Networking Help

Are you playing directly connected to the cable modem?  Through a router?  If a router, see here:  http://forums.impulsedriven.com/387553.  If just through a cable modem, then please goto speedtest, run the test, and post your download/upload results.

Also, are you playing through wireless or directly connected through an Ethernet cable?  Who is your isp? 

The filthy liars at Oceanic Time Warner Cable are my isp.

Well, there are two places in the boonies that I've tried playing.  One I have the option to hook up directly to the cable modem sometimes which I have tried and had the same problem happen.  It does seem I can hang on a little longer when its just the short losses of connectivity when hooked up directly to the modem, I'll still be disconnected entirely when the internet service loss is for longer times.

I've had no trouble at all with disconnections when going through a router at my home, or when visiting my parents on the mainland, though of course I prefer to hook up directly to the modem when available.

Thanks for the router guide, but considering the issue seems to be through the overall internet service in this area, I'm not sure it would make any difference at all.  Since I live 2 hours from anywhere, DSL and such is not an option and I'm lucky that I even have any broadband internet, even if its not reliable.  My last hope was for the cellphone to carry the load when it needed to, but that doesn't seem like its going to be able to work.

Yeah - I can play via cell phone without too much pain, but you pretty much can only 2v2 where it's still reasonable.  3v3 works, but gets awful laggy... but I'm through sprint for cell.

There are quite a few possibilities you can try regarding the cable modem, though.  My first thought is to try to move it to a different cable (coax) if possible.  Try a different Ethernet cable as well.  They can, though in frequent, go bad or be damaged.  Then, just requesting a new cable modem might do the trick.  I assume that you are probably renting one from them.  Might just want to call them, say you have issues with your cable modem where it often loses connectivity (I assume when the internet goes out, you still have tv signal, right?) and you'd like them to bring out a replacement unit for you.  If you haven't done this, do it.  Cycle the power on your cable modem.  If it has a built in backup battery, remove that first.  Either way, unplug it for about 30 seconds and then power it up again (put the battery back in before you power it up though).  Just losing Internet connectivity at the cable modem is a bit strange in my experience and either points to shite wiring on their part or a bad cable modem.  So, in this order, try this.

1. Cycle the power on the modem as described - hook up directly to it - play and see if you have outages
2. If its an option, move the cable modem somewhere else and use it there - play and see if you have outages
3. Change out ethernet cables.  Just try a different one - play and see if you have outages
4. Request a new cable modem from time warner explaining that this one drop connections alot

I suggest you do ALL of this troubleshooting connected just to the cable modem and then hook up the router when that's done. 

Absolutely.....if you're paying for "broadband service" no matter where you are located the service provider needs to provide you with said service.

You need to bitch, bitch and keep bitching until the service provider comes out, replaces your modem and power supply, re-cables everything from your coax box to the modem and then runs new line-tests to verify that your modem is within reasonable "noise/signal-loss limits".

Obviously I have no experience with Time-Warner but up here in Canada my service provider SHAW will come out and do everything I just described.......and all free of charge.

Hopefully TW will step up to the plate for you, because the kind of service you're describing is simply unacceptable.

Its the same with me when I had time warner.  There should be no charge (other than the time you waste having to wait for them to show up).  Just be crystal clear that you've tried troubleshooting and that you believe the problem is either with the wiring or the cable modem and that you want a new cable modem and/or coax run to it. 

Hey thanks a lot you guys!  Appreciate the help... I'll start the hardcore bitching process as soon as I do some better trouble shooting...

hedgie wants you to get on vent thunder

Thundercles,

If you want a little more ammo for yourself when you do battle with your ISP do the following:

1.  START >> RUN  >> CMD

2.  type "ping google.com -t > pingtest.txt"  (that will start pinging google.com indefinitely until you hit Ctrl-C to break the command and it pipes the output to a text file called pingtest.txt so you have "evidence")

3.  Let that run for a few hours and then break the command with Ctrl-C and find/save the file and your ISP should be able to see exactly when you lose connectivity and for how long.

thanks,

the Monk

pwned cable companies!

Awesome!  I wasn't looking forward to having them tell me over the phone "Your line seems to be working fine right now thanks for your continued business bye bye!" or worse, actually have them come out to fix things and have me get "lucky" and actually go an hour without disconnecting.

As my mechanic friend tells me, there ain't nothing worse than something that won't stay broke long enough to fix.  Having some "evidence" should help a lot in this process...

Thanks again!

I've spent a lot of time arguing with ISP's over the years even called an ISP in the UK to help someone else out who was getting stonewalled by them so I know the ways they try to convince you that you're full of shit and don't know what you're talking about.

If the pingtest file isn't enough for them.........let me know, there are a couple of other things I can talk you through which can help tip the odds in your favour even more. 

the Monk

I had the exact same problem.  It wasn't TWC nor my router, but it was my built in ethernet card.  I bought a USB wifi and it worked beautifully....though I took about 30-40 losses (straight losses) from dc.

Yeah - so it certainly pays to check out your stuff.  Shame there's a bunch of troubleshooting steps to try, but it is what it is.  Call your cable company and get the ball rolling!

Thanks Nana, but I've had zero issues with unexplained disconnections when playing from my home in another town, or when visiting my parents.  The only time I have problems is with connections in this one area so I'm thinking its the ISP itself and not my setup...

And since I've tried connecting directly through the modem itself, I'm thinking that its not a router issue.

Dawn of War! Dawn of War! Dawn of War! 

try usb wifi or a new ethernet card anyways.  Sometimes it can be sensitive to dropped packets.