Should I...?

Games Other Halo
1

So, recently I’ve been upgrading my stuff so I can get a better experience playing Halo 4.

And I have some doubts, that I hope you can help me.

Audio
Recently I bought a headset for the Xbox 360, this one: Tritton Detonator, I know they’re “stereo”. (And they’re pretty good, save my problem with the microphone)
So, I have the doubt if I should change in setting (in my 360) the audio output to “Dolby Digital 5.1” or let it in “Stereo”, basically.
With this headset, should I keep my audio setting in Stereo, or change it to Dolby Digital 5.1
(Also, do I really miss audio quality? Besides the 3D thing of the 7.1 headsets?)

Internet
That is one of the things I really like I could change (today, actually). I’m mexican, so I’m doomed to bad connection (and bad English…) but I tried to update my internet. I have until today the internet of the IPS that have like 70% of the clients, its slower and significant more expensive, but because of this ISP has a huge networks, it doesn’t have issues in peak hours, or disconnections. So, is slower, but stable.

So, I changed (paying the same) to the competence, hoping that the fact that my city is about 800k people, it doesn’t have the same issues that is well know for in big cities.

I used to have this:
Old ISP

Now I have this:
New ISP

I know is still below what you will recomend, specially the upload. But I think now I really fill the minimum requeriments. (particularly, the ping. With the old connection, I used to have 200-250 ms of ping; because those results are from test did with wired connections)

So I need to upgrade my internet, or its fine, just try to don’t be host?

Honestly, I’m just happy that now I can stream in HD(in Waypoint). That means I can enjoy the extended Forward Unto Dawn that comes with the Limited Edition.

2

those Tritons you checked out were nice but if you go to gamestop.com they have halo 4 headsets that are really sick you should check it out.

here you go

3

49ms ping?

That’s a lot. I’d be making a large attempt to fix that if I were you.

4

Oh man…

If you have some spare money, I’d start upgrading. If you don’t have spare money, I’d start saving up.

First off, your audio. Yes, you are missing out by limiting yourself to Stereo (2.1, Left & Right sound). You could try getting a high-end headset that will provide you with 7.1 audio. It’s like having 7 speakers around you instead of just two. You’ll be able to pinpoint sounds much easier, and have a much richer sound quality.

Halo Reach did not provide Dolby Digital sound, so you could get by with the headset you have. However, Halo 4 should have top-of-the-line sound quality, and you’re only hurting yourself by not allowing yourself to experience it.

Now, onto your connection. I dont even know if you could even connect to Xbox LIVE with your old connection. However, your new connection is just barely making it man. If anyone else does anything on your network, you are going to lag. You’re going to lag anyways. Best thing you can do in this situation is upgrade to a different ISP (Internet Service Provider) or see if your ISP has a higher data plan. Second, look into upgrading your equipment.

For more information on how to improve your connection, take a look at my thread:

How To Improve YOUR Connection & Open NAT

Feel free to ask any questions there.

5

> those Tritons you checked out were nice but if you go to gamestop.com they have halo 4 headsets that are really sick you should check it out.
>
>
>
> here you go

You forgot the fact that I’m in Mexico, and Gamestop don’t have global shipping(or they have?)

Also, I have already bought the headset. So no need to buy another set right now… besides, I would try to save money for the 7.1 in any case…

6

> Oh man…
>
> If you have some spare money, I’d start upgrading. If you don’t have spare money, I’d start saving up.
>
> First off, your audio. Yes, you are missing out by limiting yourself to Stereo (2.1, Left & Right sound). You could try getting a high-end headset that will provide you with 7.1 audio. It’s like having 7 speakers around you instead of just two. You’ll be able to pinpoint sounds much easier, and have a much richer sound quality.
>
> Halo Reach did not provide Dolby Digital sound, so you could get by with the headset you have. However, Halo 4 should have top-of-the-line sound quality, and you’re only hurting yourself by not allowing yourself to experience it.
>
> Now, onto your connection. <mark>I dont even know if you could even connect to Xbox LIVE with your old connection.</mark> However, your new connection is just barely making it man. If anyone else does anything on your network, you are going to lag. You’re going to lag anyways. Best thing you can do in this situation is upgrade to a different ISP (Internet Service Provider) or see if your ISP has a higher data plan. Second, look into upgrading your equipment.
>
> For more information on how to improve your connection, take a look at my thread:
>
> How To Improve YOUR Connection & Open NAT
>
> Feel free to ask any questions there.

Well, suprising I almost never had lag issues. And I started playing in Live when the top connection was 512 kbps… (30 minutes for download 100 Mb…)

Right now, my only problem is that the new IPS have moderate NAT, I’ll call to support (I hope I get someone that actually know what NAT is…) because this ISP have static IP, and restricts access to P2P, including Live. (I really hope I get them to open my NAT)

7

> So, recently I’ve been upgrading my stuff so I can get a better experience playing Halo 4.
>
> And I have some doubts, that I hope you can help me.
>
> Audio
> Recently I bought a headset for the Xbox 360, this one: Tritton Detonator, I know they’re “stereo”. (And they’re pretty good, save my problem with the microphone)
> <mark>So, I have the doubt if I should change in setting (in my 360) the audio output to “Dolby Digital 5.1” or let it in “Stereo”, basically.</mark>
> With this headset, should I keep my audio setting in Stereo, or change it to Dolby Digital 5.1
> (Also, do I really miss audio quality? Besides the 3D thing of the 7.1 headsets?)
>
> Internet
> That is one of the things I really like I could change (today, actually). I’m mexican, so I’m doomed to bad connection (and bad English…) but I tried to update my internet. I have until today the internet of the IPS that have like 70% of the clients, its slower and significant more expensive, but because of this ISP has a huge networks, it doesn’t have issues in peak hours, or disconnections. So, is slower, but stable.
>
> So, I changed (paying the same) to the competence, hoping that the fact that my city is about 800k people, it doesn’t have the same issues that is well know for in big cities.
>
> I used to have this:
> Old ISP
>
> Now I have this:
> New ISP
>
> I know is still below what you will recomend, specially the upload. But I think now I really fill the minimum requeriments. (particularly, the ping. With the old connection, I used to have 200-250 ms of ping; because those results are from test did with wired connections)
>
> So I need to upgrade my internet, or its fine, just try to don’t be host?
>
> Honestly, I’m just happy that now I can stream in HD(in Waypoint). That means I can enjoy the extended Forward Unto Dawn that comes with the Limited Edition.

Stereo will sound MUCH better than Dolby Digital if you don’t have surround sound speakers/headset. If you set it to Dolby it will try to put audio in places it can’t therefore you lose quality. If you DO have surround sound in some form then for the love of all that is holy, use Dolby Digital

8

> Stereo will sound MUCH better than Dolby Digital if you don’t have surround sound speakers/headset. If you set it to Dolby it will try to put audio in places it can’t therefore you lose quality. <mark>If you DO have surround sound in some form</mark> then for the love of all that is holy, use Dolby Digital

You for any chance know if my headset do or not have that?

9

> > Stereo will sound MUCH better than Dolby Digital if you don’t have surround sound speakers/headset. If you set it to Dolby it will try to put audio in places it can’t therefore you lose quality. <mark>If you DO have surround sound in some form</mark> then for the love of all that is holy, use Dolby Digital
>
> You for any chance know if my headset do or not have that?

Nope, sorry. Looks like the Detonator is a stereo headset, honestly it’s fine though, don’t go spending money on a new headset you need to kill that ping

10

> those Tritons you checked out were nice but if you go to gamestop.com they have halo 4 headsets that are really sick you should check it out.
>
> here you go

I like them, but a tad pricey. I have the other wireless Trittons that are boss (CLICK HERE).

11

OP: Could you elaborate on your network? As far as hardware on your side of the equation. Modem, router, etc. How do you have your Xbox set up? Wireless, wired? Direct to modem through a router?

Edit: Also, does your ISP offer tiered bandwidth? Currently, what does your ISP advertise your tier connection? There is a percentage (atleast here in the states) that your ISP is supposed to make sure you are getting. For example. If I have a connection with 10 down 5 up and it isnt within a certain percentage of that, they can install an amp box locally to alleviate the problem. Chances are that you are within the acceptable limit range, so dont get your hopes up on that… But this info would be help me, help you.

12

> OP: Could you elaborate on your network? As far as hardware on your side of the equation. Modem, router, etc. How do you have your Xbox set up? Wireless, wired? Direct to modem through a router?
>
> Edit: Also, does your ISP offer tiered bandwidth? Currently, what does your ISP advertise your tier connection? There is a percentage (atleast here in the states) that your ISP is supposed to make sure you are getting. For example. If I have a connection with 10 down 5 up and it isnt within a certain percentage of that, they can install an amp box locally to alleviate the problem. Chances are that you are within the acceptable limit range, so dont get your hopes up on that… But this info would be help me, help you.

Well, I’m using a wired connection… (About 30 meters of wire) then its conected to a router (since the long cable have ‘false contact’ (sensitive)…) and I then I use the ethernet wire that came with the Xbox.

Something like this:
Made in Paint (lol)

EDIT: Well, I’m not sure about how much download/upload, but overall. They said 4 Mbs. Perhaps like 3.5 download and 0.5 upload…

Also, you have to keep in mind that here in Mexico the ISP (illegally) share connections between users in the 90% of the cases, to keep up to the demand. They also block many of the P2P services, and for some reason, they have Xbox Live in moderate.

13

> > OP: Could you elaborate on your network? As far as hardware on your side of the equation. Modem, router, etc. How do you have your Xbox set up? Wireless, wired? Direct to modem through a router?
> >
> > Edit: Also, does your ISP offer tiered bandwidth? Currently, what does your ISP advertise your tier connection? There is a percentage (atleast here in the states) that your ISP is supposed to make sure you are getting. For example. If I have a connection with 10 down 5 up and it isnt within a certain percentage of that, they can install an amp box locally to alleviate the problem. Chances are that you are within the acceptable limit range, so dont get your hopes up on that… But this info would be help me, help you.
>
> Well, I’m using a wired connection… (About 30 meters of wire) then its conected to a router (since the long cable have ‘false contact’ (sensitive)…) and I then I use the ethernet wire that came with the Xbox.
>
> Something like this:
> Made in Paint (lol)
>
> EDIT: Well, I’m not sure about how much download/upload, but overall. They said 4 Mbs. Perhaps like 3.5 download and 0.5 upload…
>
> Also, you have to keep in mind that here in Mexico the ISP (illegally) share connections between users in the 90% of the cases, to keep up to the demand. They also block many of the P2P services, and for some reason, they have Xbox Live in moderate.

Right on, I was actually looking for more specifics on the hardware of your modem and router. (Make and model) But really wouldnt make that dramatic of a difference either way. Someone posted above a link on opening NAT, I didnt check the link so dont know how indepth that guide goes. But there are a few things you could try.

  1. Dealing with that NAT issue as others have mentioned.
  2. Although not necessarily required since most routers dont block the XBL ports, you could allow port forwarding on the xbox live ports
    3.Some dont like to go for this approach but setting up a DMZ is always an option
    4.If money means nothing to you, you can go for a really solid router, tailored for online gaming.
    5.Call your ISP and complain, but I have this odd feeling that they wouldn’t care.

Im sure there are others who can give you way more detailed info and some other tips but this is all just off the top of my head. Good luck.