DSL, N3: Should I suspect N3?

I got BellSouth ADSL a couple weeks ago and have been having difficulties racing N3. I have tried many things: 2 different phone outlets in house, 100ft cord to connect straight to outside line drop, connect USB modem to computer (not to USB hub), kill any non-essential processes, unplug my cordless phone (??? suggested by BellSouth). Also tweaks from speedguide.net. Also ctrl-y, alt-e stuff during Practice. Haven't tried other on-line games. I have P3 550, 128M RAM, Diamond Viper non-Ultra (32). USB ADSL modem, 2 miles from end office. 25 year old neighborhood. I can usually download a test file at 800-1000 kbps. My DSL connection *was* dropping every 15 minutes but after unplugging cordless phone (15-20 ft away) this seems to have stopped (again - ??? - maybe a coincidence). Problem: Can't race N3 online! I join servers with pings of 40, 50, 60, and quality of 110, and latency of 0.03 - it doesn't matter. When the host goes to qualify, I get "bad connection losing connection" then booted. If I manage to make it through qualify - I usually get booted on the starting grid (bad! bad!). Last night I had a good race on BLKoch server. Superb connection. But I was booted out of two others. When should I start to suspect it is the game? (I have the latest patch.) Does anyone out there have flawless N3 online with DSL? How about your experiences with other on-line games and DSL? Thanks -- Doug Appleyard "Got us a Dirt Track Date - demolition derby figure 8" Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Doug Appleyard wrote: > > > Does anyone out there have flawless N3 online > with DSL? How about your experiences with other > on-line games and DSL? > I am the host for an online league (@Home Cable). We have always had some connectivity problems but recently two of the leagues founding members went to DSL and neither can connect to me anymore. Previously both had excellent modem connects. We traced the routes and in both cases it was the DSL ISP's hardware but neither company is willing to effect changes. That fact that we can no longer support a league is not important to them. Where they are, they do not have any options nor was either able to convince their spouses that they still need the extra phone line to race. They do have solid connections to the large dedicated servers found on Won but then most of us do. -- Rich Koehler rgkoehler(at)lucent(dot)com killerk(at)home(dot)com

Yes, I have a flawless connection with DSL. I am going to bet anything it's not your connection. There's something else going on. Have you completely erased (uninstalled N3) and installed everything cleanly? If not, I would start there. Hope that little bit helps....just be patient...you'll get it worked out. Lee PS: My DSL is with Cincinnati Bell, no BellSouth but it shouldn't matter. <SNIP> On Tue, 09 May 2000 13:31:33 GMT, Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>I got BellSouth ADSL a couple weeks ago and have >been having difficulties racing N3. I have tried >many things: 2 different phone outlets in house, >100ft cord to connect straight to outside line drop, >connect USB modem to computer (not to USB hub), >kill any non-essential processes, unplug >my cordless phone (??? suggested by BellSouth). >Also tweaks from speedguide.net. Also ctrl-y, >alt-e stuff during Practice. Haven't tried other >on-line games. >

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> I am the host for an online league (@Home Cable). We have > always had some connectivity problems but recently two of > the leagues founding members went to DSL and neither can > connect to me anymore. Previously both had excellent modem > connects. We traced the routes and in both cases it was > the DSL ISP's hardware but neither company is willing to > effect changes. That fact that we can no longer support > a league is not important to them. Where they are, they do > not have any options nor was either able to convince their > spouses that they still need the extra phone line to race. > > They do have solid connections to the large dedicated servers > found on Won but then most of us do. >

Thanks for the advice guys. I am a Unix user at work. Not that familiar with Win98. So could I ask a couple more basic questions: 1. How can I determine the hostname or IP address of a race server listed in one of the N3 arenas? 2. Is there a Win98 traceroute, ping, ypmatch etc.? What are they called (if not those same names)? 3. Bonus clueless question: How do i iconify N3 in order to run these tools on a race server I'm thinking of joining? I'd like to see if there is a correlation between the route employed, and my getting booted. Thanks again. -- Doug Appleyard "Got us a Dirt Track Date, demolition derby figure 8" Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

There was an article in today's Chicago Tribune about DSL. I believe one of the stories was about a BellSouth user. I believe the problem is that only a few people are expert enough to ensure the network route settings are up to snuff. After going to DSL I have been having flawless N3 online play. I was hosting and everyone that connected had 56K. No warping to speak of... However to get my DSL going required some complaining to the DSL provider(s). It took some trouble shooting by some high level engineers to sort out my particular problem. Apparently 3 small network route settings were mis configured. Everyone with DSL is at the mercy of this... -- [email hidden] Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8f93vl$1j0$[email hidden]... > I got BellSouth ADSL a couple weeks ago and have > been having difficulties racing N3. I have tried > many things: 2 different phone outlets in house, > 100ft cord to connect straight to outside line drop, > connect USB modem to computer (not to USB hub), > kill any non-essential processes, unplug > my cordless phone (??? suggested by BellSouth). > Also tweaks from speedguide.net. Also ctrl-y, > alt-e stuff during Practice. Haven't tried other > on-line games. > > I have P3 550, 128M RAM, Diamond Viper non-Ultra (32). > USB ADSL modem, 2 miles from end office. 25 year old > neighborhood. > > I can usually download a test file at 800-1000 kbps. > My DSL connection *was* dropping every 15 minutes > but after unplugging cordless phone (15-20 ft away) > this seems to have stopped (again - ??? - maybe > a coincidence). > > Problem: Can't race N3 online! I join servers > with pings of 40, 50, 60, and quality of 110, > and latency of 0.03 - it doesn't matter. When > the host goes to qualify, I get "bad connection > losing connection" then booted. If I manage to > make it through qualify - I usually get booted > on the starting grid (bad! bad!). > > Last night I had a good race on BLKoch server. > Superb connection. But I was booted out of two others. > > When should I start to suspect it is the game? > (I have the latest patch.) > > Does anyone out there have flawless N3 online > with DSL? How about your experiences with other > on-line games and DSL? > > Thanks > > -- > Doug Appleyard > "Got us a Dirt Track Date - demolition derby figure 8" > > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

The probably need to configure his DSL connection and network route properly. -- [email hidden] Lee Mills <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Yes, I have a flawless connection with DSL. I am going to bet > anything it's not your connection. There's something else going on. > > Have you completely erased (uninstalled N3) and installed everything > cleanly? If not, I would start there. > > Hope that little bit helps....just be patient...you'll get it worked > out. > > Lee > > PS: My DSL is with Cincinnati Bell, no BellSouth but it shouldn't > matter. > > > <SNIP> > > On Tue, 09 May 2000 13:31:33 GMT, Doug Appleyard > <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >I got BellSouth ADSL a couple weeks ago and have > >been having difficulties racing N3. I have tried > >many things: 2 different phone outlets in house, > >100ft cord to connect straight to outside line drop, > >connect USB modem to computer (not to USB hub), > >kill any non-essential processes, unplug > >my cordless phone (??? suggested by BellSouth). > >Also tweaks from speedguide.net. Also ctrl-y, > >alt-e stuff during Practice. Haven't tried other > >on-line games. > > >

Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8fbnjg$vks$[email hidden]... > 1. How can I determine the hostname or IP address > of a race server listed in one of the N3 arenas? You are not using WON.NET??? > 2. Is there a Win98 traceroute, ping, ypmatch etc.? > What are they called (if not those same names)? You can probably find shareware versions of these programs on the web. > 3. Bonus clueless question: How do i iconify N3 > in order to run these tools on a race server > I'm thinking of joining? You cannot config N3 to do any of that stuff. N3 does have a function to click on a race and then ping the host. This is when you are connected on WON.NET. I don't know about TCP/IP independant races. You guys might be better off going to WON.NET and setting up passwords for all of your races. -- [email hidden]

In article <8fp51f$ot3$[email hidden]>, "Greg Cisko" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:8fbnjg$vks$[email hidden]... > > 1. How can I determine the hostname or IP address > > of a race server listed in one of the N3 arenas? > > You are not using WON.NET??? >

Yes I am using won.net, accessed from the N3 Multiplayer arena/race listings in the N3 game. But I wanted to be able to see a race in the arena list, then somehow determine its IP address. Then I could alt-tab to iconify N3, and use DOS tracert to show me the route. (Maybe this could help when I have the BellSouth techs on the line.) Then I would try this while on Mindspring (dial-up) and compare the route. With DSL, I usually see 12 hops to get anywhere. But this was similar to Mindspring, so maybe this info won't help me very much. I still have Mindspring (planning to disconnect IF I get DSL working satisfactorily). With Mindspring, and my 56K modem, it is very rare that I get booted out of races for bad connections. The ping is longer (100-150, otherwise I don't join the race). But the connection is more stable. With DSL, my pings are 40-70. But the connections are very unstable; I get booted almost every time the host takes the race to Qualify. Even with BL Koch; Brick Onecall, etc. I kill every application except systray and explorer. I even kill ZoneAlarm sometimes; but no help. I tried to *host* a race a couple nights ago. I thought maybe I couldn't join any, but would be able to host. Well as soon as someone else joined, and I clicked on "Practice", my connection dropped. Ah well, it looks like its time to call BellSouth again. I guess if they can't help me I should try RoadRunner? Thanks to everybody for their advice. -- Doug Appleyard "Got us a Dirt Track Date, demolition derby figure 8" Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

On Mon, 15 May 2000 10:24:53 -0500, "Greg Cisko" <[email hidden]> thus spoke: >Everyone with DSL is at the mercy of this... Tell me about it! My DSL connection sucks recently. Not connecting to servers on a continual basis. When I get my email, most of the time I have to attempt to connect twice to retrieve it. Same with usenet and many web pages do the same thing. It's not a consistent problem though or I would suspect something at my end. My ISP also uses a piece of software called Access Manager, which gives me a new IP everytime I connect just like a dial-up account, but since using this software (forced) I find that when connecting to usenet I get freezes of up to a minute sometimes until it connects. The acccess manager also takes a long time to disconnect sometimes. Except for download speeds I would rather be back using a dial-up account because of this crap sevice I'm getting. Time to complain and give some aggro. -- Nos

Nos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > a minute sometimes until it connects. The acccess manager also takes > a long time to disconnect sometimes. Except for download speeds I > would rather be back using a dial-up account because of this crap > sevice I'm getting. Time to complain and give some aggro. Wow that sucks. It sounds like your guys are farting around with so-called new technology with all of that fancy Access Manager stuff. -- [email hidden] > -- > Nos

On Mon, 15 May 2000 18:02:07 -0500, "Greg Cisko" <[email hidden]> thus spoke: >Wow that sucks. It sounds like your guys are farting around with >so-called new technology with all of that fancy Access Manager >stuff. Yes, but it does add a layer of security that most DSL providers don't give. BTW, just bought F1 2000 based on your recommedation. So it better not suck. :-) Where's the patch though? I thought I read there has been a patch released, but can't find anything at the EA website. -- Nos

Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8fpbil$kct$[email hidden]...

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> Yes I am using won.net, accessed from the N3 Multiplayer > arena/race listings in the N3 game. But I wanted to be > able to see a race in the arena list, then somehow determine > its IP address. Then I could alt-tab to iconify N3, > and use DOS tracert to show me the route. > > (Maybe this could help when I have the BellSouth techs > on the line.)

I doubt it would help. > With DSL, my pings are 40-70. But the connections > are very unstable; I get booted almost every time > the host takes the race to Qualify. Even with BL Koch; > Brick Onecall, etc. You might want to call bell south and ask that they drop your DSL speed one notch. My DSL sync'd up at 420K but had too many bad packets. They dropped me to 320K and it has been great. I only was able to host 2 races but it was great.

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> I kill every application except systray and explorer. > I even kill ZoneAlarm sometimes; but no help. > > I tried to *host* a race a couple nights ago. I thought > maybe I couldn't join any, but would be able to host. > Well as soon as someone else joined, and I clicked on > "Practice", my connection dropped.

Maybe you should reinstall the game... BTW, here are my tips to try... 1) Call bellsouth and ask them to drop your speed. You may be getitng too much packet loss. However they should know what your packet loss is and drop it accordingly. Unless they are clueless. 2) Never JOIN any races unless you are 100% certain the host is using a fast DSL link. It does no goo to join a race where the host is at 56K. That is why I put DSL in my racing handle. So people would know it is a decent speed connection for the host. 3) Start HOSTING more until you get up and going. BTW, what is your CPU speed? I have a P3-600 and it was awesome. It is possible you need a fast CPU to keep up with the accelerated network connections. 4) Are you using the 1.24 (or whatever) patch? -- [email hidden]

Nos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Yes, but it does add a layer of security that most DSL providers don't > give. BTW, just bought F1 2000 based on your recommedation. So it Meaning that alot of other DSL providers use static IP addresses??? I would think in those cases, BlackICE or ZoneAlarm is good enough. > better not suck. :-) Where's the patch though? I thought I read there I didn't think there was an official EA F1 2000 patch. And hey... Even if you think it sucks I will still like it so there :-) Umm... What CPU and memory are you using? -- [email hidden] > has been a patch released, but can't find anything at the EA website. > -- > Nos

On Mon, 15 May 2000 18:18:06 -0500, "Greg Cisko" <[email hidden]> thus spoke: >Meaning that alot of other DSL providers use static IP addresses??? Yes. >I would think in those cases, BlackICE or ZoneAlarm is good enough. I use Zone Alarm too. Black Ice is OK, but from what I've read it's not up to the Zone Alarm standards and ZA is free. >I didn't think there was an official EA F1 2000 patch. And hey... Even >if you think it sucks I will still like it so there :-) Dang! I've been searching the net for an official patch and there isn't even one available. I even emailed EA and gave them heck because their F1 2000 link is broken and i can't get the patch. Hehe. But, just before answering this post I did find out there is no patch, but lots of tweaks at BHMotorsports site. Tome to go install it and see how it is. >Umm... What CPU and memory are you using? P3 500 /128mb ram. -- Nos

Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8frtjg$g8i$[email hidden]... > It's ADSL - 1.2 Mbps down, 150-250K up, but it disconnects > frequently (perhaps now that is fixed, we'll see). Wow that is a HUGE difference. My DSL is 320K both ways, I believe they call it SDSL. I wonder if while racing online, your connection for the race will be dropped to an effective 150-250K if you know what I mean. You may only get the 1.2MB for downloading while online gaming may drop to the lowest common denominator. > This is one of BellSouth's main selling points for the > service, that you can use it on your existing phone line, > and not need an extra phone line for your Internet service. > Looks like BellSouth and Ameritech have taken different > tacks :-) Yep. I guess time will tell how it works, but my instincts tell me that a seperate line for just DSL can't be a bad thing :-) -- [email hidden]

Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8frif5$2o9$[email hidden]...

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> Thanks for your advice. I did spend some time with > BellSouth on the phone last night. They wanted to > make sure I unplugged my 900 MHz cordless phone (unplugged > the POWER and the telephone cord). Okay, I did that, no > help. Their other suggestion was to move the DSL modem > away from the computer. It was sitting right next to the > monitor, and a USB hub (powered) was sitting on top of it. > So I moved the modem to a high shelf (very glad I chose an > external modem).

Wow... That is funky. My DSL modem is sitting on top of my PC (under my desk). What speed is your DSL connection? > By this time it was 12:00. I tried one race (not identified > as a DSL host), and it worked, no disconnects. Also my It sounds like the above fixed the problem. I would not be happy out that... Also I believe the source of your problem is that your phone line and DSL is using the same copper pair of wires. Supposedly DSL operates at a much higher bandwidth and can co- exist with normal phone operations. In my area (chicago) Ameritech insists on running another line for the DSL. I suspect that in your case the phone and DSL is colliding somehow causing those random dropouts. > BTW I have a P3 550, with 128 M RAM. How big a race do you > think I could host? When you host 2 races do you set one up > as a server, then actively host and race in the other one? I always have 25 total cars and 8 human multiplayer slots available. I would suspect that you could do the same. Many people cannot drive worth a darn and have no patience for all of the other computer cars. I always get poor losers dropping out when they crash. I think it is a great time to have to drive in all that traffic. -- [email hidden]

In article <8frnhc$nj5$[email hidden]>, "Greg Cisko" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:8frif5$2o9$[email hidden]... > > Thanks for your advice. I did spend some time with > > BellSouth on the phone last night. They wanted to > > make sure I unplugged my 900 MHz cordless phone (unplugged > > the POWER and the telephone cord). Okay, I did that, no > > help. Their other suggestion was to move the DSL modem > > away from the computer. It was sitting right next to the > > monitor, and a USB hub (powered) was sitting on top of it. > > So I moved the modem to a high shelf (very glad I chose an > > external modem). > > Wow... That is funky. My DSL modem is sitting on top of my > PC (under my desk). What speed is your DSL connection?

It's ADSL - 1.2 Mbps down, 150-250K up, but it disconnects frequently (perhaps now that is fixed, we'll see).

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> > > By this time it was 12:00. I tried one race (not identified > > as a DSL host), and it worked, no disconnects. Also my > > It sounds like the above fixed the problem. I would not > be happy out that... Also I believe the source of your > problem is that your phone line and DSL is using > the same copper pair of wires. Supposedly DSL > operates at a much higher bandwidth and can co- > exist with normal phone operations. In my area > (chicago) Ameritech insists on running another > line for the DSL. I suspect that in your case the phone > and DSL is colliding somehow causing those random > dropouts.

This is one of BellSouth's main selling points for the service, that you can use it on your existing phone line, and not need an extra phone line for your Internet service. Looks like BellSouth and Ameritech have taken different tacks :-) See http://consumer.bellsouth.net/adsl/what_dsl.html Thanks again -- Doug Appleyard "Got us a Dirt Track Date, demolition derby figure 8" -- Southern Culture On The Skids Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Thanks for your advice. I did spend some time with BellSouth on the phone last night. They wanted to make sure I unplugged my 900 MHz cordless phone (unplugged the POWER and the telephone cord). Okay, I did that, no help. Their other suggestion was to move the DSL modem away from the computer. It was sitting right next to the monitor, and a USB hub (powered) was sitting on top of it. So I moved the modem to a high shelf (very glad I chose an external modem). By this time it was 12:00. I tried one race (not identified as a DSL host), and it worked, no disconnects. Also my error count seems to be down. But this was just for 15-20 minutes or so. I will give it more of a workout tonight, and if I still have problems I'll call BellSouth back and ask about dropping the speed a notch. BTW I have a P3 550, with 128 M RAM. How big a race do you think I could host? When you host 2 races do you set one up as a server, then actively host and race in the other one? Oh yeah, I'm on the latest patch too. Thanks again -- Doug Appleyard "Got us a Dirt Track Date, demolition derby figure 8" -- Southern Culture On The Skids Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Greg, You are correct. If you have the same upload/download rate then it's SDSL (Synchronous DSL). Doug has ADSL (Asynchronous DSL), hence his download rate is faster than his upload rate. I'm a very lucky man in that I have 768K SDSL! Unfortunately, my ISP masks my IP address. I haven't come up with a way to provide a valid IP address to others for direct TCP/IP hosting. I can host via WON quite successfully though. Dave Ericson "MomoBoy" JDB Racing Greg Cisko wrote:

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> > Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:8frtjg$g8i$[email hidden]... > > It's ADSL - 1.2 Mbps down, 150-250K up, but it disconnects > > frequently (perhaps now that is fixed, we'll see). > > Wow that is a HUGE difference. My DSL is 320K both ways, > I believe they call it SDSL. > > I wonder if while racing online, your connection for the > race will be dropped to an effective 150-250K if you > know what I mean. You may only get the 1.2MB for > downloading while online gaming may drop to the > lowest common denominator. > > > This is one of BellSouth's main selling points for the > > service, that you can use it on your existing phone line, > > and not need an extra phone line for your Internet service. > > Looks like BellSouth and Ameritech have taken different > > tacks :-) > > Yep. I guess time will tell how it works, but my instincts > tell me that a seperate line for just DSL can't be a bad > thing :-) > > -- > > [email hidden]

i just cancelled my dsl order in favor of a cable modem. Greg Cisko <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8frnhc$nj5$[email hidden]...

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> Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:8frif5$2o9$[email hidden]... > > Thanks for your advice. I did spend some time with > > BellSouth on the phone last night. They wanted to > > make sure I unplugged my 900 MHz cordless phone (unplugged > > the POWER and the telephone cord). Okay, I did that, no > > help. Their other suggestion was to move the DSL modem > > away from the computer. It was sitting right next to the > > monitor, and a USB hub (powered) was sitting on top of it. > > So I moved the modem to a high shelf (very glad I chose an > > external modem). > > Wow... That is funky. My DSL modem is sitting on top of my > PC (under my desk). What speed is your DSL connection? > > > By this time it was 12:00. I tried one race (not identified > > as a DSL host), and it worked, no disconnects. Also my > > It sounds like the above fixed the problem. I would not > be happy out that... Also I believe the source of your > problem is that your phone line and DSL is using > the same copper pair of wires. Supposedly DSL > operates at a much higher bandwidth and can co- > exist with normal phone operations. In my area > (chicago) Ameritech insists on running another > line for the DSL. I suspect that in your case the phone > and DSL is colliding somehow causing those random > dropouts. > > > BTW I have a P3 550, with 128 M RAM. How big a race do you > > think I could host? When you host 2 races do you set one up > > as a server, then actively host and race in the other one? > > I always have 25 total cars and 8 human multiplayer slots > available. I would suspect that you could do the same. > Many people cannot drive worth a darn and have no > patience for all of the other computer cars. I always > get poor losers dropping out when they crash. I think > it is a great time to have to drive in all that traffic. > > -- > > [email hidden] > > > >

In article <8f93vl$1j0$[email hidden]>, Doug Appleyard <[email hidden]> wrote: > I got BellSouth ADSL a couple weeks ago and have > been having difficulties racing N3. As of now I consider this problem solved. It was in fact pilot error. What solved it for me was moving the DSL modem (Alcatel SpeedStream 4060 USB) from its location next to the monitor, and under a powered USB hub, to a shelf two feet above the monitor and the hub. I now get perfect connections and warp free racing. (I was warping one time with 0.10 latency and 94% quality but that may have been the Internet.) Usually I have 0.06 latency or lower, and 100% quality or higher. Thanks to all who offered suggestions. Here's some stuff I tried which had no effect on my getting dropped every time the host went to Qualify (and also random dropped conns when PC was idle): - Plug modem's phone cord into different jack - Plug modem's phone cord into external house drop - Kill all processes except Systray and Explorer using Ctrl-Alt-Del - Try at off-peak hours - Turn off screen saver and power saver - Plug modem directly into computer, not into PC - Unplug gaming devices (USB joystick and pedals) - Tweak broadband settings (www.speedguide.net) Obviously I will still use some of these (killing processes, broadband tweaks, etc.) especially if I want to try to host some races. -- Doug Appleyard "Got us a Dirt Track Date, demolition derby figure 8" -- Southern Culture On The Skids Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.