Internet connection help

[RalphTheDwarf]

I've been R0'ing a lot in XI lately, and getting ready to complain to Comcast about it. But before I do that I thought I'd try to gather up more evidence about the problem. I've tried a few different streaming services to see if they'd crap out when I R0, but it seems like most apps buffer too much to tell for as brief as the R0 is. The only one I've seen encounter problems when I R0 is Winamp, but it's not very consistent.

I'm basically looking for either tools or other applications that are really sensitive to brief connection dropouts so I can be absolutely sure it's Comcast. It needs to be something that I can run continuously because it's not a very consistent problem.

[LinktheDeme]

generally a way that I tell is I use a streaming program like Xsplit and just run a continual stream. If frames get dropped that means you're losing packets when you R0 otherwise it means XI is the culprit.

If XI is the culprit it could mean a few things. FFXI's server is wonky, you are not properly allowing the ports / ips, firewall, comcast is throttling it.


You could also check if you are losing packets via a few tests as well but if it's intermittent the streaming via xsplit is a very easy way to determine it.

[RalphTheDwarf]

That's a pretty neat idea. Any idea if I'd be able to use the free version for that? And can twitch.tv streams be marked private?

[LinktheDeme]

That's a pretty neat idea. Any idea if I'd be able to use the free version for that? And can twitch.tv streams be marked private?

yes and yes

[RalphTheDwarf]

Thanks for the advice. It's definitely not just XI, was dropping frames whenever I'd R0.

[LinktheDeme]

You should call comcast, they'll immediately blame your cable box if they find nothing wrong with your lines. The guys arent trained for anything but plugging their machine into the box and checking signal, that's about it. Talk to them about packet loss and they'll have no idea. So you can do that request a tech see if its a signal issue if so they might be able to do a simple fix. Otherwise if you have another modem you can do that if you have a modem / router setup I suggest taking out the routing portion and plugging the modem directly into your system and see if the issue is still occurring if not, it could be an issue with the router as well.

Might as well rule out the basics before they try to blame you.

What I would probably do is check the router plug directly, issue persists get a new modem register it, issue persists call. Tell them you've been dropping packets and explain it to them the tech guys on the phone and the tech guys that come over have literally no idea what packets are for the most part. They think packets are the equivalent of ping. (although they're an indicator) He might say he'll do things to increase the signal or might say nothings wrong if so insist he escalates it to another tech to check the line because they're not qualified to look at the line only look at the ping so they should do some work in the area.


Another thing you can do is this

Check the router first as well and the modem. From this point call and insist on a tech coming there, if he blames the modem or the line after his work it should rule out the signal in the line. Then at this point you get a new modem. If the issue persists then you call again. Now they have it on file and now you have a much stronger case to the tech say you want someone more qualified to come out to the tech. Tell the guy that comes over someone came over before he checked the line and the signal was good and I got a new modem and that you want it escalated. IF they try to write you off do not let them, ask for it to be escalated again or to talk to a manger saying you want a team to come check out the lines because you've been having this issue for over a month.

The guy might come over and tell you they've been working in the area as well. This may be true so if he says that just take it for face value unless its been over 2 weeks, ask to see the remittance when they started working on it. Also make sure you take everyones name who came over and whom you talked to.

[Kalmado]

6 weeks or so ago when it starting snowing bad in Michigan our Comcast was rarely up. You couldn't even get a call into 800-COMCAST because their system kept dropping calls. It was common knowledge that tons of people were having problems and when I finally got a hold of someone they tried the "it's your modem" deal. Then it turned into they were having maintenance. After about two weeks it started acting normal again.

This weekend same thing. Sure enough, "it's probably your modem". My only other option is At&t and that's not happening. As Link said, cover your tracks and get ready to fight, but do it in a polite manner!

[RalphTheDwarf]

We've had so many problems with Comcast (which took over from equally horrible Adelphia) that I'm almost on a name basis with our county cable regulatory agency. Our infrastructure is around 15+ years old (installed in the late 90's with almost no improvements 3 cable companies ago) and it encounters problems several times a year and if I don't go through the regulatory agency I'm stuck with a parade of idiot techs coming to the house because that's all their phone support knows how to do. We're in the middle of nowhere with not many houses with broadband on our street, and most of them are old people that don't use streaming services so I'm on my own when this crap happens.

This series of storms did a number of the lines in the area, I was watching tree limbs rain down and bounce off of the utility lines outside one morning. So of course, the problem must be in our house.

[LinktheDeme]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ilMx7k7mso

With net neutrality turned down it's not going to get better anytime soon sadly as everyone is apathetic.