NDK
[12] Conqueror
I figured it was all about speed so i dumped my 1.5mbps DSL and upgraded to a 16mbps cable connection, i jumped online hoping to see 5 bars all around yet i am still still getting a heavy dose of 3 bar connections. Whats the deal?
What factors determine your connection online?
- Thread starter NDK
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Jaxel
Administrator
There are two major metrics for lag... sadly, the "bar" system within SC4 only measures for ONE of them...
These are the two metrics:
1 - Bandwidth... This is the size of your "pipes". Someone who has higher bandwidth can send more data at once, than someone with lower bandwidth. 1.5mbps is your old bandwidth, while 16mbps is your new bandwidth. Higher bandwidth means you download more data at once; not necessarily that the data is faster. With a 1.5mbps and a 16mbps, you still download the data at the same speed; but with the 16mbps connection, you download MORE data at once, so the data arrives MUCH faster.
2 - Latency... This is the amount of time it takes for data to get from one user to another; the lower the latency, the better. A user in NJ will have low latency to a user in NY; simply due to the distance between each other. However, a user in CA and a user in NY will have a high measure of latency because of the distance. The limitation on latency is due to the speed of electricity (which is almost as fast as the speed of light)... if it takes a full second for your data to go from NY to CA, then thats just the way it is...
Unfortunately, the "bar" system in SC4 measures ONLY Latency. It does not measure bandwidth. So if you are in NY, and your opponent is in CA, it doesn't matter how much bandwidth you have, your latency will always be high (which is bad). What this also means that if you are in NY and your opponent is in NJ, you will have low latency, but you can STILL get a bad connection if your opponent's bandwidth is bad... You can have 5 bars, but since your opponent has a 56kbps modem on dial-up, you're still fucked.
These are the two metrics:
1 - Bandwidth... This is the size of your "pipes". Someone who has higher bandwidth can send more data at once, than someone with lower bandwidth. 1.5mbps is your old bandwidth, while 16mbps is your new bandwidth. Higher bandwidth means you download more data at once; not necessarily that the data is faster. With a 1.5mbps and a 16mbps, you still download the data at the same speed; but with the 16mbps connection, you download MORE data at once, so the data arrives MUCH faster.
2 - Latency... This is the amount of time it takes for data to get from one user to another; the lower the latency, the better. A user in NJ will have low latency to a user in NY; simply due to the distance between each other. However, a user in CA and a user in NY will have a high measure of latency because of the distance. The limitation on latency is due to the speed of electricity (which is almost as fast as the speed of light)... if it takes a full second for your data to go from NY to CA, then thats just the way it is...
Unfortunately, the "bar" system in SC4 measures ONLY Latency. It does not measure bandwidth. So if you are in NY, and your opponent is in CA, it doesn't matter how much bandwidth you have, your latency will always be high (which is bad). What this also means that if you are in NY and your opponent is in NJ, you will have low latency, but you can STILL get a bad connection if your opponent's bandwidth is bad... You can have 5 bars, but since your opponent has a 56kbps modem on dial-up, you're still fucked.
Alan-ere
[09] Warrior
my connection to every1 drops to 1 bar at 5PM til 11PM everyday i dont get why this happens =[
any other time i usually get 4 bar connections
any other time i usually get 4 bar connections
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- #4
NDK
[12] Conqueror
Ive had the EXACT same problem, im anxious to see what happens tonight with the new connection
IvyFanboy
[11] Champion
Also, I have speculation lag is in fact NOT shared O.o!
We found this when there would be a case of a bad lag spike and 2 of us on the mic would laugh and the 3rd would never witness the spike ever occuring. This has happenned a few times where aone player was exempt from a lag spike as well some people seem fine in a laggy connection while others struggle to do basic things druing the match.
We found this when there would be a case of a bad lag spike and 2 of us on the mic would laugh and the 3rd would never witness the spike ever occuring. This has happenned a few times where aone player was exempt from a lag spike as well some people seem fine in a laggy connection while others struggle to do basic things druing the match.
Alan-ere
[09] Warrior
- Thread starter
- #7
NDK
[12] Conqueror
Looks like its all good now, also before i had a lot of problems connecting in player matches and that seems better too
Alan-ere
[09] Warrior
Awesome, looks like changing my ISP is the way to go, i also hav some problems connecting but not all the time =]
luckeeman
[08] Mercenary
i always thought they gave u an option of best connection 2 worse connection.....the first being the best and the last being the worst.....but i have ran into rooms where it showed a five connection but when i got into the room it was a 3 connection so i dont no