High Packet Loss

Up until a couple of weeks ago, the Packet Loss bar was low most of the time. But lately, it has been red most of the time when I move around -- especially in complex areas. Some times I can't even move until the bar drops to green. The network activity is usually low when this happens. What could be causing the packet loss? Thanks in advance!

I've been getting lots of packet loss in the evenings when I'm at home. But I get none when I'm at work. So at least in my case, I'm thinking that the bulk of the problem lies with my ISP. (Comcast)

But, if ghosting is caused by packet loss and not a server-side issue, then there is evidence the loss is closer to Linden Lab's side of things since everyone around a ghosted prim sees it at the same time regardless of ISP or region of the real world.

I have seen high packet loss in the evenings as well. I don't think it is my ISP, because I recently switched from Sprint FastConnect DSL to Cox High Speed Internet. I have seen the packet loss while connected to each ISP.

Are any of you running wireless networks? Cordless phones, microwaves, neighbors, packet sizes, WEP, walls, placement of your laptop, etc... can allow impact wireless networks causing this type of problem.

Might not be the case, but thought I'd mention it.

Packet loss can generally be mitigated by lowering your bandwidth slider in Preferences. And of course, as Dan notes, a wireless network is pretty horrible for using SL. Buy a cable and plug in, if you can.

Actually, I had 802.11b (11Mbps) and upgraded to 802.11g (54Mbs) which all use the same wireless frequency. I never had trouble with the 11b. I get faster downloads from my TimeWarner RoadRunner service (even though 11Mbps is overkill for cable modem). I do have the highest bandwidth selected... I'll try lowering it. Thanks!

I'm sorry, I guess I should've been more precise. Yes, it'll be your wireless LAN that's causing it. Whether it's B or G, or even A, a wireless connection will always suck more than a cable.

I'm seeing that exact problem, and I've got a 100% wired network.

Well, you can make it much, much worse by switching to wireless, Carnildo.

Myself, I get just as much packet loss on my hardlined PC as I do on my wireless Mac.

I've got two connections here, one DSL through internap, and a cable modem that goes through Megapath/Level3.

One of the Level3 hops near LL has been ill-behaved lately... On the internap side I dont have any loss.

Don't know if that's what it is for sure, but ... theres input for you.

I get all kinds of packet loss, all the time.

One thing that seems to help (slightly, not completely) is unchecking the streaming music box. But that doesn't make sense, seeing as it even helps on plots without streaming music.

You may want to try and see if you can do a tracert (windows systems) from the command line to the SL servers.

Judging from the "bad router" list at dslreports.com it seems three of the ones my connection goes through are overloaded or faulty.

http://www.broadbandreports.com/badrouters

Same problem here

I downloaded the WinMT program (it's a traceroute program) from the utilities section here. It couldn't even FIND the server.... at work, it had no problem. (but I don't run SL on my work PC)

Frustrating.

Some Cable/DSL Modem/Routers will sort of... panic, I guess... when faces with a LOT of traffic. Mine does this too. Whether it be SL or another Online game, if the network reaches a certain level of activity the Router will 'panic' and start doing weird things until I reset it.

Yes, it is.

I just ran it (thanks for the tip) and noticed some Loss% on sprintlink.net and pnap.net (last hop before lindenlab.com). Eventually it cascades, i.e. 2-7% occuring at each hop (total of 20), between my router and lindenlabs.com. So, that should eliminate the problem with my wireless networking, right? I thought packet loss went out of style with switched networks?