Xbox Live Connectivity Issues GRRRRRRRRR

trajan05

Hey guys, Not sure of just regular Xbox players are having this issue since its only a handful of us that seem to complain about this problem.

Recently, some of us cant seem to connect to other parties when certain players are the party lead.
The error message will always appear AFTER trying to join the party with something along the lines of:

"Sorry, we are having network issues right now. Please try to join later.

Here are some of the players I can remember (BTW, this is going both ways):

trajan << >> pliccard
Markillio << >> zephries (?)
maxoutlaw << >> ??????

What is wierd if the party host changes, then sometimes we can connect.

I've tried to look up info on the xbox live site and havent come up with anything yet.

I've switched routers ( I bought an xbox live compatible one) and on my router I set up the xbox's IP address as the DMZ as well as set up port forwarding.

Im leaning towards my cable modem at this point. Anyone else have this issue?

trajan

http://www.portforward.com/default.htm
http://forums.xbox.com
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Oh Nooooo !

poover · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 101 Location: The GC

Mage may be able to help ya. He knows more than you can imagine. Wink

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Milamber Mage

LOL

I had the same problems early on in my xbox-live days. That was using an xbox-1, but I have had similar issues with the xbox-360.

There was a time when "A 187 Homicide" and I simply couldn't play in the same game together. We got the dreaded "we're sorry, we're having network problems" message all the time. From what I've read, it has to do with NAT, and furthermore with NAT between two players - doesn't seem to matter if either one is the host - they just have to be in the party.

I have since made every change I could make to my network. I replaced my switch (Cisco 2900XL with a Cisco 3548), replaced the router (Cisco 2600 with a Linksys WRT54G), had Comcast replace the modem (Motorola SB4200 with a Scientific Atlanta DPC2100), replaced cables ad nauseam, etc.

In my current configuration, I still noticed that the xbox-360's "network troubleshooter" showed my NAT settings as "moderate". I found a forum post that mentioned adjusting these settings:

enable uPNP
enable "port triggering" for ports 88 and 3074.

The xbox-360's "network troubleshooter" now shows my NAT settings as "open". It has been two or three weeks since I made these changes to my router, and it seems to have cleared up all of my "we're having network problems" messages. Haven't seen one since.

As a side note, with my Cisco 2600 router, the network troubleshooter used to say my NAT settings were "aggressive", meaning very restrictive. I think "aggressive NAT", from the xbox live perspective, can have a major influence on this problem. If anyone has an aggressive NAT device, it can cause another user with an aggressive NAT device connectivity problems.

The settings above are for a Linksys, since you use a D-LINK some of the terminology may be different. I found many of these details using google, since xbox.com has very little useful information. I did a lot of searches for "xbox Linksys WRT54G" and various variations, you may find similar searching to be fruitful. One of the most common suggestions was to verify that you have the latest firmware for your router, and I agree that this should be step one.

Anyway, I also ensure that all of my PCs are either powered off, or at least disconnected from the network. PCs make lots of "noise" on the network.

On my laptop I just pick my Ethernet and "Disable" it until after I'm done playing. I only do this on Tuesday nights though, for random games throughout the week I don't usually bother unless I notice game lag.

Unfortunately, I believe my game lag is usually due to Comcast's horrible data network (dropping or delaying packets), and not to my PCs or network setup.

- Darrin

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Milamber Mage

Check this site out:

http://www.portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Dlink/EBR-2310/Xbox_Live_360.htm

They suggest using a static IP for your xbox and then using port forwarding for the two xbox live ports, 88 and 3074.

I suspect this will help your party connectivity issues.

PS - I found that link in this post: http://forums.xbox.com/PrintPost.aspx?PostID=11062988

- Mage
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trajan05

Yep, I've pretty much done what you have suggested. Its good to know that its not just me ( I'll still take the blame for the lag issues during a firefight) and that I'm on the right steps to try to resolve it.

This is what I have done so far this last week:

tested

and

certified

If I still have problems tomorrow, I dont know if I will renew my live membership in June, let alone buy a 360. It would be pointless to get a 360 if I cant get online Sad

I'd rather play Mille Bornes !
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Oh Nooooo !

Milamber Mage

Mille Bournes is an awesome game! That's been a favorite of mine since I was a kid.

You can probably just set the MTU to 1500, that's pretty standard.

Also, it you are using the DMZ option, I'm not sure if port forwarding will do anything for you, since they should already be going to the xbox.

Does the network troubleshooter say anything about NAT?

Oh, and you typed 2074, I assume you actually set up 3074.. Wink

- Mage
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NavyMSU · Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 103

I haven't played Miles Bourne since i was a kid, damn i loved that game.. Red lights, flat tires.. about all i remember.. Wink

Darrin, if you have this game, let me know, we'll set up a night to play it next Xmas (next time i'm likely to be home)

Ryan
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Halo 2 Haiku...

At respawn I search,
I enter the fray, shooting,
You have been sniped by...

trajan05

Lol, I knew a few old farts would like that game..I first played it in grade school when we are in the hall during a severe storm. I played it later on on Mac.

Its free at the link below in case you need a refesher.
http://www.tucows.com/preview/10837

Oh Mage, I mistyped that port number..I thought that it wouldnt make a difference if I had the Xbox set as the DMZ machine. I'll have to try the NAT stuff later on. With the xbox, you have NAT numbers as opposed to High , Moderate and Low (or whatever the last one is).
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Oh Nooooo !

NavyMSU · Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 103

after Mage's tirade about your lagging last night, I suggest you try that before next Tuesday Wink

.

thanks for the link, i'll check it out later. I haven't played it since i was in gradeschool.
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Halo 2 Haiku...

At respawn I search,
I enter the fray, shooting,
You have been sniped by...

trajan05

I didnt have much problems during our custom games last night, just the normal begging lag for the first 10 seconds or so.

I missed Mage's rant on my lagging, did anyone You-Tube it? Smile

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Oh Nooooo !

hudsmack · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Phoenix

uPNP is a huge security risk. I would not do that. Just DMZ your Xbox and you shouldn't have any problems.
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Milamber Mage

I port forward to several different boxes on my internal network, so the "all ports to one box" (aka DMZ mode) port forwarding is not an option for me.

I can't see how uPNP could be a very serious risk on the inside network.

But I also don't see it being neccessary since you can just selectively forward those two ports (or use port triggering) to your xbox.

- Mage
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