Author Topic: Horrible connections (Read 1210 times)

hedbang · « **on:** October 19, 2007, 05:03:29 PM »

OK gang. I hope you can help me out with an old boring topic. I've been reading the boards but I'm out of ideas.

Within the past couple of weeks my AH connection quality has gone down the drain. I thought it might have to do with a new router, but I'm now bypassing that altogether. I've run a few generic online connection tests and the results seem fine as far as up and download speeds. One test tells me my packet loss and overall quality is good. I dont have the specific numbers from that though.

I do have an AMD dual core cpu but Ive download the patch from AMD...no change. I've set my Compatibility back to Win Me...no change. I've followed the generic steps from the other boards, but I applied those recommendations some time ago and my current problems are more recent.

Another post mentioned something about Comcast using Tier 3 technology.
I have no idea what that is but I'm hoping somone out there has an opinion on that.

If I had to ask for something specific, it woud be What are the best steps to take as far as a process of elimination to narrow down where specifically the problem lies (modem, windows settings, ISP, etc) I'm not network or computer geek so please use laymans terms with me.

I will add I did replace the modem recently but my problems seemed to start creeping in before that.

Thanks for any ideas.
Hedbang

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2007, 05:09:12 PM »

Welcome to Comcast.

You are aware they got busted for reducing the priority of network traffic to/from ports which are not part of the standard Internet suite of comm programs (smtp, pop3, imap, telnet, ftp,....).

As the traffic on thier network increases, the reduce the prioritiy of all non-traditional Internet traffic through thier network.

The primary point of this appears to be to the high bandwidth users (bit torrent).

I understand other ISP's may be doing this as well. This is going to impact all game traffic if they do. Not just for us, but for any online game.

hedbang · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2007, 05:25:33 PM »

Skuzzy,

So if this is the case, I assume changing ISP's is the only thing I can do. (?)

I neglected to describe what my connection symptoms are...if it makes any difference.

From the tower or in the air, everyone around me seems to jump and surge around, even the gv's. And this isnt subtle or sporadic. Same days seem worse than others, but its typically enough to make it unplayable for me.

Is that a sympom of anything specific?

Thanks again
HB

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2007, 06:07:11 AM »

That would be symptomatic of what they are said to be doing.

The Fugitive · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2007, 09:27:47 AM »

if you get "pingplotter" (a free program) and run a few pings to HTC servers (see Skuzzy's tech post for the address) and post a screen shot here we can see if your trouble really is ISP related. And if you ask real nice Skuzzy might run a ping back to you (return trips are on different paths) to see if there is a problem there.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2007, 09:33:08 AM »

Actually, Ping Plotter will not give you any clue to what Comcast may be doing.

And if they are doing what has been reported they are doing, there is not anything anyone can do to stop them. It is thier network and they can run it as they see fit.

Most people who want a broadband connection usually have no choice as to who provides it. Some do, but most do not.

hedbang · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2007, 09:35:32 AM »

Short of trying another modem, is there a decent way to check if thats my problem rather than the ISP?

The one thing I dont really understand is the online speed tests show my packet loss and jitter is in the 'good' range.... though sometimes a little inconsistent test to test. I suppose those tests have limitations. Even watching the ping graph within Aces High shows a flat line between 47 and 63. The only 'test' giving me any indication of some internet issue is seeing other planes surge.

I'll probably try another modem just to cover all the bases. If I don't figure something out, I'm not going to be able to fly. :-(

Thanks again,
HB

The Fugitive · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2007, 09:53:42 AM »

Speed test show your upload and download speeds by timing a set amount of data. They don't really check your connection. Here speed isn't that big a factor, quality is.

Is your problem only with the game? Do you use other on line games with out any trouble? To you bop around the internet with out a problem? If it is with this game only, it might not be a connection issue.

I'd run ping plotter. Set it up and let it run for 10-15 minutes, make sure you are pinging the game server, not the web server (see Skuzzys "connection" post for the addresses).

If you have Comcast, and they are messing with the priorities like Skuzzy says you won't be able to pin point that, but you should be able to see the quality of your connection. If your loosing a lot of packets, or the delay is real high (over 300ms sucks) you'll know its your connection causing you grief.

On the other hand, if its in the 30ms-40ms range with no packet lose, your connection is fine and you might have to look else where. Next, I'd run a DXdiag and post the first third here. Maybe you added a program or two recently and its running in the background and eating up CPU cycles (hit and check how many processes are running).

The more info you post, the better we can help.

hedbang · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2007, 11:48:01 PM »

I tracked down a thread I must have missed before, mentioning windows power settings and double checking sound card drivers. I changed both and early signs are that things are better. It's too late at night for me to give it a good try now but I'll hopefully have some time tomorrow.

If the problem is still there I'll pursue the ping plot and dxdiag info.

I appreciate the help

HeadBang

Ghastly · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2007, 03:27:27 PM »

One more time ...

PingPlotter won't tell you if Comcast is prioritizing certain packet types over others.

And I don't believe that they are alone. It's been my suspicion for coming up on two years now that certain ISP's were *already* prioritizing ICMP packets, so that their network would look "better" than it might actually be when you try to run "ping" or traceroute style diagnostics.

(This is solely a suspicion, based upon the observation that more and more frequently, testing using TCP port 80 based packets will show routing and loss anomalies that essentially mirror the issues that I might be troubleshooting - while ICMP based traffic sails cleanly through showing no problems. )

The only way to really really tell would be to run testing to and from the same port ranges that appear to be problematic - which is pretty much what (*caveat, I believe!) the in game net status monitor appears to do.

hedbang · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2007, 04:20:11 PM »

For what its worth, it appears my problems have been resolved. :-) I'm not sure which did the trick, but I updated my sound card drivers and changed my Windows power options from Minimal Power Management to Home/Office. I have a feeling it was the latter that made the difference.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

HB