Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| [Fixed] XploreNet: Random Periods of Extreme Ping
Copy and Pasted from XploreNetSucks - I'd really like this problem solved and I'm not sure which place would be more suitable.
Hey. Once again, Xplorenet is sucking for me. Since we've had them, it's never worked for more than 2 weeks. We've been through countless problems, several modules, and are now on the 3.5.
It worked Great for 2 weeks - surprise, like every other 'fix' - until it stopped.
Now, I BELIEVE this started after a power failure, but it's been a few months, so I honestly don't remember if this was before or after that. So I'm not sure if it's related or not, but it's worth mentioning.
Anyway, to my problem.
40% of the time, the internet actually works good. My ping for almost anything is 60ms (better than at my house with Sympatico), I can download at a respectable 360kb/s, and I can play games. No complaints.
Only, it doesn't last.
There's no pattern to this, no rhythm. Sometimes it can last an entire day, sometimes I don't get the problem for several days, sometimes it lasts 5 minutes, sometimes it lasts 20 minutes but happens 20 times that day, it's completely random. But my ping flies up. I'm talking, into the several thousands.
For example, I can have Ventrilo open (note that I rarely use vent, so it's not part of the problem), and my ping will be 60ms, then all the sudden, BAM, 250300 ms. And it lasts a while, usually at least 5 minutes, most of the time 30 minutes - 3 hours, but it can last an entire day or more.
When working normally, google loads in a split second. When under this problem, it takes to the count of "12 thousand" (as in, one thousand, two thousand..).
The weird thing is, it doesn't feel like.. lag. It's like it takes a while to connect to things. as in, I will click on a site, and it will for example say "waiting for gamespot.." or "connecting to gamespot..", it will take 20 seconds, and it will load. It will take a while to load, longer than usual, but not SUPER slow - once it starts loading. like the initial connection is the problem, which I guess is a side effect by a super high ping.
Downloads are another example.. it will take a while for any download to start, and it will start at about 20 bytes a second, but after a while it can achieve speeds of about 50-80kb/s (i'm not talking about p2p downloads, fyi).
Anyway, I'm not sure if that stuff is relevant, but I thought I'd include anything to narrow this down.
Now off to what I've done. I've done all the usual things, unplug and wait 30 seconds for the router, modem, both, in every order, reset router settings, all of that, over and over. Sometimes it makes it better for half a day (which may just be a coincidence), but usually it does nothing.
So I called Xplorenet.
2 dollars to the first to predict what they said
Give up? same thing ISP's always say - it's your router.
Okay, fine, she directs me to set up the modem with my computer and tells me to buy a new router.
I do so. I get the same problem when connected directly with the router, but decide to install my new Linksys for kicks. Doesn't work with either (funny side note, the first lady told me to call back when I get the router to have them set it up, but when I did that, the lady insisted I call Linksys to set up my router with THEIR static IP [because linksys knows that], and when I told her the other lady told me to call them to set it up my static IP, she told me that I was a liar. Typical.)
Anyway, I got it all set up, and to no surprise, the problem persists.
So now I'm left with no idea what to do. I'm sure the problem is with the module, which has been replaced many times, with terrible installatation (in our last one, the 2.4, it was wobbly and wouldn't point straight - so the guy PUT HIS FUCKING GLOVE BETWEEN THE MODULE AND TOWER TO HOLD IT TOGETHER. Note however that when this inevetably failed, they "fixed" the tower and installed the 3.5 properly) Even if I get this problem fixed, I'm sure I'll just get a new one in two works. But I don't have a choice. Only internet here.
So yeah, no idea what to do now. Call them and tell them that there's still a problem I guess?
Unless anyone has any idea's here. It'd be nice if someone unbiased recognized this problem and could explain what it is, without blaming my router or mars or anything besides xplorenet. |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON | Err, when I said "same problem when connected directly to the router", I meant to the modem, bypassing the router. |
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shorthairedp
join:2005-11-21
united state
1 edit | reply to Pinworm45
If you honestly want to eliminate any variant on your end, you restore your pc to factory (not windows system resore) you run th factory restore that came with it, take it back to the day it was born.
Dont install any of your personal software (vent runs in the background sometimes, most p2p runs in the background)
once youve done this and its the only device connected and still have issues have you truly eliminated you as the problem. |
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shorthairedp
join:2005-11-21
united state | reply to Pinworm45
also, rtclick my computer, select manage, look at your system logs to see if there are tcp/ip errors, you could have a hosed network card, want to eliminate that, go buy a new network card (not USB) and run from that |
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seagreen
Premium,Mod
join:2001-05-14
out there
 ·Rock Island Commun..
Host:
CenturyTel
Wireless Service P..
Southern California
HughesNet Satellite
WildBlue Satellite
| reply to Pinworm45
Get Ping Plotter and run it. 24 hours, at least. That will tell you where the high pings are coming from (assuming you get one of those episodes captured in your trace.)
Save the PP data when asked. Do a screen capture of the trace and post it here as either a .gif or .jpg image. |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| reply to shorthairedp
I forgot to include some data that more or less removes my computer as a cause.
My house is networked with 3 computers - my main one, a secondary one, and my moms laptop. I have experimented with different orders of them on to see if a computer is the cause, that's not the case. Regardless of which computer I use, I still get the problem, even if the others are off. Now, that doesn't factor in for things like a virus, so what I did was I took an old computer, did what you said and took it to factory defaults, disconnected and reset my network, and used only that computer. Same thing. Furthermore, I'm currently at another house while that one gets repairs, and I have no such errors with the same main computer which I moved here.
I'll try that Ping Plotter thingy when I get the chance on Tuesday. Thanks guys. |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| reply to Pinworm45
Okay, so I haven't had the chance to run it for 24 hours yet. However, I am currently right now experiencing an episode of extreme slowness/ping (I downloaded pingplotter at 4.3kb/s..)
So I ran it for about 2 minutes. I don't know if it helps. I'm running it for 24 hours now.
Anyway, hop #2 is my default gateway I was given when given a static IP.
Edit after preview: Okay, my internet just "got good" again. It's now operating somewhat fast. This is how fast it can change, it got good as I was typing up this thread. There's no rhyme or reason for it.
It's now showing my current and min pings for hop #2 as around 300-400, and all the other pings follow just after that, like in the top pic.
So, it's definitely my default gateway. Which if I'm not mistaken, means it's my ISP? Or could it be my actual tower, again (had the damn thing replaced 4 times).
More to the point, what should I DO about this? call them AGAIN? It'll be about the 6th time on this issue, I don't even know what to say anymore. |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| reply to Pinworm45
Alright, so I've recorded about 10 minutes now.
The period of "good" lasted about 5 minutes and it got bad again. It changes a lot, too. The ping cycles are 15 seconds apart, and it can go from 300 ping, and then in the next cycle, it's 2300. Also, it seems to get "ERR" (I assume error) a lot too. Anyway, here it is for the past 10 minutes.
 |
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seagreen
Premium,Mod
join:2001-05-14
out there
·Rock Island Commun..
Host:
CenturyTel
Wireless Service P..
Southern California
HughesNet Satellite
WildBlue Satellite
| Yikes! You are on a fixed wireless internet connection, not satellite, right?
When you post your final 24 hour trace be sure to include the graphs at the bottom and be sure to graph that second hop. Also make sure that the graphs show the full 24 to 48 hour period before you take the screen capture. |
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delmarvawifi
join:2008-07-15 | reply to Pinworm45
Looks like you are on a bridged network which makes it impossible for you to troubleshoot anything. That first routed hop could be many bridged hops away.
Call your provider. |
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kewlkeed
Grouch
Premium
join:2005-02-05
Knowlton, QC | reply to Pinworm45
They made that xplorenetsucks thing for a reason ya know...  |
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shorthairedp
join:2005-11-21
united state
| reply to Pinworm45
wow, I ALWAYS blame the customer first. But thats just insane. I need you to talk to our customers who get upset bout the occasional 400ms to google.
First hop issue on wireless is complicated in a bridge for the WISP to diagnose at times, its 100% useless for an end user to even attempt it.
I rarely say this, but your ISP is definetly your problem. My guess is a heavily loaded access point, bad switch or something of the sort. I doubt is your link directly or your minimum time would be lower. consistently being above 1100ms is just awful. I recomend you leave |
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delmarvawifi
join:2008-07-15 | reply to Pinworm45
Wondering what type of equipment the WISP uses. Extremely overloaded Alvarion FHSS systems could give this kind of latency. |
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kewlkeed
Grouch
Premium
join:2005-02-05
Knowlton, QC
| reply to Pinworm45
My last tour of xplorenet's grid was a complete mix-n-match of every damn vendor you could think of. They sucked up Storm into their system as well as some other smaller WISPs from what I'm told. So their system is anything but standard.
Depending on what town you're in the equipment can vary drastically from Moto, to Trango, to Tranzeo, to roll-your-own. |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| reply to Pinworm45
So what exactly should I say to describe this problem? I'm tired of going through the "kay connect straight to your pc now.. yeah it's your router.." (despite having this when not connected to a router) routine every time, and I'm tired of hearing "oh well it's storming where our internet is.." when I call them out on that.
It's clearly nothing like that. I never had this problem before (though I had many others, also their fault..) and it just started one day. If I recall correctly, I believe it all started after my area had a power failure, actually. If that helps. I may recall wrong, though.
This clearly isn't a small problem that's just once in a while. It is now 95% of the time. I think it got worse because I used to have several good days and it'd only be bad for an hour, but since I got back here I haven't had more than 20 minutes of usable time.
So what exactly should I say that it makes it clear they need to fix this shit and there's nothing I can do?
It's been this way for months, my internet is now completely unusable, and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of these people and their constant problems but I have no alternatives.
Anyway, yeah, what should I say? |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| reply to Pinworm45
Haha, my step father called not 5 minutes ago without consulting me first to complain of slow internet, and their response was that "it's storming in BC [where the actual internet is.. I think. I live in Ottawa, Ontario, very far away from BC but I believe it travels to explorenets servers in BCs to get to the internet]"
The massive ping starts on the first hop to my default gateway, so that's bullshit. It's amazing how many times they've said it's a storm causing this, and it's incredibly frustrating to be helpless with nothing to do about this. |
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seagreen
Premium,Mod
join:2001-05-14
out there
·Rock Island Commun..
Host:
CenturyTel
Wireless Service P..
Southern California
HughesNet Satellite
WildBlue Satellite
| I'll repeat the question because you didn't answer it:
Are you absolutely certain you have internet through a fixed wireless connection or is it possible you have a satellite connection? The last I heard XploreNet sells both. Weather definitely affects a satellite connection and those pings would also be consistent with a satellite connection.
If you are not certain, get a photo of the equipment on your roof and post it here. Even a shot from a cell phone will work. |
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milbrath
join:2006-03-27
Dresden, TN | He kinda already answered that in his first post..."started out with 60ms pings"...can't do that with satellite! |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| reply to Pinworm45
I have a thing outside my house that looks like a huge oil derelict tower. It points to some huge tower they own, and I get internet. Definitely not satelite.
And it's not weather either, I've had them for internet for the past 2.5 years and I never had this problem until it started. I had many other problems, but not this one.
Anyway I'm calling them tomorrow. It's going to suck. I have no clue what to tell them, and I'm sure I'm going to spend 50 minutes going through the disconnect your router, reset your modem crap I've done a billion times.
*sigh* |
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Pinworm45
join:2008-06-01
Nepean, ON
| reply to Pinworm45
on the phone with them now on hold and they're saying it's my router again. sigh. the annoying thing is is that they made me go straight to modem, and it started working. Like last time. but itll get bad as soon as I get off the phone with them.. sigh |
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