Bufferbloat from hell

[bacura101]

Hey guys, recently got myself into the worst networking issue I've ever had (and I've had a lot). Bufferbloat, just saying the word makes me cringe. About a week and some ago, out of nowhere, I began to experience these horrible lag spikes in video games. I noticed that the lagspikes were only on my side though, Everything around me worked fine but I couldn't do anything, ran a netalyzer test and found I have 520ms uplink.

Now I've tried everything from Ethernet to QoS to even buying a new d-link router. The only solution i could find was Codel but I can't find the router model it works for anywhere. Just recently I also tried running the netalyzer tests using only my modem and found that i still get the 500+ ms. Could this issue be coming from my ISP? I talked to them about it but either they didn't know what bufferbloat was or they just wanted more money because they tried to shove faster upload speeds down my throat instantly.

I can provide the netalyzer tests if need be, any and all help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[gbb0330]

Hey guys, recently got myself into the worst networking issue I've ever had (and I've had a lot). Bufferbloat, just saying the word makes me cringe. About a week and some ago, out of nowhere, I began to experience these horrible lag spikes in video games. I noticed that the lagspikes were only on my side though, Everything around me worked fine but I couldn't do anything, ran a netalyzer test and found I have 520ms uplink.

Now I've tried everything from Ethernet to QoS to even buying a new d-link router. The only solution i could find was Codel but I can't find the router model it works for anywhere. Just recently I also tried running the netalyzer tests using only my modem and found that i still get the 500+ ms. Could this issue be coming from my ISP? I talked to them about it but either they didn't know what bufferbloat was or they just wanted more money because they tried to shove faster upload speeds down my throat instantly.

I can provide the netalyzer tests if need be, any and all help would be appreciated, thanks!

never heard of bufferbloat, and i've been around long before the internet existed.

 

[bill001g]

netalyzer seems to find bufferbloat everywhere it looks. It is hard to say how accurate it really is.

Generally you will only see the problem if you are exceeding your upload bandwidth. To a point you can fix that with QoS and place limits on other traffic. If you are not exceeding your bandwidth you are pretty much wasting your time talking about bufferbloat. Any of these buffers will be in equipment you can do nothing about. ISP tend to like larger buffers because it tends to make normal web surfing more stable. Even if you were to identify a router that has the problem they likely will tell you they don't care.

Be sure that it really is your problem many other things cause the same symptoms.

 

[bacura101]

netalyzer seems to find bufferbloat everywhere it looks. It is hard to say how accurate it really is.

Generally you will only see the problem if you are exceeding your upload bandwidth. To a point you can fix that with QoS and place limits on other traffic. If you are not exceeding your bandwidth you are pretty much wasting your time talking about bufferbloat. Any of these buffers will be in equipment you can do nothing about. ISP tend to like larger buffers because it tends to make normal web surfing more stable. Even if you were to identify a router that has the problem they likely will tell you they don't care.

Be sure that it really is your problem many other things cause the same symptoms.

I've ran even more tests on different computers, using both a netgear and d-link router, even using just my modem and every time i get 500+ ms uplink and 100-ms downlink. I've tried every diagnostic and searched everywhere and so far everything is pointing towards bufferbloat. If the issue may be something aside ffrom bufferbloat that would cause some relief. Regardless of whether i have other programs running or not while gaming i get horrible upload spikes every 30sec to 1 min and on the rare occasions can go up to 15 min without one. it's completely sporadic.

Called my ISP, he ran several diagnostics and said my internet is fine (1mb^ 3mbv). It didn't help that he didn't know what bufferbloat was. My computer is also brand new and everything works fine, I ran some windows defender scans and it found nothing. Not quite sure what else to do, in the country that I reside my ISP runs a monopoly on cable internet and I really don't want to change to a phone line, fixing this issue is my only hope.

 

[bill001g]

Where do you think the problem is your ISP may not even be able to correct it. The problem with this tool there are a much smaller group of servers. You likely cross between multiple ISP to get to the server unlike something like a speedtest server that you many times will only cross to another ISP in the city that has the server.

What can your ISP possibly do if the problem is say in a router that is owned by a different ISP in the path. In most cases the actual cause of this problem is not the buffer itself it is there is not enough capacity that is causing the data to queue. This is especially true if your problem occurs mostly during prime hours. A good ISP will detect that they are running out of capacity and upgrade it well before, a smaller one or a greedy one will not be willing to spend the money until the issue get very large.

You have already replaced everything you have control over and you likely will never convince the ISP to spend money upgrading their network if it is even in the ISP network and not another ISP.

 

[bacura101]

Where do you think the problem is your ISP may not even be able to correct it. The problem with this tool there are a much smaller group of servers. You likely cross between multiple ISP to get to the server unlike something like a speedtest server that you many times will only cross to another ISP in the city that has the server.

What can your ISP possibly do if the problem is say in a router that is owned by a different ISP in the path. In most cases the actual cause of this problem is not the buffer itself it is there is not enough capacity that is causing the data to queue. This is especially true if your problem occurs mostly during prime hours. A good ISP will detect that they are running out of capacity and upgrade it well before, a smaller one or a greedy one will not be willing to spend the money until the issue get very large.

You have already replaced everything you have control over and you likely will never convince the ISP to spend money upgrading their network if it is even in the ISP network and not another ISP.

But see I've tested other connections with the same ISP in the same area with the same speeds and they don't get the 500+ uplink MS

edit: i suppose my frustration is turning into irrationality, it just sucks to hear that an issue that greatly affects my ability to even use my computer is not fixable, especially considering I don't have any other ISP to choose from and I'll have to continue paying this mediocre company my money.

 

[bacura101]

I've run some further diagnostics and conclude that the issue isn't bufferbloat. I once against contacted my ISP, even going to the office and talking to a technician. They insist on not helping me out. A friend speculated that the issue might be caused by some cables getting wet. I analyzed the cable from the modem all the way to the electric poles and it's perfectly fine. I recently discovered a splitter on my roof. This would be the first of two, i have another one inside splitting to my t.v and modem. I think that splitter on the roof (potentially the fact that it gets wet or just its mere existence) is causing my issue.

Any input is much appreciated. This problem has rendered my connection (as a gamer) useless.

 

[bill001g]

There are a couple good sites you will find that explain db levels in cable modems and what are good and bad levels. It is a rather large amount of info so I will not repeat it here.

What you are looking for on uplink levels is very high transmit levels. This means the cable company equipment has told your modem to transmit at maximum levels because it does not hear it well. Really only the cable company can tell you how good the signal is they receive but it is one of the things the tech guys do understand....maybe not why but they can give you the number most times.

It is common for splitters to cause issues. You need to make sure it is one rated for data (even though HD tv requires good ones too). Most outdoor coax cable ends have rubber washers in them so no water can get in. The old time method was to use heat shrink tubing before they came out with these outdoor connectors.

You should be able to simply unscrew them and inspect them. If water got into them you will see discoloration and dirt. If it is not real bad you can just clean them off. If they do not have rubber seal you can use silicon chalk designed for bathrooms to seal it, only on the outside not inside the connectors. It is messy but it is cheap and easy to do.

The optimum place for a cable modem is the first splitter. Mostly this is because each splitter reduces the level of the signal a tiny bit.

The cable company does have tools to measure db loss even in short cables, but they tend to not want to deal with cables in your house.