Very annoying HIGH Ping/Latency spikes, All games and devices

[suraswami]

Well, again, I FEEL the spikes in games, which is most annoying. Ive tested the modem and pinged google, still got spikes. All day I tried playing today, did well, no spikes, then later at night, bam random spikes. He comes out friday. Is there ANYTHING I can try and rule out? If Im getting 1500ms SPIKES off the modem, pinged google.com, does this rule out anything? I mean, what should I tell this guy when he gets here?...

Did you connect a PC directly to the modem and ran the ping test? You get 1500ms spikes even then?

 

[Valonus1992]

Well, just to show you guys, YES I will connect the laptop downstairs DIRECTLY to the modem, PING google, and show you the results. Also as a side note, I traced google gave me 30 hops and turned up nothing, is that normal? Brb let me show you the results.

(Real quick, stumbled accross this, is this true? Cuz I didnt get spikes before no matter WHAT damn time I went on... so why now?)

The issue is Comcast is on a shared neighborhood network. The more people that are on (like in the evenings) the more bandwidth that is used the less there is to go around. That's why everyone is experiencing lag spikes in so called "prime time".

So no amount of modem swapping or tech visits will correct the problem. Comcast "over sells" it's bandwidth so until it upgrades the neighborhood nodes there will be issues with lag when there are a lot of people using the network

 

[remixedcat]

Ping tests, speed tests, download netsurveyor for your wifi, download stuff, stream stuff and make sure the tech sees this.

 

[remixedcat]

BTW I had 600ms ping ona a GOOD DAY when I had comcast in nashville! it averaged 2000ms!!!!!!!!

 

[Mussels]

as long as you can show him wired to modem = ping spikes to internet, that rules out everything on your end.

removes the excuses that its wifi, or the router meaning they have to fix it on their end.


sounds like congestion, when their network is busy it cant keep up.

 

[Valonus1992]

So, I talked to my ISP, he checked my latency, and said my modem is end of life spam, basically, sucks balls, and getting the new updated system SHOULD and will solve my issue. He comes friday but UGH. Should I just let them know I have an outdated one? My step dad says they should have one on the van they bring, but Idk...

 

[eidairaman1]

You could be apart of a botnet.

 

[silkstone]

Your wifi is password protected, correct?
Just wondering if a neighbor could be connecting.

 

[Valonus1992]

You could be apart of a botnet.

No way, checked my startup, nothing odd there. And I havent downloaded anything odd. Anything sure way to check though? Nothing is running on task that hogs my data or anything.

 

[Solaris17]

When he comes out tell him the tech on the phone said your surfboard was "end of life span" and that you had high ping on your "condition test"

the tech will give you a new box and then probably start fixing the problem with the node on their end.

 

[suraswami]

I said this in one of my previous post and somebody said it was wireless! So there is problem with ISP. Fight with them, if in your area you have another service provider try to play the 'I am cancelling service'.

 

[Aquinus]

I would constantly ping the second IP you get in a traceroute. I wanted to get around using my own network, but I have confidence in my firewall where I really shouldn't care.

Keep in mind this is in Linux but you can do the same thing in Windows by using ping and tracert instead of traceroute.

Example trace route. This is what I get from Google from my side of Comcast's network.

jdoane@Prime:~$ traceroute google.com
traceroute to google.com (74.125.226.1), 30 hops max, 60 byte packets
1  sophia.concord.peared.net (10.10.10.254)  11.591 ms  11.437 ms  11.265 ms
2  * * *
3  te-8-4-ur02.concord.nh.boston.comcast.net (68.85.185.5)  22.160 ms  22.977 ms  22.838 ms
4  be-77-ar01.woburn.ma.boston.comcast.net (68.85.37.201)  27.921 ms  38.318 ms  38.170 ms
5  he-0-15-0-0-ar01.needham.ma.boston.comcast.net (69.139.221.201)  38.027 ms * *
6  he-2-9-0-0-cr01.newyork.ny.ibone.comcast.net (68.86.90.57)  37.519 ms  30.568 ms  40.873 ms
7  he-0-12-0-1-pe03.111eighthave.ny.ibone.comcast.net (68.86.85.86)  40.722 ms  32.537 ms  31.564 ms
8  as15169-2-c.111eighthave.ny.ibone.comcast.net (23.30.206.126)  34.458 ms  29.366 ms  59.645 ms
9  209.85.248.178 (209.85.248.178)  59.475 ms  59.323 ms  59.182 ms
10  209.85.245.177 (209.85.245.177)  54.535 ms  43.838 ms  43.685 ms
11  lga15s42-in-f1.1e100.net (74.125.226.1)  43.524 ms  43.356 ms  41.026 ms

So the first node I hit is this (I'm starting to wish that TPU used github flavored markdown right now...)

te-8-4-ur02.concord.nh.boston.comcast.net (68.85.185.5)

So you can try running a constant ping against the first hop on the network that you can ping. This will narrow down whether or not it's their network in the area or your connection to it. If it still spikes even to the first node, it might not be an over-usage problem but a signal problem.

jdoane@Prime:~$ ping -c 10 68.85.185.1
PING 68.85.185.1 (68.85.185.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=1 ttl=253 time=20.7 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=2 ttl=253 time=18.9 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=3 ttl=253 time=19.2 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=4 ttl=253 time=21.1 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=5 ttl=253 time=19.1 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=6 ttl=253 time=21.3 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=7 ttl=253 time=19.7 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=8 ttl=253 time=25.4 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=9 ttl=253 time=19.8 ms
64 bytes from 68.85.185.1: icmp_req=10 ttl=253 time=19.5 ms

--- 68.85.185.1 ping statistics ---
10 packets transmitted, 10 received, 0% packet loss, time 9018ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 18.998/20.515/25.438/1.833 ms

Either way, it's Comcast's problem if it has nothing to do with wiring in the house. If it's from the cable drop out, they'll fix it free of charge. If it's inside your house and not the modem, they'll charge you 50 dollars for just coming out.

It's also worth noting that you shouldn't take the pings I produced too seriously. They're in a VM, going through the power line adapter, so some latency gets added naturally. Windows makes this ping over wifi to the same node:

C:\Users\jdoane>ping -n 5 68.85.185.1

Pinging 68.85.185.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 68.85.185.1: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=253
Reply from 68.85.185.1: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=253
Reply from 68.85.185.1: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=253
Reply from 68.85.185.1: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=253
Reply from 68.85.185.1: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=253

Ping statistics for 68.85.185.1:
    Packets: Sent = 5, Received = 5, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 9ms, Maximum = 10ms, Average = 9ms

 

[remixedcat]

I have something called "line assurance" (have to-house is old and stuff is wonky) that's like 3 or 4 something a month from my ISP and they take care of inside wiring for free. You may want to ask about that. Not all ISPs have it though

 

[Aquinus]

I have something called "line assurance" (have to-house is old and stuff is wonky) that's like 3 or 4 something a month from my ISP and they take care of inside wiring for free. You may want to ask about that. Not all ISPs have it though

I think Comcast likes to charge you when they have to do work beyond just the drop itself. I've never seen something like that for Comcast, although it would be nice. My house was built in 1902, so I know where you're coming from.

 

[remixedcat]

I got a house built in 1910 and something is always going wrong arrrg... cable runs are mostly new though....

 

[95Viper]

I think Comcast likes to charge you when they have to do work beyond just the drop itself. I've never seen something like that for Comcast, although it would be nice. My house was built in 1902, so I know where you're coming from.

Comcast does offer a maintenance plan... it is Service Protection Plan (SPP).
Service Protection Plan Definitions,Terms and Conditions.

Check your bill... quite a few people are already paying for it and do not realize it. Should labeled Service, Service protection, or SPP.

 

[eidairaman1]

When he comes out tell him the tech on the phone said your surfboard was "end of life span" and that you had high ping on your "condition test"

the tech will give you a new box and then probably start fixing the problem with the node on their end.

Usually meaning from street cabinet to a terminal/ped- from there a coaxial drop. To side of home

I got a house built in 1910 and something is always going wrong arrrg... cable runs are mostly new though....

youre definitely on copper out there

 

[Valonus1992]

Well, again, Im ping testing right now in the early morning (Well for me, 11, haha, off today) And no spikes. Yet on the huge dumb prime time, 6 and beyond, get the spikes I do believe. Again, I think its the crap modem we have, cuz according to this guy, this thing is dead and will be replaced for free. (We also have the plan if he needs to replace anything, I aint paying shit.) So, I'll ping the second hop though later on to test somethings though. But, Id rather not wait til friday for this guy to come out... Might change it..

 

[eidairaman1]

Well, again, Im ping testing right now in the early morning (Well for me, 11, haha, off today) And no spikes. Yet on the huge dumb prime time, 6 and beyond, get the spikes I do believe. Again, I think its the crap modem we have, cuz according to this guy, this thing is dead and will be replaced for free. (We also have the plan if he needs to replace anything, I aint paying shit.) So, I'll ping the second hop though later on to test somethings though. But, Id rather not wait til friday for this guy to come out... Might change it..

is it comcast you have out there because your line is shared amongst others in your neighborhood

 

[Valonus1992]

My line is shared? I dont understand. And yes I have comcast.

 

[remixedcat]

The speeds you are 'subscribed" to are not dedicated to you. That's just a number assigned to your account and loosely provisioned. Everyone shares the node and it's like this:

You have a bucket of bacon.... there are a 5 people and just enough bacon for 5 people and everyone's happy, well it's now changing over to PEAK DINNER TIME NOW and suddenly 50 people have to share the bucket of bacon now and everyone has to share it... so there's even less bacon for everybody *very_sad_face.png*

Now business grade T1/3/OCxxx, etc is mostly dedicated (depends on ISP) and you get a dedicated tupperware container with bacon for juuuuust your bacon and nobody else can have it. But those often run into xxx or xxxx dollars/mo.

 

[eidairaman1]

The speeds you are 'subscribed" to are not dedicated to you. That's just a number assigned to your account and loosely provisioned. Everyone shares the node and it's like this:

You have a bucket of bacon.... there are a 5 people and just enough bacon for 5 people and everyone's happy, well it's now changing over to PEAK DINNER TIME NOW and suddenly 50 people have to share the bucket of bacon now and everyone has to share it... so there's even less bacon for everybody *very_sad_face.png*

Now business grade T1/3/OCxxx, etc is mostly dedicated (depends on ISP) and you get a dedicated tupperware container with bacon for juuuuust your bacon and nobody else can have it. But those often run into xxx or xxxx dollars/mo.

T1/3 are also Known as DS1/DS3, via telco they are called Special Service by Telco/ISP. Depending on how far you are from a node or if youre in a newer Neighborhood (Homes built within last 10 Years), you might be eligible for Fiber to the Prem Network setup(ONT on side of home passes data on cat5 ethernet homerun to the Modem-Dual pair rj45), or Fiber to the Node- which is fiber to a street cabinet then passed along to copper cable to a terminal which is passed along a drop to your phone box on your home (Older neighborhoods, uses standard twisted pair, to existing wire or a single pair-rj11) FTTN networks are dedicated lines to the CO or VRAD (By street cabinet VDSL2/ADSL2), only limiting factor for DSL based service is the quality/suitability of the burried or ariel cable from the node to the terminal and your distance from the node, fiber to the prem has no loop distance issues, only fiber quality.

 

[remixedcat]

No fiber here though *another_sad_face.png*

 

[brandonwh64]

FTTU is what we have here at work. We deliver fiber optics from the time it leaves the Service switch until it hits your house.

 

[eidairaman1]

FTTU is what we have here at work. We deliver fiber optics from the time it leaves the Service switch until it hits your house.

Fttp. If it hits the desk then fttd