Packet Loss

[detn8r]

Hey peeps, I has a problem.........

So I'm here trying to play BF2, but Punkbuster keeps kicking me for having an average high ping (usually over 200 ms).

I'm on a wireless ISP, so I just assumed that this would be the case -- however I can ping concurrently to say, bigblueball.com and receive them in under 1 ms. I can ping to most sites under 1 ms. Pinging google.com/google.ca gets me average pings of over 50 ms WITH packet loss. HOW the hell does that happen?

So, I decided to ping the IP of the server's I am trying to play. One is "close" to me, and the other is supposed to have a low ping rate.

First test is on the "local server" (closest server to me, I'm in Ontario, server is in Quebec) server;

Ping test at : 27/12/2009 1:26:53 PM - 27/12/2009 1:27:33 PM
Result:

Sent: 60
Received: 45
Lost: 15
Loss Rate: 25.00 %
Min Time: 49 ms
Max Time: 227 ms
Avg Time: 76 ms
Avg TTL: 114

Detail (first 20 rows):
Ping bf2 - 209.44.97.131:

1. 27/12/2009 1:26:53 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 Request timed out.
2. 27/12/2009 1:26:54 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=58ms TTL=114 ok
3. 27/12/2009 1:26:55 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=58ms TTL=114 ok
4. 27/12/2009 1:26:55 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 Request timed out.
5. 27/12/2009 1:26:56 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=61ms TTL=114 ok
6. 27/12/2009 1:26:57 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=60ms TTL=114 ok
7. 27/12/2009 1:26:57 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 Request timed out.
8. 27/12/2009 1:26:58 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=63ms TTL=114 ok
9. 27/12/2009 1:26:59 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=114 ok
10. 27/12/2009 1:26:59 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 Request timed out.
11. 27/12/2009 1:27:00 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=114 ok
12. 27/12/2009 1:27:01 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=77ms TTL=114 ok
13. 27/12/2009 1:27:01 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 Request timed out.
14. 27/12/2009 1:27:02 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=158ms TTL=114 ok
15. 27/12/2009 1:27:03 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=116ms TTL=114 ok
16. 27/12/2009 1:27:03 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=54ms TTL=114 ok
17. 27/12/2009 1:27:04 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=70ms TTL=114 ok
18. 27/12/2009 1:27:05 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 Request timed out.
19. 27/12/2009 1:27:05 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=84ms TTL=114 ok
20. 27/12/2009 1:27:06 PM Reply from 209.44.97.131 bytes=32 time=59ms TTL=114 ok

Lowest ping server, per BF2:

Ping test at : 27/12/2009 1:30:25 PM - 27/12/2009 1:31:03 PM
Result:

Sent: 60
Received: 55
Lost: 5
Loss Rate: 8.33 %
Min Time: 32 ms
Max Time: 72 ms
Avg Time: 42 ms
Avg TTL: 113


Detail:
Ping 69.90.34.146 - 69.90.34.146:

1. 27/12/2009 1:30:25 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=113 ok
2. 27/12/2009 1:30:25 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=45ms TTL=113 ok
3. 27/12/2009 1:30:26 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=113 ok
4. 27/12/2009 1:30:26 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=113 ok
5. 27/12/2009 1:30:27 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=113 ok
6. 27/12/2009 1:30:28 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=41ms TTL=113 ok
7. 27/12/2009 1:30:28 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=113 ok
8. 27/12/2009 1:30:29 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=113 ok
9. 27/12/2009 1:30:30 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 Request timed out.
10. 27/12/2009 1:30:30 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=58ms TTL=113 ok
11. 27/12/2009 1:30:31 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=51ms TTL=113 ok
12. 27/12/2009 1:30:32 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=113 ok
13. 27/12/2009 1:30:32 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=113 ok
14. 27/12/2009 1:30:33 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=51ms TTL=113 ok
15. 27/12/2009 1:30:34 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=113 ok
16. 27/12/2009 1:30:34 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=113 ok
17. 27/12/2009 1:30:35 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=47ms TTL=113 ok
18. 27/12/2009 1:30:36 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=37ms TTL=113 ok
19. 27/12/2009 1:30:36 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 Request timed out.
20. 27/12/2009 1:30:37 PM Reply from 69.90.34.146 bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=113 ok

As you can see the second one is much, much better. However it doesn't perhaps really help, as at different times I can run the test and get a much higher loss, and the highest ping can jump to over 200 ms (I actually ran the test before posting this, and got those types of results).

What can I do here? I don't use a modem or a router. Like I said, I'm on a wireless connection, which allows me to ping to most sites and under 1 ms. How can I fix my ping issue? I'm assuming when I get the packet loss, especially on a server like the second one, it's making my ping jump like crazy. And I know, games are sending larger files than 32 bytes...

thx.

[David]

Is that much packet loss considered normal for your ISP? Have you asked them?

Anything greater than say 5% would be considered high, and having to resend up to a quarter of transmitted data means your effective speed is reduced and latency increased.

Having at one time had Clearwire, I would suggest ensuring that the modem has as much signal as possible, and that you aren't using the connection for other bandwidth-intensive tasks.

[detn8r]

Thing is, I make sure all background apps are shut down. I've even used a program called "Game Booster" that assists in shutting down background programs that are unnecessary during game play.

Depending on the server, I can download at decent speeds (450 kbps) and as said previously, I can ping concurrently to bigblueball.com under 1 ms. Pinging to google.ca concurrently, I get packet loss. I've had the technicians reposition my satellite last spring, as I originally had it installed when there were no leaves on the trees, and once they grew, I lost a ton of signal. The speeds are great now. As for "normal" for my ISP -- that I don't know. I've emailed them yesterday and I'm waiting for an answer from them. They still haven't been able to assist me in setting up my d-link router

thx Dave.

[detn8r]

OK, so after some personal conversations with people about this, we came up with some explanations here.

When I told Dave that I have "up to" a 5M connection, and only downloading "up to" 450 kbps, but only on way off peak hours (1 - 5 am), I ran a speed test (server less than 37 miles from my house) and got just over 4200 kpbs. So this proves I can get the speed where I live. No excuses.

Next thing that was mentioned to me was Traffic Shaping. I mean, my ISP offers speeds up to 5M, charges me $50 a month for it, and way under delivers, why?

Maybe because they are a small ISP? Need to share the bandwidth during peak hours? That's really crappy.

[detn8r]

So I'm kinda really pissed. Finally got an answer from my ISP. Does anyone have an idea of a confident reply I could give to them? Geeze..

Transcript of my email below;
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Sent: Sun, December 27, 2009 1:27:04 AM
Hi Dave. Sorry for the long response, I sort of just gave up on it. I mean, counltess people have given me the same explanation and it doesn't work on either of the computers here. I'm at a loss.

(On something completely different) Do you know of anyone else who experiences packet loss? I didn't really notice it until it dawned on me for the reason why I get kicked out of playing online games with high pings.

I can ping your normal site like ea.com with less than 1 ms ping. However, google.com or google.ca return me anywhere from 50-70 ms pings with packet loss. I then ping a specific game server ([209.44.97.131] closest to this area, which happens to be in Quebec ) and get the same results (including the loss). The only thing that comes across me, is that when my ping hits 150-1500 ms is the packet losses I'm getting, over and over again in a short period, thus giving me an average high ping for more than 1 minute resulting me getting kicked from games.

How can this be fixed? I've increased my speed here, thinking that the previous 'package' I had was too slow, to later find people gaming in servers with 60+ people running on a 512k connection with decent pings below 70 ms. I didn't really need to upgrade, as the packet loss was coming, regardless.

PLEASE enlighten me!

Happy Holidays,
Graham.

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Sent: Fri, January 8, 2010 8:11:59 AM
Hey Dave, would I be able to get a reply to this email? I'm very curious to understand this; the only idea myself and others could come up with, was to the reason for my experience with online gaming and pings was packet loss. But, things seem to be on the up and up, when I'm online during way off-peak hours (1-5am). My download speeds increase and seemingly no packet loss is experienced, as my gaming ping never goes above 80 ms.

What else I'm interested in, is the fact that I cannot get download speeds (on excellent servers) better than 450 kbps. I thought I was on an "up to" 5M connection. During normal browsing hours, my speed averages 100-220 kbps, mainly in the low 100's. A speed test on ruralwave.ca confirms I should be able to handle a download above 4.7M, so what gives? Am I misunderstanding something? PLEASE enlighten me!

Thanks.
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Sent: January 21, 2010 9:04 PM
Hi Dan, unsure if Dave is busy or away on vacation.. but would be grateful for a reply. Thanks.

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Recieved: 9:15:59 PM

We checked into this, Dave doesn’t reply unless he finds an issue, very busy guy, not problem here no issues and no loss from the radio.