Online Gaming with a Winmodem

[gregor7777]

Every game I've tried is a dog when I'm online. I have a pretty fast machine, so that is not an issue. I've tried most of the FPS online.

Do those RPG multiplayers fare any better with a winmodem? Everquest and such?

Any ideas what I can do to improve my expierence? (I have a Creative Modem Blaster BTW)

Thanks

(oh yes, broadband is not an option here )

 

[Arschloch]

With a winmodem? Good luck.

I have a generic WinModem at home. I think it's an ActionTec 56K, HSP MicroModem (notoriously bad). The BEST ping I can get at any time is about 250.

I know AnandTech did an article about the fact that some newer winmodems can get you decent pings (low 100's). They were based off of a Lucent chipset.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

MMORPG's would be significantly better than fps games. They aren't as reliant on ping and don't need to send info instantly. While ping is still important (you'll get your ass handed to you in pvp), you could play with a laggy connection. Ultima Online is pretty good for bad connections. You could do a ton of things and that wouldn't require you to click stuff real fast. Combat is simple, as would be chopping trees. Just may be a little trouble if you try and run away, you'd just have to learn to run a little early. Same goes for AC. I haven't really played EQ since the beta, didn't like it, so I can't comment.

Anarchy Online and Dark Age of Camelot may be worth looking into also. It'd be best to just visit the forums for those games and ask if anyone else is in your situation.

I know how it feels, I was stuck on 26,400 for the longest time. However, I got a USR Gaming Modem and it was an enormous help (I tweeked forever with MTU and stuff and got great results on a normal modem). My pings dropped as much as 50ms on CS servers.

 

[Electric Amish]

I played both Unreal Tournament and Asheron's Call with my old crappy 33k dialup. AC played just fine. UT I had to be careful to find a decent server.

amish

 

[gregor7777]

I've tried a lot of different servers with low pings and it's a DOG, I mean really bad.

I've heard people say they can play just fine, but I am doubtful after seeing how bad mine is.

 

[Viper GTS]

What are your ping times like to your ISP's gateway? That's the only real way to compare between two modems.

Viper GTS

 

[StageLeft]

i'd tried in the past and could never get good times. You can try but you will be at a disadvantage to those who are using broad band.

 

[gregor7777]

I'll find out tonight when I get home. Offhand I don't know.

I'd try every winmodem in the world to be able to play online.

 

[Electric Amish]

I had the best success with my Lucent winmodem.

amish

 

[Antoneo]

I have had a USR ISA based modem (controller on board) and used At&t (I'm on the east coast) as my ISP. My usual ping was decent, about 120 while playing online games (ie UT). My friend tried playing EQ on my computer and it was a bit laggy... I guess mporgp's dont fare too well with dialup connections.

 

[Electric Amish]

<< My friend tried playing EQ on my computer and it was a bit laggy... I guess mporgp's dont fare too well with dialup connections. >>



Depends on whether the lag is on the server-side or not. I play AC now on my Cable and it still lags.

amish

 

[MWink]

I don't know what the problem is. Creative modems are IMO the best there are. They do excellent on even the worst phone lines. I would not get a different modem.

 

[gregor7777]

I know it another ball game alltogether, but the modem I have is fast when it comes to d/ling and everything else, so I'd rather not ditch it. But I would really like to get to the botom of this. I will ping my host tonight and see what I get back.

Online gaming is great, and I'm missing out.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

<< I had the best success with my Lucent winmodem.

amish >>



Me too, although it has taken a sh1tload of tweaking.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Gregor, try this:
Go to your dial up networking folder, right-click & go to properties in your connection icon, click on the Server Types tab, and make sure 'enable software compression' is ticked, as well as 'use IP header compression' in the TCP/IP Settings button.
Then go to your modem properties and under the Connection tab and Port settings button, try turning your FIFO buffers DOWN a notch or two. Also, under the Connections tab, click on the Advanced button, and tick these:Use Error Control, Compress Data, Use Flow Control, Software
Next head on over to 56K.com, look for newer drivers for your modem, and init strings that will limit your connection rate (although it sounds like something you wouldn't want to do, limiting your connection to 42000-48000 bps can REALLY help with online gaming)
You may have to play around with various combinations of settings the optimize things.