Something Wrong With My Internet

[Big Lar]

Hi everybody,

 

I said to myself that i would throw this one out there to see if anyone can answer it.

 

I have been unable to play COD4 online since i have gotten it, because when i click on the join game option: No servers are shown on the list and the only message i recieve is a flashing message on the top left-hand corner of the screeen saying Waiting from response from the master server.

 

So i uninstalled and reinstalled, added patches and removed patches, uninstalled and reinstalled the network card, bypassed router, updated drivers, firewall on and firewall off but nothing seemed to fix the problem. I also have the same problem to a lesser extent with Battlefield Vietnam whereas when i try to join a multiplayer game i can only see about 10 or so servers with all filters off, But i am able to connect through Xfire so that dosent really bother me.

 

In the time before i was able to get broadband (Because i live out in the countryside, miles away from civilisation, well 12 miles to the closest town) i had a data modem which connected to my pc or laptop using a usb cable, It was a fairly good service but the latency was very high and i was unable to play games on the net with it and in the evening times the connection got very slow because of the ammount of users, But i still use when i am out and about for work purposes.

 

So anyhow yesterday i disabled my broadband connection and connected to the net via my usb modem anb started COD4 and low and behold i was able to see all servers online through the multiplayer window, Finally a clue !

 

The next question; Could it that my computer is faulty?

 

So i decided to install COD4 on my laptop

Now i feel that i should tell ye this before i start, My laptop isint very sexy, It has on board graphics and 1.6Gz pentium processor. so there was not a chance in hell that i could play COD4 on it but i installed it anyway and i also installed Xfire because when i ran xfire i could see the server list for COD4 on it. But when i ran xfire all that i got was 15 servers out of a possible 7000 to come up on the list, so i disabled my broadband connection and connected using the data card and i was able to view 4000 servers out of 7000.

 

 

Below are 2 screen shots that i took from xfire with the server list, one with the usb data modem connection which has the long server list and the other with my broadband connection which has the short server list.

 

http://lh6.google.com/grath.killian/R3uoluK0LYI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/l4HK344BnRQ/s144/xfire%203modem.JPG

 

 

 

 

http://lh5.google.com/grath.killian/R3uVreK0LWI/AAAAAAAAADo/Wt1mPy2IZ0M/s144/xfire%20broadband.JPG

 

 

 

 

At this point i feel that it is my Internet connection that is the problem and if it is how am i going to explain this to my Internet Provider in a language that they will understand.

 

Or could there be some other problem.

 

 

Phew, Its a long post isint it.

 

Sorry i should have also added that my broadband connection is 1Mbit and the usb modem operates around 768kbit

 

The 1mb connection is fed through the WAN port of the router and then dispersed from there

[RandyL]

Hi Big Lar;

I'll look around on the game side of your issue. In the mean time just in case the information is needed can you supply any information on your card, router or modem? Also what Operating System are you using?

 

Please be patient. I'm sure someone with more experience then me in networking will do their best to try to help you.

 

RandyL

[RandyL]

COD4 is Call of Duty.

Battlefield Vietnam is a game played mostly online.

Xfire is an online gaming portal. http://www.xfire.com/

Am I correct?

 

RandyL

[Big Lar]

@ RandyL

Thank you for your fast response,

Yes, COD4 is Call of Duty.

Yes, Battlefield Vietnam is a game played mostly online.

Yes, xfire is a gaming portal that i use, It scans the pc for games and brings up a list of online servers that are available. Also if I have friends that also use xfire I can see what server that they are on and join that particular server through xfire as it will launch that particular game and connect to the server automatically.

 

I am using

 

 

Router: Trendnet 432-BRP

PC Manufacturer : Dell Computer Corporation

Mainboard : Dell Computer Corp. 02Y832

Chipset : Intel i865G

Processor : Intel Pentium 4 @ 3066 MHz

Physical Memory : 2816 MB

Video Card : Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT 512MB DDR2 DVI TV - AGP

Hard Disk : Hitachi (250 GB)

Hard Disk : IC35L060AVV207-0 (40 GB)

DVD-Rom Drive : DVDRW USB H16X USB CdRom

DVD-Rom Drive : _NEC DVD+RW ND-1100A

Monitor Type : Dell Computer DELL E171FPb - 17 inches

Monitor Type : ProView Technology 565 - 15 inches

Network Card : Intel Corporation PRO/100 VE Network Connection

Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.01.2600 Service Pack 2

DirectX : Version 9.0c (July 2007)

Antivirus: AVG Free edition

Firewall: Windows Firewall

 

 

However i dont think that it is a hardware/software problem on my end as this morning i devised another test which would rule out any problems on my end i think.

 

Step 1. While connected to my Internet Provider I ran Battlefield Vietnam and tried to refresh/update the server list in the multiplayer menu, i took a screenshot of that and its below. The screenshot shows 1 server on the list after i had refreshed/updated it.

 

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/BFVAzotel.jpg?t=1200145587

 

 

 

Step 2. I setup my laptop and connected to the internet using my 3 mobile broadband via usb, then i setup that internet connection for internet connection sharing, I then connected the Ethernet port of my laptop to the WAN port of my router using a patch lead and clicked the DHCP Renew Button where my laptop issued a new ip to the router.

 

Step 3. As i had my desktop computer connected to the router I the ran the Battlefield Vietnam game once again, This time when i refreshed.updated the server list i got a 203 servers on the list, once again the screenshot is below.

 

 

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/BFV3mobileBroadband.jpg?t=1200146277

 

The Results

The results of the test seem to show that there is a problem of some sort with the broadband on my Internet Provider's end. I am fairly confident of this, as by connecting the laptop to the WAN port of the router i am creating the same connectivity envoirnment with the 3mobile broadband as is with my Internet Provider's broadband. I should also point out that no firewalls or antivirus were switched off in any of the computer's while the tests were ran.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hi Big Lar

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

 

As Randy mentioned the members that deal with Networking will be online shortly and will assist you then, I ask that you bear with us for a short period.

 

In the meantime can I ask if you can make those images somewhat larger as they are very difficult to see.

An ideal picture hosting site is PhotoBucket

[Big Lar]

Hi Big Lar

 

In the meantime can I ask if you can make those images somewhat larger as they are very difficult to see.

Yes, sorry about that

 

But i am afraid i cannot make the images in the first post any larger than what they are as i have deleted them from my pc, but the images in the second post i have changed, which i think is the more important post.

 

I can see your point as they make sense to me because i know what i am looking for but for another person they are too small.

 

If anyone else cannot understand them please let me know and i will take some more screenshots and repost.

 

Many Thanks

Lar

[hardware_dave]

Now that is nice, a simulator for the router -

 

http://trendnet.com/emulators/TEW-432BRP_C1/lan.htm

 

Looks like you are using it with an ethernet modem, whats the make/model ?

 

Can you try pinging one of the game servers ?

 

Dave

[Big Lar]

Hi dave thanks for your reply.

 

Looks like you are using it with an ethernet modem, whats the make/model ?

 

I dont know what exactly what you are on about here i can only guess that you are refering to the line comming into the router, so i will explain.

 

I have wireless internet here in my house, Basically what i have is an antenna/box on my outside wall connected to the WAN port of my router

 

Maybey this link will make it clearer http://www.azotelocean.com/faq.php

 

 

Can you try pinging one of the game servers ?

 

Yes i can ping any one of the game servers and i can join a game by manually adding the address of the server using ADD SERVER server button that is seen below. This has been the way that i have been playing all along.

 

But if i use the mobile broadband connection that i have http://www.three.ie/broadband/index.htm And connect it like i have done in the above post i can join a game through the game multiplayer menu.

 

 

 

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/BFVAzotel.jpg?t=1200145587

 

 

I have had broadband installed at home for the past six months and this is the way that i have been joining games since i have had it, to be honest it has just been a bit of an inconvienence more so than a problem until now. ( i had always put the problem down to something at my end)

But at christmas my wife bought me Call of Duty 4 as a pressie and i have been totally unable to connect to any online game with this whatsoever using the broadband connection that i have at home. however i can connect to the game using the mobile broadband.

 

The problem with the mobile broadband is that the latency is very high which is not suitable for gameplay.

 

Also i was talking to a guy last week who told me that COD4 uses the UDP protocol rather than the TCP protocol which prompted me to look further into the problem.

 

I hope that the above terminoligy is correct.

 

Once again, thank's to all at freepchelp for yere ongoing efforts and if there is any more information that you need please do not hesitate

 

Lar

[Seth]

Hi Lar.

 

Please check if Safe Mode With Networking makes any difference.

 

Also, are the two modems using the same ISP?

[hardware_dave]

"Because i live out in the countryside, miles away from civilisation, well 12 miles to the closest town."

 

Yet you have line of sight for wireless ? Wierd.

 

Anyway, you can connect to any game server directly but xfire wont list all the servers ?

 

It depends on how xfire works, it may be contacting a central server to get a list of game servers. This could be being blocked by your isp, since it works with your mobile broadband.

 

I would contact your ISP and ask, as you seem to have ruled out any problems at your end.

 

Dave

[Big Lar]

@ Seth,

Thanks for your reply

 

No Safe Mode with networking does not make any difference and both modems are different ISP's

 

@hardware_dave,

I cannot understand how you find it weird that i am 12 miles from the closest town and have a line of site for wireless. Have you considered that i may live at a higher altitude than the town is.

 

 

Any idea how i should compose the email to my ISP in techinical terms as i am sure that someone in the office will recieve it and have no idea what i am on about.

 

 

Thanks for the help

 

Lar

[Seth]

Instead of calling them, I would simply email them with a link to this thread.

[Big Lar]

Will Do.

[Seth]

Ok.

 

It might get to someone who isn't very tech savvy, but they'll forward it to someone who is. The added bonus, is that they will be able to test the sites by going through the same servers as you.

[hardware_dave]

I guessed you must have some altitude, but 12 miles is still pushing it. With a £200 yagi antenna I can just about get a link to a school about 10 miles away and they are using a good enterasys ap. I dont suppose you could post a pic or two of your antenna setup?

 

Dave

[Big Lar]

No bother dave

 

The pictures are a bit on the large size because i said to myself if you wanted to zoom in or anything the quality would be there. The guy that installed told me thats its all motorola gear that they use and its what the american military use.

 

Well at least that's what he told me.

 

 

 

Also please forgive the green on the shoots, I must power wash the house LOL

 

 

http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/th_DSC00497.jpg

 

 

 

http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/th_DSC00496.jpg

 

 

 

Oops looks like photobucket resized them, i cut a bit out of one of them.

 

 

http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/th_new.jpg

 

 

 

If you are really intrested i will take a better shot tommorrow.

 

Or try this link http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/?action=view&current=DSC00497.jpg

 

 

Regards

 

Lar

[hardware_dave]

Ok that explains the range you are getting <grin>

 

I have never seen a dish used for a home user connection, its usualy a crappy omni antenna. I know a few people who use a home brew version based on old satelite dishes and the range is impressive.

 

What does the dish plug into ?

 

Like I said, give the isp a bell - you have done all you can at your end.

 

Dave

[Seth]

Ok that explains the range you are getting <grin>

 

 

Dave

Damn right.

 

That setup is sweet.

[Big Lar]

Now dave here is how it connects.

 

http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg50/thebiglar/th_PhotoForDave.jpg

 

The connection comes from outside and is plugged into the black thingy on the left which is powered by transformer in the wall which provides 24v dc to the bottom, i then plug the cable on the right hand side into my computer.

 

Now back to the problem at hand

 

I emailed my ISP this morning and followed up with a phone call just there a minuite ago, because i am impatient.

 

Anyhow he said that the problem lies with the fact that its the dish on the wall.

 

Now i mightn't have this word for word so ye will have to forgive me if its all upside down.

 

I think he said that the dish on the wall (The SM he called it) issues my router with an IP address, so i gather that the SM on the wall is issued an IP address from the relay station. so what he said that he is going to do is to make the relay station issue my computer directly with the ip address that would have been issued to the SM.

 

 

Can anybody make head or tail of that???????????????????????????

[hardware_dave]

Sounds like you may have had double nat (2 routers in effect), that can cause all sorts of problems.

 

The 'router' between your router and the dish may be locked down and controlled by the ISP, it sounds like they are going to turn off its nat. When they have, if you plugged a pc directy into their router you would get a public IP. If you try this, make sure you have a good firewall installed.

 

I close up of the box could confirm all this (if it has a make/model).

 

Dave

[Big Lar]

That sounds like it Dave

 

If i plug it directly into the router that should work as well, Yes?

 

When you say good firewall, would windows firewall be included in that list?

(he said hopefully)

 

I also tried to get the make and model of the box but its a bit high up for me so i will get a ladder in the next few days to have a closer look.

 

Thanks

 

Lar

[hardware_dave]

I ment if you take your router out and plug the dish directly into your pc, you will get a public ip . If you put a switch in to add more pc's it would not work as you only get one public ip with no nat.

 

You will still want to use your router, it will give you nat so you can have more than one computer connected, dhcp so they all get private ip's and a firewall to protect them.

 

With your computer pluged directly into the dish (after they have reconfigured it) you would have no firewall (apart from the windows one) on a public IP and thats risky. If you have any open services you will get hacked.

 

Network Address Translation is just a way of having more than one pc connected to a pubilc ip.

 

This is all assuming I am correct about the way your isp works. <grin>

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation

 

Dave

[Big Lar]

This morning my provider disabled the nat on the SM ( Subscriber Module) and gave me a Public IP, I am now happy to report that this resolved all problems i was having with gameplay and my ping is up a few points also.

 

Now he told me that he was giving me a public IP address free of charge as a good will gesture in order to relsolve the issue.

 

Now my question is this; What are the adavntages of a public IP over a Private IP?

[Tony D]

There are some addresses that are intended for 'in-house use' only. These are 192.168.x.x , 172.16-31.x.x, and 10.x.x.x. If you had one of these addresses, maybe your ISP couldn't resolve it properly to an address that is intended for external use.

[hardware_dave]

You would have always had a public IP, they have just changed where it gets nat'ed to a private range.

 

http://www.netdummy.net/privateip.html

 

Basicly your network was setup wrong.

 

Now its correctly set upyou could run a-

 

ftp server

 

game server

 

webserver

 

Use vnc to connect to your desktop from anywhere.

 

The possabilites are endless.....

 

Dave