Best connection for XBox Live

[Mier]

I'm currently accessing XBox Live via a 3G connection, but when I'm playing online I feel like a total noob. Even my wife thinks I'm totally crap (respawn, dead, respawn, dead...).

I've played and finished several FPS (Quake4, COD3, COD4, BF:BC, Half-life, GRAW2 etc.) so I can't really be that pathetic (can I?).

I'm thinking that my connection has more to do with it than I thought. I know latency is much higher on 3G so I'm considering ADSL. I haven't installed ADSL yet, because I hate that I can't get naked-DSL and I really don't need the phoneline.

However, I also feel that I'm wasting my Gold membership and that I can't fully enjoy the Live experience.

So, my questions are:
1) Is ADSL really worth it ?
2) Which line speed is recommended (for joining, not hosting) ?
3) Are Telkom DoBroadband lines shaped/unshaped ?
4) Should I buy a ADSL modem or just accept the cheap one you get with a contract ? I don't really like to get locked into a contract.
5) Which modem is recommended to buy ?

I know most of this has been discussed before, but I can't seem to find all the answers.

Thanks

 

[FarligOpptreden]

Try visiting the XBox-360 ZA forums. They have very good information resources and you should get a quick answer there.

 

[semiautomatix]

To answer:

1) Yes, ADSL is worth it
2) 384kbps is fine if you're not hosting
3) Definitely an unshaped account for lower latency for gaming
4) Don't enter into any contracts with Telkom. Get your own modem and do a DIY install. I'm sure guys here will be more than will to give recommendations.
5) Actually come to think of it, I'd like to know the answer to this one (I need a new wireless ADSL router)

Enjoy, my GT is phaktza btw.

 

[saffakanera]

You can actuall statically set up IP Tables on your router, allowing it to act like Routesentry, meaning you create two PPPoE connections at the same time, one for international, and one for local, and using each one only when you require that specific destination prefix.

Then connect a pc, ps3, xbox, another pc, to one router, and Enjoy cheap multiplayer!

 

[Dolby]

I've been hoping, praying, waiting, crying for the day that South Africa get's a local LIVE.

I'd have though - based on the sales on Xboxes - we'd have it by now. No need for fake addresses or anything ...

PS3 doesn't suffer from the same issues, right?

 

[Mier]

You can actuall statically set up IP Tables on your router, allowing it to act like Routesentry, meaning you create two PPPoE connections at the same time, one for international, and one for local, and using each one only when you require that specific destination prefix.

Then connect a pc, ps3, xbox, another pc, to one router, and Enjoy cheap multiplayer!

Thanks, but I'll start simple and grow it from there. I will connect 2 x Xbox's, a Media Center pc, a Desktop PC and a couple of laptops. I don't download a lot so a 1GB cap should be enough (I'm sure you've heard that before ! I currently hardly ever exceed my 500MB limit on 3G).

BTW, Which router/modem do you recommend ?

 

[Mier]

I've been hoping, praying, waiting, crying for the day that South Africa get's a local LIVE.

I'd have though - based on the sales on Xboxes - we'd have it by now. No need for fake addresses or anything ...

PS3 doesn't suffer from the same issues, right?

What exactly is the additional advantage of local Live ?

We can already play multiplayer and buy subscriptions and gamepoints via the web.

 

[Mier]

To answer:

1) Yes, ADSL is worth it
2) 384kbps is fine if you're not hosting
3) Definitely an unshaped account for lower latency for gaming
4) Don't enter into any contracts with Telkom. Get your own modem and do a DIY install. I'm sure guys here will be more than will to give recommendations.
5) Actually come to think of it, I'd like to know the answer to this one (I need a new wireless ADSL router)

Enjoy, my GT is phaktza btw.

Thanks, my GT is Antonie360
(Really original, I know)

4) I will definately do a DIY install (did this already for someone else). I don't want a contract, because I'm still hoping that Seacom will give us more choice and I want to be able to switch quickly.

 

[stevovo]

What exactly is the additional advantage of local Live ?

We can already play multiplayer and buy subscriptions and gamepoints via the web.

Local Live would result in better ping / latency.

 

[Dolby]

Apart from the better ping / latency - I'd also love to enter my own details. I hate my 'box registered to another address and having to lie :/

 

[semiautomatix]

I've been hoping, praying, waiting, crying for the day that South Africa get's a local LIVE.

I'd have though - based on the sales on Xboxes - we'd have it by now. No need for fake addresses or anything ...

PS3 doesn't suffer from the same issues, right?

You don't even have an ADSL connection, you're just annoyed because your 3G has poor latency :/

 

[semiautomatix]

Apart from the better ping / latency - I'd also love to enter my own details. I hate my 'box registered to another address and having to lie :/

You're such a girl about things, sometimes

 

[Dolby]

hehe ...

My 3G connection comes to an end in just under 5 months. Perhaps I'll get ADSL again then

 

[Praemon]

What exactly is the additional advantage of local Live ?

We can already play multiplayer and buy subscriptions and gamepoints via the web.

Local Live would result in better ping / latency.

Local Xbox Live in most cases won't improve the latency. Games which use dedicated Live servers are a real minority, with most of them being EA games such as Battlefield: Bad Company. Also, because they're controlled by EA, it doesn't necessarily mean Local Live will bring local EA servers.

But one restriction which is difficult to get around is when content is given a 18 age restriction. Because we're not official, we fall into the Germany region which is very strict. By having Local Live it should unlock all this content without having to worry about using VPNs and so on, and not to mention missing out on DLC which comes with Microsoft games... the Gears of War 2 map packs come to mind.

It also means we won't be left out of Xbox Live programs and hopefully offers such as the Arcade/Core memory upgrade program.

So local Xbox Live is important on many fronts and will gives us access to the content and services we're already paying for...

 

[iDenTiTy]

@ Timgaul,

How does Live work?

I mean, is it client or server based multiplayer?

When you start a multiplayer, do you host it and everyone joins your "server",
or when you host it, a central server picks up the load?

 

[Tegnik]

@ Timgaul,

How does Live work?

I mean, is it client or server based multiplayer?

When you start a multiplayer, do you host it and everyone joins your "server",
or when you host it, a central server picks up the load?

This is a good question. When I host games, everyone complains about lag. That makes me suspect that it is client side. That plus the fact that you get less lag when all players in a game come from SA.

 

[Praemon]

This is a good question. When I host games, everyone complains about lag. That makes me suspect that it is client side. That plus the fact that you get less lag when all players in a game come from SA.

Probably 90% of Xbox games use peer-to-peer hosting (think Call of Duty series, Halo, Gears of War and the list goes on). That's why it's crucial for us to find other South Africans and setup local games to fully enjoy the experience.

It's really up to the developer if they want to use dedicated servers - as in Microsoft have no intentions to implement their own. EA was one of the first and use dedicated servers hosted in the US and EU for many of their newer games. That's why I personally stay away from these games because of the lag that can be introduced when international bandwidth quality drops.