BB, Gaming, X Box Live

KERSPLAT!

OK so Ive been searching for a BB provider but am still unsure who to go with. While I look can someone advise me on the minimum speeds needed for online gaming? Not that I will go for the lowest package, more so I can check neighbours speeds and go from there

Cheers in advance

Captain Chaos

In 2005 I was playing on XBL with a 512k connection, yeah. PGR3 with no lag. But as more people around be got BB I had to to keep upgrading because of contention, I went 1meg-2meg-3meg. In the end I had to drop DSL and go with a cable provider because they have far more bandwidth and don't suffer from contention at current speed and usage. I'm now on a 15meg connection and me and my brother can play online at the same time through PC, XBL or PSN.

KERSPLAT!

I understand that I would probably need at least 3mb but I was wondering about minimum up and download speeds before lag and the likes kick in

dunworth1

a 1mb connection would be find its the ping that matters.

the lower the ping the better.
if you have a high ping you will get lag

KERSPLAT!

OK I know F all about BB, what determines the ping?

Tea_Bag

IPAM wrote: »

OK I know F all about BB, what determines the ping?

for all its worth, ping is determined by contention with other people using the same ISP in your area and infrastructure (steer clear of DSL such as Eircon)

its really a response time between your PC and a server on the internet.

ive seen people playing xbox live on a 1mb connection perfectly.

you need low pings, <80ms, and 364kbps upload speed (afaik)

EDIT: go to pingtest.net and post back what you get.

if it looks something like this you're doing great. *cough*

watty

DSL (eircom) unless broken is less than 80ms, so your advice is wrong. More than 60% of broadband is DSL.

I don't believe you need 384kbps upload. I think it can work on 128kbps symmetrical if the latency is < 80ms
However many Broadband connections including DSL do have 384k upload. Some have 512k or 1Mbps upload.

Microsoft support says you need
A cable modem or DSL Internet service
(Many Fixed Wireless and Digiweb Metro are better latency, lower lag than plain DSL)

Halo3 may need higher speed
Xbox Movie streaming needs about 5Mbps download speed for reliability.


Ping increases somewhat with contention, but the main element of "ping" (i.e. latency or Lag) is the technology of end user connection and the backhaul type.

WiFi can add 2ms to 20ms, higher if more than one person is using it, or signal is poor.

Services often worse than 80ms:

• Worst is Satellite 790ms min.
• Ordinary 3G/HSDPA is 120ms to 1000ms (2000ms max)
• 3G/iHSPA is 80ms to 300ms typically
• Ripwave 170ms to 1000ms (I've seen 1960ms)
• Clearwire
• Imagine WiMax is mostly more than 80ms
• Some "WiFi" derived "licence free" Wireless ISPs
• GSM GPRS and EDGE > 120ms
• Analogue Dialup

Services that should be better than 80ms and fine for Gaming

• Fibre is best (< 15ms)
• UPC cable (< 20ms)
• Metro Fixed wireless (< 25ms)
• ADSL2+ / VDSL / LLU DSL and "NGB" plain DSL (< 40ms)
• Some Fixed Wireless
• Fixed Wimax (not Imagine Wimax with a fixed aerial option)
• original ATM back haul DSL (up to 70ms)
• Other fixed Wireless (< 80ms)
• Possibly ISDN!

dunworth1

very good post watty.

124kb upload should be fine
i used to have a 1mb dsl before i switched to upc.

and i was able to play online game perfectly fine.

i had the odd time when i would get a bit of lag on some games.
but that wouldnt last long.

KERSPLAT!

Im on VF Mobile BB so ping and speeds are crap:





Why did it go to Milton Keynes server?




Hence me searching for new BB, Iwas on to magnet but they seem quite €€€ Its €40 for 8MB (thats if my line can take 8mb) + €26 to eircom for line rental or about €50 for eircom BB + Line rental

Not sure which to get. Ive heard magnet are good and have had bad dealings with eircom... need to decide soon though

Another question, is the old 1 pair copper phone line ok for BB? Its been installed about 25 years and have heard about problems with line faults on old cables, dont want to enter into a contract and end up with even worse BB