Questions about gaming lag, virgin & infinity... - Page 3

Chrysalis · 19-05-2013, 20:12

For speeds it isnt universally perfect correct as they can vary base on line length and quality. However jitter wise its pretty consistent across the country which is by the way what the topic is about. Whilst VM has huge swings based on where you are.

Qtx · 19-05-2013, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

I think the danger is to paint the Infinity option as a perfect paradise. It may well be the case that yours and the others lines are better than the VM one they replaced but this does not make this a universal truth.

I have attached a screen shot I took earlier this month from the first page of the BT Infinity support forum, as you can see they have problems too ..

I wouldn't claim any isp is perfect and I agree that everyone here who switched not having problems doesn't make it a universal truth. It is pretty close to being a universal truth though!. Knowing the topology and technology of VM and the other providers network, where the bottlenecks are, the amount of available bandwidth at different parts of the network along with the testimonies of customers all go to build up a picture of VM not being the best choice for gamers.

As for the screenie, how many of those circled were found to be problems with the FTTC connection in the end? That is how meaningful the screenshot is compared to tech savvy users giving their honest opinion after using multiple isp's (within a recent timeframe)

**Hugh** · 19-05-2013, 20:49

Quote:

That is how meaningful the screenshot is compared to tech savvy users giving their honest opinion after using multiple isp's (within a recent timeframe)

One should imagine that would be a fairly small sample, and would an 'honest opinion' be one that agreed with yours?

Qtx · 19-05-2013, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

One should imagine that would be a fairly small sample, and would an 'honest opinion' be one that agreed with yours?

You can say its a small sample or anecdotal but the writing is on the wall

Someone giving an opinion based on their own experiences with VM and another fibre provider has nothing to do with agreeing with me. More people having similar experiences however tends to give weight to what is being said, no matter what the topic. It just so happens that this topic is about gaming lag, in which VM compare poorly to other fibre providers.

ianch99 · 19-05-2013, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

If you post a tracert to a couple of the Black Ops servers you are using, some of us on the higher tier products could run the same trace so you can see if what you are currently getting can be bettered?

Here's a pathping report to a UK Black Ops server (well I think it is

)

Quote:

$ pathping 173.199.76.16

Tracing route to 173.199.76.16.choopa.net [173.199.76.16]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
0 ianch-xp.chalea.co.uk [192.168.0.118]
1 ianch-router [192.168.0.1]
2 cpc9-sotn8-2-0-gw.15-1.cable.virginmedia.com [82.25.182.1]
3 sotn-core-2b-ae6-707.network.virginmedia.net [80.4.226.233]
4 brhm-bb-1b-ae13-0.network.virginmedia.net [62.253.175.34]
5 ae1.lon25.ip4.tinet.net [77.67.65.161]
6 xe-0-2-0.lon11.ip4.tinet.net [89.149.185.70]
7 4.68.110.113
8 195.50.122.154
9 173.199.76.16.choopa.net [173.199.76.16]

Computing statistics for 225 seconds...
Source to Here This Node/Link
Hop RTT Lost/Sent = Pct Lost/Sent = Pct Address
0 ianch-xp.chalea.co.uk [192.168.0.118]
0/ 100 = 0% |
1 0ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% ianch-router [192.168.0.1]
0/ 100 = 0% |
2 21ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% cpc9-sotn8-2-0-gw.15-1.cable.virginmedia.com [82.25.182.1]
0/ 100 = 0% |
3 18ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% sotn-core-2b-ae6-707.network.virginmedia.net [80.4.226.233]
0/ 100 = 0% |
4 25ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% brhm-bb-1b-ae13-0.network.virginmedia.net [62.253.175.34]
0/ 100 = 0% |
5 30ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% ae1.lon25.ip4.tinet.net [77.67.65.161]
0/ 100 = 0% |
6 29ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% xe-0-2-0.lon11.ip4.tinet.net [89.149.185.70]
0/ 100 = 0% |
7 --- 100/ 100 =100% 100/ 100 =100% 4.68.110.113
0/ 100 = 0% |
8 29ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 195.50.122.154
0/ 100 = 0% |
9 24ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 173.199.76.16.choopa.net [173.199.76.16]

Trace complete.

Sigma · 20-05-2013, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Yes - as part of the speed doubling, you'd get a Superhub which will support up to 4 upstream channels.

How many upstream channels should be locked on? I have a Superhub on the 60 Mbps tier and while I'm locked on to 4 downstream channels, I'm only locked on to 1 upstream: -

Chrysalis · 20-05-2013, 08:02

dont forget the ASA slapped VM on gaming performance. As ofcom data is proof in the pudding, it shows even adsl providers significantly outperform VM.

Sephiroth · 20-05-2013, 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigma

How many upstream channels should be locked on? I have a Superhub on the 60 Mbps tier and while I'm locked on to 4 downstream channels, I'm only locked on to 1 upstream: -

Two upstream channels are usually offered when you have 6 downstream or more. VM do the downstream area upgrades first.

Your area might not have yet been upgraded.

Harryn9000 · 21-05-2013, 13:32

call of duty black ops and fifa are both host based by one person is server so 9/10 it ain't ur connection for black ops u could be paired with someone in europe or the usa i paired with french and german quite a lot of the time. the only game FPS that i no is decicated servers is BF3

yorkshireborn · 23-05-2013, 14:09

I play world of tanks before the free upgrade I was on 20 meg with a ping of 11 never really had any lag issues since the free upgrade my ping has hardly ever been less than 50 it hovers around the 65/70 and the lag has at times been terrible to the point of not playing online games any longer.

Sephiroth · 23-05-2013, 21:59

Have you tried modem mode?

If that doesn't work, the usual reason is that whereas previously you were on an underutilised legacy network (as in channels and VM servers), when you were upgraded, you were put onto the DOCSIS 3 network shared with a much larger number of people. Although you have more downstream channels than before, it is possible, nay likely, that the ratio of users to capacity on the DOCSIS 3 network is higher than on the legacy network.

Sarge75 · 01-06-2013, 18:33

Ok guys, i see the new superhub has now been released and was wondering would the new hub in itself offer any improvement to gaming?

If i was to pay to upgrade to get one and my connection ended up being worse is there any chance i could get them to put me back on 20mb using the new hub?

Could i even just pay for the new hub to use on my existing connection?

My concern is that other than the gaming lag my connection works great i can use iplayer, youtube etc without the buffering problems that i see a lot of you guys suffering from, so i don't want to be stuck paying more money for a worse connection.

Any advice???

Carth · 21-09-2013, 13:02

First post on here for a long time (welcome back Carth) hehe

Anyways, 20meg connection, small grey virgin (ambit? ) modem with similar issues as those above when playing online games:

* World of Tanks - had to give up as lag/jitter made it unplayable really

* DayZ - inconsistent would probably explain it. Ping starts fine at around 20 ish, then around 5 minutes later ranges around 80 to 150. Ping tests & tracerts to the server show no loss or high counts ( I believe one hop of 33ms was highest).
Last night was awful, I even experienced a massive Desync issue that none of the other players had.

I have no unnecessary programs running while playing.
Various speedtests show favourable results 16 - 20 meg). Had a look at modem config and all seems within the limits.

Here's the thing, I often play with a clan mate who lives 4 doors away and is also on 20 meg NTL - he gets a constant ping or 18 to 22 with little or no lag/jitter and both games play well for him.

Others on the server experience no issues either.

The only thing I can see that may cause a problem is high (90 to 98%) CPU useage - could all the above be caused by that ?

Kushan · 21-09-2013, 13:15

I'd say you'd be worth updating your equipment to a DOCSIS3 capable device. It could be that you just happen to be on a congested channel.

EDIT: Way, small grey modem? Do you have a modem number? Sounds like you might have a really really old modem, possibly one that's not even capable of reliably handling 20meg. They all tend to be black (Ambit 256, SB5100, etc.).

Sephiroth · 21-09-2013, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qtx

You can say its a small sample or anecdotal but the writing is on the wall

Someone giving an opinion based on their own experiences with VM and another fibre provider has nothing to do with agreeing with me. More people having similar experiences however tends to give weight to what is being said, no matter what the topic. It just so happens that this topic is about gaming lag, in which VM compare poorly to other fibre providers.

From personal experience, I would agree more with the qualifications Chrys has advised.

In our house, currently, the FPS gamnig experience is better on VM XXL than on BT Infinity 80/20. The lag on my Infinity circuit is twice that of VM - possibly due to the aluminium run to the FTTC box. Whatever is causing the poor SNR margin - nothing we do improves that.

Is there a trick to try?

---------- Post added at 12:24 ---------- Previous post was at 12:20 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth

.....,.

The only thing I can see that may cause a problem is high (90 to 98%) CPU useage - could all the above be caused by that ?

Is that PC CPU usage? And is it down to other process running at the same time?

Queuing theory tells me that there is a long service queue which may well show up as latency. But that's theory not knowing what's actually happening on your CPU or indeed what that CPU is.