Registry Members Only Poll - 3D3 Racing Oceania Timeslot

[sidplayos2]

This thread is to check for interest in an Oceania timeslot for AU/NZ and Asia regions for GTP Registry members. In keeping in line with 3D3 racing timeslots I am proposing Wednesdays @ 9PM AET (GMT+10) although open to dicussion on the exact time of the event. (This would make it around noon /12PM PST (GMT-7). This should allow our Perth participants to get home from work as well

I initially just want to guage interest and suggested times for the event.
Hopefully we could see enough of you guys here to make this viable.

Peter

 

[LeftyWright69]

Sure hope your fellow Kiwiz don't leave ya standing in the outback 👍

 

[sidplayos2]

looks like i'll be eating my own dust

 

[Carlos Fandango]

That slot would work well for me Peter, but the internet connection in my town is so pitiful that the only time I tried to run online I zig-zagged from one grass verge to the other!

Good luck in getting it up and running - there's plenty of very fast people around so the racing should be top drawer 👍

 

[Ealirendur]

looks like i'll be eating my own dust

I could make it sometimes, but usually not (a bit too early, ironically, unless I come up with better bribes).

 

[Speedy6543]

I would join any timeslot to race some more 3D3 but 9PM AET is 8AM for me so I'm at work then.

 

[Ealirendur]

I should have been a bit more positive.... I would be very interested either way, but 1/2 or 1 hour later when Someone Important relenquishes the TV would be gravy

What about a wacky slot such as Sat 11pm AEST? There doesn't seem to be much in the calendar around then, and it could work with other region guests. (Sat 1pm GMT, 7am/11am PDT/EDT)

 

[sidplayos2]

I don't really care what the time is as long as it suits everyone. I just want to race with you guys oneday

 

[Carlos Fandango]

Peter,

would be interesting just to run an open 'track day' one evening just to see how things work and see how bad the lag is - we could use the current WRS combo as a trial. Can usually do any time after 9pm. Ren's suggestion of Saturday at 11pm is a good one as well.

EDIT: just read your OP again and it seems that you are proposing 9pm on Weds anyway!

 

[Gravitron]

I really didn't want to ignore this thread for so long, guys, so sorry for that.

The OP is a little off for the estimate of the US Pacific time. Now that we're back to standard time (GMT-8), PST is 18hrs behind AET. So 9pm AET is 3am PST. If you guys commit to trying this out soon, I'd be willing to lose a little sleep to try and join.

Not sure if you've kept up on the connection and invisible drivers issues over in the 3D3 thread, but they were happening pretty consistently during the early NA races. Due to either game/server updates, or our constant pleas for NA people to check their home network setups, they've been better for the past couple weeks. The one constant is that a NAT 1 setup for as many players as possible, is best (connecting the PS3 directly to your cable/DSL modem for the duration of the race). I personally have not ever tried the NAT 1 setup, since I can't convince the rest of my family to go without internet for 2sec, but I believe the NAT 2 workarounds (enabling UPnP or DMZ) have helped.

 

[EDK]

I really didn't want to ignore this thread for so long, guys, so sorry for that.

The OP is a little off for the estimate of the US Pacific time. Now that we're back to standard time (GMT-8), PST is 18hrs behind AET. So 9pm AET is 3am PST. If you guys commit to trying this out soon, I'd be willing to lose a little sleep to try and join.

Not sure if you've kept up on the connection and invisible drivers issues over in the 3D3 thread, but they were happening pretty consistently during the early NA races. Due to either game/server updates, or our constant pleas for NA people to check their home network setups, they've been better for the past couple weeks. The one constant is that a NAT 1 setup for as many players as possible, is best (connecting the PS3 directly to your cable/DSL modem for the duration of the race). I personally have not ever tried the NAT 1 setup, since I can't convince the rest of my family to go without internet for 2sec, but I believe the NAT 2 workarounds (enabling UPnP or DMZ) have helped.

I had a lot of network issues before changing my PS3 to a DMZ setup. I already had UpNP enabled, and even had done a lot of Port Forwarding. I historically had issues with Chuk's house, and then was having issues with Lefty in the 3D3 races. It came to a head for me when I wasn't able to join the Weds Forest race due to connection issues.

As soon at I changed to DMZ, 97% of my issues went away.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

I really didn't want to ignore this thread for so long, guys, so sorry for that.

The OP is a little off for the estimate of the US Pacific time. Now that we're back to standard time (GMT-8), PST is 18hrs behind AET. So 9pm AET is 3am PST. If you guys commit to trying this out soon, I'd be willing to lose a little sleep to try and join.

That would be cool Lucas, although I'm sure given that nothing is established yet that we could move a little later to give you some more sleep!

Not sure if you've kept up on the connection and invisible drivers issues over in the 3D3 thread, but they were happening pretty consistently during the early NA races. Due to either game/server updates, or our constant pleas for NA people to check their home network setups, they've been better for the past couple weeks. The one constant is that a NAT 1 setup for as many players as possible, is best (connecting the PS3 directly to your cable/DSL modem for the duration of the race). I personally have not ever tried the NAT 1 setup, since I can't convince the rest of my family to go without internet for 2sec, but I believe the NAT 2 workarounds (enabling UPnP or DMZ) have helped.

I had a lot of network issues before changing my PS3 to a DMZ setup. I already had UpNP enabled, and even had done a lot of Port Forwarding. I historically had issues with Chuk's house, and then was having issues with Lefty in the 3D3 races. It came to a head for me when I wasn't able to join the Weds Forest race due to connection issues.

As soon at I changed to DMZ, 97% of my issues went away.

put the what in the where???

*Goes to google to get an education!*

 

[sidplayos2]

Jon, tell me:

The make/model of your router/modem
Who your provider is, e.g TPG, Bigpond etc
Are you using wireless or wired to the PS3?

I'll knock up some screenshots of what you'll need to to in both your router and PS3.
A bit of port forwarding and you'll be up in no time May need to go DMZ at the worst
but in most cases it isn't needed.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

That's very kind of you Peter

Modem is a Bigpond 2071-A
Router is an Airport Express
Service provider is Bigpond
PS3 is wireless

Have some RL stuff to do this evening, but I should be back online and at my PS3 at 11pm if you're around. I might just try running online first before I go messing worth stuff - wary of opening a can of worms!!!

 

[Ealirendur]

That's very kind of you Peter

Modem is a Bigpond 2071-A
Router is an Airport Express
Service provider is Bigpond
PS3 is wireless

Have some RL stuff to do this evening, but I should be back online and at my PS3 at 11pm if you're around. I might just try running online first before I go messing worth stuff - wary of opening a can of worms!!!

I'm also happy to help. Note here that the biggest hassle is likely to be the wireless, annoyingly (the PS3's wireless, not the Air Port). Feel free to drop GTP_ealirendur an FR, though I expect to be forced to bed early tonight.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

Thanks Ren, appreciate it.

 

[Ealirendur]

No prob. I'm sure either of us will help if we're around when you are - I should be able to putter for a bit tonight after 10:30pm (No Daylight savings, tho).

Modem is a Bigpond 2071-A
Router is an Airport Express
Service provider is Bigpond
PS3 is wireless

I've had a bit of a poke around on whirlpool, and it'll be ... interesting. The main problem would seem to be that there's only one wired port into the modem, which will be occupied by the AirPort.

The good news is that both devices are capable of port forwarding/DMZ setup. The bad news is that if you wanted to run a wired setup, you'd need a small switch, or would have to pull the AirPort for the duration.

Assuming the Airport Express is indeed one of these:

... the first step to try after just running as-is could be pretty easy. Were I setting up that hardware, the Airport would probably be doing PPPoE directly (meaning the modem is letting it handle everything except the connection). If that is the case, it means you can just configure it through Airport Utility, which is probably easier than the 2wire. There's setup options for port forwarding, and DMZ is referred to as setting up a "Default Host".

Mac or PC? Don't worry, I won't bite either way If I geek out/blather too much, let me know. Hard habit to break

 

[Carlos Fandango]

Ren, thanks for looking into this. Unfortunately, I've led you astray. The router is an airport extreme not express - humblest apologies. I think this makes it easy to hard wire (3 port router built-in), but it's about 25 feet away from my PS3. If we weren't trying to sell our house, I'd go up in the loft and run a line over to the office for the PS3, but it doesn't seem worth it and I have enough little jobs around the house to do already!

All that aside, I think the info you've given is probably still relevant. I'd much prefer to mess with the airport utility than the modem software, although I don't know whether the Aiport is doing PPPoE directly or not currently.

Like you say, probably simplest just to try it first and see what (if any) issues occur.

 

[Ealirendur]

No problem - at least that gives you one more option if things go pear shaped.

AirPort Utility will say Connect Using: Ethernet or PPPoE under the "Internet" tab. No big deal either way, but Bigpond are such fun to talk to after you've messed with their stuff.

Actually, it doesn't make that much difference

I should have clarified - if it is the AirPort doing all the work, you really will want to do port forwarding/default host (I'd be tempted either way), as it doesn't support UPnP, and your PS3 network test will say UPnP not available, with a "Nat 3" type connection (like Potassium Benzoate, That's Bad). The 2wire allegedly does support UPnP.

But.. as you say, let's just try it first

 

[Ealirendur]

I'm currently tooling around Laguna in my lounge.

I have been frogmarched away. Apologies for the lateness and brief duration.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

Sorry Ren, was in bed by then. Got your friend request though - thanks.

Unfortunately, both my kids are sick at the moment and so finding some time to run when they are not awake and trying to cough their lungs up is...tricky.

 

[Ealirendur]

Sorry Ren, was in bed by then. Got your friend request though - thanks.

Unfortunately, both my kids are sick at the moment and so finding some time to run when they are not awake and trying to cough their lungs up is...tricky.

No hassle. Just went through 2-3 weeks of looking after everyone myself; I was even actually a bit sick myself last week, which luckily doesn't happen much.

Thankfully not much coughing this time around, here. Make sure you get enough sleep yourself

 

[Carlos Fandango]

Ren and Peter,

Thank you both for your invitations to join your lounges over the last few days. Unfortunately...

1) My PS3 is almost permanently on, logged in, and running GT5, so I rarely go back to the XMB to see messages

2) Peter invited me to join on Saturday lunchtime or thereabouts, and Ren invited me around 7pm one evening. If only wishing made it so I NEVER get time to run then. It's usually late evening (but before midnight Ren )

We're in the process of decorating our house ready to put it on the market in the next two weeks so I think it's best if you consider me a lost cause for now. Once we're done I will hopefully have a bit more time in the earlier part of the evening once the kids are asleep.

I appreciate you both thinking of me though and hopefully we can run together on line soon.

 

[Gravitron]

Will your internet "situation" change at all after the move?

 

[Carlos Fandango]

No, staying in the same town, but from what I've read it seems I'm better off than Lefty is! The only thing that might change I suppose is that I could have a NAT1 wired connection (NAT2 at the moment).

 

[Ealirendur]

Sounds busy, Jon.

Barring human rights abuse or other similar privations being performed on oneself, I happen to think that moving is one of the least fun experiences in the world, so ... Good Luck With That!

In any case, the XMB messages were just on the off-chance, and based on the assumption that that's what you'd tend to see first; if you'd prefer PMs here, also not a problem.

The 7pm invite was really an anomaly; I'd tend to be on (which hasn't been much at all since Friday) somewhere in your 10:30pm-12:30am, if at all.

One easy way (if you want to be un-lost-caused, or just some time out) might be to just eyeball the 3D3_Racing lounge for others; I'd imagine it will pick up in usage over the coming weeks. Peter's or my own lounge will also show where we are if we're running online; speaking for my own part, if I'm in my own lounge or a WRS/3D3 one, I'm available (in nearly all circumstances I can think of, on my GTP_login).

Despite being on ADSL 2, I don't really have a whole lotta bandwidth myself - the PS3 tends to show ~600Kbps up/~5Mpbs down, though it's more than that via measurementlabs NDT or speedtest. I did change my ISP connection style to what they call a "Gamer" connection, which lowers the downstream a bit, but bumps up the upstream and lowers latency.

It's been pretty solid since I moved to wired and did the DMZ, but UPnP worked sorta-ok-mostly. I still have to reset the modem occasionally (and I always do before a 3D3 race).

My first perception of online play was also ZOMG THE LAAAG. However, even with my being on wireless at the time, that was drastically skewed - once I raced in Australian rooms (with 4-5 bars), it was much better (albeit with DCs and the occasional black screen), so it could be more of a latency thing if you were connecting internationally.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

So upstream is more important than downstream? God I'm such a when it comes to this stuff

 

[Ealirendur]

So upstream is more important than downstream? God I'm such a when it comes to this stuff

I wouldn't say "more important" so much as perhaps a bit more relevant than it is normally.

Asymmetric with a high downstream normally suits everyone. Even in this case, I think high downstream is definitely a Good Thing.

But (particularly in the mesh situation) a "just-big-enough" pipe back upstream for your own outgoing information seems like it would be important. Probably not so much an issue for a star/hub topology, since there only has to be one copy of your telemetry on the wire, but we're normally in mesh.

I'm probably overcomplicating it again, aren't I?

In any case, the Gamer profile also offered lower latency (the time it takes for packets to get somewhere), and hopefully better stability/less jitter, which seemed like it would be a win. Technically, I believe the profiles just change the configured SNR and interleaving settings for the ADSL connection, but your ISP may or may not have anything similar.


Other than a weird visibility issue with Tim last week (he reconnected very late), my 3D3 races have been pretty much problem free (after modem reset/clear cache, anyway), and not much of a problem with perception of lag of (or by, as far as I've heard) the other participants.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

I wouldn't say "more important" so much as perhaps a bit more relevant than it is normally.

Asymmetric with a high downstream normally suits everyone. Even in this case, I think high downstream is definitely a Good Thing.

But (particularly in the mesh situation) a "just-big-enough" pipe back upstream for your own outgoing information seems like it would be important. Probably not so much an issue for a star/hub topology, since there only has to be one copy of your telemetry on the wire, but we're normally in mesh.

I'm probably overcomplicating it again, aren't I?

Ermmm....

In any case, the Gamer profile also offered lower latency (the time it takes for packets to get somewhere), and hopefully better stability/less jitter, which seemed like it would be a win. Technically, I believe the profiles just change the configured SNR and interleaving settings for the ADSL connection, but your ISP may or may not have anything similar.

...OK

My upstream is only 256kbps

In all seriousness, I appreciate you taking the time to walk me (slowly) through this

 

[Ealirendur]

Blah blah blah

More upstream and downstream help. Some.

Yes, I did really did overcomplicate....

Ermmm....

.... blah blah .... some more

...OK

My upstream is only 256kbps

In all seriousness, I appreciate you taking the time to walk me (slowly) through this

Fixed it up a bit

You'll probably be just fine for small online lobbies; big ones could be, uh, interesting.

I would have liked to have seen the results of fixed-host testing for large lobbies (star/hub rather than mesh, needing less bandwidth, in theory).

Marc should just buy an uninterruptible power supply and a generator for additional insurance

Don't Canuckistanis need 'em anyway?