Host Connection Lost

[Tazz69]

Over the last 2 days I have received a 'Host Connection Lost' or a 'UDP stopped receiving, Switching t...'. My question is this...Is it something that's causing this from my computer or is it possible that something has changed with the new patch? i have been playing this game for almost 3 years and have almost never had this occur, once a month maybe, but not like it has been so many times in the last 2 days. Thanx.


Tazz69, CO
69th FG ~Rampant Lions~

[The Fugitive]

The internet is a fickled beast, sun spot can cause you to loose your connection.

Download Ping Plotter its freeware, and install it. Type in the address for the main arena, 206.16.60.41 and let it ping for about 10 minutes pinging every few seconds. What your looking for a zero percent packet lose. Anything that shows up "red" is bad. Take a screen shot and post the picture here if your not sure what you have.

[Skuzzy]

The message, "Losing UDP, switching to TCP" is the game trying to maintain its connection in the face of lost packets.  If the switch does not fix the "lost/dropped packet" problem, the game has no choice but to abort.

This is normally something between your computer and the server, such as an overloaded router, but it could also be your local connection.  If you are using a wireless connection, then that will be a tempermental connection and los packets all the time.  If you are behind a router, try turning off the router and back on again.

Consumer grade routers are notorious for getting a bit sloppy after being on for a while.

[Tazz69]

I ran a ping plotter 10 minutes and had a ' 90% lost packets ' message. I also check my cable connection and it's good. Any ideas on how I correct or prevent this data loss? This is a problem that only started in the last 2 weeks, after 3 years of no troubles playing. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

[The Fugitive]

It depends on where the lose is happening. In most cases you'll have to call your ISP and jump through a lot of hoops to get anything done.

[Skuzzy]

Generally speaking, assuming the loss is within control of your ISP, you would send them the data from Ping Plotter and hope they will fix it.  In these situations you need to get a hold of someone other than first line support as they only will talk to you about your local Internet connection, which may not be the problem.

If you post the Ping Plot data, I can make a more detailed recommendation.

[Tazz69]

I talked to my ISP provider, ran Virus scans, Malware programs and Spybot programs and all are good. I'm not sure how to send my saved ping plot to here, but i have also talked to a few other guys in the game and more than a few are having the same problem the last couple of weeks. i can only be online in the game for about 10-15 minutes then i lose ' Host Connection'. Being that it has only started since the last patch, we are all wondering if it is possible it has to do with a server. I appoligize for all this trouble I'm sure I'm causing you Skuzzy, I do appreciate all your help on this matter. i extremely enjoy playing this game, I just hope to resolve this issue so i can actually play for more than 10 minutes at a time! LOL If you can let me know how to save my ping plot information here, I'm sure that the problem can be identified and corrected so i can stop bothering you. lol.  Thanks again.

[Tazz69]

hop 16, pl% 10, IP 4.69.153.94, DNSName ae-3-3.car1.Philadelphia1.level3.net  avg 94, cur ERR

i didn't type out the whole thing, but this was the only place I seen a lost packet error, I'm not sure if this is enough information, let me know if you need more and what is needed. Thanks Skuzzy, your a good man. LOL

[Skuzzy]

That is the problem hop for you.  Level3 has been over selling thier service for some time now.  They are the primary carrier for Netflix.  As of last month Netflix consumes 35 to 38% of the total Internet bandwidth available in the U.S. between the hours of 6PM and 10PM CST.

Netflix is killing Level3's bandwidth.  Any ISP using them is experiencing the same packet loss issues.  There is really nothing we can do about it.

[ebfd11]

Another thing Skuzzy is with the recent storms up here in the NE alot of the wires for the cable, electric and telepone were taaken down so they will have problems in the Philly area.

LawnDart

[Skuzzy]

That is true.  The East coast, in general, is still a mess since the hurricane this year, with follow on weather hampering repairs.

Still, if you have Level3 in your path to the servers, you can be assured of loosing data packets during primetime Internet usage in the U.S.

[Tazz69]

Thanks Skuzzy for your help. I guess I'll have to hope that the problem will be fixed soon by them. It's been a frustrating couple of weeks. It sucks not being able to be online for more than 10 minutes at a time. After playing this game for over 3 years, it would suck really bad if I have to walk away from it because of this. :-( Hopefully it'll be fixable before long. Thanks again for all your help. <S>

[ImADot]

Hope all ends well - I hate to see anyone who want to play be unable to play.

In the meantime, if the connection issues get particularly crappy, perhaps download and play around with the terrain editor. We can now upload custom terrains to the Custom Arena area. Who knows, you might even find a passion for terrains (or a new respect for the guys that make them). 

[Skuzzy]

Thanks Skuzzy for your help. I guess I'll have to hope that the problem will be fixed soon by them. It's been a frustrating couple of weeks. It sucks not being able to be online for more than 10 minutes at a time. After playing this game for over 3 years, it would suck really bad if I have to walk away from it because of this. :-( Hopefully it'll be fixable before long. Thanks again for all your help. <S>

Honestly Tazz, for that type of fix to happen it is going to take a lot of complaining from the people who have the problem.

Level3 has a reputation for overselling thier bandwidth and they do not care what kind of problems it causes.

[doright]

I've been getting kicked a lot lately too. Did a PingPlotter and here is a pretty typical event:

Anything that can be done about it?