Don't worry... everything will be much better when Scotland goes independent. <chortles>
Hardware & Technical Your internet connection
- Thread starter Patrick_68000
- Start date
Don't worry... everything will be much better when Scotland goes independent. <chortles>
ADSL via telephone cables - would have to change connection type to get it any faster. Test done when listening to radio via the Net, don't know if it affects the results.
The connection's been really stable for the last 6 years, so I'm optimistic regarding playing E: D using it.
The connection's been really stable for the last 6 years, so I'm optimistic regarding playing E: D using it.
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I'm still waiting for Psycho cows results
Ian Phillips
Volunteer Moderator
Move!
Standard 8Meg ADSL, but I could hit the exchange with a good stone's throw so pretty near the max. Ping is a bit higher than I'd like though...
I agree about Plusnet, used to use them and they're brilliant...if only I could talk the girlfriend into going with them, but we run a deal which includes stuff like Gas & Electric, meh.
Using my phone to connect via 3g I get a download speed of 8.7Mbps and an upload speed of 2Mbps and a ping time of 130ms which is better than my home wifi speed of download 2.6Mbps and upload of 0.6Mbps but the ping is quicker at 65ms so I am either hoping that Elite will be playable with such a slow connection or I can play it on my phone!
I'm not going to brag about my 100mb Virgin internet, but I do like my 4G Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone 
You don't need an super duper internet connection to play games.
Games don't transfer that much information at any one time. High bandwidth is only of importing if you're a server (and thus connected to a large number of client machines simultaneously) or you're downloading stuff.
Unless your connection is two tin cans and a bit of string (aka dial up) you "should" be OK. I'd always recommend going for the best connection you can get though. Having been on FTTC for the last year or so has spoilt me and I'd never go back to ADSL.
What will make a difference in gaming is your ping and the quality of your connection. Ping is the amount of time it takes data to go from your computer, through the interwebs to the server you're connecting to and back again. The lower the ping, the smoother the game will play when online. If you have high ping the game will be jerky. Anything less than 100ms is OK, the lower the better though. You'll see the difference here if you connect to a UK server (assuming you live in the UK) and then to a server in Australia. You'll notice a massive difference as the data has to go basically around the world to the Australian server (although the fact that the round trip is still in the milliseconds is a technological wonder)
The next main thing is the quality of your connection. Does it drop out every couple of minutes? Are you connecting to your router/modem via wifi? If you're on wifi I'd recommend going for a wired connection as wifi can be a bit spotty at times. There's nothing worse than just about to something truly awesome only for your wifi to drop out.
Even if your connection is wired the quality of your internet connection may be a factor. This is normally not much of an issue as ISPs have systems in place that monitor your connection and drop the speed if you have frequent disconnects (that's why you shouldn't keep restarting your router to make it go faster, it'll actually make it worse). If you find that you occasionally loose internet connection speak to your ISP, they can do line checks and send engineers round to see if mice have been nibbling on your copper cables.
Games don't transfer that much information at any one time. High bandwidth is only of importing if you're a server (and thus connected to a large number of client machines simultaneously) or you're downloading stuff.
Unless your connection is two tin cans and a bit of string (aka dial up) you "should" be OK. I'd always recommend going for the best connection you can get though. Having been on FTTC for the last year or so has spoilt me and I'd never go back to ADSL.
What will make a difference in gaming is your ping and the quality of your connection. Ping is the amount of time it takes data to go from your computer, through the interwebs to the server you're connecting to and back again. The lower the ping, the smoother the game will play when online. If you have high ping the game will be jerky. Anything less than 100ms is OK, the lower the better though. You'll see the difference here if you connect to a UK server (assuming you live in the UK) and then to a server in Australia. You'll notice a massive difference as the data has to go basically around the world to the Australian server (although the fact that the round trip is still in the milliseconds is a technological wonder)
The next main thing is the quality of your connection. Does it drop out every couple of minutes? Are you connecting to your router/modem via wifi? If you're on wifi I'd recommend going for a wired connection as wifi can be a bit spotty at times. There's nothing worse than just about to something truly awesome only for your wifi to drop out.
Even if your connection is wired the quality of your internet connection may be a factor. This is normally not much of an issue as ISPs have systems in place that monitor your connection and drop the speed if you have frequent disconnects (that's why you shouldn't keep restarting your router to make it go faster, it'll actually make it worse). If you find that you occasionally loose internet connection speak to your ISP, they can do line checks and send engineers round to see if mice have been nibbling on your copper cables.
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Styggron - those speeds sound like the BT Wholesale fixed rate 2MBit product (2048kbps down, 288kbps up). There's very little reason to be on those any more, most lines will get better speeds on an adaptive product and all the adaptive products come with at least a 448kbps upload. Only lines that do better on the fixed rate products are extremely poor ( more than 64dB attenuation ).
My result:
My result:
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Styggron - those speeds sound like the BT Wholesale fixed rate 2MBit product (2048kbps down, 288kbps up). There's very little reason to be on those any more, most lines will get better speeds on an adaptive product and all the adaptive products come with at least a 448kbps upload. Only lines that do better on the fixed rate products are extremely poor ( more than 64dB attenuation ).
My result:
I see I'm still the slowest. My connection also drops out all the time. When I type a long message I cut and paste just in case I get a drop out. It's my provider I'm afraid....and before anyone comes in with the helpful "why don't you change" well that thought did occur to me it is because that process is not currently possible.So can anyone better grade E ? you don't want to know my ping rating....
Ok I seem to be slightly faster this morning. hmmmmm.
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Here mine
Although the ping response is high the d/u speeds are pretty good for a DSL.
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