Can't host games with xbox [Archive]

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pistonbroke

24-11-2009, 17:35

Hello everyone,

I've searched high and low for an answer to the above question, however, all I can find is more people asking the same question, but there's no conclusion to the threads.

For example -:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/call-duty-cod-ps3/1020940-cant-host-games-cod-4-a.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33621012-help-cannot-use-20-mb-connection.html

I had the 10mb connection with VM with no problem whatsoever. I recently took out a full package deal with the TV Phone and broadband, so thought I'd jump to the 20mb connection. From the off I've had issues with the 20mb, not being able to host ANY games on xbox. The connection is fine in games where I'm not the host, I get full download speeds and upload speeds from www.speedtest.net, so it's something else.

I've raised the issue with VM, they sent me a new modem thing, the 256 version, but it's still has the same problems.

I have connected the 360 to the modem direct taking the router out of the equation, but still no joy.

The problem is evident on games where I act as host. In MW2, the game randomly picks a new host when the current one leaves, 9/10 times the game picks me, instantly as soon as the game starts, everyone elses pings are down in the red, I have a full three green bars, then I can hear a torrent of abuse about crappy connections before it kicks me out of the game. In left 4 dead 2, if I host a game for my friends. One person connecting is fine, then as soon as a second comes in, same happens, everyone lags out and it kicks either me, or them out. I can't host games in forza 3 as no one can even join in the lobby.

If it helps, here are the numbers from my VM modem thing.

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

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 7
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : -8.3 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 35.3 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 2
Upstream Frequency : 29200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 43.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Modulation Type QPSK QPSK QPSK QPSK QPSK
Differential Encoding Off Off Off Off Off
Preamble Length 64 128 128 100 80
Preamble Value Offset 396 6 6 396 396
FEC Error Correction (T) 0 5 5 3 9
FEC Codeword Information Bytes (k) 16 34 34 78 232
Scrambler Seed 338 338 338 338 338
Maximum Burst Size 0 0 0 35 0
Guard Time Size 8 48 48 25 137
Last Codeword Length Fixed Fixed Fixed Short Short
Scrambler on/off On On On On On

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

Ballgirl

24-11-2009, 19:12

I'm also having the same problem and posted a thread about it yesterday on another forum. http://www.avforums.com/forums/call-duty-cod-xbox-360/1131198-anyway-prevent-being-host-new-post.html From what I've read I should be able to be host without issue.

I'm on the 10mb connection pack.

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 3
Downstream Frequency : 330750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : -5.1 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 35.6 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 3
Upstream Frequency : 40900000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 51.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2009/11/13.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

http://www.pingtest.net/result/4286188.png (http://www.pingtest.net)

merlintt

26-11-2009, 16:17

Are you connecting to a modem or router?

I gave up on the router and just started going straight into the modem,if u give your xbox the same mac address as your pc you don`t have to reset the mpdem when switching between the two.

pistonbroke

26-11-2009, 17:09

I'm connecting straight to the modem.

lowei

26-11-2009, 20:42

Try here this may help.
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33639717-lagging-while-gaming-any-ideas.html

Noggo

26-11-2009, 23:30

Hello everyone,

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 7
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : -8.3 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 35.3 dB

Downstream power level l@@ks a little on the low side according to the Cable Modem Signal Levels (http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/26006-cable-modem-signal-levels.html) guide (cause for concern at around +/- 8dBmV).

idontpirate

28-11-2009, 13:29

Im having the same problem 0.50 upload speed and when i get into a game, it takes about 10 seconds for everybody to go full green then every 10 seconds after that peoples connections go red. Then after about 1 minute of the game, it just migrates host.
I also have a problem with pc gaming, on steam i cant get more than 850 servers on the server list to show up and i can connect to only half of them.
Before anyone has a go at me about port forwarding, no.
I think this is the routers problem because removing the router from the equation = fix.

AbyssUnderground

28-11-2009, 14:07

To both of you, your downstream signal level is too low. You need a tech to fix it.

Ballgirl

28-11-2009, 15:44

Even though I've had an engineer out today http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33658576-what-acceptable-snr-level-power-level.html first game I went into on MW2 I was host and everyone else was lagging.

I'll post what its like after I have a new drop cable put it in.

idontpirate

28-11-2009, 17:21

My power levels are fine... I checked with the guide and i get all the right speeds its just i think either the modem or router is struggling to cope with more than so many connections. Since removing the router from the network fixes my steam server list problem

Ballgirl

28-11-2009, 17:23

idontpirate

28-11-2009, 17:32

I've just tried putting Open DNS servers on my router AND also putting them manually on the xbox too. It seemed much better playing had about 6 Team deathmatches on MW2 no problem. Not sure if I was the host or not lag was not an issue and I got my highest number of kills in a match yet

Open DNS servers 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

Well for me just playing isnt a problem, ive never had less than full connection strength. But hosting is a whole other thing, i can handle like 8 people then connection goes dead on everyone and keeps flashing down to 1 red bar and back up to green.

Foo Fighter

28-11-2009, 17:45

Im also having trouble with MW2, if for some silly reason it picks me to host on 10mb i can play for about 5 minutes then im kicked and a new host is found...

Really really annoying, doesnt happen to any of my non cable mates either.

Noggo

28-11-2009, 17:49

It could have something to do with the way in which VM limits your upload speed by queuing. The below quote from a post earlier this year about XBOX Live / HALO 3.. Serious LAG on Virgin BroadBand (http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33644997-xbox-live-halo-3-serious-lag.html#post34725404)

50K upload quoted is on a XL (XL max. upload speed is 768Kb/s (96KB/s))

Ha, try more like 50k.

The problem is down to the way VM does queuing to limit your speed. Anything over about 50k/sec and your latency is going to start rocketing. A router with advanced traffic shaping can help somewhat, but even then you will only get another 10k more.

That is all assuming your UBR is no overloaded, of course. It sounds like the OP's is, so he is basically stuffed until VM decide to upgrade it.

idontpirate

28-11-2009, 17:55

My mates on Virgin Media 10meg and he can host just fine. Its something to do with the hardware either router or modem, so get VM to send you the latest modem and replace the ****** VM router (netgear one) you get to start with

Ballgirl

28-11-2009, 18:38

I've tried Netgear WGR614v9 Virgin supplied router, Netgear WGT624v4 and a Belkin F5D7230-4 ver6 and all have issues

idontpirate

28-11-2009, 23:20

I've tried Netgear WGR614v9 Virgin supplied router, Netgear WGT624v4 and a Belkin F5D7230-4 ver6 and all have issues

Well removing the wgr614v9 off my network and plugging my pc directly into the modem eliminates most problems, but i still need to check xbox hosting

idontpirate

30-11-2009, 00:05

Ballgirl

30-11-2009, 18:17

Problem solved : I was in contact with Netgear Tech Support about the steam server list and connection problem.

They told me to roll the firmware back, and it would solve it. Although it didnt, but i had found that it had fixed my xbox hosting problems. 10/12 people now full green in all games, so yeah. Have a bash at that.
Also this was on the WGR614v9

Out of interest what firmware did you go back to on the WGR614? And was it a shop bought WGR614, as I don't think you can change the firmware on the one issued by virginmedia?

idontpirate

30-11-2009, 18:22

Out of interest what firmware did you go back to on the WGR614? And was it a shop bought WGR614, as I don't think you can change the firmware on the one issued by virginmedia?

It was the virgin media one, and theres a way to get around not being able to change the virgin media one. I just googled, although its against the virgin media ToS. And i went back to V1.2.6_18.0.17.

Ballgirl

01-12-2009, 00:17

I've tried the firmware you suggest and still have issues. Did you change any other settings on the router?

idontpirate

01-12-2009, 12:08

Yeah there are a few firewall settings you need to change.
WAN setup >
Disable SPI firewall
NAT Filtering open
Disable SIP ALG

Ballgirl

01-12-2009, 21:36

Gypsie

01-12-2009, 21:48

I have the same issues on 50mb with the D-Link router! the damn game ALWAYS picks me as host and people who live less than 10 miles away lag like hell

idontpirate

02-12-2009, 09:51

Even doing the above I still have issues tried the firmware you specified and also the most recent. I think its the router causing me the problem, the lag wasn't as bad on the belkin router but still there. Virgin are going to be putting a new cable into the house so I'll try in then otherwise I think I need to get a better router.

I have the same issues on 50mb with the D-Link router! the damn game ALWAYS picks me as host and people who live less than 10 miles away lag like hell

Ok guys,
1) Go to speedtest.net
2) Post results on here.
3) Go to pingtest.net
4) Post results on here
Then we can have a look at the results. If your connections stable, try removing the router from the equation, plugging the xbox directly into the modem. If you get host and everythings good, then it is your router. Just pick up a new cable router from PC world.

Gypsie

02-12-2009, 13:54

I did both of those last night and got my normal 47mb down and 1.3~ upload and an A rating on pingtest.

Will try bypassing the router tonight!

idontpirate

02-12-2009, 14:09

I did both of those last night and got my normal 47mb down and 1.3~ upload and an A rating on pingtest.

Will try bypassing the router tonight!

Well im definately guessing its the router then, good luck.

scoobadiva

04-12-2009, 19:37

i also have the same problem. d-link vm router via ethernet, on 20mb.

i get made host of cod:mw2 game, everyone lags, i get booted out.

happened on both the netgear router and now the d-link...

Ballgirl

13-12-2009, 19:46

Peter_

13-12-2009, 19:50

I'm still having problems even on the 20mb package. I'm starting to think its something to do with the upstream modulation. Can everyone who's having issue confirm they are still on QPSK modulation not QAM16?
Not everyone will have the same issue as yourself due to the equipment used in different areas.

Try rebooting your modem a few times to try and get a different upstream as that may get you back onto QAM16.

Ballgirl

13-12-2009, 20:12

Not everyone will have the same issue as yourself due to the equipment used in different areas.

Try rebooting your modem a few times to try and get a different upstream as that may get you back onto QAM16.

I've never seen my modem on QAM16, I don't think thats available in my area?

Peter_

13-12-2009, 20:18

I've never seen my modem on QAM16, I don't think thats available in my area?
It should be able to get QAM16 unless you are oversubscribed in your area.

When you login to the modem it does not say QAM16 on the upstream page.

Ballgirl

13-12-2009, 20:29

Heres what I have and everything looks fine, I really can't understand why I can't host :(

Cable Modem Information
Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address :
Serial Number :
Boot Code Version : 1.1.2c
Software Version : 2.111.1002
Hardware Version : 1.9

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 3
Downstream Frequency : 330750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 1.5 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 36.0 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 2
Upstream Frequency : 37500000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 47.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2009/12/37.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

http://www.pingtest.net/result/5605958.png (http://www.pingtest.net)

C:\Users\>tracert bbc.co.uk

Tracing route to bbc.co.uk [212.58.224.138]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 8 ms 9 ms 19 ms 10.87.124.1
3 5 ms 9 ms 7 ms oldh-cam-1b-ge95.network.virginmedia.net [80.5.1
64.141]
4 6 ms 8 ms 7 ms manc-core-1b-ae1-0.network.virginmedia.net [195.
182.175.89]
5 11 ms 20 ms 10 ms man-bb-b-as0-0.network.virginmedia.net [212.43.1
63.66]
6 10 ms 12 ms 12 ms man-bb-a-ae0-0.network.virginmedia.net [62.253.1
87.177]
7 25 ms 13 ms 15 ms gfd-bb-b-ae1-0.network.virginmedia.net [213.105.
175.146]
8 19 ms 14 ms 23 ms redb-ic-1-as0-0.network.virginmedia.net [62.253.
185.78]
9 15 ms 15 ms 31 ms 212.58.239.249
10 19 ms 23 ms 27 ms 212.58.238.133
11 15 ms 27 ms 16 ms virtual-vip.thdo.bbc.co.uk [212.58.224.138]

Trace complete.

Peter_

13-12-2009, 20:32

That is a almost perfect set of power levels so the should be no issues with your connection.

Have you had your repull yet and can you try a direct connection to the modem as you have been through a few routers without success.

Ballgirl

13-12-2009, 20:47

Have you had your repull yet and can you try a direct connection to the modem as you have been through a few routers without success.

I've tried direct connection and it makes no difference.

No haven't had cable repull. The network engineer's who the tech passed this to did not book a cable re-pull but added notes to state that they have resolved a fault with the local network so a re-pull was not deemed necessary.

Peter_

13-12-2009, 20:52

I've tried direct connection and it makes no difference.

No haven't had cable repull. The network engineer's who the tech passed this to did not book a cable re-pull but added notes to state that they have resolved a fault with the local network so a re-pull was not deemed necessary.
With everything looking normal I assumed that the repull had been done so it is rather puzzling as to why you are still having issues.

jandrewuk

15-12-2009, 09:33

Any further updates on this, as I also have problems hosting on a 20mb connection, I also bought a Netgear WNDR3300 (I think?) and that hasn't helped very much either, although it's a lot better at finding games, hosting lags out almost immediately.

Ignitionnet

15-12-2009, 09:48

It should be able to get QAM16 unless you are oversubscribed in your area.

When you login to the modem it does not say QAM16 on the upstream page.

Oversubscription doesn't affect upstream modulation. If an area is at QPSK the local network is either too poor to handle 16QAM or QPSK is adequate for current capacity requirements.

That would strike me as a red herring.

NB Even rebooting modem until you find an upstream you like the look of may not help as modems are load balanced between them and you may find yourself simply pushed to another one. The area may not have any 16QAM upstreams to lock to either. Some don't.

Ballgirl

15-12-2009, 12:14

Virginmedia are sending me a new modem to see if that helps but I did only have a new one about 2 months ago so I don't think it will.

I've had full service outage (broadband, tv and phone) the last two days so I think its over utilisation in the area or somethings broken at Virgins end. My postcode Oldham OL9.

merlintt

15-12-2009, 12:26

I`m on 50 meg and I still get the problem of people spawning without weapons on gow2 and I`m straight into the modem.I`m at the point of asking virgin if i can go back to 20meg as it seemed a much better connection to host video games.

jandrewuk

15-12-2009, 12:26

Think I'll ring through after, I work here so I can hopefully push to get the problem sorted.

Also, my postcode is OL7 (Ashton) so I guess it could be a local problem?

I'll go for a new modem though aswell :D

AgentDread

16-12-2009, 22:11

I'm having same issue. Upstream modulation is QPSK. SW7 in London.

merlintt

17-12-2009, 14:43

Downgraded today fom 50 to 20meg.

I think vm have some sort of problem with the 50 meg connection that makes it unsuitable for online gaming.

Ballgirl

21-12-2009, 20:47

So I received a new modem from tech support today. Activated it this evening and I've been able to host now. :)

Not sure if its a coincidence or not but I am also on QAM16 upstream modulation now.

Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address :
Serial Number :
Boot Code Version : 1.1.2c
Software Version : 2.111.1002
Hardware Version : 1.9

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 2
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 4.3 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 38.2 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 2
Upstream Frequency : 22200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QAM16
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 16QAM 16QAM
Differential Encoding Off Off Off Off Off
Preamble Length 64 128 128 200 216
Preamble Value Offset 244 6 6 504 504
FEC Error Correction (T) 0 5 5 5 9
FEC Codeword Information Bytes (k) 16 34 34 78 232
Scrambler Seed 338 338 338 338 338
Maximum Burst Size 0 0 0 19 139
Guard Time Size 8 48 48 17 77
Last Codeword Length Fixed Fixed Fixed Short Short
Scrambler on/off On On On On On

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

Manual IP configured on xbox outside dhcp range of router. Linksys WRT54G2 Router.
forwarding ports 3074, 53, 80, 88, 3330, and 2074 all on udp and tcp

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2009/12/15.png (http://www.speedtest.net)