On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 20:40:35 +0000, Neale D. Hind wrote:
> I've recently installed WiFi cards in our desktop machines at home (one
> running XP Home, the other W98SE) and configured them as an Ad-Hoc
> peer-to-peer network.
>
> Printer and File sharing works fine, but I've noticed with multiplayer
> games (Quake 3 Arena in particular) a problem with network
> interruptions.
>
> What happens is that the non-host computer continuously alternates
> between the "connected" and "no network present" indicators [the latter
> being the unplugged RJ45 picture in Q3A). And I do mean continuously -
> it is a steady 'blink blink blink ..."
>
> Would anyone know if this is typical of WiFi, specific to Quake, or
> indicative of a cock-up in the way I've set up the WiFi peer-to-peer?
>
> Similar problems occurred with "Sacrifice", while multiplayer "No One
> Lives Forever" seemed more robust.
>
> Cable connection is not viable. The WiFi cards are USR5416 (802.11G
> draft compliant) with the latest USR drivers installed.
>
> All suggestions for eliminating the interruptions welcome.
>
> Cheers,
I would look at a few things:
1- rate on the network itself (10/100?? GB???)
2- rate in "Network" in the Quake 3 Setup Menu (should be cable/DSL/LAN)
3- Weak signal or electronic interference. A close radio transmitter,
light dimmers, flourescent lights, aquarium heaters, RF from a leaky
wall-wart or power transformer, open computer cases... All these things
can and do generate enough interference to greatly disrupt a wifi signal
and render great packet loss.
That said, we never had much luck with running games on wifi in general.
Last year a couple of the neighbors tried linking with wifi and it was
hell. They eventually made these "coffee-can" antennas in order to get
them linked reliably, but one still has sporadic interference from an
aquarium heater which causes a lot of corrupted files.
|
Similar Threads
Linear Mode
