What is Ping

[uptown]

The reason I ask is before this last patch my ping would always be anywhere between 40 to 60. Now it varies from 50 to as much as 400. I haven't changed anything on my end and I'm getting discoed from the game from time to time. This wasn't the case before the last patch. Is a high ping good or bad, why would the latest patch affect it and do I need to find a way to get it back down to what it was? Do I even have a way to control ping or is it just out of my hands and I have to live with what I got.

Also, I've noticed that during log in I'm experiencing frequent packet loss when ping is high. Does high ping rates usually result in packet loss?


Okay, I looked up what ping is. It's the time it takes for packets to go to and from my computer to the server. Correct? So why would the latest patch effect that? 

[SIK1]

The patch has nothing to do with your ping. High ping rates are indicative of issues along the route from your computer to HTC's servers. The higher ping rate and the latest patch coming out is purely coincidental.
You can download PingPlotter and run a trace of your connection to help identify trouble spots. See this post by Fugitive for a better explanation on how to do it.
 

To test your connection you can download PingPlotter It's a free program used to test the connection. In stall it and in the box type the server address for the game server 71.252.137.149 Let it ping for once every second for 10 minutes or so. Any "red" is bad. If you want more details, take a screen shot of the program and post it here.

The original thread can be found here: http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,352621.0.html

[uptown]

Thanks for the reply SIK1. I did what you suggested and here is what I came up with. I have no idea what it's telling me though Can anyone make heads or tails out of this?

[Skuzzy]

That ping plot sample looks fine.  Did you do it when the ping was high in the game?

Also note, the ping varying wildly can be a sign the CPU is being taken away from the game for short periods of time.  Check the CPU usage in the Task Manager, under the "Processes" tab.  When the game is not running, the CPU usage should almost always be at 0.  If it is bouncing higher than that, then you may have found the culprit.

If your computer is running Windows 7, or later, you can also use the "Resource Monitor" to see even more information about what where your computer resources are being spent.

Packet loss is almost always an Internet related issue.  Usually indicating a router in the path, between your computer and the server is having a difficult time managing its network load.

Please keep in mind, schools are starting back up in the U.S. and this ALWAYS causes a lot of Internet problems, for a while.

[uptown]

That ping plot sample looks fine.  Did you do it when the ping was high in the game?

Also note, the ping varying wildly can be a sign the CPU is being taken away from the game for short periods of time.  Check the CPU usage in the Task Manager, under the "Processes" tab.  When the game is not running, the CPU usage should almost always be at 0.  If it is bouncing higher than that, then you may have found the culprit.

If your computer is running Windows 7, or later, you can also use the "Resource Monitor" to see even more information about what where your computer resources are being spent.

Packet loss is almost always an Internet related issue.  Usually indicating a router in the path, between your computer and the server is having a difficult time managing its network load.

Please keep in mind, schools are starting back up in the U.S. and this ALWAYS causes a lot of Internet problems, for a while.

Thanks for the quick reply Skuzzy! I took that shot after I reset my router. Went back to the game and ping was 50 to 60  I always run FSAUTOSTART before logging in and have the running processes down to 20 or 21 ....I'm running XP. And good point about the schools...never thought of that. They started yesterday.
Anyhooooo, I'm glad to hear the ping plot looks good. I had no idea if it looked good or bad  Thanks again for your help sir. 

[fuzeman]

Think of a ping as a sonor ping from a submarine. Very rough analogy but I thihnk it fits.
I'm sure if it isn't, or even it it is, somebody will say something.

[uptown]

Think of a ping as a sonor ping from a submarine. Very rough analogy but I thihnk it fits.
I'm sure if it isn't, or even it it is, somebody will say something.

Now you're talking my kind of language 

[bustr]

Ever once in awhile I have to reset my router. Sometimes what you experienced is the router needed a reset or it's getting old.

Sometime it's after surfing the net your IP gets scanned repeatedly by devices located in a hotel room in china if you check your logs and trace the IP's ownership. The devices auto tests lists of IP captured from clicking on WEB page advertisements on the Internet. Or prono browsing.......

Over the years I've back traced events to my router WEB interface to IP addresses in china that are under fire with lawsuits for essentially DOS attacking your router's WEB port. China thumbs their nose on these legal activities from what I can tell.

Recently I discovered the Chinese have begun purchasing the US based sources for those irritating adds on the borders of WEB pages saying click here for secrets to weight loss, sexual prowess or other emotional drivel. Americans click on just about anything based on key emotional buzz words.