Microstutter caused by wifi?

[tygeezy]

I recently moved from an apartment to a house. In my apartment I was using a wired connection for my internet. In the house i'm currently at that is not an option. We have a crappy 2wire g router provided by atnt and i'm using this asus n router as a client bridge (tomato software). Ever since I have moved to this connection type I feel like I am getting microstutter to varying degrees on all of my multiplayer game. The framerate seem consistent and stay well above 60 (except for bf3). I'm running an i7 860, 12 gigs of ram and a geforce 480 with the latest official drivers.

My pings seem to be fine and I checked the net_graph in all source engine based games. There is nothing sticking out to me. I don't see any packet loss or choke. I also downloaded this dpc latency checker program and everything was in the green.

I'm not seeing this issue with single player games, but when playing online it feels like I would describe as a nanosecond of stutter, even though the framerate is registering at over 100.

 

[Sleepingforest]

If it matters that much, grab a Cat 5E/6 cable and hook it up to see if it's really the problem.

 

[mfenn]

I guess it depends on what you're describing as "microstutter". Since you're using an AP as a client bridge, there should be no difference in the drivers that your PC is using. So I don't know if what you're seeing is "microstutter" per se.

That being said, the move to wireless can (and will) cause normal latency increases, and you will probably perceive a difference due to increased jitter on the line.

 

[tygeezy]

I am getting some packet loss. I have seen it go as high as 11%. Maybe this could be the culprit?

 

[JackMDS]

You do not find traces in the system since from the computer point of view it is connected via a Wire and uses the Wire components of the OS.

In reality the signal comes to the Client Bridge as Wireless and Wireless is never totally stable and lag clean.

As said above, if it so important to you use Wire all the way.

 

[tygeezy]

I wish I could use wire. There is just no way they are going to let me run a thousand foot cable down the stairs, passed the living room and into my room.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Well, ask anyway; it can't hurt to try. Tell them that the wire can be pretty discreet, as it comes in many colors (white, blue, green, red, yellow, and black are pretty common.) It's also probably not 1000ft. I find it hard to believe that a house is a fifth of a mile in length from up- to downstairs.

 

[piasabird]

It might be possible to run wires down through a closet or something like that. Pipes go up and down and so do ducts. I have seen wireless rounters that were basically junk and need to be replaced. Sometime if the wireless is bad, the wired will have the same problem. Maybe you could get DSL to your apartment say on the third teir.

 

[tygeezy]

Running wires just isn't an option. I'm in a fairly big house downstairs, while the 2wire att connection is upstairs. I could go with a powerline Ethernet adapter setup. Does anybody have experience with that setup?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181178

 

[notty22]

I'm not sure what 2-wire ATT is? Do you have cable internet? Or DSL ?
You could always put the cable modem closer to you, if you have cable in your room. Run a wireless router from that, and wired to your computer. Everyone else uses wireless and since you are in the room can run a 10m cable to your rig.

edit: also running wires is never impossible. Two people with snakes can go from floor to floor with little invasiveness as mentioned. In closets, or starting from the attic and looking down.

 

[tygeezy]

2wire is the router type and att (at&t) is the service provider. I cant move the router because they have their tv set top box plugged into it and like it there. Wires just wont do, i'm sure it could be done, but I know they don't want to run wires. The closet is pretty far away from where the box.

 

[JackMDS]

The best way to try under Wireless is by getting two good Dual Radio Wireless Routers.

Use one as An Access Point plugged to the main Router via short cable, placed it in a Good transmission Spot (like in the hallway outside the Door of the room that the 2wire is in).

The second Wireless should be configured as a Client Bridge replacing the current Router that is used as Client Bridge.

Then, set them to work in 5GHz Dual mode with their own SSID and different Chanel than the main Wireless. Do not use anything else with this special hardware.

If this does no help then it did not "Meant" to be Wireless.

Powerline? You can try, One can never know (if there is God and you are a Good person may be it will work for you :hmm: ). Technology wise I will give it 20% probability to succeed.

 

[tygeezy]

So power line ethernet adapters are absolute shit essentially? Too bad my current asus router is 2.4 ghz only. It looks like I can try two of these. I think there might be an issue though. Two television receivers have to connect wirelessly to the 2 wire box. If I disable the wireless function of the 2 wire so I can run a superior wireless setup i'm not sure how the two tv boxes will get their signal.

Or maybe I can do it without disabling the 2 wirs broadcast? Just hook up one of these to the 2 wire, have it broadcast a 5 ghz signal. Then have the one in my room setup as a client bridge and connect to that signal?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045HJME4/ref=nosim/?ascsubtag=FWbk8vmd&tag=fatwalletcom&linkCode=as1

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045HJME4/ref=nosim/?ascsubtag=FWbk8vmd&tag=fatwalletcom&linkCode=as1

 

[JackMDS]

Or maybe I can do it without disabling the 2 wirs broadcast? Just hook up one of these to the 2 wire, have it broadcast a 5 ghz signal. Then have the one in my room setup as a client bridge and connect to that signal?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045HJME4/ref=nosim/?ascsubtag=FWbk8vmd&tag=fatwalletcom&linkCode=as1

Yeah, the Asus is very good chance to provide a better solution.

Howvevr before you spend the money, take the computer to the 2 Wire connect it with a wire and make sure that the trouble does not start even before the Wireless.

On the other hand, you can take my word on it. Playing on line games with or without Microstutter is Not going to have any meaningful effect on your Success and Happiness in the years to come.

 

[tygeezy]

Yeah, the Asus is very good chance to provide a better solution.

Howvevr before you spend the money, take the computer to the 2 Wire connect it with a wire and make sure that the trouble does not start even before the Wireless.

On the other hand, you can take my word on it. Playing on line games with or without Microstutter is Not going to have any meaningful effect on your Success and Happiness in the years to come.

I updated my link with a cheaper belkin unit that can do tomatoe or ddwrt and is dual band. I'm not expecting this setup to improve my success or enjoyment in life. I just want to have smooth online game play like I did in the past.

 

[mfenn]

I am getting some packet loss. I have seen it go as high as 11%. Maybe this could be the culprit?

Yes, 11% packet loss will be noticeable. It's not microstutter you're seeing, it's latency compensation. Microstutter is a phenomenon of the GPU only.

As others have said, running a wire is the best solution. There is NO wireless solution that can guarantee you 0% packet loss.

 

[tygeezy]

I figured micro stutter would not be the correct term. It does feel un smooth and jerky despite the high framerate.