FFXI over cell phone as modem

[Ceiyne]

I'm having a problem playing FFXI over my cell phone's data connection and I was hoping someone would have some good ideas as to how I can troubleshoot and/or correct it. Sorry for the long post, but I think it'll be helpful if I explain everything I tried.

I know this should work. When I used to travel with my old cell phone (Windows Mobile) and my old laptop (Windows XP), I would sometimes use my cell phone as a modem to play FFXI. I used the standard Internet Connection Sharing built into Windows Mobile 6. I only had Edge speeds on my phone's data connection but aside from slightly more than average lag, it worked just fine.

More recently, I got a new cell phone (still Windows Mobile) with a fancy 3G data plan, and a new laptop (Windows Vista 64bit) so I figured this would play FFXI even better. When I first got the phone I messed around with the Internet Connection Sharing just to make sure it worked, but I didn't do anything more than surf a few pages. Tonight my cable went down so I had a good reason to finally test my new phone with FFXI.

It was unbelievably bad.

Things that normally take a few seconds, like loading friend list data or checking version took over a minute. When I finally got past PlayOnline and into the game it was even worse. The title screen was at about 2 frames per second and when I finally got into the game, it was so unresponsive that I couldn't even type a single letter. However, as soon as I disconnected my cell phone, the game immediately went back to full fps. This makes me think that there was some resource conflict somewhere between FFXI, the network drivers for the internet connection sharing, the USB, and my phone.

Some things I checked that didn't turn out to be a problem:
- CPU had tons of idle time and FFXI was hardly making a dent
- Cell data connection throughput was fine
- Normal web surfing over the shared internet connection was fine when FFXI wasn't running

The next test I did seems to have narrowed down the issue. I went to my desktop, which is on Windows XP, and tried playing FFXI over my cell phone. I had no problems there -- it worked as it always had in the past. So, it seems it is an issue with my new laptop then.

The obvious difference between the two computers is Vista vs. XP. Also wrapped into that is the fact that XP uses ActiveSync to work with Windows Mobile devices, while Vista uses Windows Mobile Device Center. (However, I'm not sure either of those are actually active when you are using internet connection sharing.)

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can troubleshoot this further? I would really like to have the ability to play over my cell phone's data connection when I need to.

[guartz]

Things that are missing;

Who is your provider?

Exactly what plan do you have?

What phone do you have?

Also, just to lower your expectations, cellphone Internets have huge packetloss compared to wired Internets. Limitations in technology etc, etc. If you are looking for less laggy internets, I'd recommend Verizon, they currently posses the best performing wireless network cards.

[Ceiyne]

Thanks for responding. I didn't include that information because it seems like the fact that it works fine on one computer indicated that the issue was on my laptop. I have a Sprint Touch Pro and an "Everything Data" plan.

Certainly my phone's data connection is not going to be anything like true wired broadband. But I have been using this type of connection for a few years now so I know it should work.

[Purrrfect]

PPCGeeks.com might be able to help you out. I think from looking at my vista box that when I set mine up I used wmodem on my phone for the data connection and created a dialup connection for the #777 for alltel networks. I haven't tried it in quite a while though, and it was 32bit vista incase the 64bit is possibly the problem.

[Aidin]

A bit late on this, but thought I would input anyway.


I've been using my Samsung Eternity with an Unlimited Data plan through AT&T to play FFXI whenever I'm on the road. Hell, I use it to play while driving sometimes(Though not advisable, I can play BRD while I'm driving, but anything else gets too dangerous for me)

Vista 64bit with 9800m GS, has run smooth every time.

Only playable in 3G network areas.

[octopus]

wtf lol, I would expect BRD to be a job where I don't want to play while driving ;o At least compared to some random melee.

[guartz]

ah sorry forgot to check this form.

By chance, on your vista lappy in control panel under USB, is your advaced network functionality checked or not?

[guartz]

my thinking is, you say it works on XP and issues with vista, by uhchecking it you go back to old protocol which cold solve your issue.

or cause more problems.

either or