rec.autos.simulators

I have tried all the FAQ settings  (FIFO to left bar one notch, No
error correction, the disconnect on IDLE is NOT set, and changed the
maximum port speed to 38400) but on a regular basis GPL gives an error
saying "#10490: device network error" (or something close to that) and
then eventually comes out of the race to the re-connect screen (the
one with the IP address of the host on it) - but hitting the green
button in the bottom left does nothing. As I exit GPL, I go back to
netscape and vroc page and the modem starts dialing.  This means that
the original error is that the modem has disconnected from my ISP

Examining the modem log doesn't seem to give much clue as to why it
disconnected - one time it said the remote end had hung up, another it
said that DTR had gone low and so hung up the modem.

I only ever have this problem whilst in GPL.

I have a p2-400 with Voodoo2 card and a USR 33.6K external modem
connected through my serial port.  Offline at full resolution and full
graphic details I get 36fps most of the time.  For on-line I have
turned down graphics to 800*600, 0 on the detail bias slider and the
middle setting for the mirrors (and no other mirror details).

During the succesful part of the race I still get warping and cars
going invisable and then re-appearing - I can live with that, but the
actual disconnect means I never get to finish nor to be able to save
the replay and watch what happens.

Anyone any thoughts as to what I have set wrong - or is this just a
"feature" of on-line racing at the moment.

Alan

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Hi Alan,

On an analog line the maxspeed uncompressed is 33600. For better
response you could adjust the connect to this. Beside, a GPL client
doesn't use more then 21600. Also adjust your DUN settings so, that it
use no compression.

That would be 10049. Well, in your case it just means that your modem
connection has been dropped, so no news there.

Hmmm, are  you sure about that? IMO your problem isn't in the
configuration of GPL, but either your phoneline or ISP. But then,
if you're sure about "Only with GPL", then I am stumped.

<Snip sys spec and warp story>

Yeah, it is inherent on the Internet.

Remco

I didn't know that one- why 38400? I never connect faster than 28k,
and I have my max port speed at 115k... I've changed that, but it made
no noticable difference.

But I will try this odd speed you suggest if there is some reason
people are using it.

I've also noticed that it is *my* modem disconnecting from the remote,
as opposed to the remote modem dumping me. I find that very
interesting. And very frustrating- I mean, this isn't a piece of
software I'm downloading, it is a fleeting piece of racing info, and I
don't see why the thing would ever need to disconnect- even if it is
hawire for 3 seconds. It doesn't disconnect if it is idle; I can be on
for a very long time when I'm not ***. Sometimes I truly think GPL
is sending a disconnect code to my modem accidentally. Who knows!

I've tried all sorts of stuff, including most recent DUN... turning
off error correction seemed to help. But in the end, it still discos.

Unlike you, mine does it even more with other games- particularly
Quake2. I have to reconnect several times a match.

Also- my machine never turns off properly if I've had one of these
modem discos- it hangs at the shutting down screen. That is odd, I
think.

Hmmm... where is that log? I haven't thought of looking at it, but I
have checked a box to make it.

I think it may indeed be line noise. Mine evidently got much worse in
the past month, for some reason. I think possibly some of the phones
in my apartment may be loading my line somehow too- you might want to
try disconnecting all phones and seeing if there is any difference at
all in the connectiong. Also, keep the line from modem to phone jack
short and of good quality- although i think that is very minor in this
respect.

[...]

Well, I just had this exact kind of modem disco again, and this is
what the modem log says regarding the entire session:

________start session__________
03-06-1999 20:09:12.84 - Sportster 56000 Voice Internal in use.
03-06-1999 20:09:12.85 - Modem type: Sportster 56000 Voice Internal
03-06-1999 20:09:12.85 - Modem inf path: USRSPVX2.INF
03-06-1999 20:09:12.85 - Modem inf section: Modem99Vin
03-06-1999 20:09:13.11 - 38400,N,8,1
03-06-1999 20:09:13.44 - 115200,N,8,1

[comment: I set the port speed at 38400- why does one line say 115k?]

03-06-1999 20:09:13.45 - Initializing modem.
03-06-1999 20:09:13.45 - Send: AT<cr>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.45 - Recv: AT<cr>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.58 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.58 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-06-1999 20:09:13.58 - Send: AT&F1E0Q0V1&C1&D2S0=0<cr>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.58 - Recv: AT&F1E0Q0V1&C1&D2S0=0<cr>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.71 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.71 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-06-1999 20:09:13.71 - Send: ATS7=60S19=0L0M1&M5&K1&H1&R2&I0B0X4<cr>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.84 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
03-06-1999 20:09:13.84 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-06-1999 20:09:13.84 - Dialing.
03-06-1999 20:09:13.84 - Send: ATDT;<cr>
03-06-1999 20:09:15.65 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
03-06-1999 20:09:15.65 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-06-1999 20:09:15.65 - Dialing.
03-06-1999 20:09:15.65 - Send: ATDT#######<cr>
03-06-1999 20:09:36.29 - Recv: <cr><lf>CONNECT
26400/ARQ/V34/LAPM/V42BIS<cr><lf>
03-06-1999 20:09:36.29 - Interpreted response: Connect
03-06-1999 20:09:36.29 - Connection established at 26400bps.
03-06-1999 20:09:36.29 - Error-control on.
03-06-1999 20:09:36.29 - Data compression on.
03-06-1999 20:09:36.31 - 115200,N,8,1

[comment: all three of the previous lines mystify me. I have error
control and data compression off on my computer. And there is that
darn 115k port speed again... why can i not set that lower?]

[comment: now comes the bad moment, in the middle of a GPL practice
session:]

03-06-1999 20:12:49.39 - Remote modem hung up.
03-06-1999 20:12:50.39 - Recv:
<00>0"<a7><00><00>g}1<da>><18>]<02>R<82><84><b9>
03-06-1999 20:12:50.39 - WARNING: Unrecognized response.  Retrying...
03-06-1999 20:12:50.61 -*** up the modem.
03-06-1999 20:12:50.61 - Send: ATH<cr>
03-06-1999 20:12:50.61 - Recv: ATH<cr>
03-06-1999 20:12:50.73 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
03-06-1999 20:12:50.73 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-06-1999 20:12:50.81 - Session Statistics:
03-06-1999 20:12:50.81 -                Reads : 139494 bytes
03-06-1999 20:12:50.81 -                Writes: 82690 bytes
03-06-1999 20:12:50.81 - Sportster 56000 Voice Internal closed.
________end session___________

Any idea what is going on? Here is says it was the remote that hung
up- but I think sometimes at least it is the other way around.

Please post here! thanks

% I've also noticed that it is *my* modem disconnecting from the remote,
% as opposed to the remote modem dumping me. I find that very
% interesting. And very frustrating- I mean, this isn't a piece of
% software I'm downloading, it is a fleeting piece of racing info, and I
% don't see why the thing would ever need to disconnect- even if it is
% hawire for 3 seconds. It doesn't disconnect if it is idle; I can be on
% for a very long time when I'm not ***. Sometimes I truly think GPL
% is sending a disconnect code to my modem accidentally. Who knows!

I don't mean to doubt your observation as to it being your modem, but...
Did you verify this with a modemlog file?  The advanced Connection tab
for your modem should have a box to check for a log file to be
generated.  In this file you should be able to discover which modem
disconnected first and sometimes even why.  I believe you will find this
file "ModemLog.txt" in your Windows directory.

There are at least 2 different places where you can specify your system
to disconnect after so many minutes of "idle" time.  It is very possible
that one of these are set to disconnect.

1) Modem Properties Connection
2) Internet Connection

Both of the above are found in your Control Panel.  Make sure that you
don't have either of these set to disconnect.  

% Also- my machine never turns off properly if I've had one of these
% modem discos- it hangs at the shutting down screen. That is odd, I
% think.

Check your task list (CTRL-ALT-DEL), I bet rnapp is still running.  Even
with the DUN update, this little bastard likes to hang on way longer
that it is needed.  You should be able to end this task and your machine
should then shut down properly.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Actually, I've since posted a logfile example of a disco- I bet it
will be visible on your server very soon, if not already.

I didn't know about the second... thanks!

Great!!! This will really help. I do see that in there frequently. I
didn't know I could kill it.

I'm eager to hear what you think of my modemlogfile post- you
definitely seem knowledgable about these things.

Thanks a lot!

Indeed, I just ran two races with no discos... big tip, thanks.

Two places to change the same thing, but it only pays attention to
one?! I guess I'll have to face the fact that... Microsoft has a bug
in it's software! ;-)

Unless there is some logic to it that I don't see.

   For example, I shouldn't leave the house without my pants and I
shouldn't leave the house without my shirt.  Just because I've got my
shirt on doesn't mean I should leave the house, does it?  :)  Either
trigger would keep me indoors.  Same thing with "disconnect if idle xx
minutes".

   Also, on your other posts, there are two connect speeds, modem to
modem (ie: 28K or 33K or 56K) and computer to modem (ie: the serial
port, usually set at 115K, typically at least double mtm).  

   Also2, one other thing to look out for is setting something in your
DUN settings (error correction off, for instance), then using a code
in your init string that negates the setting (&F - load factory
defaults - is the most common culprit).

"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark