Need to do some survey on this, seeing if the router setups has any influence on the NAT readout, or your Xbox Live connections.

Also list down, if you can, the model name/number of your network equipments.If you're the one who did the router setups, also put down what you did with the router config.

I'll start first.

Home Network setup listing
Stringfellow Setup


Marauderz Setup


Welwitchia Setup


MobiusVyper Setup


Yoroi Setup


Ah Chak Setup


MK84 Setup




CerebralRogue Setup



Keantan Setup



EDIT: Setup listing updated, into the first post

Please state is you are using wireless means of getting your internet, eg. Jaring Wireless, or Time Broadband Webbit.

My qualm is that, even with encouraging setups like Open NAT, i still cannot get good amount of players listed in particular lobbies in Xbox Live enabled games. The slightly worse case is i can get the list of players, but the connection is sohwn as "Red", meaning weak connection. How can i alleviate this? It is frustrating when i've got players who added me in their friendslist, and they are on the other side of the globe, and unable to play decent online matches with them. Or is this ENTIRELY TMNet's fault? Does subscribing to better lines like SDSL, or business-like line subscriptios helps?

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Jun 22 2006, 12:11 AM

Sidetrack a bit. String, how do you get the chart that shows the network performance with the Network Performance Tuner? Mine only says Acceptable Network Performance.

From your Media Center tab on your Start menu, choose NEtwork Performance Tuner. Go through the prompts,the program will test network performance that will takeapproximately 20 seconds.Next page, tick "Monitor Network performance" , clik "Next",and then tick "Measure performance for HDTV" and click "Next".. The next screen shows the chart , either in bar graph or line graph. Mine is slightly above the "HDTV" line.

Interested to know about your Linksys.

Modem -> Router (DGL-4100) -> Switch -> Xbox 360.

Nat Results : Open.

Great performance with local gamers, average with foreigners.

As far why playing with ppl on the other side of the globe is slow? plenty of reasons for network traffic to be slow. Is it TMNut's fault? Partially I guess, since it depends on how much capacity their network has and also what type of peering they have with other international ISPs.

This post has been edited by marauderz: Jun 17 2006, 09:23 PM

What about the fact that some of the game lobbies are sparsely populated and they show up as weak connection in the lobbies? Are all local/Asian gamers play on privately hosted matches, or are there something else at work here?

Ive removed the NAT hurdle, now getting connected for an online match is a hit-or-miss thing.

Mine's similar to Marauderz

Tel Line(Streamyx) ->DLink DSL500T -> Switch(1st Floor) -> Switch(2nd Floor) -> 360

360 is placed in the DMZ. NAT results = OPEN

[Modem] --EthernetCable--> [WirelessRouter] --EthernetCable--> [Xbox 360]

NAT: Open
Internet: 512kbps Streamyx (RM77)

Performance is pretty good with local gamers and average with foreigners. However there are times when local gamers can't join my games and foreigners can and vice versa. Basically its quite unstable but most of the time performance is good

Weak connection to the other players.. well.. this is a network.. it could be that their end has some problems or just basically the route the network packet takes to get from you to him or vice versa just isn't all that fast.

Are our connection that weak?

I was enquiring about other options other than TMNet for better connection. From Yoroi's suggestion we talked the other night, it is either one of the TimeBroadband packages, or the new 2MB line offering from TMNet. I wanted to move from TMNet , after all i've been giving them cash for shitty line in return, and wanted to try other offerings. Called Time and sadly, they only cater to condominium building in ther listing, they done provide one-to-oneresidential house basis.

Until when do we have to suffer, before we see some real performance from our so called "broadband"?

Oh yeah, i've updated the first post with setup configs you guys have posted in here. Keep them coming!

here's my setup (i used the how to on the xbox.com website for the configs and setup- here's the link http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/connectt...vitywizard.htm)

tel line>avr>splitter>aztech modem>dgl4300>360 networking adapter 1
>360 networking adapter 2
NAT = open
signal strength=best
playing with players from tw, hk, canada, japan = a ok
sg players some lag...still playable
koreans, americans, brits = lag

What's AVR btw? Audio Video Receiver?

automatic voltage regulator.

Oh, a surge protector.

whoops sorry guys i sorta left out one more wireless ap thats just outside the av room

My setup in KL,

Neighbour's Streamyx
|
Linksys WRT-54G <-- Neighbour's)
| <--Wireless
My Desktop PC (Installed Kerio WinRoute FireWall to act as a router) so, PC/Router
| <--Wired
Aztech WiFi Router (DHCP Off, so i'm only using the Access Point for my housemates to connect to)
| <--Wired
Xbox360

NAT = never tested
Live Performance = Not bad, smooth gameplay with locals, sg and hk, but if there's foreigners from us or others, laggy..

My Setup in JB

4x 1.5Mbps SDSL
|
QNO FVR9416s 4WAN Load Balancer
|<-- Wired
D-Link DES1008 8Port Switch
|<-- Wireless From Office to Condo
Xbox360

NAT=Moderate
Performance=ask the guys in GRAW but if there are foreigners from hk or us, still lag but acceptable..

This post has been edited by ah_chak: Jun 18 2006, 09:12 AM

Are SDSL setups available for home users? Are they AFFORDABLE for home users?

there remember i told you about sdsl for streamyx... it hink 600 ish.. 1.5 up and down

Boss, i already ask about Time, they dont do houses.

Trust TMNET for more expensive packages?

To be honest, their SDSL service is MUCH better than the usual RM88 package.. *touch wood* really really less problems. If there's any problem, give them a ring and they'll give priority to SDSL subscribers first. The downtime for me is more like zero as i'm running 4 of them on a load balancer, if one if them is down, i have 3 more for my clients to surf the net. They can take their sweet time to fix the problem as i have no worries for my clients. But usually the problems get fixed within 24 hours. what you pay is what you get.

I wish there is a middle ground between the standard fare RM88 package and the crazier priced SDSL packages.

string.. you're not alone at least la they offer 1mb up / 1mb down with static ip for like.. 250 - 300 per month? dynamic ip for 200 per month?

For me, it is either the provide the middle ground or with the current package, provide a much better connection to support xbox Live for us. I dont mind if it is slightly slow but im able to pick from a roster of players to play with......

how bout maxis broadband...do they offer that in your area?

Eh? Where got lag la .... smooth as a baby's buttock.

remember PJ's case?

512/128 bro. That's like downgrading.

My setup.



NAT - Open
Live - So-so. S'times I get dropped even when playing with SG or MY host in GRAW. BF2:MC I have no problems.
Media Center - No problems streaming HDTV-WMV content from the MCE PC. No more network congestion errors or the occasional sound artifacts with the Linksys on 802.11a. Before this was on Dlink DGL-4300 on 802.11b.

However, MCE Network Perfomance Tuner only shows the network as only SDTV capable. Could be something to do with the signal strength. Right now there a 2 walls and 1 floor betwen the MCE PC and the router. Signal strength only shows 1 bar. I need to figure out a way to attach a connector to the wireless network card. Before this when I was using Dlink network card + Dlink external standalone antenna I can get at least 3 bars.

This post has been edited by MK84: Jun 18 2006, 04:40 PM

My Setup -> Modem -> D-Link DI-624 -> X360 in DMZ
NAT = Moderate!!!


Arrrrgghhh~! So far local gameplay is okk, but I've not been in many games with angmohs, so I'm not so sure about that. Still need help to make the bloody NAT = Open!!! Xbox Compatible router my @$$ BTW the firmware for the DI-624 sold in Malaysia is not on the compat list and I can't seem to install the compatible firmware on my DI-624! Arrrghhh

Hmm what region is your router? Last time when I was using the DI-624 I had no problems upgrading the firmware with the one on the US site.

How do you check your region? I bought it at LowYat and it has a firmware number which I can't find on the US site. So I guess it isn't from there and when I tried to install the US firmware, it rejected it and didn't install.

I don't get it.. as far as my network knowledge tells me as long as you guys have locked your 360's IP on your network, forwarded the correct ports to your 360's IP your NAT should be Open already.

Having the Live compatible logo just should make the process easier. Doesn't mean you must get a router with the logo.

I don't get it too, unless someone's willing to help troubleshoot it.

my NAT is also on Moderate, i don't seem to have any problems with it, i guess it all comes down to your upload speed. I've been monitoring bandwidth usage for Live, and all of them doesn't go up to 20kB/s, either upload or download. I guess it's safe to say that minimum requirement for Live is 512k upload?

HERE IS WHAT NAT LOOKS LIKE IN A NUT SHELL.>>

To make this easy for everyone, we've created a chart for your use.>>
>>
To Open>>
To Moderate>>
To Strict>>

From Open>>
Yes>>
Yes>>
Yes>>

From Moderate>>
Yes>>
Yes>>
No>>

From Strict>>
Yes>>
No>>
No>>



>>

Suppose you want to host an Xbox Live game and you're using a router that's classified as open. Armed with that information and using the chart above, you can be confident that your router's NAT type will not keep your friends (who may also be using routers) from finding your session, hearing your voice, and enjoying a great game.>>

But let's say you're behind a router that's a strict NAT. When you want to host a game, you now have something to consider. Anyone else who's behind a router that uses a moderate or strict NAT may not be able to connect to your session.>>

Let's look at one final example going the other direction: you joining someone else's game. Will you be able to participate fully with everyone in the game? If you have a moderate NAT on your home network, you can get an idea of what may happen by looking at the chart. If the players you want to play with are using strict NATs, you will likely experience problems. You may not be able to hear them and they may not be able to hear you. You may not be able to see those players at all.>>

Note NATs don't affect lag; this is all about connecting to other players!>>

the weird thing is even if i host a game (i have an open nat) and i want to join ahbiao's game (he has an open nat also) it always fails.... sometimes i can't even find his game... same thing with marauderz...sometimes he can see my games but he can't join them even if he has an open nat....how come ah????

The network bandwidth requirement for a Live game is 64k this was mentioned somewhere before.

Maybe for most games, but check out GRAW's bandwidth usage. Some reported the bandwith usage spiked especially during the start of a round.

I'll monitor again tonight and see what's the result.

mine is almost the same as mobius =)

internet--->phone line--> modem --> Linksys old router--> Ethernet -->Wireless ethernet router hub --> windows pc notebook (wireless) and XB360 (wired)

Same tmnut package

performance i would say is about the same as his too. local is fine but USA and parts of europe are bad. but UK is ok though for some reason. they are AOK. Occasionally USA lag, but not much. japan is so so la. occasional.

How do we explain Ms's own webpage that listed out those prefered router model? Im as green as it comes when setting up any sort of wireless network myself, and i'd rather avoid having to contend with non-compatible router models with the amount of setting i have to tinker.

If logic dictates here too, i should be playing fine with those few foreigners in my list as well, theirs are listed as Open NAT as well. Maybe the problem here is latency? More often than not, i have my downloads hanging halfway on me, and needed to be refreshed to get the whole thing done, sans a download accelerator/manager of sorts.

Adding Cerebral's and Keantan's setup as we speak. All setups are updated on the first post.

A thought just crossed my mind. Does the modem somewat influences what quality of connection you have, including NAT? How about the wiring ( copper vs fibre optics)?

This is what happens when i'm hosting GRAW. This moment is when i'm starting the match. Doesn't seems to me that it's utilising that much tho.

Now that i've found out that using a load balancer to host is very good as different players connect to me using different WAN lines that i have.

You guys can see that different IP connects to me by different WAN line. The one that i've 'sprayed on' are the IPs of the ppl who are joining the game that i'm hosting.

EDIT: But don't know why leh.. these days i host, foreigners and locals keep on dropping

Btw, stringfellow, my NAT is Open now, i've set my Xbox on DMZ.

EDIT AGAIN: Ok, no difference with Open NAT for me, i host still alot of ppl drop out. And also alot of unknown IP addresses trying to make a connection into the xbox, using port 80! and other ports. So i removed the xbox out of the DMZ and forwarded ONLY UDP port 3074 and my NAT is Open as well. So guys.. DMZ is NOT SAFE. Don't know abot xbox but for PC, it's not safe at all. One of the IP addresses are from pr0n sites

This post has been edited by ah_chak: Jun 22 2006, 12:03 AM


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