What's up with the lag spikes?

[Maureen Boccaccio]

I'd say about two weeks ago, I started experiencing serious lag spikes.  They are occurring every 10-15 minutes, for about 2 minutes.

I'm at work, so I don't have my computer specs with me, but  I haven't changed anything on my desktop PC; eg., .nothing new installed..etc. etc.

Last night, while inworld, I pulled up the stats window to check the ping rate.  When all was well, it was around...120-130.  But when the lag spikes hit...it was up to 2000-2500!  :smileysurprised:

It's not just happening at home (estate land)...but when I am out and about in SL.

I know this isn't much to go on, but...any suggestions?

I should note that I don't have any connectivity issues while navigating from webpage to webpage  - which is often what I've ended up doing during the periods of lag.  :(

Thanks!

[Rolig Loon]

When that happens to me (very rarely), it's because my ISP has been messing with something.  I had lag issues in mid-summer, tore my hair out for a while, and then learned that my ISP had been replacing a bank of servers all week.  I haven't had any trouble since.  If you have done all the normal stuff on your own system (rebooting your router, getting off wireless, checking firewall settings, being sure that your antivirus program isn't scanning every blessed file that enters your texture cache, .....), then give your ISP a call. 

[Peggy Paperdoll]

One other thing in addition to Rolig's comments and suggestions.  If you are using a router, even if you are connected with an Ethernet cable (Cat 5e), your router is still recieving wireless signals.  A router is, by default, normally wide open to connecting any wireless device or gadget that is close enough (I say "normally" because I know of one router that is not defaulted that way.........a Vizio router.  It's locked down by default and you must enter a passcode to connect to it).  If you haven't locked down your router you should.  Your manual will tell you how.........or you can call your router's tech support (my experience with router manufacturers has been that they are more than happy to walk you through any setup issue).  Some piggybacking on your connection can cause all sorts of problems.....using excessive bandwidth that you are paying for, downloading less than desirable content such as kiddie porn and you are identified as the one who is doing it, conducting cyber attacks against some domain (or even government services)..........it can be pretty scary besides causing your connections to fluctuate wildly.

[PeterCanessa Oh]

The nature of the ping program is that it shows you how performance is across the internet.  Bad ping (latency as people keep telling me I have to call it) = bad internet connection.

Unfortunately it could be anything all the way from your machine to LL's and back again.

And it could be something different for the next packet of data. :-(  Apart from checking the network at your end there's really nothing that you can do about it.