internet gaming on xbox360

[donkey1982]

hello not very technical minded and have had enough of phoning vm. was wandering if one of you fine people can have a look at my internet readings as i am having trouble when trying to host games on my xbox360. people are always complaining of lag when i host even though im on 20meg when i do speedtest on pc i regulary get 17000kb/s - 21000kb/2 download and 710kb/s - 730kb/s upload. i do use a netgear router but have tried direct connection with no diferrence in quality. got other friends on same internet package and some on less who can host games no problem and it is really getting to me! thankyou!

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/06/44.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Cable Modem Information
[ADMIN EDIT (Russ) - modem information removed]

Cable Modem Status
Item Status Comments
Acquire a Downstream Channel 586750000 Hz Locked
Connectivity State OK Operational
Boot State OK Operational

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 2
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : -2.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 32.4 dB

Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 5
Upstream Frequency : 41584000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 44.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Cable Modem Upstream Burst




Req


Init Maint


Per Maint


Short Data


Long Data


(1)


(3)


(4)


(5)


(6)
Modulation Type QPSK QPSK QPSK QPSK QPSK
Differential Encoding Off Off Off Off Off
Preamble Length 64 128 128 72 80
Preamble Value Offset 184 128 128 176 168
FEC Error Correction (T) 0 5 5 4 9
FEC Codeword Information Bytes (k) 16 34 34 76 236
Scrambler Seed 338 338 338 338 338
Maximum Burst Size 0 0 0 12 0
Guard Time Size 8 48 48 8 8
Last Codeword Length Fixed Fixed Fixed Short Short
Scrambler on/off On On On On On

Cable Modem Operation Configuration
Network Access : Allowed
Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 20480000
Maximum Upstream Data Rate : 768000
Maximum Upstream Channel Burst : 1600
Maximum Number of CPEs : 1
Modem Capability : Concatenation Enabled, Fragametation Enabled, PHS Disabled

Cable Modem Event Log
First Time Last Time Priority Description
Mon Jun 09 07:00:07 2008 Mon Jun 09 07:00:07 2008 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - ...
Sat Jun 07 07:10:22 2008 Sat Jun 07 07:10:22 2008 Warning (5) DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response
Thu Jun 05 13:34:45 2008 Thu Jun 05 13:34:45 2008 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - ...
Tue Jun 03 19:10:32 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:32 2008 Information (7) CableModem software upgrade failed
Tue Jun 03 19:10:32 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:32 2008 Error (4) SW upgrade Failed after download - Incompatible SW file
Tue Jun 03 19:10:32 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:32 2008 Information (7) SW dload: Invalid image signature!
Tue Jun 03 19:10:30 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:30 2008 Notice (6) SW Download INIT - Via Config file cmreg-ntlhm250-bund03.cm
Tue Jun 03 19:10:30 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:30 2008 Information (7) CableModem software download started
Tue Jun 03 19:10:30 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:30 2008 Information (7) Software upgrade has started.
Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Information (7) A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Information (7) Authorized
Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Information (7) Registration complete!
Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Information (7) We registered with a DOCSIS 1.0 config file!
Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:29 2008 Information (7) Received a REG-RSP message from the CMTS...
Tue Jun 03 19:10:28 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:28 2008 Information (7) Sending a REG-REQ to the CMTS...
Tue Jun 03 19:10:28 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:28 2008 Information (7) CableModem SNMP configure complete
Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Information (7) IP init completed ok
Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Information (7) CableModem TFTP init ok
Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Information (7) CableModem DHCP client init ok
Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Tue Jun 03 19:10:26 2008 Critical (3) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) MAP w/initial maintenance region received
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) Downstream sync ok
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) Beginning initial ranging...
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) downstream time sync acquired...
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) Downstream sync ok
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) starting ds time sync acquisition...
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) Locked on the downstream. Waiting for UCDs...
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) Downstream lock ok
Time Not Established Time Not Established Information (7) Sync Start
Mon Jun 02 19:04:56 2008 Mon Jun 02 19:04:56 2008 Critical (3) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
Mon Jun 02 18:58:48 2008 Mon Jun 02 18:58:48 2008 Critical (3) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
Sun Jun 01 13:11:43 2008 Sun Jun 01 13:11:43 2008 Critical (3) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.

[cimt]

I'm not sure if this will help find the problem, but can you do a tracert and a ping to www.virginmedia.co.uk in Command Prompt and then post the results? If I'm correct with what the problem is, then I think it may be due to packet loss.

[LostintheNW]

I have found when I host games on my xbox that the lag can be caused by other users who have joined your game, I get very bad lag on Gears when our American friends join...not to mention the fact that people appear to use certain programs on their pc's to affect the running of a game played on live so that they can gain some advantage with lag - happens a lot in Gears

[donkey1982]

C:\Documents and Settings\Home>tracert www.virginmedia.co.uk

Tracing route to www.virginmedia.co.uk [212.250.162.12]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 6 ms 18 ms 6 ms 10.72.152.1
3 8 ms 7 ms 7 ms cosh-t2cam1-a-v109.inet.ntl.com [80.3.162.17]
4 10 ms 6 ms 7 ms cosh-t2core-a-ge-wan62.inet.ntl.com [195.182.174
.109]
5 9 ms 10 ms 28 ms win-bb-a-so-720-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.188.249]

6 9 ms 13 ms 11 ms win-dc-a-v904.inet.ntl.com [213.105.175.206]
7 10 ms 10 ms 19 ms www.virginmedia.com [212.250.162.12]

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\Home>ping www.virginmedia.co.uk

Pinging www.virginmedia.co.uk [212.250.162.12] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=121

Ping statistics for 212.250.162.12:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 16ms, Maximum = 20ms, Average = 17ms

[cimt]

There's my theory out the window... You have no packet loss.

[donkey1982]

LostintheNW yeah i know what your sayin mate but this happens when i host a private lobby with just 12 people in it all from england!

[cimt]

Have you tried hosting games with less of you?

[donkey1982]

yes i have and works pritty good with say 6-10 but when payin £37 a month i would like to think it would br capable of much more, i know my problem is nothing compared to other vmbb users but still enoying, especially when friend are only on 8 meg in ireland and hostin lag free 12 people easily

[LostintheNW]

yes i have and works pritty good with say 6-10 but when payin £37 a month i would like to think it would br capable of much more, i know my problem is nothing compared to other vmbb users but still enoying, especially when friend are only on 8 meg in ireland and hostin lag free 12 people easily

True that you shouldnt in theory experience lag - but we are talking Virgin here, since they have come into existence shall we say, the connection has been terrible. I have the same connection as you and can just about sometimes host a GOW match without lag, but if I do rainbow 6 I am lucky if I can get more than 8 in the room without huge ping drop outs from other players.

[donkey1982]

why is it when u mention to vm "online gaming" they simply dont care, stating that u are indeed getting the download speed,which although i am it just must not be a stong connection but they dont look into this. my friend had a problem just like mine and they sent an engineer out and he went to the green box outside and put him on the top tier or something to ensure maximum signal levels however when i mention this to vm they dont want to know!!! ive had enough of gettin booted out of online games and considerin going somewhere else!

[dj rob st]

you probs got crap latency, you can have more mb connection than other people and fast download speeds etc but if you dont have a good latency then in games it shows up

[smeagoly1]

Iv'e noticed over the past two months, when doing a tracert or ping, to both bbc.co.uk and Virginmedia.co.uk, every 10 mins or so I'll get a 25-50% pcket loss.
But testing 3 times off the trott will get 0% packet loss and semi decentish pings.
Seems like in gaming, every 10 mins massive drop off, even in the middle of the night, or early mornings haha.

But know the feeling most of us gaming get now, we don't download, and still get dropped out of games due to bad connections.

I did phone up once, and all I got was "we do supply upto such and such download speeds, but smeg all do you get when asking about consistency of the connections.
Mind you I have also noticed they have dropped "also for gaming" from their lower tier broadband packages.

[xShaDowZz]

I have the same problem.
I think that its to do with the Router that you get with Virgin media. Its Crap.
i have asked Many people and everyone who's connection is good does not use the Wireless router that Virgin Media send out as it prioritises things. Thats what iv been told so i decided to splash out on a New router:

Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Gaming Router WRT330N.

This will set you back aroung £70-£100.
But most good routers are around the same price.
I have a thread about the same problem and with this router i found out tht it was not the connection but the free wireless router that i got with my service.
I have also been informed that PC World sell some Good belkin Routers so you may want to have a look at a new router if some1 cant find a different solution.

---------- Post added at 16:54 ---------- Previous post was at 16:52 ----------

This is the one my friend has:
Belkin B5DUK035 54G Router and USB Adapter Kit
Around £50 From PC world. He says it works great with Virgin media.

[donkey1982]

I have the same problem.
I think that its to do with the Router that you get with Virgin media. Its Crap.
i have asked Many people and everyone who's connection is good does not use the Wireless router that Virgin Media send out as it prioritises things. Thats what iv been told so i decided to splash out on a New router:

Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Gaming Router WRT330N.

This will set you back aroung £70-£100.
But most good routers are around the same price.
I have a thread about the same problem and with this router i found out tht it was not the connection but the free wireless router that i got with my service.
I have also been informed that PC World sell some Good belkin Routers so you may want to have a look at a new router if some1 cant find a different solution.

---------- Post added at 16:54 ---------- Previous post was at 16:52 ----------

This is the one my friend has:
Belkin B5DUK035 54G Router and USB Adapter Kit
Around £50 From PC world. He says it works great with Virgin media.

ive tried direct connection modem 2 xbox and still the same! its def internet but vm wont do anything!

[Uncle Peter]

If VM are choking UDP anywhere within their networks then this will potentially hobble your capability to host games with large* numbers of players

Some time ago I ran some end-to-end throughput tests from my VM connection to a box I've got sat in the dmz back at work. The results seemed to suggest that this is the case.

*at or near the hosting limit of the game in question

[donkey1982]

Cable Modem Event Log
First Time Last Time Priority Description
Sat Jun 14 07:10:22 2008 Sat Jun 14 07:10:22 2008 Warning (5) DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response
Fri Jun 13 19:08:54 2008 Fri Jun 13 19:08:54 2008 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - ...

is this anything to worryabout?

[Uncle Peter]

Cable Modem Event Log
First Time Last Time Priority Description
Sat Jun 14 07:10:22 2008 Sat Jun 14 07:10:22 2008 Warning (5) DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response
Fri Jun 13 19:08:54 2008 Fri Jun 13 19:08:54 2008 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - ...

is this anything to worryabout?

No, it's perfectly normal to see that event. Worry not.

[donkey1982]

ok so i know my download/ upload speeds are fine but what should i look for that shows how stable my connection is?

[whydoIneedatech]

ok so i know my download/ upload speeds are fine but what should i look for that shows how stable my connection is?

Post your power levels both downstream and upstream but no MAC address.

[AmAtoL]

ok so i know my download/ upload speeds are fine but what should i look for that shows how stable my connection is?

I'll tell you what I look for to see if my connection is stable when gaming.

Can you move around smoothly in the direction you want to go with no stuttering and no unforseen direction changes ?

Do other players move smoothly as well ?

I play FPS games, so, can you fire a weapon and the bullet hit first time, do you need to empty a full clip to get a kill, if so it's lagola city ?

If you scope the weapon does it change quickly, do you have to press the button twice, and then it scopes back when you least expect it ?

Your ping varies from 17 to 500, if so that's not stable ?

Do you perform an action but nothing happens on screen ?

All this and more happened to me tonight while my speed was about 4 meg out of 20, a lot of the above problems disappeared/lessened when my speed went back up to a reasonable level. During the bad patch I resolved to get the BT line back in whatever the cost and sort out another ISP for my gaming.

[donkey1982]

Cable Modem Information
Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address : xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Serial Number : xxxxxxxxxxxx
Boot Code Version : 1.1.2c
Software Version : 2.111.1000
Hardware Version : 1.9

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 2
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : -0.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 32.8 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 2
Upstream Frequency : 28784000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 41.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2


appreciate any feedback!

[whydoIneedatech]

Cable Modem Information
Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address : xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Serial Number : xxxxxxxxxxxx
Boot Code Version : 1.1.2c
Software Version : 2.111.1000
Hardware Version : 1.9

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 2
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : -0.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 32.8 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 2
Upstream Frequency : 28784000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 41.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2


appreciate any feedback!

This and you first post are 9 days apart and both give good readings with not a lot of difference between them, just an average Ex-NTL connection with nothing to worry about, my own modem performs to a similar level.:tu:

[donkey1982]

Downstream Receive Power Level varied from -2.8 to -0.8 could this affect the strenth of connection? thankyou for feedback.

[CM20 User]

May I ask if my readings are suitable?

Modem is NTL250

Cable Modem : DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address :
Serial Number :
Boot Code Version : 3.1.6d
Software Version : 2.94.1014
Hardware Version : 1.19

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 4
Downstream Frequency : 402750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 5360.537 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps32Increment4
Downstream Receive Power Level : -9.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 38.2 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 4
Upstream Frequency : 29200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 58.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Network Access : Allowed
Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 10240000
Maximum Upstream Data Rate : 512000
Maximum Upstream Channel Burst : 1600
Maximum Number of CPEs : 1
Modem Capability : Concatenation Enabled, Fragametation Enabled, PHS Disabled


Many thanks

[whydoIneedatech]

Downstream Receive Power Level varied from -2.8 to -0.8 could this affect the strenth of connection? thankyou for feedback.

Its fine I already knew about that if the had been a problem I would have said, remember the has to be some give and take thats why your 2 posts are not identical.

---------- Post added at 23:29 ---------- Previous post was at 23:23 ----------

May I ask if my readings are suitable?

Modem is NTL250

Cable Modem : DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address :
Serial Number :
Boot Code Version : 3.1.6d
Software Version : 2.94.1014
Hardware Version : 1.19

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 4
Downstream Frequency : 402750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 5360.537 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps32Increment4
Downstream Receive Power Level : -9.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 38.2 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 4
Upstream Frequency : 29200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 58.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Network Access : Allowed
Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 10240000
Maximum Upstream Data Rate : 512000
Maximum Upstream Channel Burst : 1600
Maximum Number of CPEs : 1
Modem Capability : Concatenation Enabled, Fragametation Enabled, PHS Disabled


Many thanks

Keep an eye on the 2 that I have highlighted above they should not go higher than what they are on now, but if its working OK then leave ringing up for the moment as NTL say if its working its OK.

You are on a 10 MB connection and you SNR is spot on.

Remember if you need to call then its free on 151 from a Virgin landline.

[CM20 User]

Keep an eye on the 2 that I have highlighted above they should not go higher than what they are on now, but if its working OK then leave ringing up for the moment as NTL say if its working its OK.




Thanks for the reply whydoIneedatech, I was concerned recently regarding those 2 readings since I've heard there can be problems when the signals are near the limits.

Last week my DS recieve was at -11.5dBmV and my US transmit was at 61dBmV and It appears to be working better this week now that the signals are slightly lower.

Thanks again :)

[whydoIneedatech]

Thanks for the reply whydoIneedatech, I was concerned recently regarding those 2 readings since I've heard there can be problems when the signals are near the limits.

Last week my DS recieve was at -11.5dBmV and my US transmit was at 61dBmV and It appears to be working better this week now that the signals are slightly lower.

Thanks again :)

How does your connection behave when the power levels are higher.

[CM20 User]

How does your connection behave when the power levels are higher.


In the past the Modem would struggle to connect to the network but this year's actually been pretty good compared to previous years.

I think the connection is acceptable when using the PC, I can accept the odd slowness and timeouts but when using XBL under the same conditions it seems impossible at times.

When the upstream transmit is really high downloading anything can be a chore.

Please don't consider this a complaint, I'm just enquiring is all.

Thanks again :)

[whydoIneedatech]

In the past the Modem would struggle to connect to the network but this year's actually been pretty good compared to previous years.

I think the connection is acceptable when using the PC, I can accept the odd slowness and timeouts but when using XBL under the same conditions it seems impossible at times.

When the upstream transmit is really high downloading anything can be a chore.

Please don't consider this a complaint, I'm just enquiring is all.

Thanks again :)

I am glad that you seem happy with your connection,just keep an eye as i put in the previous post.:tu:

[donkey1982]

hello again prob another silly question but say if i am on a highley used 'ubr' then does vm not have the facillity to increase the 'ubr' to satisfy the demand in my area, that way everyone get same quality that we pay for.
or should i just go cut everyones wires down my street to get optimal performance! ONLY JOKIN but would that help me on call of duty 4 (xbox 360), i could host a game with me and 11 other friends lag free,heaven, shame £37 a month doesnt garentee this but hey i should be gratefull accordin to other posts feel sorry for some people cant even load a page up!

[whydoIneedatech]

hello again prob another silly question but say if i am on a highley used 'ubr' then does vm not have the facillity to increase the 'ubr' to satisfy the demand in my area, that way everyone get same quality that we pay for.
or should i just go cut everyones wires down my street to get optimal performance! ONLY JOKIN but would that help me on call of duty 4 (xbox 360), i could host a game with me and 11 other friends lag free,heaven, shame £37 a month doesnt garentee this but hey i should be gratefull accordin to other posts feel sorry for some people cant even load a page up!

Any UBR if suffering from high utilization will be upgraded eventually.

[IT Lemming]

Any UBR if suffering from high utilization will be upgraded eventually.

In your dreams Bagualey UBR has been suffering over utilisation for 2 years, and not been updated.:(

[whydoIneedatech]

In your dreams Bagualey UBR has been suffering over utilisation for 2 years, and not been updated.:(

Not my dreams thank you, and I did say eventually;)