Games+Downloads = 600ms ping....

[Re83L]

me and a neighbour shared DSL, and we were both able to play BF2 on one 384 line. so i reckon running at 20KB/s should be sufficient

Are you still playing BF?
You should do yourself a favour and get COD2, I bought myself BF2142 and COD2 at the same time, from there on, I've played 102hours COD, and only 23hrs BF...

My flatmate's also played COD with me, and we were both able to play with low pings, but he kept a 1/30 Kill/Death ratio, so he exchanged games for torrents and the NewsServers...

 

[Vercogen]

There is a program called bandwidth controller (i think), try to Google it.

My friends had the same problem and the program prevented many fist fights

 

[Hogrod]

Find out what he's downloading via the logs on the router if possible. If it's porn sites print a list out and email it to all and his parents with his name in big letters. He might then be more diplomatic.
Childish but satisfying.

 

[WilD_CaT]

Do you guys both share 1 single ISP account? If you do the first thing to say is that u will install a bandwidth monitor on your machine. If you only use 500mb of a 3GB cap (for example) then you will only pay 1/6 of the ISP bill.

Then you have to say, I want to use the net so do you. We pay 50/50, but I can't game if you downloading at the same time. Therefor you are getting 100% usage. So if you don't want to compromise, slap him with the entire bill.

Once you've got him "to the table" so to speak you can discuss usage. Obviously you wont be playing games all day long. So set certain hours. Normally at best you will play from about 3pm-12pm. (9 hours) So he can download all he wants when u aren't playing.

Put it this way, if the agreement between u 2 is to share the line and u each pay 50% then each of u is entitled to atleast 50%. Any more and u r just getting lucky. If you aren't getting 50% usage technically u can take him to court. Are you at varisty? If so go there and get one of the LAW lecturers to write a letter explaining that you are entitled to your 50%. If you can't get it either he forks out the cash or the line goes. Obviously saying "I'll take you to court" is more a bluff (Unless you have the cash to take him to court) so getting someone else who is studying LAW or something to do it for you might be the best way.

 

[Jarhoul]

Wild Cat hit the nail on the head.

Not only do we pay for the line, we also pay for data usage.

With his downloading, he is going to eat more of that cap than you will ever do by playing games.

Install a bandwidth monitor as Wild Cat said and print out your usage vs his.

If he refuses to compromise

1)disconnect the line.

2) Or try use reverse physcology and download something BIG for a few days. Time this to when he really wants something from the net.

3) Fiddle with the modem

4) If it's porn, install Netnanny or other blocking program on his system (Set the password to W**ker and play 20 questions)

5) Join a gym

4) Give us smoking, drinking, food, walk to work and get your own line (really really last resort)

5) Get another flatmate or another flat as this so called 'mate' of yours aint worth the friendship if he is not willing to compromise

 

[Freaksta]

I would tell him that you dont need the internet anymore.. And just stop using it.. Try get an alternative.. Not sure what that would be cuz wireless aint great for gaming.. Maby a new flatmate..?

 

[ldmelsa]

@ Frag

I find this situation quite sad. This is only a problem because you live in SA.
You say he downloads all the time? What kind of cap do you have? Sounds like a big cap if he is downloading all the time! He must pay for what he uses. As a gamer you will not be using that much. This sucks dude. Why is he such an @zzH0|e?

 

[boramk]

your roomate/flatguy is an idiot

 

[boramk]

Do you guys both share 1 single ISP account? If you do the first thing to say is that u will install a bandwidth monitor on your machine. If you only use 500mb of a 3GB cap (for example) then you will only pay 1/6 of the ISP bill.

Then you have to say, I want to use the net so do you. We pay 50/50, but I can't game if you downloading at the same time. Therefor you are getting 100% usage. So if you don't want to compromise, slap him with the entire bill.

Once you've got him "to the table" so to speak you can discuss usage. Obviously you wont be playing games all day long. So set certain hours. Normally at best you will play from about 3pm-12pm. (9 hours) So he can download all he wants when u aren't playing.

Put it this way, if the agreement between u 2 is to share the line and u each pay 50% then each of u is entitled to atleast 50%. Any more and u r just getting lucky. If you aren't getting 50% usage technically u can take him to court. Are you at varisty? If so go there and get one of the LAW lecturers to write a letter explaining that you are entitled to your 50%. If you can't get it either he forks out the cash or the line goes. Obviously saying "I'll take you to court" is more a bluff (Unless you have the cash to take him to court) so getting someone else who is studying LAW or something to do it for you might be the best way.

seems like the best option.....

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

I find this situation quite sad. This is only a problem because you live in SA.

Actually I'd think you would have this problem everywhere besides SA. We can't afford to download all the time so this shouldn't be as much of a problem.

Why would high pings in gaming if you saturate the line with downloads be any different overseas?

 

[JayM]

Actually I'd think you would have this problem everywhere besides SA. We can't afford to download all the time so this shouldn't be as much of a problem.

Why would high pings in gaming if you saturate the line with downloads be any different overseas?

It's more difficult to flood a 24mbit line than a 384K line.

 

[gregmcc]

You could always setup a squid proxy and use delay pools. This will allow you to throttle your flatmates browsing to something acceptable like 2k/s while you play games

 

[SuPaStA]

It dont matter if you have a 24mb line or a 384k connection, downloads will still affect your ping.Ping has nothing to do with speed and 24mb lines normly have interleaving turned on which causes a higher ping.
I wouldnt bother using bandwidth limiting software as the downloads are still going to affect your gaming experience.Disconnect the line and get your own one.

 

[Re83L]

What kind of cap do you have?

We've got a 30GB local WebAfrica with a 3GB Telkom, but I've been capped from the 13'th on my Telkom @ 8.23GB - But I did download 3 episodes SouthPark with my International Account... Had to buy myself WebAfrica prepaid to continue playing games(authenticating my CD-Key on the US-Servers)
He said he thinks we had our cap stolen...
Is this possible when using RASPPPOE-dialup connections (with the router in bridged mode, windows firewall enabled and AVG?) or do you guys think it's him that's lying about his downloads?

BTW - he does surf porn.....****er....

Thanks for all you guys' insets!

 

[Re83L]

I wouldnt bother using bandwidth limiting software as the downloads are still going to affect your gaming experience.

So NetLimiter won't be an answer?

He did give me a chance to play tonight, but I still had +-100ms ping, whereas I normally get 30-40ms, he's permanenlty running Skype, could that be a reason for the higher pings tonight?(The servers was as full as normal...)

You could always setup a squid proxy and use delay pools. This will allow you to throttle your flatmates browsing to something acceptable like 2k/s while you play games

Care to explain how this would work? Remember we're using the router in bridged mode...??

 

[WilD_CaT]

Ok I'm a bit confused. You said that the router is in bridged mode, I'm assuming so that you can both use your own individual accounts, but that your flatmate says "someone" stole your account details - this sounds as if you are sharing?

Ok - First if he is downloading he is using much more of your cap. So if you are sharing the login details for either account (TelkomSA or WebAfrica) he should pay more, say per his usage. So install a bandwidth monitor on your machine to monitor your own usage, therefore when you get billed, you can say look here, I have used xxx amount you have used the rest, you pay for what you use. Thats your first step. (If you share an ISP)

Now with the line. You have to get him to sit down and talk. Or if he refuses cancel the line. The only other alternative is to take him to court.

If you can get him to discuss usage you need to make it clear that a large part of why you bought the line was to play games online. If you cannot play games online, there is no point in keeping the line. So you must FORCE HIM to compromise. Either he stops downloading while you play (Certain times) or the line gets canceled.

Netlimiter can limit bandwidth but you will need to install it on his machine, then when he starts downloading you'll need to manually throttle it. That is not gonna work. Also with a 384k line even if he is downloading at 2k you are likely to experience a little, maybe intermittent lag.

Again the only solution for that is that at certain times, you use the line and get sole usage. (Unplug him from router) When you done he gets sole usage (You are unplugged from router).

I still can't believe your flatmate won't come to a simple agreement that if you are playing he doesn't use the net and when you aren't playing he can do what he wants. People don't always make sense.


Oh yah what is your nick whilst playing COD2 online? I play as well.
nbk.WilDCaT.za

 

[Bondizzo]

upgrade to a 4mb line, when my brother is playing online I can also play online without experiencing lag, even when I'm downloading he can still play fine but thats international downloading and it doesn't even reach over 100kb's. If he's using torrents the upload will be getting used and that will cause major lag cause upload is more important than download speed when it comes to games.

Why cant he download during the night when you sleeping etc, sounds like a real a hole, thats why I hate room mates. If you can afford it then ask him if you can take that adsl line for yourself and he gets his own / vice versa but thats taking it to the extreme. If you cant resolve this then get the line disconnected move out and live your own