The dreaded phone Icon, why?

[Zomax]

My connection is super with cable modem. Ping test close to 0% loss per 500-800.

Problem is only when I play Quake II I get the dreaded PHone icon for 1-5 secs. I have waited 3 years for cable, hoping never to see the Phone Icon again. But its back.

I have a perfect signal and bandtests are well above 500kps. Is there a straight forward patch or config mod,I can use to get rid of this problem? I know how to tweak my 56k modem. But this cable thing is a new beast for me.

Please help this cable newbie. Or send me to a site which can spoon feed me the concepts http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks

[bug]

You might have better luck in the ONLINE GAMING forum. You may need to slow down your DefaultRcvWindow. Also cap your Q2 framerate. ADSL is noted for superior pings and less lag in gaming [least around these parts] http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Zomax]

Thanks for sending me to the right site http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif Where do I find the Default RCV window? (embarrassed look) Originally posted by bug:
You might have better luck in the ONLINE GAMING forum. You may need to slow down your DefaultRcvWindow. Also cap your Q2 framerate. ADSL is noted for superior pings and less lag in gaming [least around these parts] http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif

[TRILLAZZ]

I've usaully found that the (phone icon) lockup problem was on the end of the person hosting the game, and that connection not being able to keep up with the data transfer fo all the players.

[bug]

Try a bunch of various servers with low pings. If you consistently keep getting the 'phone jack' icon, then the prob is on your end. The DefaultRcvWindow is in the Registry. Setting it too high [for max D/L speeds] can cause gaming problems http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Zomax]

Thanks,

Where in the Registry is it? And what values should I try. I had cable techs come out and aside from being impressed with my system, they didn't do anything except say they couldn't do anything about it and recommended I ask for the higher authority for a signal boost.

Personally I think it is just a matter of a tweak here and there? I applied the speedguidetweak 98 and it has helped a little but I still have the problem

Note I do run norton system works 2000
(shut off during gaming and norton internet security 2000 (shut off during game)

thanks for your responses, Yes I am new to the registry changes but not afraid to make them. Thats why theres back ups

[bug]

Tweaks (http://www.speedguide.net/Cable_modems/cable_registry.shtml) http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Zomax]

WAy to Cool, Your help is very aprreciated. I have applied other tweaks for win 98 as for improved proformance. Hope this works. I will let you know.

Thanks again

[AMD750]

Hi, I have a cable modem too, when I am playing Unreal Tournament (even with a great ping) I occasionally get the phone jack icon. What I notice is that 90% of the time it is a server side problem. Sometimes people actually host games with a 56K modem. If you pay attention, I'll bet you see the icon most when people enter or leave the game. That's when I have noticed the phone jack icon most. If it happens too much, I switch servers.

[Zomax]

Thanks for the feed back. I will look for that server side problem. Hope it is as simple as that. http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif

A Coxcable tech spent some time (40 mins) on my system via phone diagnostics and they suspect that I had a faulty toshiba external modem and need a signal boost, due to poor upstream flow at the gateway. My lines are good as is my system.

hope this works out.

[Veech]

OMG zoomax i had same exact problem phone icon 1-5 seconds, but great ping. I also had the toshiba external modem, the tech came gave me a new one and it works awsome! I think we had same problem. Try to get a new modem!

[MadMaN]

Seems like you guys got things sorted out. Hehe, again on another note which doesn't seem so likely now is that you are sending to large of packets. Basically with all the load the server has it probably isn't sending as much as your Cable, therefore you get whats called the dread Warps. or in some cases the Phone Jack.

Warping is cool however, you don't notice it but your opponents do. And it is often a way of screwing them up because they cannot predict where your going http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif I once had my connection configured to do this. but then I realized it was lame because it wasn't fair.

Anywho. Good luck.

[Zomax]

I think I have experienced it, and you are right it is cool, unless you end up in lava or a random Rockets path. However it happens every 5-10 secs, so right now it not so fun http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif

Today is the day of reckoning.

The Cable tech will switch out modems and boost my signal upstream. I will let you all know how it works out. Please note I have a pure system (no registry mods or other speed boosters going).

I am running only Win98 SE with 650E/256 133sdram/Asus 3v4x MB. 8 fans

I turn off norton systemworks 3.0 and run Norton internet security 2.0.
I will let you know the details and turnout as to what was the problem and the fix so others can benifit from it.

Thanks for the continued feedback

Zomax

[loggerman]

Zomax,used to have same problem.I can't remember where it is that you go to change your packet size (you want small).But you can go to 56k.com and join and post your question there.They'll fix you right up.These guys know thier stuff.If thats the wrong url e-mail me at I_am@waynesmail.com and I'll send you the link through e-mail.

------------------
Don't stand inthe bite!

[MadMaN]

First off Loggerman, you seem to have a misconception in there. Your packet sizes only really affect web browsing. However if the packets are to large, such is the case if they are at 128, then you will experince these problems. If your packet size is 64 or 32 both of these are fine.

This can be altered in your Registry, if you want to set your packet size to 32 just icq me and ill give you a patch for it.

ICQ #: 13966684

[Zomax]

Hey Guys,

Here's the scoup. A bid thumbs up for the home cable team! The cable techs gave me a Surfboard SB3100 modem and dropped a shorter direct cable line. 400 ft run to a 125 ft run. What a world of difference! Despite some minor losses, it is a night and day difference. CAble is now evaluating the gateway to make sure there are no problems there. I should be 100%. What's even better I will not be billed until it is right.

I complement the CAble telephone techs and service people for following up and really attempting to help my connection.

Loggerman thanks for the input.

Madmann, I wouldn't mine having that patch, and any other ideas on how to really tweak out my connection. I am open to any more suggestions, sites or helps. Would any of the speed patchs help me, or should I stay clear of any heavy registry tweaks?

Is there anything I can do in my Quake II config that might help ie "frame rate"

Thanks again guys, keep it coming...I'm sure there are others benefiting from this also

[MadMaN]

Well if your an @home user i would recommend some tweaking, I have a speed patch that alters a bunch of things in your registry, for all intensive purposes i've noticed a significant drop in my ping in servers. I used to average 110 at prime times and now im feeling about 70. At late night i get about 30 ping now.

I've also got a much smoother running IE5.

As for downloads, I doubt they will have a noticeable affect.

What does my speed patch do: basically it alters a few things for @home users.

or if your curious as to what it looks like here it is:


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\MSTCP]
"LMHostFile"="C:\\WINDOWS\\lmhosts"
"LocalCopyMade"="1"
"DefaultRcvWindow"="373360"
"NodeType"="1"
"MaxMSS"="1460"
"MaxMTU"="1500"
"DefaultTTL"="32"
"EnableDNS"="0"
"Lanabase"="0"
"EnableRouting"="1"
"Tcp1323Opts"=dword:00000003
"SackOpts"="1"
"PMTUDiscovery"="0"
"PMTUBlackHoleDetect"="0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\MSTCP\Parameters]
"MaxDupAcks"="3"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"ProxyOverride"="<local>"


There is another little tid bit that i didn't add because i don't want everyone on the net using it http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/smile.gif hehe... (Can't a guy have his secrets? )

Curious how i came about these tweaks? - Basically i have a friend who is a @home technician level I & II. me and him sat down and altered the settings until they were just right.

Hope you enjoy.

[Zomax]

WOW http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/biggrin.gif,

Where can I get this speed patch? I can barely stand myself now. I can wait to install this item.
BTW,
Currently I am trying to connect two almost identical computers to my cable connection.
Short of renting another modem, what is the most tried and true way of connecting to computers via cox@home? I tried a hub (via a friend) but I keep getting a conflicts with address. I heard of a router. But this is a new area of learning for me.

I put my two systems together, but networking is a new concept to learn. Can you assist me, before I spend money in the wrong items.

Both systems are loaded up identically. Except one is a 400 PII, 128 sdram abit bh-6

By the way, your time and replies are all appreciated greatly.

Please send me the the URL for that patch http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/biggrin.gif, I AM READY TO QUAKE!

Zomax

[MadMaN]

Hmm sorry for taking so long this time. Had a busy weekend. Anyhow, a good long term investment for you would definently be a Linksys router.

Networking includes a lot of different things, and to network your computers you either need some sort of hub or router to assist you.

Talk to Cox@home, they will definently be able to provide support in this field. ( as it is there job to please customers )

The patch is easy to get, either cut and paste what i typed earlier into a TXT file and save it as a .Reg file or you can contact me via Email. ( coldone69@hotmail.com ) or better yet through ICQ (easier and faster: 13966684 )

okay, i'll leave it to you to contact me.

Have fun.

[MadMaN]

Hmm sorry for taking so long this time. Had a busy weekend. Anyhow, a good long term investment for you would definently be a Linksys router.

Networking includes a lot of different things, and to network your computers you either need some sort of hub or router to assist you.

Talk to Cox@home, they will definently be able to provide support in this field. ( as it is there job to please customers )

The patch is easy to get, either cut and paste what i typed earlier into a TXT file and save it as a .Reg file or you can contact me via Email. ( coldone69@hotmail.com ) or better yet through ICQ (easier and faster: 13966684 )

okay, i'll leave it to you to contact me.

Have fun.