vox problems - only receiving 1st second of vox transmissions

[RTHolmes]

starting a few days ago I only hear the 1st second or 2 of vox transmissions, both on range and squad, it then breaks up or completely drops out. apparently I'm ok transmitting.

so far i have:

checked net status - looks ok
tested in windows - talkback works just fine with no breakup or dropout
progressively reduced sound acceleration - no diff
deleted the cache folder - no diff
clean reinstalled with default settings - no diff

its driving me nuts - any ideas?

[Skuzzy]

I cannot ping or trace to your IP address from the game servers.  Might be related.

[RTHolmes]

I'll do a pingplot when i get a moment, had a few discos recently so it maybe a network issue, return path makes sense as transmit is apparently ok. dammit was really hoping it wasnt a network issue cus thats pretty much out of my hands


edit: seems my exchange has recently been upgraded to BT's new 21CN system. this is a pretty radical overhaul of the UK's comms network
http://www.btplc.com/21CN/Thetechnologyofthenetwork/21CNtechnologyintheUK/21CNtechnologyintheUK.htm

[fuzeman]

{ Completely useless but trying to be humorous }
This 'problem' could actually be a good feature to deal with squeakers if the cause was found and could be coded into the game.
{ Sorry, couldn't resist. It's the beer honest.  }

[RTHolmes]

still getting the same problem. did a pingplot before connecting and timelines for all of the hops which showed any packet loss in the first 10mins (small packet loss disappeared after a coupla mins):

http://www.lumbergh.aquiss.com/ah/ah_screenies/206.16.60.39.png

then did another 10min plot while logged in to AH and doing a talkback vox test, which was broken up badly:

http://www.lumbergh.aquiss.com/ah/ah_screenies/206.16.60.39-2.png

[Skuzzy]

How about a DXDIAG output?

Are you using any custom sounds?

Are you using the high resolution texture pack?

Are you running iTunes, or any other P2P software?

[RTHolmes]

I can do a DXDIAG if you like but everything hardware and software is unchanged and working as before, apart from incoming vox in AH.

when I did the clean install I removed all the files and tested without hires textures installed, default settings at default res.

I always run FSAuto before running the game, 22 processes including AH - just the essentials.

[fuzeman]

I assume your headset or speakers is plugged into the same jack as they were before, correct?
So for example, you haven't moved them from in back of the computer to a jack in front panel.

[RTHolmes]

finally got to test this properly: fired up my old PC, installed latest version of AH, got exactly the same problem.

switched to a different router, got the same result.

this leaves my network connection as the only possible cause. pingplotter plots look ok to me, is there a way of testing UDP in a similar way?


btw got a squaddie to test it by counting to 20. missed a couple of numbers up to 10, and most of them between 11-20. also noticed kill messages taking a while to appear recently sometimes.

[Skuzzy]

VOX is all UDP based, so it is possible to get "broken" transmission if the connection is losing data packets.

[RTHolmes]

ah I assumed it would be. is there anything specific I can take to my ISP rather than a vague "my game doesnt work"? They are very helpful, but would be good to give them something to work with.

thanks.

[Skuzzy]

I htink Ping Plotter has an option to use UDP packets for its traces.  See if it can pick up any packet loss.

[RTHolmes]

will check it, ty

[RTHolmes]

ok looks like a problem with UDP then, using pingplotter's UDP option it shows lots of loss (and route changes, although for UDP thats normal iirc). will take it to my ISP. didnt mean to take up time on yr day off, thanks for the help - now go get a beer

http://www.lumbergh.aquiss.com/ah/ah_screenies/206.16.60.39-udp.png

[Skuzzy]

Routes should not be changing.  It could be an AT&T issue as well.  I'll get a trouble ticket dispatched as well.