Problems connecting to Game

[Wizer]

I am getting a bad connection to the HiTech Servers for the Main Arenas.  My problem is that when I log in, I get a long delay the list of arenas come up.  Then I get a long delay after selecting an arena.  My Ping rates are the same as always (63).  After I get into the arena I checked net status and variance is  terrible.  Is anyone else from the East Coast experiencing similar problems?

[Denholm]

Get PingPlotter and ping one of the HTC MA server IPs.

[Skuzzy]

If your "Variance" is all over the place, that indicates something locally is getting the attention of the CPU away from the game.  There are many things that can cause this.

Some of the more heinous ones include, but are not limited to, DoS attacks, inheriting an IP address from someone running P2P software, having run P2P software in the last 24 hours, spyware/malware/virus programs, and even the iPod service can wreak havoc with your computer.

[roadking]

I have the same problem, no ping rate in orange arena unless its overbooked and i cann't get in anyway.

[Chalenge]

Skuzzy could a bad router or cable/dsl box cause this sort of problem also?

[Skuzzy]

Usually it is the router or software firewall not configured properly.  There are also some software products, such as anti-virus or security programs that can cause it as well.  Norton plus Vista is a very bad combination, for example.  I lso recall one of the anti-spyware programs having this effect as well.

Sometimes it is a wireless connection which is getting a number of bit errors.  On occasion, it could be the router simply needing to be reset.

[Wizer]

If your "Variance" is all over the place, that indicates something locally is getting the attention of the CPU away from the game.  There are many things that can cause this.

Some of the more heinous ones include, but are not limited to, DoS attacks, inheriting an IP address from someone running P2P software, having run P2P software in the last 24 hours, spyware/malware/virus programs, and even the iPod service can wreak havoc with your computer.

Thanks Skuzzy.  My virus protection program is Trend Micro PC-cillan Internet Security 14 and includes spyware/malware programs.  I always turn off Trend Micro before logging on to Aces High and never had any problems before.  Is it possible that these spyware/malware programs are still active even if I had turned off Trend Micro PC-cillan Internet Security 14.  Additionally, have you heard of any problems associated with this program.   I ask because it is almost time to renew my subscription for the program.  Thanks       wizer

[Skuzzy]

I have not heard anything specific, but in general, by the very nature of how they work, Internet security programs can cause some really strange issues with most online games.

[Denholm]

Thanks Skuzzy.  My virus protection program is Trend Micro PC-cillan Internet Security 14 and includes spyware/malware programs.  I always turn off Trend Micro before logging on to Aces High and never had any problems before.  Is it possible that these spyware/malware programs are still active even if I had turned off Trend Micro PC-cillan Internet Security 14.  Additionally, have you heard of any problems associated with this program.   I ask because it is almost time to renew my subscription for the program.  Thanks       wizer

Wizer, I'm not trying to shove this on to you. It's merely a suggestion.

Perhaps you might consider dropping your current Internet Security application for the following tools:

Anti Virus: ESET NOD32 (Requires a subscription.)

Anti-Spyware / Malware: Spybot Search & Destroy (Freeware, yet beats out Ad-Aware.)

Anti-Rootkit: AVG Anti-Rootkit Free (As the name says, it's free. Just make sure to press the correct download button, that website has advertisements with it's own download buttons.)

[Wizer]

Wizer, I'm not trying to shove this on to you. It's merely a suggestion.

Perhaps you might consider dropping your current Internet Security application for the following tools:

Anti Virus: ESET NOD32 (Requires a subscription.)

Anti-Spyware / Malware: Spybot Search & Destroy (Freeware, yet beats out Ad-Aware.)

Anti-Rootkit: AVG Anti-Rootkit Free (As the name says, it's free. Just make sure to press the correct download button, that website has advertisements with it's own download buttons.)

Thanks for the suggestions  Denholm.  My Internet Security application is coming up for renewal and I am really interested in finding an application (or applications) that best suit my computer usage (Mostly Aces High and Email). 

[Denholm]

ESET NOD32 is, undoubtedly, the best Anti-Virus software available. You can configure and tweak it to suit your needs, you can ask it to automatically scan your system at certain times of the day, or disable the feature altogether. You can select what the scanner will look for during the scan, how detailed the scan will be, and if the scanner will skip any file types or files altogether. The makers of the software even went as far as allowing you to choose how NOD32 will handle certain software and how it will be scanned when it accesses the Internet.

For example, you can add applications telling NOD32, "These applications access the web, please watch out to make sure they don't do something stupid!" You can also configure NOD32 to show it which software is e-mail software so it can scan your messages for malicious code.

In the end it's a great Anti-Virus program worth considering, and yes, you can turn it off to play AH. The other programs I mentioned are all very good at what they do and are free. NOD32, combined with the other applications I mentioned, will keep your computer clean if you run at least one periodical scan with each application per week.

Happy flying.