Help a frustrated rdm

[Kirsteena]

Ok, I hve been having a problem for a couple of weeks now, and I am getting annoyed. Especially when at this rate it will start keeping me from my Zenith Mitts. :vent:

I run FFXI in two places, but on the same computer. At home, a wireless network, at my b/f, plugged into a router. Up until recently, no problems. Suddenly, last week, when at home (wireless), I disconnected, and could not log back on at all - it got stuck at the checking POL viewer stage. Was like that the rest of the night. Next day, logged in fine - until about four hours later it started again. Cue much swearing, as I was in xp party at the time.

During these wierd dc phases, I can browse the net, and I can do some other stuff, but AIM (go go trying to get a message to Murphie yesterday), and stuff like Norton liveupdates are also a no go area. I tried things at my b/f's (the non-wireless connection) and it was perfectly fine. Came back home yesterday, it started again.

Now, I'm totally confused. I have tried rebooting our router/modem (even gave it a good half hour switch off), nothing happens. It is a secured wireless network, noone else is on it. Oh, and noone else in my house was using the net at the time. Anyone got any suggestions?

And if this is in the wrong place, please feel free to move it.

[Necropolis]

Hmm...

The only time that I had a similar problem was when I went from one connection to another on my laptop. The way I fixed it was to not put the laptop in hibernation. If I just restarted the computer and then connected internet etc it worked fine.

If you arn't hibernating between changing locations, I don't know what to tell you. Good luck and hope you figure it out.

[Kirsteena]

No laptop, it is a desktop pc that gets lugged about - not ideal I know but me and the b/f are both gamers so....

[Roo]

Have you tried hardwiring at home? If so does that produce the same results? If it doesn't then my conclusion would be to have your wireless card checked out. Additionally if your PC is anything like my laptop you might have a list of preferred networks. If you happened to get onto a neighbor's wireless network because you live in an appartment then they might have a firewall preventing something (this could happen if you both leave the network names as default like Linksys). These are all shots in the dark. My advise to you is try to eliminate as many varibles as possible. If you can narrow it down to the modem or the wireless card or something like that it will give you an idea of where to start exploring corrective options. Best of luck to you.

[Srxjo]

are you on Aol, if yes then you must sign off as i can not connect to FFXI or Xbox live when i'm signed on my AOL account

[Kirsteena]

No, I just use AIM - and normally have no problems. I wasn't even logged into when it went funny, I just wanted to get a message to Murphie to pass onto someone afterwards.

[Feba]

go go trying to get a message to Murphie yesterday

I saw this, and immediately thought "Wait, did the carrier pigeon died?". Incorrect grammar and all. Then I realized, who the hell has carrier pigeons anymore?

[Kirsteena]

Lol Feba!

[IfritnoItazura]

During these wierd dc phases, I can browse the net, and I can do some other stuff, but AIM (go go trying to get a message to Murphie yesterday), and stuff like Norton liveupdates are also a no go area. I tried things at my b/f's (the non-wireless connection) and it was perfectly fine. Came back home yesterday, it started again.

If you can post the error messages exactly as reported by Norton LiveUpdate or AIM, it would be helpful.

Also, if you can post the results from Windows' command prompt (type cmd from the Run... dialog) for this command:
ipconfig /all
A) When connection is working for FFXI.
B) When connection is not working for FFXI.

Those would be helpful as well.


p.s. When you say you can browse the Net, do you mean any website? Even websites you do not usually visit?

[Omecle]

Would there be a port blocked, that FFXI uses, at all?

[Kirsteena]

I don't get error messages, they just kinda hang there, and then eventually get the "not responding" message.

Next time I am at home, and trying this (won't be tonight as I am out), I'll post what ipconfig says.

And as far as I know, yes for websites I don't normally visit - I was certainly able to access one I hadn't accessed before cause I was trying to upgrade my mobile while this was happening :rofl:

[Clever Ninja]

All I can assume if there's something obstructing your wireless connection like a phone or other wireless device either your b/f's home or around it. Wireless connections are sensitive to that.

[Kirsteena]

At home, there is no other wireless in the house. Maybe a phone interfering, but no reason why it should suddenly start about a week ago - nothing has changed.

[Feba]

Is your place in an apartment building? Could be a microwave.

EDIT: Could easily be something a neighbor is using, wireless phones, wireless keyboards, lots of things use 2.4GHz nowadays. Would easily be possible if someone just bought something new. I have a friend that works for the DOT in his state as a network admin, still has problems with his wireless keyboard being interferred with by a neighbor's phone.

[IfritnoItazura]

I think we can pretty much rule out interference, as she retains connectivity for web use.

The interesting pattern is that FFXI and AIM do not work when she experiences the problem, while web remains accessible. That seems to rule out DNS trouble, and eliminates a many potential problems with her home network from consideration.

FFXI and IM services both require accounts, and are possibly sensitive to IP address changes. (Both systems only permits one login at a time, so if you change IP address, they may get unhappy.)

General web surfing, on the other hand, does not require one to be logged in, and is generally not very sensitive to IP address changes--usually it's like losing barely noticeable info, with symptoms like the server "forgot" which pages you've visited already.

Two more piece of info to collect:
1. Log on to the router, to check the "up time" for the current connection (different brand of router call it different names), when you notice d/c problem. The idea is to see if you've actually maintained a constant connection or did something happened and the router reconnected to ISP.
2. Log on to the router to collect its "WAN" (ISP assigned) IP address, before and during connection problem.

[Kirsteena]

Nope, old Georgian house with nice thick walls. /sigh I guess it could well be being interrupted. I guess the best way is to try a cable. God I hate shared houses at times.

[Nuriko]

A little while back, for 10 minutes I was d/ced from FFXI and POL, but able to browse the net, similar to this ... my first thought was that the server was down, as it was right on the hour. Anyway, I'm on ADSL with no router. It hasn't repeated, so I can't test anything and am not worrying about it, but it may be related to the OP's issue.

For that matter, I have a new RDM ... maybe that's the connection?

[Feba]

oh, this is reminding me of a problem I used to have.

Check your router logs (usually at 192.168.0.1, check google for details), this is a lot like the UDP floods I used to get. I fixed it by getting a new IP (look up ipconfig /renew for instructions, or call your ISP), you might need a new router.

EDIT: And ifrit, most likely, however websites need a far less stable connection than AIM and FFXI, so I was tossing it out there.

[Heartily]

I have a similar problem running FF on Vista laptop- wireless at home. When I switch caracters, it goes through normal sequence but stops at " downloading data". After about 3 min. a message " cannot connect to POL server" comes on.
I close out POL and log back in and everything is fine until I switch caracters.
Sometimes it doesn't freeze and when caracter is displayed, red circle by name is displayed about 2 seconds and then everything is normal. My PC runs on high speed connection and doesn't have this problem. Other than that, my midrange HP laptop with Vista runs FF wireless as well as my PC does.

[Feba]

That sounds more like a software problem. are you using vista POL, or still using the workaround?

[Kirsteena]

FFXI and IM services both require accounts, and are possibly sensitive to IP address changes. (Both systems only permits one login at a time, so if you change IP address, they may get unhappy.).

But MSN logs in no problem. And my flatmate can play WoW, and have no issues whatsoever at the same time. Which makes this even more wierd.

[Feba]

Like I said, check your router logs, sounds like a UDP flood of some sort.

[neokaril]

If it wasn't connected and then loosing connection I would say try clearing your arp table (from cmd type arp -d), but since you are connected and then it is going buggy that leaves me to believe that possibly someone else has hit your accounts?? Since you said your BF also play is it possible that he inadvertantly hit in to your accounts as a last log on?

DHCP lease shouldn't be an issue since she is connected and then drops, if your lease expires while active it should re assign at same IP reservation unless someone else grabs it first, highly unlikely to happen esp more than once.

[Kirsteena]

Never said my b/f plays. I play FFXI at his house, with no problems, that is all. His is a non-wireless network. At home, wireless, and the trouble.

I'll check on what you guys say next time I am at home (probably Thursday with maint tomorrow). Though bear with me, cause a lot of this is out of my league...

[IfritnoItazura]

since you are connected and then it is going buggy that leaves me to believe that possibly someone else has hit your accounts??
That wouldn't explain the AIM, though.


DHCP lease shouldn't be an issue since she is connected and then drops, if your lease expires while active it should re assign at same IP reservation unless someone else grabs it first, highly unlikely to happen esp more than once.
That is what I used to think, but how do ISP's usually set up their DHCP servers? I mean, if a DHCP server goes down, do they usually have a backup one ready to go online? What if the DHCP server process is restarted automatically on detection of certain errors? I just don't know enough outside of simple textbook scenarios to make an educated guess. =/

Can't hurt to check the WAN IP to make sure it stays the same, in any case.

Still, I'm guessing it's some sort of intermittent, short duration connection failure, and different protocols with different robustness means some would fail while others would stay 'live'.

[Nazo]

Even if a new IP was assigned for whatever reason and this caused a disconnect, it wouldn't prevent further reconnection.

I think Feba's explanation sounds pretty plausible, I often see UDP floods in my router logs, especially if I have torrents or something downloading at the same time. It could be your router is blocking off the ports FFXI / AIM etc is using as a security measure.

Next time it happens, check your router logs, and cart your PC over to your router and connect with a cable, that will at least eliminate 2 of the possibilities.

[Kirsteena]

Ok most of that went "whooooooosh", but will give it a go next time it happens. I'll post results/bug people/anyone who has a MSN account could get bugged too.

[Feba]

You can look it up more effectively on wikipedia under "UDP flood attack", but basically FFXI and AIM use UDP, so when your router shuts down UDP functions or is unable to process them, FFXI and AIM go byebye. MSN, I believe, uses TCP.

This sounds almost exactly like my old problem, so check it right away. Also, you should be able to check your router logs at any time since you last powered up your router and see the results.

[Kirsteena]

To further this - it happened again tonight. I have done the ipconfig /all, everything is exactly the same before it starts and after. I can't get into my router to check the logs, as my dear housemate has the password, and I don't have it (something I will be resolving asap). MSN is a tad flaky, but still works.

It may be something like my wireless adaptor fouling up, I'm getting a cable and trying that way. Other than that, I seriously don't know. And I am getting very frustrated with it.