FFXI, another 4001 error questionFollow

OS: Windows XP Home Edition, XP software Firewall disabled
Memory: 1024Mb
Hard Drive space: 54.8 Gb
Processor: P4 1.60 GHz
Graphics Card: GeForce 5600FX XP, 128Mb memory
Diplay Driver: 6.14.0010.5672
DX version: 9.0b
System Info: Compaq Persario, bios ver. 2.06
Sound: Soundmax Digital Audio, Provider: Analog Devices
Sound Driver: 5.12.0001.3620
Router: Linksys BEFW11S4
ISP: Comcast Cable
Frequency of Problem: LD within 20 – 40 minutes since day 1 of play.

Im trying to help a friend solve this LD problem, I have a good workin knowlegde of PC’s and I knew very little of routers until about 6pm (after reading thru many message boards and support pages). I read thru the FFXI General Troubleshooting FAQ, the Linksys Support page and several other message boards (the Play Online board is worthless).

We set up the Router port triggering: FFXI / 50000 ~ 65535 / 50000 ~ 65535 (just the one line) but she still fails on 4001 Error after playing for 20 – 40 minutes. Disconnected the router and tried to run it directly from Cable Modem to PC. She wasn’t able to connect directly, due to the cable not fitting into the network jack in the PC (thought the Cable Modem was an RJ45?), so we’re back to square one. I mentioned she should verify drivers are up to date for the PC, firmware was updated yesterday for the router. I also recommended she have the cable company boost the signal.

So…
Is there anything obvious that I missed?
What router is the best recommended for ease of set up/ use for the newbie router user?

Thank you for ANY help you can offer.

Lauren, it doesn't seem matter what she is doing for the signal to drop off, it happens in FFXI. She can stand in her Mog House, during combat, fishing, just walking around, it just seems to be random. It doesnt drop directly to 0. She can see it coming and lets me know she's going LD. I'll ask her more about how the signal reads whens its happening.

I'll tell her about the ping check utility you mentioned. She has the wireless router but she's running it with a patch cord so nothing is fouling up the signal from the router to her PC.

Kaolian, I asked her to hit the microsoft update yesterday so we'll see if that did anything. She's been having this problem since she started, been playing for about 1 month.

She was playing EQ with this same setup and didn't have disconnect issues (including large raids). Guess EQ is more forgiving than FFXI. I blasted her with questions over this issue trying to figure out if there is a trigger for it.

Thank you for your suggestions!

Edited, Wed Jul 7 10:35:32 2004 by Axieus

Well, after 8 months of being annoyed and frustrated by the inevitable LD, I no longer live in fear of the R0, and can actually play WHM now.
On Saturday, I replaced my Linksys 4-port non-wireless router with a Belkin 4-port wireless 802.11g. Not a single hiccup.
Honestly, it was the last thing I ever thought it'd be... the router had up-to-date firmware, the settings were optimal, etc. Guess it just likes eating packets.
So my reccommendation to anyone having massive sporadic R0 troubles is to borrow a buddy's router for a weekend (if at all possible) and see if that solves it.
For the record, the Belkin is a F5D7230-4, and the Linksys on its way to the landfill was a BEFSR41.
-Nyu

Yeah, the FFXI-4001. . . AKA: Hope You Zoned Recently. . .

Here's my setup:

Comcast Cable Modem connection~

Intranet via two segmented routers (started as one)

one router is connected to the computer and one Playstation 2

The other router is connected solely to the other Playstation 2.
Both Playstation 2 systems receive the same error message (FFXI 4001), but rarely ever receive them at the same time (if they do, then it means POL went down and an additional error will come up (i.e. POL-110 or something similar)).

I've tried switching the routers and receive the same error message.

I'm leasing two IP addresses-- one for each router. The routers are connected to a 4 port switch that in turn connects them to the cable modem.

Both routers are of the "Wireless" variety, with wireless access disabled.

At first I had solely the Linksys BEFW11S4 with updated firmware setup and was experiencing FFXI-4001 error on either PS2. Both PS2s are in the same room and were initially connected to an ancient hub. The hub was removed, and new cabling was connected directly from the router to one of the PS2s temporarily until the same error was experienced over and over and over again.

Next, I replaced the router with the infamous Netgear WGT624 which had the most recent firmware version when I bought it, so I tried it as-is at first, all ports opened, etc., I received the same error. So I updated the firmware. Again, the same thing.

After this, I attempted to connect one PS2 directly to the cable modem and this resolved the issue. However, I'm not going to go through the hassle of doing that *every single time* I want to play FFXI (which is a lot). Not to mention the lack of willingness I would receive from my family when they couldn't check their email, surf the web, or try to sell things on Ebay.

From this point, logic would say that it's obviously something to do with the intranet side of things. :) And I began to think back on my bizillion years of networking school and IT classes and began to analyze both routers for all their similarities.

After making a small list, I came to the realization (duh) that they're both using NAT (Network Address Translation), which I've seen in many instances cause data collisions, and incorrect hostname resolutions.

Thus, I hooked up both the routers, bought a switch, and two IP addresses. Each router is running on one of the addresses and provides access for a segment of the internal network.

Well, guess what? Doing this didn't solve the issue.

Next, I started to keep a log of every piece of information I could write down before the R 0 disappeared and the FFXI-4001 screen popped up.

Sheer randomness. Actually technically, I'm more likely to be disconnected in the evening (Real-Time) on Firesday. Never liked Firesday.

Oh yes, I've also checked my SnR(signal to noise ratio), power level, downstream rate, and logs on my cable modem... the logs had a few errors, but they were consistent and within like a 40 minute window one morning when I probably lost my internet connection but was very fast asleep.

That brings us to the present, in which I'm still disconnected due to FFXI-4001 errors. My last two guesses(?) are that either my upstream bandwidth is too low to support a computer and FFXI on PS2, or even support just FFXI on PS2 (As someone doesn't have to be on another system in order for me to receive the error).

Or

FFXI network and data layers suck. :P


Additionally-- not sure if this occurs with everyone else receiving this error message, but every single time it occurs (and it's not POL crashing) I lose everything I've done since the last time I zoned. This includes: any items gained/lost, exp gained/lost, items used, (or in ballista petra scored). Indeed, I've lost levels due to one FFXI-4001 alone. I make it a habit to zone as much as I possibly can, usually confusing the party when I tell them I'll "BRB" and I book it through Korroloka or Qufim for the nearest zone.

One more thing though, SE should look at this as a serious issue, because if someone figures out how to recreate the error (assuming they haven't already) and they probably have given willingness of people to cheat at a freaking game, then duping will be born and undoubtedly will very quickly destroy what little economy there is left.

Yes, I've contacted technical support, they say it's under the responsiblity of my routers' (yes, either and/or both) manufacturer, which also means in tech support-doublehashspeak that they don't know what the f*** is wrong with it.

Anyhow, if anyone can provide any suggestions on how to fix this, they would be greatly appreciated :)