ATT uverse + gaming + roommates

[Yowen]

So when I play an online game like counter strike I get booted off servers sometimes because my roommate will download something on his PS3 or my other roommate will watch a movie, causing my ping to go up beyond what the server allows. Can I prevent this?

 

[theevilsharpie]

Yes. You'll need to use a router that is capable of prioritizing network traffic used by your games over bulk network traffic.

 

[Yowen]

That sounds expensive, is it? and thats the only way of doing it?

 

[seepy83]

(Not trying to advertise another message board...Mods please let me know if this is a problem)

Yowen - There are some folks very knowledgable with UVerse over at dslreports.com on the UVerse sub-forum. Unless someone here can give you an answer, I would suggest checking over there.

theevilsharpie is correct...you need a Router that can do QoS and prioritize your traffic. However, since UVerse uses a 2Wire "Residential Gateway" (not quite a typical broadband router) to deliver Internet, TV, and VoIP, I'm not sure how simple it will be for you to add a router with QoS to your network.

Which 2Wire RG model do you have? A quick google should let us know if yours already has QoS on it, but so far I haven't seen one with it.

 

[Pulsar]

This isn't terrible expensive to do - you're looking at a router in the $40-60 dollar range that can run DD-WRT or Tomato. Both do QOS. Search on this forum or wait for JackMDS to show up. The Buffalo wireless HP router works well in that function.

This isn't a Uverse issue, so the Uverse specific forums aren't going to help any. It's a matter of prioritizing traffic that all broadband connections that are heavily utilized will have problems with if you don't set it up correctly.

Edit: This post has the Buffalo router discussed. As Jack said, it's about as good as they come for home networking:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2038840

 

[drebo]

Speaking from experience, the 2Wire RG that comes with Uverse is actually quite powerful. Much more so than the 2Wires that come with AT&T's DSL. That said, though, it's still the same crappy interface.

Search at DSLReports. They'll explain to you how you can set up a router behind the 2Wire in "DMZ Plus" mode. This is what you'll need to do in order to have a router behind the 2Wire which prioritizes packets.

The easiest thing to do, though, is to just ask your roommates to limit their heavy downloading to nighttime or work hours.

 

[seepy83]

This isn't a Uverse issue, so the Uverse specific forums aren't going to help any. It's a matter of prioritizing traffic that all broadband connections that are heavily utilized will have problems with if you don't set it up correctly.

I was only suggesting that it is different for UVerse than your typical DSL/Cable connection because UVerse uses a Residential Gateway to deliver TV/Internet/VoIP to your house. This is not like your typical DSL setup where you have a DSL Modem supplied by your ISP and you can connect any Router you want to it.

The Residential Gateway that UVerse uses is a combination DSL Modem, Router, Firewall, WAP, and Switch. Because the UVerse TV Set Top Boxes get their TV Streams from the Residential Gateway, I don't think you're going to have a very easy time replacing that Residential Gateway with a different Router/DSL Modem.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Sounds like you've got a very basic router...might want to try flashing DD-WRT or another third party firmware on it, it would give you more capabilities.

I have, at most, 14 PC's connected to a DLink DIR-655, with stock firmware, coming in over a 3 router wifi/mesh network, and nothing ever slows down like you mention.

EDIT : reading seepy's post...I think you might be hosed, if you're stuck with their router/gateway/etc. maybe get another router in front of that gateway/router/switch that they supplied you with, since you can't remove it from the network?

 

[Yowen]

hmmm, thanks everyone. All I have right now is a Linksys wrt54, don't have the money to get something that will do the prioritizing currently. So I guess I will just need to use my vocal chords to prioritize traffic. I am not currently home, but the way mine is setup is the gateway downstairs and then off of a cablebox upstairs we have a 4 port ethernet hub to split the internet between the rooms. I am not sure what brand that hub is.

 

[JackMDS]

hmmm, thanks everyone. All I have right now is a Linksys wrt54, don't have the money to get something that will do the prioritizing currently. So I guess I will just need to use my vocal chords to prioritize traffic. I am not currently home, but the way mine is setup is the gateway downstairs and then off of a cablebox upstairs we have a 4 port ethernet hub to split the internet between the rooms. I am not sure what brand that hub is.

Linksys WRT54G can do prioritizing when flashed with free 3rd party firmware.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Quality_of_Service

If you have already a Router at the ATT's service entrance, you can use the Linksys to provide segregated prioritize feed for the antisocial behaving.

Network Segregation - http://www.ezlan.net/shield.html

So I guess I will just need to use my vocal chords to prioritize traffic

In general you are right, your problem is Not technical one but Social one, or may be even law enforcement one, since most of p2p downloads are involving downloading of copyright material.

 

[Yowen]

I just realized, one of my roommates plugs directly into his cable box, I dont feel like rewiring the house (he's in the attic) so he'll go through a router setup by me...