rec.autos.simulators

   The main problem I found was a time-warp type effect -- the game
was running slower than real-time while online (shades of GP2).  I
found that keeping my frame rate at 36 fps solved this.  Alison's
online FAQ seems to indicate that this (36fps) is recommended, but not
required.  For me, it's mandatory to avoid slow-mo.

   I've tuned my DUN as recommended, kept my frame rate up, and have
gotten pretty good results.  A couple of things that I have
observed...

* I cannot connect to my ISP (wizvax.net) at 56k if I turn off error
correction (as Alison recommends).  It will connect at 33.6k and lower
with EC off.

* My ISP has an older modem bank with 33.6k modems, and a newer bank
with v.90 56k modems.  If I try to connect to the newer v.90s with my
external Zoom 56k v.90 at 33.6k with EC off, the results are very poor
(very low throughput).  I've found the best 33.6k with EC off results
are with the older modem bank (dedicated 33.6k modems).  This is what
I use for my online racing.

* I have had some disconnects.  Some seem to be due to overloaded
servers (the newer VROC software helps some).  Other disconnects seem
to originate with my ISP; either it will turn off ClearToSend and
refuse data or it will stop sending data.  With this sort of failure,
everyone else disappears (spooky ;), and you cruise along for about 10
seconds before GPL gets lonely and disconnects.

* I crank my C300A up to 450MHz for online use.  The load of handling
the serial port makes this highly beneficial.  (Maybe this is David's
problem, assuming it's not his ISP connection.)

* I've been running with a local friend who hosts our races on his
cable modem.  Him, me, and 8-12 AIs.  We rarely have problems, and
those that we do can usually be blamed on my ISP.  A stable connection
such as this has been invaluable in diagnosing and testing different
online configurations.  I have not yet hosted races on my modem
(assuming it would be inferior), but it's on my to-do list.

* I join pick-up races on VROC.  The connections are of varying
quality.  You can use the info provided (server capability, ping time)
to pick and choose the best connections.  If you find a bad
connection, you can always try another...

   That's all I can think of for now.  The past three weeks have been
my first experience in online racing, and I'm pretty happy with how it
has turned out.  I do have the option of a cable modem in my area, and
had thus far resisted due to the added cost ($46 vs. $20).  I'm still
evaluating that, but I've tweaked Wizvax so it is at least a feasible
alternative to cable.

NAR Northeast Regional Contest Board site - points and more...

- Michael

I don't understand this either - most client/server network games use
interpolation/extrapolation techniques to cover up the "gaps" in the message
stream. GPL doesn't seem to do this for some reason and cars only appear
when a packet is sent and recieved by the client.

- Michael

Life's too short to argue, and the only reason I'm disagreeing with
you is because a) you like sims, and b) I'm having sooooooo much fun
racing GPL online - you need to enjoy it too (Yes, yes, that was two
reasons...).

I'm truly flabbergasted that my 28.8 can race with 17 other people
hosted from a server in the U.S., and if you can't achieve that then
something is wierd that needs identified, caught and shot. Comms is a
black art at the best of times, and when mixed in with Windows95/98
and seasoned with the usual driver/config problems it is quite tricky
to get right.

It could be that my perception of quality simply differs from yours,
but I don't think that is the case. If you really do want to try and
get things working I'll happily put my money where my mouth is and
meet you online where we can try various changes and see what works. I
have ISDN connect now, so we should be able to get a stable connection
to work with.

Cheers!
John

 http://members.tripod.com/~HOSHUMUNGUS

    and

 http://www.frontiernet.net/~godsoe/bolt/home.htm

I have a US Robotics Sportster v.90 (hardware / not winmodem), but
apparently due to my phone lines, I can only connect to my ISP at 28.8.
My ISP, Mindspring in Denver, Colorado, USA, does support v.90, but when
using US Robotics "line test" program, it reported that I was unable to
achieve 56K transmissions. I assume the problem is that there is an
additional analog-to-digital conversion on the line, which negates 56K.
So my phone lines are already questionable.  I also should add I have a
400 MHz PII with a 12Meg Voodoo2 and am able to get 36 fps everywhere
except at the start and other graphics intensive moments.

At any rate, I usually do get the 28.8 connection with Mindspring, and I
make sure that I get this before going to VROC.  I NEVER get dropped
from the Mindspring connection, but I am disconnected while playing GPL
online fairly often.  I have downloaded the core.ini file from Alison's
web site and have made all the suggested DUN tweaks. I also only join
sessions where I am getting a ping under 500 and the host has at least a
cable modem.

This weekend, for example, I was one lap from getting my first online
podium at Monza when I was disconnected.  Prior to the disconnect, there
was a message displayed at the top of the screen about a network error.

I then joined a race at Mexico City, which was pretty successful except
for the inevitable warp fest at the start.  The host then moved us all
over to Rouen.  I have read that it is a bad idea to do this without
rebooting or having everyone rejoin.  Is that correct?  Anyway, at the
start of the race, with a field of about eight people, I couldn't see a
soul.  I raced for a few laps and finally saw a Lotus briefly.  My
pitboard indicated that I was 4 laps behind the guy in front of me and 2
laps ahead of the next guy, but this was impossible.  No one else seemed
to have this problem. Bizarre.

Later, I joined a race at Zandvoort, and was doing fairly well many laps
into the race when I was disconnected.

This is a pretty typical session for me - about a 50% success rate.  In
all these races, I should add, you could see other people getting
disconnected fairly regularly, so I was not alone in my problems.

This is the only online racing I have done, so I can't compare it to
other applications. I have flown some online air combat (Air Warrior /
Confirmed Kill), however, without ever experiencing a disconnect.  This
was on a much less powerful machine and a slower modem, but a different
ISP, so that contaminates those results.

As I mentioned above, my phone line is already suspect.  I just thought
I'd add another data point to the debate.  When Jupiter aligns with Mars
and everything works out, it is a blast, I must say!

Dave Ewing

David G Fisher

reason I'm disagreeing with

I would suggest an experiment. . .  Using VROC, find a host and then
click on Join.  When GPL fires up, note the IP address of the hosts's
machine.  Now exit GPL and launch to DOS windows.  In the one window run
ping -t <IP Address>.  The -t switch means it will continue to ping
until you cancel <CTRL-C>.  Watch for "timed out" lines.  If you see
alot of them (especially back-to-back) this is a good indication of why
you will get disconnected.  

If you get alot of timed outs, run tracert <IP Address> in the the other
DOS box.  This will list the "hops" you are making to the host.  You may
need to run this serval times (just press F3 to reissue the command in
that DOS box).  Watch for a hop that takes a long time to respond.  If
it's close to your end of the loop, check with your ISP as to why there
appears to be such lags.  If they are closer to the host's end, then you
may never be able to connect reliabily with them.

I've connected with hosts in the UK and have gotten better results that
with some hosts that are on the same coast as me (Pacific USA).

Another thing that maybe happening is that your modem is continually
stopping to "re-train" due to line noises over your phone lines.  You
may want to check with your phone service and ask them to test the lines
to your house.  There maybe a problem there.  You may also want to check
all of your phone line connections throughout your house and make sure
they are clean and tight.

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

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

David G Fisher

Cheers!
John

Or do what you seem to refuse to do, see what may be causing the
problems.  If everyone was having the problems you think we are, I would
agree with you.  But, since a large number of people are not
experiencing the problems, it would suggest that there is something that
can be "tweaked" to make GPL work as well as others are experiencing.

The areas I listed in the post are usually the main culprits.  

Following your reasoning (or total lack thereof), when a new program
comes out and it doesn't perform as well as WordStar did on one's 8088
system, there must be something wrong with the program.  Well, sure
enough there is, they have added a GUI system to it, made it memory
hungry, added new features and guess what?   It will require a system
upgrade (including OS) to get it to run.  Or you can sit and enjoy your
WordStar for what it is.

GPL is not like any other racing sim in the past, it is pushing the
bleeding edge, this means, just like everything else computer related,
it's time to move on.  If this means finding a better ISP to handle the
data GPL needs to run via the Internet, you can find a better ISP, ***
and moan, or just simply forget about playing on-line.   I wonder which
option you are taking? ;-)

% >% David Fischer is obviously not alone in having online problems with
% >% GPL.  Here are mine:
% >
% >I would suggest an experiment. . .

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

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

Nope, very little of that.

Cheers!
John

David G Fisher

Brian

Is this information really sent over the net connection?  Sheesh, that's
would be quite insane... and I'd imagine chat would be up there as well as
far as data transfers are concerned, do we need this in a race?!?

Does anyone out there know what information is actually sent over the net
with GPL online?

Cheers

Kane