Broadband speed things (live related)...

invalid_session · 10-11-2003, 19:56

Hello one and all

A few questions if I may

Recently, I've been 'aving a bit of of trouble with the ol' Xbox and Live. Seems my ping and upload are all over the place... pretty bad if you're madly addicted to the whole thing.

So, anyway, I have a 1mb connection and I thought I'd investigate. Seems I can only get about 512k download and 256k upstream. I thought this was the norm until reading the FAQ sticky... which kind of leads me to believe I should have 1024k download. I didn't think that was the case, but can someone confirm, hmm??

I checked this over with docsdiag, which confirms the settings at 1024/256. Running some speed tests came back with an average of 479/186kbps through a router.

Just generaly musings really... I'm not complaining or anything, just trying to get it right in my head

It is only rainbow six that really lags (I usually sit there with one, maybe two stars) and I can hardly ever host properly (ports set up fine, a buddy has the same set up in London and hosts eight to ten people fine).

Ah well, Stargate is on... enough from me for the time being

Thanks!

Elliot Coad · 10-11-2003, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by invalid_session

Hello one and all

A few questions if I may

Recently, I've been 'aving a bit of of trouble with the ol' Xbox and Live. Seems my ping and upload are all over the place... pretty bad if you're madly addicted to the whole thing.

So, anyway, I have a 1mb connection and I thought I'd investigate. Seems I can only get about 512k download and 256k upstream. I thought this was the norm until reading the FAQ sticky... which kind of leads me to believe I should have 1024k download. I didn't think that was the case, but can someone confirm, hmm??

I checked this over with docsdiag, which confirms the settings at 1024/256. Running some speed tests came back with an average of 479/186kbps through a router.

Just generaly musings really... I'm not complaining or anything, just trying to get it right in my head

It is only rainbow six that really lags (I usually sit there with one, maybe two stars) and I can hardly ever host properly (ports set up fine, a buddy has the same set up in London and hosts eight to ten people fine).

Ah well, Stargate is on... enough from me for the time being

Thanks!

Have you read my thread? (directly below this one). I'm having the same troubles, do you find it's worse at night than earlier than in the day? If so it sounds like you have too many users on your exchange (God I sound like I know what I'm on about, but this is what I have gathered from the repsonses I got in my thread).

Anyway, this is the right place to ask, these people are v. helpful.

invalid_session · 10-11-2003, 22:17

Yea, I did read your thread - very helpful!!

I believe it is purely down to who/where and what time I'm on - I've been watching what has been going on most of the night and now, after 10, the bandwidth has started to increase! Woo! Most of my troubles are on the weekend, so that'd explain a thing or too. It's up to 653/236 now... the above FAQ is correct, so at least I know it is capable of 1024dl

I guess that is Reading for you... tsk!

It is sometimes frustrating though as it is totally beyond my control as to what happens... oh well!

Thanks for the response

Elliot Coad · 10-11-2003, 23:05

Woah, that's freaky you should mention it getting better after 10pm. I just came back from a Live session because it was working ok, it fluctuated but it was bearable and great in parts.

invalid_session · 11-11-2003, 12:32

Hello mate. I've been reading some more about potential problems with cable and, if the information is correct, everyone in a particular cable segment shares the same bandwidth up to the head-end of the network. So, if there are a few bandwidth hogs out there on your segment, they'll be consuming upload/download bandwidth (the one could also affect the other...), thus affecting everyone else.

It only takes a few subscribers to do this...

I guess my problems are the same as yours, just different areas. I guess there isn't a need for both threads... mods, feel free to close as my original question has been answered (i.e. download speeds).

invalid_session · 19-11-2003, 08:42

Hiya Folks...

Follow up for you.... dismal performance over the past week. I can no longer play Moto GP 2 (tested after new patch) properly and hosted sessions no longer work. Xbox reports, on average, 10k/sec upload.

But, unless NTL block Xbox activity for none-Xbox package subscribers (

), the Xbox is at fault. Everything else works fine and I get proper performance from other high-bandwidth usage and even through Xbox Connect.

So, new Xbox I think or another network card to hijack the PC connection 'cos I know that works

Cheers!

invalid_session · 22-11-2003, 13:11

Well, Xbox isn't to blame - the connection is still buggered. I'm going to get in touch with support when I have a day off (wish me luck!!)

Only thing I could pinpoint as a problem is the "Upstream Transmit Power Level" is sitting at 57.0 dBmv... anybody think this could be the cause of the poor upstream performance? I'm also running some other speed tests to gain as much information as possible - last night, it told me my connection wasn't fast enough to join a Midtown Madness session!!

invalid_session · 23-11-2003, 14:33

Called support - apparently, there are problems in the RG6 area of Reading, something to do with CAT upgrades (beats me?!). Andrew, from the support desk, said to keep an eye on the freephone server status number ("There are no current problems on the NTL network...") or the website. Me no think they show upgrades on there, but if there are problems in a few weeks then he suggested I call back.

invalid_session · 24-11-2003, 19:31

huzzah! God bless ya NTL

"Upstream frequency alterations will result in a brief loss of service to customers in the Bolton, Clifton, Aldershot, Warwick, Stafford and Reading areas."

source: http://www.ntl-isp.ntl.com/lookup/default.asp

Zorilla · 24-11-2003, 20:54

I'm RG6 too (lower Earley).

My connection is very erratic (mainly upstream)!

Once Southern Electric get on-line with their 1Meg up and down, I'm 'out-o-here'

invalid_session · 25-11-2003, 11:10

Cool - you probably live just around the corner

At least I know it isn't just the connection from our place though. I'm stuck playing Crimson Skies at the minute, not that I mind really (in the top 500). But when others complain about lag in stuff like Moto GP, is gets annoying as it is totally beyond my control. Looks like I just got a lucky break playing over XBC; it's gone well dodgy now, with pings (when playing) of around 700-ish! Plus, the kids are complaining about poor gaming on their PC too...

Ah well, I guess we'll see what happens over the week. No way it should be as bad as the Xbox is reporting.

Just out of interest, if you go into the network settings and click connect, then press 'Y' when connected, what does your UL/DL say?

edit: Mods, cheers for moving...

invalid_session · 26-11-2003, 22:37

Still having problems at the minute - I guess work continues. I did notice, however, that the notice posted on the server status page has changed from upstream config to load balancing...

DrAwesome · 27-11-2003, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorilla

I'm RG6 too (lower Earley).

My connection is very erratic (mainly upstream)!

Once Southern Electric get on-line with their 1Meg up and down, I'm 'out-o-here'

I have adsl 2meg atm on a 50:1 ratio connected to live with a static ip addr (cost Ã‚Â£39.99 a month) i have also still got my 1meg NTL BB connection, and i have found my adsl connection is much better on XBL at night time/weekends (peek time) than running on my 1meg NTL BB connection

Zorilla · 27-11-2003, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrAwesome

...atm on a 50:1 ratio ...

I feel that I should know what your talking about, but I don't!!

Are you saying that NTL is worse, even though it has a better spec?

invalid_session · 27-11-2003, 13:37

I think so >_<

Anyway man, I checked out the SE BB stuff - didn't realise it was over the electricity cables! That's pretty cool! I registered my interest, so I hope they get it sorted soon - 1mb up, 1mb down is pretty damn sweet!

Anyone else wanna give the 'Y' diagnostics on their Xbox a go?? Would help guage typical results, especially if you have 1mb NTL