506th IR Realism Unit
Recruiting => The Duty Desk => Topic started by: SPC McDougall on June 19, 2017, 04:58:42 PM
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I moved out a couple of weeks ago, and I've been using WiFi ever since because of the apartment layout (wired is not an option). In my previous place I was using Ethernet, so there were never any connection issues. I've had severe connection issues and drops starting with my squad training last Wednesday (14JUN17), and continuing to last night (18JUN17) when I was trying to fill in for TFA.
My build is as follows;
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory: A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card
Case: Corsair Carbide 200R ATX Case
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 (OEM) (64-bit)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N53 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter
The connection is fine (and SpeedTest shows around 20-25 Mbps down / 10 up) whenever I'm not gaming or doing anything strenuous. However, when I load into ArmA with TS loaded, I get the "Connection Lost" audible notification and have issues in-game.
I've ran speed tests under load and not under load (I've used Folding@Home as the "load" rather than loading up ArmA, but I imagine it'd have a similar effect). When I'm not under load, I get the usual speeds of 20-25 down, 10 up. When it's under load, the speeds go down to a fraction of an Mbps, or a few Mbps (both up and down) at the most. It's not my ISP either, as I can use other devices easily (ie, I can use my phone all the while having drops on TS and in ArmA).
Is it possibly a power thing- will I have to get a new PSU? Or is it an interference/heat thing? The GPU runs at a decent temperature under load, but nothing abnormal from what I've seen. I've also tried a couple of different WiFi cards with similar results (a Rosewill RNX-N600PCE and a TP-Link TL-WN851ND). My router is a Netgear WNR3500Lv2 (highest protocol is wireless n). I also have a Linksys EA3500 dual-band that I've used with similar results.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated in getting a technically struggling soldier back to the front.
SGT McDougall
EDIT: I unplugged my CD/DVD drive to see if it would resolve the issue (by perhaps ensuring enough power could go to the WiFi card), but I still have an extremely weak connection under load.
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Talk to the guys in 1-3, some were talking about possible issues you were having leading up to the OP last night, apparently windows 10 has a power saving setting that turns off your wifi card which may be your issue
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I'm not sure if there are any other power saving settings than these, but here are two for reference;
(http://i.imgur.com/9QXNP6j.png) (http://i.imgur.com/aPSUGxW.png)
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Crank that power saving up to "USE ALL THE ELECTONS!" Power saving also does crap like throttling your CPU and other nonsense that you don't want when you're on an operation.
As to your specific problem, what part of the world do you live in? 20 down should be okay-ish but isn't great. Have you updated your drivers and all of that?
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I live in Canada, in Quebec (so relatively eastward, closest US states are VT, NY, NH). I have the latest drivers for the WiFi card and for my GPU. The card drivers are a couple of years old but they're downloaded straight from ASUS and they're listed for Windows 10 x64; Windows also can't find anything newer.
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God I hate wifi.
So if you're wired then it's not an issue right?
This only occurs when you load into Arma while running TS? Can you run Arma without TS just fine?
If it's the combination of those two programs, then the only thing linking them is TFAR. Have you done a full reinstallation of TS and TFAR?
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It's not an issue when wired. I lived in a different place from August-May and had no problems on Ethernet (unless there were server problems).
It's when the PC is under load in general. If I use something like Folding@Home (which puts the CPU and GPU to work running calculations for a Stanford research project), and log onto TS, I have the same issue. So I would imagine it either has to do with power draw or with some sort of heat or electromagnetic interference.
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Might be an issue with slot/lane maybe? Can you swap the card into a different slot?
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I've tried both viable PCI-e X1 slots (a third one is unusable as it's practically on top of my GPU). Also, one of the alternative cards I tested (the TP-Link) was regular PCI.
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I dont think this is PC HW related. At the point were the connection between router and computer is proven working fine, I should refer you to your provider.
However as you indicate there is no such issue when connected via ethernet-cable, there might be an issue with the router and/or transfer of data through the different layers/adapters. You can try the hints in this thread but I doubt you have set win to powersave.
I link a dokument with common wifi connection issues and transfer modes maybe this helps (just ignore the brand its a decent knowledgebase)
https://en.avm.de/service/fritzbox/fritzbox-7490/knowledge-base/publication/show/514_Slow-wireless-connections-low-throughput/ (https://en.avm.de/service/fritzbox/fritzbox-7490/knowledge-base/publication/show/514_Slow-wireless-connections-low-throughput/)
At least I would like to recommend a cable based connection to you because wifi sucks (whenever you need it the most, its like Murphys Law) :)
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I have a friend with similar issues, but with Battlefield 1 and Discord. Windows 10. And it only occurs with that particular computer. No other computer in his household has the issue. He is pretty sure it is a Win10 issue.
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Is it just TS that has this issue? Or do you completely lose internet connection? Is it only the combination of a loaded CPU and TS that can trigger the issue?
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TS is a useful benchmark because it has the persistent ping indicator at the bottom right. I don't completely lose Internet connection under load, but enough to give me extremely high TS ping at the peak (~1500+ ms) which causes the connection to be lost. I can still browse the Internet, albeit slowly. Even with TS closed, when I run a speed test at speedtest.net (on regular load vs under load), the numbers are markedly lower (20 down/10 up vs 0.5 down/2-3 up).
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I had similar issues with Rainbow Six Siege where it would cause my internet to drop. As a result I got a wifi extender/booster and plugged it in to an outlet next to my computer and direct connected it with and Ethernet cable. It is called: NETGEAR AC1900 Wi-Fi EX6400 Essentials Edition Wi-Fi range extender - 2.4/5 GHz - 1900 Mbps - Wi-Fi
Hopefully something like that could help out your internet connection
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I had similar issues with Rainbow Six Siege where it would cause my internet to drop. As a result I got a wifi extender/booster and plugged it in to an outlet next to my computer and direct connected it with and Ethernet cable. It is called: NETGEAR AC1900 Wi-Fi EX6400 Essentials Edition Wi-Fi range extender - 2.4/5 GHz - 1900 Mbps - Wi-Fi
Hopefully something like that could help out your internet connection
Copy that, thank you PFC. I'm going to talk to my roommates and see if I can run a long-ass Ethernet cable across the apartment somehow. If not, I'll go the extender route.
Thanks for the help everyone.
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Going wired is the best option. About ten years ago I had a similar situation, and trying to play WoW with that shit connection sucked so I told my roommate id pay an extra 20 a month to run a 100 ft Ethernet cable.
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I use Powerline Ethernet with success in my house. Something like the d-link dhp-p339av-powerline-av-500.
Basically runs the signal through the copper wiring in the house (outlet to outlet) with a wired connect to the router and computer on each end.
Probably cheaper than a massive long CAT-5.
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Apologies if this was mentioned - how far away from the router are you and what materials are the walls made of?
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I went ahead and ordered this (https://www.thesource.ca/en-ca/computers-and-tablets/computer-networking/wi-fi-signal-boosters/tp-link-tl-wa850re-300mbps-wireless-n-universal-wi-fi-range-extender/p/108017201#product-details) since it was on sale and since I know someone who has been using it without issues. I didn't buy an ac extender because again, my router only goes up to n.
I use Powerline Ethernet with success in my house. Something like the d-link dhp-p339av-powerline-av-500.
Basically runs the signal through the copper wiring in the house (outlet to outlet) with a wired connect to the router and computer on each end.
Probably cheaper than a massive long CAT-5.
It's something I've encountered when researching how to fix this, and something I'll consider if the range extender/possible cable don't work out.
Apologies if this was mentioned - how far away from the router are you and what materials are the walls made of?
I'd say about 75-100 feet. I think the walls are made of stucco, but I'm not exactly an engineer (and am not very well schooled in practical stuff like this, lol). I get about 3 bars on my phone, though, and it's nothing special (Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo). I was able to use my phone all whilst wanting to bang my head against the wall when I was having major drops for TFA on Sunday.
Going wired is the best option. About ten years ago I had a similar situation, and trying to play WoW with that shit connection sucked so I told my roommate id pay an extra 20 a month to run a 100 ft Ethernet cable.
My roommates seem amenable to running a cable, but it's going to be a logistical pain in the ass to wire up without any walking hazards or other obstructions along the way. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out, though. Any suggestions for how I should secure down the cable if this does end up getting figured out? Is there a sort of tape or clip that you used 10 years ago?
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If you do not want to do any drilling, buy a bunch of these (https://www.amazon.com/Startech-HC102-Adhesive-Cable-Mounts/dp/B00008VFBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498063120&sr=8-1&keywords=stick+zip+ties) and alot of zip ties. Run the ethernet either along the ceiling or in the corner of a wall and ceiling into the rooms that want to be wired. This is what I currently use, I had to pick up a few of the mounts but with screws instead because our upstair neighbors liked to re-enact wrestlemania each weekend and would knock the sticky mounts off.
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Along the ceiling is the best option. You'll likely need a few screws to help clip it up, but a container of spackle can fix those holes easily when you move out.
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because our upstair neighbors liked to re-enact wrestlemania each weekend
Copy that, thanks TSgt. Is it SmackDown or RAW? 8)
Along the ceiling is the best option. You'll likely need a few screws to help clip it up, but a container of spackle can fix those holes easily when you move out.
Understood SGT! I'll take a closer look at the layout and potential cable route.
Thanks everyone for the help. I wasn't expecting so many responses so quick. As soon as this is squared away I'll be able to fill in for you all!
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For securing the cable, you could also try something like this (https://www.bunnings.com.au/command-clear-round-cord-clips-4-pack_p3950283)
They remove clean too, no damage.
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...our upstair neighbors liked to re-enact wrestlemania each weekend...
WTF?!
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I use WIFI. I have a 100/40 mbps fibre link to the router. With 54mbps WIFI, there is plenty of bandwidth left for when my kids want to watch netflix during trainings/ops.
Teamspeak is VERY sensitive to any packet loss. So is ARMA. Even when windows says you have 5 bars of signal, you don't. Lots of RF interference (other WIFI devices, AC power, etc) and alot of shielding (walls, floors, people, etc. Anything that is between you and the router can be considered as shielding.
The solution I have is a directional antenna. I can even 'borrow' the wifi of people in the next street...