[Snap] High latency when trying to connect to NZ TF2 game servers or any other server in NZ

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Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#61586 19-May-2010 13:11

Hi All,

I've just moved to NZ from the UK and signed up to Snap Internet. I've been looking at my line data recently to try to understand why my latencies are quite high. Now I know that I'm being tunneled to Christchurch before either going back to Auckland or international, but that doesn't explain why NZ TF2 servers are giving me latencies of around 90ms. I was used to 40ms connections in the UK to other UK game servers, even those that where 600 miles away. My line is rather old but the data given by the router indicates that it is an 'ok' quality but I am at the end of the line pretty much as my attentuation is quite high.

Also, I traced a route to a local Auckland server which was 157ms which I thought was quite bad. Do snap have any other data centres, or just the one down in Christchurch?

Does anybody else have the same problem? Its kinda annoying as it does ruin some online games when they've all got 20-40ms latencies to the same server...

Thanks in advance and sorry for the possible ramble... I'm still new to NZ internet infrastructure!

Ragnor

8223 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#331856 19-May-2010 13:54

Can you post a tracert to the server's address?
eg:
Start Menu > Run > cmd > tracert 203.97.27.202

I suspect your line might have interleaving on by default (this is a form of error correction that adds latency overhead).

Look in your line stats in your modem admin ui, usually it's called DSL MODE and the value will be INTERLEAVED or FAST.

Interleaving off = FAST

You should be able to ring up the helpdesk and ask them to turn interleaving off.

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#331892 19-May-2010 15:31

Hi Ragnor,

Many thanks for the reply.

The trace produced the following:

Tracing route to gfep4.clear.net.nz [203.97.27.202]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 57 ms 56 ms 57 ms 68.16.69.111.dynamic.snap.net.nz [111.69.16.68]
3 57 ms 57 ms 58 ms 60.16.69.111.dynamic.snap.net.nz [111.69.16.60]
4 77 ms 78 ms 77 ms g7-0-1-175.tkcr4.global-gateway.net.nz [122.56.118.97]
5 78 ms 77 ms 77 ms g1-0-0-10.tkcr3.global-gateway.net.nz [210.55.202.34]
6 78 ms 78 ms 77 ms g1-0-0-4.akpr1.global-gateway.net.nz [210.55.202.52]
7 78 ms 78 ms 78 ms ge-2-0-0-906.ie2.telstraclear.net [203.98.18.65]
8 79 ms 79 ms 80 ms front2-clix.clear.net.nz [203.167.243.213]
9 79 ms 79 ms 88 ms gfep4.clear.net.nz [203.97.27.202]

Trace complete.

Interleaving is on as I felt at this stage stability was a better option until I found out what the connection was like. I realise this can add additional overheads and extra latency but as I said, I was more concerned about the state of the line to the property.

If I was to give the router data regarding the line, are their guides on the internet to help decide whether interleaving on or off is the better choice?

Thanks!

Ragnor

8223 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#331908 19-May-2010 16:14

You only want interleaving on in cases of very poor line quality because of the significant latency it adds. Many ISP's around the world and in NZ actually have it off by default rather than on by default.

It's a relatively simple process to change it. Ring up Snap ask for interleaving off, they log a job in the system. Sometime later the profile for your port at the exchange is updated (you might need to reboot your modem for it to take effect, can't remember).

Anyway once it has been changed I would expect the ping should be around half what it is in that tracert you posed above.

If you suddenly have lots of line stability problems after the change, then ring up and get them to turn it back on.