XBox/Elite Server Woes - Please Help Me Somebody

Karzee · Jan 22, 2016

I've been playing this game for two months now and I absolutely love it, however I have a serious technical issue since I got it that's stopping me play it.

The game loads fine and plays fine for a while and then I'll get a message telling me I've lost connection to the server. I go to the home page of my XBox and discover I'm no longer online. I wait a minute or two, XBox Live connects, I load the game and carry on........and then I'll get the connection error again and once again see I'm no longer connected to XBox Live. The frequency of this happening is about 3-4 times in a three hour session. I might get an hour play in before it happens or I might get two minutes.

I was thinking maybe it's my internet connection but I play other games online all evening just fine, as well as games I've downloaded from the XBox Store that require an online connection to play. I can watch Netflix, YouTube, and Twitch streams all day and never a connection problem.

This is where it gets stranger.....two weeks ago a mate who is new to Elite asked for help so I booted up the game, formed a wing with him, warned him I'll lose connection at some point, and proceeded to teach him the basics. This went on for about 3-4 hours and I didn't have a single server issue! Another mate joined our wing and I had the longest session of Elite without an issue I've ever had. I was amazed. The next evening I tried playing (on my own in Open Play) but I had about five Elite server/XBove Live disconnects so I stopped trying and played another online game instead with no issues.

After a week of not trying Elite I saw my mate playing it so I thought I'd join him. I loaded the game, formed a wing, and had hours of trouble free Elite gaming. After our session I stopped the game for an hour, went back, loaded it up and got the Elite server/XBove Live disconnect issue within five minutes.

I have absolutly no idea what to do here. Elite is the only game I have this issue with which is gutting because I'm into it so much. Does anyone out there have any ideas how I can resolve this or what the problem might be? I have deleted and re-downloaded the game twice since November and the issue persists.

I Ommadawn I · Jan 22, 2016

it's not the game's fault. I had the same problem with Destiny. It loses connection, and then the xbox tells me i'm no longer online.

You should change something in your router or in the way you connect your xbox to your modem.

Maybe contact microsoft...

Sparta117Tetsuo · Jan 22, 2016

If you see that Xbox LIVE is also disconnected then your issue doesn't have anything to do with Elite. Like Ommadawn said, check your network gear.

Karzee · Jan 22, 2016

Thank you for your responses. Just to be clear:

I don't have connection drops playing Elite when winged up with a mate and in Party Chat, nor when playing any other online game or streaming ap. I only get these connection drops when playing Elite on my own (Open or Solo).

Comrade Error · Jan 22, 2016

This may be your nat. I know I've had a lot of issues with NAT in the past where it would kick me out of XBL every couple of minutes or so.

Ahnuld · Jan 22, 2016

It could be a DNS issue (DNS is like an address book for networking, or route planning in-game). If you have a poor connection route, it will cause issues. Try clearing your Xbox system cache and doing a hard restart (holding xbox symbol on the console for 5 seconds until it powers down).

Sparta117Tetsuo · Jan 22, 2016

Ahnuld said:
It could be a DNS issue (DNS is like an address book for networking, or route planning in-game). If you have a poor connection route, it will cause issues. Try clearing your Xbox system cache and doing a hard restart (holding xbox symbol on the console for 5 seconds until it powers down).

If it's a DNS issue, it very well could be that his ISP's DNS sucks. Network devices will default to the DNS servers provided by the ISP. I changed my default DNS in my router's control panel to one of Google's (8.8.8.8). My internet issues, while they haven't disappeared completely, have dropped.

Karzee · Jan 22, 2016

Cheers, guys, I'll look into router/network settings.

MickyG1982 · Jan 22, 2016

I had this a lot about a week ago, turned out the filter was knackered on the phone line...

All is good now!

wraith bobby b · Mar 29, 2017

I've been unable to connect to frontiers Xbox servers since Sunday night. The connection dropped twice then went completely. I've completely reset the machine a few times, even taking it off power for a few minutes each time but still no luck.

KCURTOR · Mar 29, 2017

First and easiest thing you should try, is clearing the Local Saved Games cache from Storage Settings. You can do it through settings. OR, manually by turning off your Xbox, and then unplugging it. Swipe the power button a few times to squeeze the rest of those electro juices out, and that should also clear the cache. Most connection problems I've ever had were solved this way. Good luck, I hope you fix the issue!

Caduceus Raptor · Mar 29, 2017

I had this problem that was way too frustrating!! Couldn't stream Netflix or iplayer without it happening either so got a hdmi and plugged the router straight into the xbox, everything is fine now. I put it down to me living in a building of flats with possible interference from other WiFi users. I'm not great at fixing IT issues though.

SternSkov · Mar 29, 2017

Be sure your DNS is set to automatic

Nat type only open or moderate

And I will always use cabel to connect a PC or Xbox to the internet....

TwoWheeledToad · Mar 29, 2017

Connection issues I've had in the past sound similar to what the OP mentioned. I assigned the xbox it's own IP address on the router and made sure it was set to DMZ. Absolutely no probs on my end since (well over a year)

Plus switched to wired connection, too. Wi-Fi is absolutely useless nowadays with so many routers around where I live

Clifra Jones · Mar 29, 2017

(IT guy here)

1. Cable company/ISP provided routers can be notoriously flaky. In our case here in N.E. Florida we have Comcast and we have to instruct our folks who have Comcast to reboot their router When they cannot get on our VPN. I experience the same issues when things on my home network seems to not work well. So that should always be troubleshooting step #1.

2. Some ISP DNS is just not robust enough for their customer base. As stated above, if you can, set the DNS on your router to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Only do this if DNS is slow. Do this on a PC. nslookup www.microsoft.com , if it takes more that 3 seconds then yes your DNS is slow.

3. If using Wi-Fi make sure the signal is good.

4. Restart the XBOX. Settings/restart console always works fine for me.

5. If you have other kinds of issues biatch at your provider and see if they will give you a newer model router. They always have issues with routers and are not always good about telling the customer that they gave them a bad router. They wait for you to complain. Again, Comcast had quite a few models of routers that were just terrible and once you got the newer model everything is fine. But you have to ask or you don't get it.

I will say, and it is JMO, ED seems a bit heavy handed in the networking department. I notice when others are using my 75Mb/s internet like my Grandkids playing Minecraft online or if I stream TV on my iPad while playing ED seems to slow down. Especially accessing the Galaxy map, mission boards, etc. Also seems to be a lot of jitter when other players are in the vicinity. A lot more than other online flight sims I play. Again, JMO, but I think it is an area they could put a little more attention too.

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TwoWheeledToad said:
Connection issues I've had in the past sound similar to what the OP mentioned. I assigned the xbox it's own IP address on the router and made sure it was set to DMZ. Absolutely no probs on my end since (well over a year)

Plus switched to wired connection, too. Wi-Fi is absolutely useless nowadays with so many routers around where I live

Not really, if you get a newer Wireless N router/access point it should seek out the most unused channel around you and use that one. You can also manually change the channel. Like I already said, the IPS provided WIFi/Routers can be quite bad. Complain for a newer one or get your own wi-fi/router and put your ISP router in bridge mode and use your router.

We have WiFi in our building in areas where there are 1000s of wi-fi devices in the area with out any issues. Granted they are $600-$1000 Access Points but any of the $70+ Linksys or NetGear WiFi/Routers will work fine in a home situation.

One other thing, any metal in the path between your device (computer/xbox) and your WiFi device will be an issue. By metal I mean refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, etc. Basically if your kitchen or laundry room is between you xbox and your WiFI device you are going to have issues. Your WiFi device should be as high in your house as you can get it.