Wireless and Online games

Ranek · 21-09-2008, 19:05

Hi all.

I just got my new PC, bought and installed a wireless card. It works perfectly for browsing, downloading, streaming music, videos etc. But as soon as i connect to a game server in this case either Call of Duty 4 or Medal of honor it just all goes downhill.

About 10-40 seconds after being in the server the network card drops connection. I've not the slightest clue why this happens as i can download big files or stream video for a long time without the slightest problem.

The wireless card i just bought is the Belkin N1 Desktop Card and the router i'm using is a Netgear DG834G. I ran a speed test and the results are recieved are:

Download 1016 kb/s

Upload 171 kb/s

If anyone has any idea of the problem some advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Chris Danks

Ramrod · 21-09-2008, 20:14

I wouldn't recommend gaming on a wireless connection.....

Ranek · 21-09-2008, 20:34

Not quite the help i was looking for, but thanks anyway.

I know people that play on wireless and they don't get this problem so there must be a way to fix it. If eventually no advice helps. Has anyone had any experience with a product like this?

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...=8339622279B51

Dai · 21-09-2008, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranek

Not quite the help i was looking for, but thanks anyway.

I know people that play on wireless and they don't get this problem so there must be a way to fix it. If eventually no advice helps. Has anyone had any experience with a product like this?

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...=8339622279B51

You *can* play over wireless but due to the nature of the beast it will always add a bit of lag.
It may be worth trying different channels just in case your default channel is conflicting with a neighbour or other equipment.

The power plugs seem to work well. I know a few of the regulars here have tried them so you'll hopefully get some user reports soon.

smeagoly1 · 23-09-2008, 15:18

Using the VM supplied Netgear 83router and a Beklin G network card.
It works fine with COD4, but tends to lag a little when you try servers outside the UK. In the UK Find it no problem at all.

The only drop outs i got or when VM dropped my line connection speeds from 6000 kbps to around 2000kbps for some reason. Then it was constant connection Interupts. When i get it above 2000 kbps it works fien and dandy. COD 2 for some reason will work fine will low pings anytime.

One thing i have noticed though and only remedy was a restore point to the day before, when my firewall popped up asking for something to connect and it was accepted, the load screen for COD4 slowed up to the extent that i always got a Network Timeout, when trying to connect.

I use channel 11 or 12, or find a channel at least 4 away from what is in use.

haydnwalker · 23-09-2008, 15:40

Make sure your "N" desktop wireless card is get to A/b/g mode only and not N (unless you have an N router).

This could be causing drop outs as it may be searching the bands for the fastest speeds.

Stuart · 23-09-2008, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranek

Hi all.

I just got my new PC, bought and installed a wireless card. It works perfectly for browsing, downloading, streaming music, videos etc. But as soon as i connect to a game server in this case either Call of Duty 4 or Medal of honor it just all goes downhill.

About 10-40 seconds after being in the server the network card drops connection. I've not the slightest clue why this happens as i can download big files or stream video for a long time without the slightest problem.

The wireless card i just bought is the Belkin N1 Desktop Card and the router i'm using is a Netgear DG834G. I ran a speed test and the results are recieved are:

Download 1016 kb/s

Upload 171 kb/s

If anyone has any idea of the problem some advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Chris Danks

Ramrod is sort of right. Wireless isn't ideal for gaming, but it can work.

There are some things you can try. First, try a wired connection (if possible). If this works, the problem is likely to be with the wireless. If it doesn't, it is likely to be with your router or broadband connection.

Assuming it is a wireless problem, then a neighbours WiFi network may be interfering. Try changing the wireless channel on the router.

popper · 23-09-2008, 18:21

this is a very old xp wireless polling problem.

it is NOT "the nature of the beast", its windows and its broken "Wireless Zero Config" polling for connnections every 60 seconds or so even after you have connected to whatever device you want, causing lag spikes.

to temp fix it when it drops, try this

• Go to Control Panel.
• Choose Administrative Tools.
• Select Services. A two-pane window comes up.
• In the right-hand pane, scroll down and click Wireless Zero Configuration.
• Click Stop the Service. A progress bar may come up briefly.
• Click Start the Service. Again, a progress bar may come up.
• Close the Services window. At this point, the connection should come back.

as a potential long term fix, just switch to your 3rd party card wireless connection supplyed SW and stop WZC alltogether, the chances are good that this 3rd party WC SW doesnt try and continually pole for other routers after you select your prefered one as windows does, and so not cause lag spikes and potentially break the IP stack, and give the impression you dropped the wireless connection when in fact you havent.

Ranek · 24-09-2008, 19:41

Thanks for the help all. But now i have a new problem.

I was trying to set my internet up so it worked at home, (which it started to do thanks!) assuming it would work where i have just moved into my student house.

The router here is similar a NETGEAR WGR614v9, but for some reason when i try and install the Virgin Media set up disk its saying that my Wireless card is not WPA capable. Buts its pretty modern so i think it should be.

Does anyone know if the Belkin N1 Wireless desktop card is WPA enabled? If not, then my problem is obvious. If it is then i have no idea whats wrong.

Thanks

Chris

popper · 24-09-2008, 23:10

just dont use the VM setup disk, its all just plain ethernet after all.
turn on the CM wait a few until the lights settles, turn on the router and wait a few seconds, turn on your wireless PC device and run its supplyed software (after the above turning off WZC OC)and connect to the wireless router , no VM setup cd required in any of this.

apparently the belkin N1in vista doesnt like working in WPA mode some times so just use WEP instead, but while setting all this up you dont need to use any security, the best advice is turn security all off, getting the kit fully working as you like without it first.

THEN and only then, turn on your wireless security options one at a time to make sure it doesnt break.

and use the wired PC connected to the router to get in and change your settingas you need to, but first read up on it all, there are MANY threads here if you use the search option....

http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101668.asp

http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WGR614v9.asp

Ranek · 24-09-2008, 23:48

Well normally i wouldn't have a problem with something like this, previously i've just logged into the router, gone onto wireless settings. And allowed a new wireless device. But the default login for the router isn't working, no one has changed it, and it came with no manual with a login/password in.

I'm using the Belkin wireless utility instead of the Windows default wireless utility, and i can see the network and connect to it, but it just seems to refresh and do nothing. Solved this on my laptop by installing the disk, but the PC comes up with the WPA error as i said.

I'll try what you suggested in the morning, hopefully it works, cheers

popper · 25-09-2008, 00:32

from what you say it appears the routers set up for WPA ,just nip in and turn it off or change it to WAP if you most, then the other device will probably connect and work.

password
http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/N100651.asp

bypassing wizard for manual config
http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101472.asp

Ranek · 27-09-2008, 13:29

Thank you very much for the help. What you suggested worked fantastically. I found the login to the router, which is actually written on the bottom of the router! Turned off all protection, made sure it works. Got rid of the Virgin program, and connected through the windows network manager.

Turning off WZC also works and stops be crashing.

Thanks loads everyone!