[Trahn_Lee_Liao]

Anyone ever had the opportunity to game through a Dish Network type connection? I know that internet connections are available through a dish, like Direct TV, etc. (Via Satellite)

The reason I am asking is that I am looking at buying a house out in the country that does not currently have cable available. The only thing I would have that would allow me to connect to the internet would be via phone modem (no dsl) or Satellite. I am not sure that Wireless is available in the area. (I don't think it is.) Most of the area here is either Time Warner Cable (RoadRunner) or ComCast. Unless you are in a few areas that neither cable company currently serves. Like this house...

I know that outside of blockage of the dish due to heavy rain, thick clouds, etc. Viewing stuff on a dish off the internet isn't too bad. I am more concerned with the what kind of gaming ability there will be.. or if it is just impossible.

Thanks for any insight anyone might have.

[Horsepower]

Originally Posted by Trahn_Lee_Liao

.. or if it is just impossible.

for the types of games you are playing, it's nearly impossible. the latency(think ping) for satellite connections is horrible. it's ok for web surfing, email etc, but not for BF1942-type games. you could probably use it to play pool with some dork on Yahoo Messenger though.

[Trahn_Lee_Liao]

hehe, ummmm, no thanks.. I don't like pool.... Guess that house will probably be out of the question. I am not sure I can give up my gaming.

[*SW€D€*]

Man this whole gaming thing is way more adictive than some pussy ass drug
People whining that thay have problems with drugs....Dude I have HUGE problems with this game issiue. It seems like I can't get it out of my head. And know when my conncetion is down I starting to bite my nail

Plzzzzz I need some serious help here.................Lol :p


Edit: Oohh yeah byw, you not sure you can give up gaming.....Well could you? I know I can't.

[Packetloss]

You're a smart guy. Let me explain why satellite is the WORST POSSIBLE WAY of gaming.

First and foremost, whats most important when gaming? Latency. Ping.
The higher your ping, the higher your latency.

Now. Whats a ping?. the time it takes for a packet to leave your computer, go to the destination, and return. ping = 'Round Trip Time'

Now. Satellites. They have the bandwidth (pipe diameter) to download, and to game. But the problem with a satellite, lies in ping. Why?

Satellites in geosynchronus orbit are roughly 30,000kms from 'ground level' on earth (Give or take).

Those satellites communicate with a ground station - Usually somewhere like california or texas.

Im going to assume this is one way satellite - Thats BETTER than 2-way. I'll explain why in a second.

With a cable modem, a ping works like this.
The packet leaves your computer, goes up your cable line, is routed around your isp, and sent over terrestrial circuits to the destination host. The packet stops there, and comes back to you via the same (usually) route. Lets take my computer to ninjaserve.com for example:

traceroute to www.ninjaserve.com (198.77.7.254), 30 hops max, 40 byte packets
1 192.168.51.1 (192.168.51.1) 1.166 ms 0.285 ms 0.287 ms
2 10.72.0.1 (10.72.0.1) 6.76 ms 5.954 ms 6.644 ms
3 r1-fe2-0-100bt.pego1.on.home.net (24.226.3.1) 7.947 ms 7.057 ms 6.417 ms
4 d226-3-241.home.cgocable.net (24.226.3.241) 11.984 ms 13.771 ms 13.896 ms
5 cgowave-hala-core2.cgocable.net (24.226.0.166) 13.106 ms 13.055 ms 13.897 ms
6 h66-38-197-241.gtconnect.net (66.38.197.241) 16.924 ms 13.628 ms 14.229 ms
7 ge3-1.wana-toroon.ip.grouptelecom.net (216.18.63.1) 13.875 ms 14.831 ms 14.975 ms
8 pos6-0.wana-mtrlpq.ip.grouptelecom.net (216.18.63.194) 35.902 ms 35.492 ms 36.179 ms
9 ge1-0.peera-nycmny.ip.grouptelecom.net (66.59.191.206) 37.009 ms 36.716 ms 35.877 ms
10 nyiix.starlan.com (198.32.160.98) 36.466 ms 35.777 ms 36.202 ms
11 fa4-0-0.core1.nyc1.starlan.com (69.60.129.2) 38.364 ms 37.946 ms 38.067 ms
12 fa0-0-0.edge1.nyc1.starlan.com (69.60.130.2) 39.558 ms 41.506 ms 48.888 ms
13 198.77.7.254 (198.77.7.254) 41.471 ms 41.297 ms 38.737 ms

The packet left my computer, took 13ms to get to my isp, (at hop 7) and then a total of 38ms to get to the webserver (hop 13) - These we all land-based optical and/or copper circuits.

With satellite, one way service requires a modem or dsl line for you to do all your packet sending (usually this is low traffic, in the case of an http request (web)) etc.

The path the packet would follow to say www.ninjaserve.com, would be something like this:

your computer
your dialup isp
your satellite isp
(all the stuff between your satellite ISP and ninjaserve - probably 5+ hops)
ninjaserve

This is where the similarities end. The reason the packet is translated by your satellite isp before its sent to ninjaserve, is so they can tell ninjaserve to send the responses via your satellite link. The server sends the return packet back through those hops to the sat isp's network, at which point they uplink it to a satellite at 38000km+ altitude, its then routed back down to your computer.

Simple in theory, and works great when you are requesting large bandwidth porn streams to your antartic research base. However, your bf1942 packets have to transit a round trip from ground to space ALONE thats almost 80000km's. (Who cares?!?! its moving at the speed of light, right?!?!)

Lets do the math:
Lowball at 70 000 000 meter round trip through space. Speed of light at just under 300000000m/s
(0.23 seconds) - So - Your minimum overhead on a packet is 24ms just for 'space time' - Knowing sat gear, its closer to half a second. Then you add in all the overland overhead to and from the pacfic coast. You're very quickly looking at a full second latency. Make that 2 way, and you have to transit 'space' twice. Also knowing satellite isps, Their actual connectivity SUCKS. On top of that, add in some clouds, weather, and your latency wouldnt suprise me at over 1500ms - If you have any connectivity at all.

make sense?

[Lt. Dan]

Thanks Packet...now my head hurts...lol...

[Trahn_Lee_Liao]

Thanks... Okay, Question number 2... (Wife really loves this house. GOD HELP ME!)

What about Cellular? There is a Cell Tower within 2000 or so feet of the house.. 1/4 mile at best. Now, I don't think there is any wireless internet companies around Danville, Indiana (Let alone the West Side of Indianapolis - I am going to search and see..).

Anyway, I think at one time someone told me they played BF42 through a connection they established through their Cell phone? Is this even possible or was I misunderstanding him?? Anyone know about this aspect?

Worst case, If the Wife REALLY has to have this house, I go back to Dialup and maybe set up a dual isp line for inbound and outbound using two modems.. It supposedly can be done. I've never tried it, but have been told about it. Might even be able to set up the download side on satellite and upload side on phone modem...

Nothing is etched in stone here yet. We've got an offer on our house, based on the party buying our house selling theirs. It may not even happen before the contract expires. Anyway, I am just trying to see what options I have. DSL through SBC is not available at the location either.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[Packetloss]

Cell is dialup. Would be expensive. What about 128k dedicated ISDN?

that would be a ~13kB/s dedicated line.

[Trahn_Lee_Liao]

Never thought about that avenue Packet. Who or where would I find some information on who might offer that in my area? I live in Avon now and would be moving to Danville..Its a Suburb 10mi west of Indianapolis.

I assume the service is through the phone line.. so who would be an isp carrier in my area?? Is that an AOL or Yahoo deal? There is no DSL that I am aware of.

Hmmmm.... If I could get the ISDN and game on that...and get a Satellite connection for browsing/downloading....I might be able to stomach the house. (Wife really likes the location and the house....I do too, just don't like the fact there is no CABLE)

The reason I thought Cellular... I didn't know if the Cellular companies offered better connection speed than say a normal dialup provider at 56K. With some Cellular plans, you can get unlimited minutes at any time of the day, week, etc. Therefore, cost would'nt be that bad.

[Gumby!!!]

I was talking with Verizon the other day and supposedly before the end of the year they'll have broadband available over you cell phone in the top 500 peak usage areas and by the end of next year it'll be available everywhere they have service. The guy assured me you could get as good of a connection as your general DSL, but who knows. They already offer internet connectivity with their phones they said that would get you a 60-80Kb. Don't know if any of it's true or not though.