Hi I live in an area wer highspeed is not provided. One of the providers about a week ago came out with a "total internet essential" package which is the best I can get at the moment.

I was wondering if I can run XBOX Live with a 500kbs upload speed and 1meg download speed.



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also a related side question, if you live in the boonies would the speeds be more consistent than in the city due to less population/traffic?

ie. if all of downtown toronto's population (millions) was on the internet at the same time and a 10meg feed fell to 3megs.... would my boonie town of 5000 people online at the same time have the same affect or is that not a significant amount to cause network speeds to fall drastic like that.


Im asking because I dont want my 1meg upload speed to really be like 300kbs.

It's really not the bandwith that you need to worry about, latency is much much more important!

If you can ping popular sites like google and yahoo in the 30-80 range you should be good to game.

Yes, you should be able to get decent performance with those speeds (the upload is the most critical though), however like you said, the key is if that quoted speed is the ACTUAL speed. With my DLS, I get exactly what they told me Id get.

Is this "Total Essential" package a satellite internet deal? If so, forget about it. The ping times will be horrendous.

What's the actual service you're looking at - DSL, cable, etc?

I have the cheapest DSL service available, 768k downloads, who knows what uploads. That's the theoretical speed. File downloads seem to actually only be ~100k, though those DSL test sites report more like 500k.

It works just fine for gaming on Live, though it did take about 16 hours to download a high def movie :eek:

As for other people, I think this depends on what service you have. I believe cable is affected by local traffic, but I don't believe DSL or fiber optic is.

jeff

What's the actual service you're looking at - DSL, cable, etc?

I have the cheapest DSL service available, 768k downloads, who knows what uploads. That's the theoretical speed. File downloads seem to actually only be ~100k, though those DSL test sites report more like 500k.

It works just fine for gaming on Live, though it did take about 16 hours to download a high def movie :eek:

As for other people, I think this depends on what service you have. I believe cable is affected by local traffic, but I don't believe DSL or fiber optic is.

jeff

It is a high speed phone line (so DSL I assume).
Its not satelite... I did the research and know its unplayable due to sending the signal to space and back take 2-3 seconds.

That bandwith is even enough to host on many games, as long as latency is decent you will be fine.

It will work. But downloading stuff will take a lot of time. My friend has about the same speed and we play on-line together all the time.

That's a pretty decent upload. Usually the d/l vs. u/l is more disparate.

I get 10 down and 1 up here with Charter.

LOL, 500k up. Nice upload but don't try to download anything huge with that download. But you're fine for Xbox Live. Jesus, I had to pay extra to go from 340k to 720k. Thanks to Comcrapstic.

You will be fine. A buddy of mine who travels a lot goes to this one hotel that only has a 512k partial T1 connection and never has a problem.

Yep, you should be fine. CHeck your ping with speedtest.net when you get hooked up just to make sure, but DSL is often pretty good for gaming. Agreed on the download speeds though, it'll take awhile to download stuff! I was in heaven when I switched from 1.5MBPS cable (that often ran slower) to a 6.0MBps DSL. Those game demo's took no time at all.

As long as we're on this topic. How about a friend I know has 2 xbox 360's and has a 1.5mbps down and a 256k up. According to xbox live its 128k minimum...so it should work(how great is another story). What do you guys think?

when i do check my ping what should it be at? whats the good to bad range?

Ive had phone line up until now so 6hrs for a demo is fine by me.

when i do check my ping what should it be at? whats the good to bad range?

Ive had phone line up until now so 6hrs for a demo is fine by me.

Less than 150ms - playable, but a tad laggy
Less than 100ms - good
Less than 50ms - great
Less than 20ms - GODLIKE!! :D

Okay Now there is another problem.

If I am on a wireless network.....is that going to be worse?

Because I either have to buy my moms computer a wireless card and make her use wireless or I have to buy myself a wireless network adapter for xbox and use it myself.

what would you guys do?

Did anyone read that article on the main page of AVS about Comcasts new "Wideband" internet? 50 Mbps!!!! 5 Mbps upload!!! They say it will take about 10 min. to download an HD movie. Just another reason why I firmly believe the whole format war was a joke and download is the future. With a huge harddrive, and speeds like that, Id have no problem downloading all my movies.

Its coming.

I was thinking along similar lines. Except forget d/l, you could start to stream HD video at that kind of bandwidth.

Did anyone read that article on the main page of AVS about Comcasts new "Wideband" internet? 50 Mbps!!!! 5 Mbps upload!!! They say it will take about 10 min. to download an HD movie. Just another reason why I firmly believe the whole format war was a joke and download is the future. With a huge harddrive, and speeds like that, Id have no problem downloading all my movies.

Its coming.


Their internet already cost me 70 bucks just for 8 down and 700k up. So this should be reaaaaaaaaaaaal affordable. /sarcasm


EDIT: LOL, it cost 150 bucks. Comcrapstic can keep it.

Their internet already cost me 70 bucks just for 8 down and 700k up. So this should be reaaaaaaaaaaaal affordable. /sarcasm


EDIT: LOL, it cost 150 bucks. Comcrapstic can keep it.

Agreed, but at SOME point its going to be the "regular" connection......for 70 bucks, haha. Yeah, I find it hard to believe that they expect people to pay double for this service. Id love to see what the real added costs for them, if any, for upgrading lines to the speed.

768up
6016down

low ping and no problems here. $30 a month. FIOS is coming and i can't wait. hell i would cancel my satalite if i could get some huge speeds.

FIOS kills all. LOL

Their internet already cost me 70 bucks just for 8 down and 700k up. So this should be reaaaaaaaaaaaal affordable. /sarcasm


EDIT: LOL, it cost 150 bucks. Comcrapstic can keep it.

You lucky bastards. :p
I wish i could pay $150 for that kind of speed. Im currently payin $135 for 2m up/down.... with no cable or phone. You Americans have it good. :)

As long as we're on this topic. How about a friend I know has 2 xbox 360's and has a 1.5mbps down and a 256k up. According to xbox live its 128k minimum...so it should work(how great is another story). What do you guys think?

Two 360's on that should be fine. I had 1.5Mbps down 768Kbps up DSL and have run at least 5 or 6 360s before. Performance will degrade a bit with both systems on that connection but it should still be solidly in the playable range of performance.

Okay Now there is another problem.

If I am on a wireless network.....is that going to be worse?

Because I either have to buy my moms computer a wireless card and make her use wireless or I have to buy myself a wireless network adapter for xbox and use it myself.

what would you guys do?

That depends.

If you take your 360 other places very often for LAN parties or to play at friends houses get the wireless adapter. I have one and the time saved in an easy setup at various locations is great.

If you will keep your 360 in the same location most of the time get a wired connection and buy the computer a wireless card. It will be much cheaper to buy a computer wifi card instead of the 360 adapter and the wired connection will give better performance. I have tested with the same router (d-link 655) and 360s that are side by side wired and wireless at the same time, and wired gives noticeably better performance.

Agreed, but at SOME point its going to be the "regular" connection......for 70 bucks, haha. Yeah, I find it hard to believe that they expect people to pay double for this service. Id love to see what the real added costs for them, if any, for upgrading lines to the speed.

what *I* find hard to believe is that he is paying 70 a month in the first place, considering normal price is 45.95 for 6/1 or 6/384 depending on the area (that is if you lease a modem) and 55.95 for 16/2 or 8/1 (also depending on the area). The price is fairly standard across the country for their services. 70 a month sounds like a crock to me.

what *I* find hard to believe is that he is paying 70 a month in the first place, considering normal price is 45.95 for 6/1 or 6/384 depending on the area (that is if you lease a modem) and 55.95 for 16/2 or 8/1 (also depending on the area). The price is fairly standard across the country for their services. 70 a month sounds like a crock to me.

I only have cable modem through Comcast so it costs more ~$60 a month.

29,000 kbps down
1,500 kbps up

I only have cable modem through Comcast so it costs more ~$60 a month.

29,000 kbps down
1,500 kbps up

By all means, go here and post your results of the image here. Never heard of Comcast having a speed like that muchless for 60 bucks.

www.speedtest.net

what *I* find hard to believe is that he is paying 70 a month in the first place, considering normal price is 45.95 for 6/1 or 6/384 depending on the area (that is if you lease a modem) and 55.95 for 16/2 or 8/1 (also depending on the area). The price is fairly standard across the country for their services. 70 a month sounds like a crock to me.

No crock kid. I speaketh the truth.

Internet = 59.95
Modem = 3.00
Tax = 4.10
__________________

Total = 66.05 rounded up 70/month

That's nuts, I'm guessing the 59.95 is due to no cable tv at all, basic is usually under 12.50, wouldn't it cost you less to just have basic cable and internet at that point.

That's nuts, I'm guessing the 59.95 is due to no cable tv at all, basic is usually under 12.50, wouldn't it cost you less to just have basic cable and internet at that point.

If you're talking to me I have more than just basic cable. I have 2 HD-DVR's and internet. They already get 180/month out of me. NO MORE!!!

FIOS kills all. LOL

And most of us want to kill Verizon for never having any plans to bring FIOS us, even in obvious areas like the Silicon Valley. :mad:

If you're talking to me I have more than just basic cable. I have 2 HD-DVR's and internet. They already get 180/month out of me. NO MORE!!!

Hmmm 59.95 for internet is a price you'd pay without cable tv usually, the standard price is 42.95 with cable across the company, I'd call and ask them why you're paying more.

And most of us want to kill Verizon for never having any plans to bring FIOS us, even in obvious areas like the Silicon Valley. :mad: I am no where near Silicon Valley.

By all means, go here and post your results of the image here. Never heard of Comcast having a speed like that muchless for 60 bucks.

www.speedtest.net

http://www.speedtest.net/result/255761271.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

http://www.speedtest.net/result/255761271.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

LOL, WTF. Let me guess, you pay less than 50 bucks for that too?

Hmmm 59.95 for internet is a price you'd pay without cable tv usually, the standard price is 42.95 with cable across the company, I'd call and ask them why you're paying more.

I don't have the basic service of their internet. I have the highest one you can get that's below Buisness Class. There's 3 different Classes for Consumers.

Lowest is 768k/256k
Second is 6meg/384k
Highest is 8meg/1meg

Here's what I'm getting...
http://www.speedtest.net/result/257344184.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I don't have the basic service of their internet. I have the highest one you can get that's below Buisness Class. There's 3 different Classes for Consumers.

Lowest is 768k/256k
Second is 6meg/384k
Highest is 8meg/1meg

Comcast is a joke to me now. When they were @home they had REAL business services. Static IP's, run your own servers, etc. etc. But then when Comcast bought them they started taking more and more away and the service started to suffer. Constant outtages and reduced services for more $$$ made me go bye-bye long ago.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/257529656.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

My 52.95 a month connection. +3bucks for the modem. No taxes on internet in PA.

Why are you people leasing modems? You can buy one for $50 or so. You quickly reach break-even on it.

Why are you people leasing modems? You can buy one for $50 or so. You quickly reach break-even on it.

LOL, I bought one 2 yrs ago for that very purpose. But never got around to doing it and just forgot about having it.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/257529656.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

My 52.95 a month connection. +3bucks for the modem. No taxes on internet in PA.

Yeah, I don't get how some people get these way out of the norm connection speeds. I wished I was one of the lucky few.

I usually only get around 20-24k that was the best reading I ever got =) but still, I usually hit 2 megabytes per second download speeds if the server I'm downloading from has the connection capacity.