's praises!:D:D

[craigj2k12]

I'm sure Masque will be along soon singing it's praises!:D:D

:notme:

[peachy001]

Well I can quite believe some are having a good the with it. Do you think they would let me keep the old kit until I had road tested the super hub?

Did try YouTube today and is was quite bad. Buffering all the time, I would have thought 10 Lb would be enough to stream them.

[pip08456]

You can't use your old kit on 30Mb as it is not Docsis3 compliant.

[peachy001]

And no chance of getting a 20Mb now. Bummer. Ok, I'll live with 10. I'm wondering if they will have 100 around here soon. Who knows, perhaps they may upgrade 10Mb users at some point.

[craigj2k12]

And no chance of getting a 20Mb now. Bummer. Ok, I'll live with 10. I'm wondering if they will have 100 around here soon. Who knows, perhaps they may upgrade 10Mb users at some point.

they might, but not to 100 lol

[peachy001]

20 would do me. I think 100 is overkill for my needs to honest. My use tends to be fairly minimal. Can I ask, what is the point of a 100 meg line when gaming and YouTube are limited to around 10meg anyway? Overkill.

[pip08456]

20 would do me. I think 100 is overkill for my needs to honest. My use tends to be fairly minimal. Can I ask, what is the point of a 100 meg line when gaming and YouTube are limited to around 10meg anyway? Overkill.

None whatsoever, its more for multiple user households.

[Chrysalis]

services like 100mbit and 50mbit dont really have mainstream use yet which makes pricing them to suit the masses silly anyway, those who want it will pay a higher price regardless.

[peachy001]

Well my gf use facebook sometimes, nothing too bandwidth hungry. I will stick with 10 and a good ping then.

[peachy001]

Phoned Virgin today 4 times, the second call was superb, the guy was great. Acknowledged the issue and said he had heard about it. Said he would help all he could, things were going swimmingly and then we got cut off. He didn't call back. I had much to do so left it a while then had a couple more calls that made my heart sink. Both claiming that the issue was more likely the Xbox. I was not happy.