Xbox Live - which isp? help needed!!

ggl33s0n

Hi
I am currently with Plusnet on a standard package and this has been fine for my internet browsing on the laptop wirelessly.
However hubby has recently bought an xbox 360.
He goes on it at peak times (5pm till 10pm) and frequently has lag issues, connection issues, cannot connect to host, join parties etc...
I also cannot use laptop at same time as this really affects the xbox signal
I have a Zyxel P660HW router for about 2 years and the xbox is connected wirelessly.
We have connected direct to router to see if issues resolve but they do not.

My main questions are -
1 - could it be the router? is it worth buying a standard £50 router to have same issues?
2 - should i change isp
3 - if so what isp is best for gaming and what should i avoid?

I really dont want to change and then face same problems
2 friends are with talktalk and they seem to have no probs and they are pretty cheap but seem to read bad reports

Please help before the xbox gets thrown through the window!!
Thanks

ComplexP

I am with Plusnet and use my connection for wireless gaming on the Wii without issue (much the same). I use the Pro service which gives me priority bandwidth at all times but comes at the cost of additional charges and a download limit.

The unlimited 'budget' service could well suffer from lag at peak times but I believe this is like £7 per month so, if you are on that package, I'm afraid you get what you pay for.

That said, it is easy to see what sort of speeds you are getting by going to broadbandspeedchecker (.co.uk) and clicking on the 'Start Speed Test' button. I get a consistent download speed of 2200 Kbps (even during peak hours) which is more than sufficient for gaming.

If you are finding that your speed is dropping below 1000 Kbps at peak times then that could be enough to cause problems for your xbox. Try doing several tests and watch how consistent it is. Also, check what the syncronisation rate of the router is (it should be about 600-800 higher than the download test shows) and how stable it holds.

If the speed test shows reasonable numbers then it could be the settings on your router (firewalls for example) or xbox that are causing the problem.

Some routers will tell you what equipment is currently wirelessly connected, so it may be worth trying to watch what is happening to the connection between the xbox and router when it's acting up.

It could simply be that the xbox wireless card if faulty or that it is near some source of REIN (random electrical interference noise) which is causing the connection drops.

Good luck.

trets77

it is not unusual to get lag at 5pm i'm afraid .

using a laptop at the same time will always cause problems unless you have a super duper broadband speed .

Run a test on Xbox live via the X box . if you get a message back saying your NAT is restricted then you need to a google search with your routers name on how to resolve it .

also try calling up your ISP as they can open up some ports on your connection .

you need at least 2MB speed to play properly in my experiance .

Inactive

Plusnet throttle their connections, I left them and moved to a decent ISP, my speeds went up and stayed up, my connection never slows down at any time of day or night since I left them.

I also use the same Zyxel Router as the OP.

ggl33s0n

Thanks for your replies
I am on an old plusnet package PlusNet Broadband Premier Option 1 which costs £21.52 a month, but really it looks like i am paying over the odds as i am only getting the same as their value package at £5.99!!

I have raised a ticket and their feeble response is that the Rotherham exchange is being 'hammered' so to speak and BT are aware, yet friends who are also on xbox do not half as many issues as i am experiencing and they too are on the same exchange (1 in the same street)

I also checked my speed as suggested and it was 2200 yesterday afternoon, but come evening when having issues it was as little as 750!

I can only assume it is plusnet, a few friends are with talk talk so i am considering them

Inactive - who did you change to??

Thanks again
Any other input is greatly appreciated

Inactive

ggl33s0n wrote: »

Inactive - who did you change to??

IDNet, I have never looked back, excellent company, no regrets whatsoever.