If you don't know what FastPath is, read this

[Robscure]

[EDIT: This should be stickied, as it is a valuable tweak that everyone who has ping issues should try]

This is mainly for gamers who want to improve their Ping times, and for anyone seeking to sacrifice download speed for upload speed (the sacrifice is very small, it's mainly for ping, you won't notice a major difference in downloading)

FastPath is a "line profile" for ADSL, you can either be on Interleaved, or FastPath.

To check, goto your modem's/router's configuration (usually accessed by typing in the ip of it, a simple google search of your isp can find it for you.)

Example: for BT Broadband, I type http://192.168.1.254/ in the browser... It pulls up the BT Home Hub page...

1) Click "Advanced"
2) Click "Status"
3) Click "ADSL Line"
4) Click "Details"
5) Scroll down, see "Line Profile:" (It's either set to Interleaved or Fast)

If it is set to Interleave, then call your Service Provider and tell them, "Please permanently switch my line profile from Interleaved to Fast Path"

And it will take anywhere from 24 hours to a week...

The best part, it doesn't cost anything to switch over, they just flip a switch for you. It's FREE.

And you will have anywhere from 5%-100% improved ping times... Some people have gone from 400ms to 125ms, for example...

It's really amazing.

Recommend this to anyone you know who has ADSL and plays games online!

Enjoy!

[Neo_VR]

Do all (eg BTopenworld) broadband ISP's support this?

EDIT: im a retard and just re-read the OP.. so does anyone know if BT can and will do this?

Ta

[LuckyNV]

I gained 1Mbps sync speed and no upload loss with Be* non-interleaved.

Service will differ between ISPs, I raised a ticket (internal message system) with Be* and they answered within an hour.

People MUST be aware that basically it turns off certain error checking, meaning you NEED a good stable connection to begin with, otherwise you'll be disconnecting all over the place.

And yes, I've experienced some dramatic ping reduction, upto 60% drop.

[jimbouk]

Some people have gone from 400ms to 125ms, for example...

400ms ping - wtf! I used to get 300ms with a 28k modem, 200ms with a 56k modem and 60ms with 64k ISDN. The state of the net in this country is really bad if people are happy with a 125ms ping...

[Robscure]

Do all (eg BTopenworld) broadband ISP's support this?

EDIT: im a retard and just re-read the OP.. so does anyone know if BT can and will do this?

Ta

Yes, I have BT, and my gaming was horrible before I switched to Fast Path...

I just called them, gave them the line info and home address (it's even registered in my sister's name, so I told them that, and they still let me change it) and within 48 hours they had me switched.

Make sure you tell them, don't ask them, say "Hello, I'm calling to have you switch my Line Profile permanently from Interleaved to Fast Path, please. Thank you."

But as someone mentioned, it may vary from ISP to ISP, make sure you have a stable connection I suppose...

Test your connection @ http://www.speedtest.net first before you switch... And record your stats, make 3 tests at least so you have a more accurate idea of your connection. Record the Ping, Download, and Upload rates... Then, request to be switched to Fast Path. You just keep logging into your router's settings page and check to see when "Interleave" becomes "Fast", once it does, then manually reset your modem/router, then do speed tests again. You should now see a dramatic improvement in your ping time (ie latency), the lower it is, the better. Your upload speeds may be affected as well. Mine were 260 with interleaving, and now are 350-360, while my download has barely changed if at all... My ping went from being 70-125 to now 50-70.... my BT just sucks lol

I can't wait to get be*

If for some reason switching to fast path causes you problems, then just call and have them switch you back to interleave.

Good luck

[Neo_VR]

Cheers.. ill give that a try then.. altho it means ill have to re-connect the HH as i dont think my draytek says what profile its running.

[Robscure]

Cheers.. ill give that a try then.. altho it means ill have to re-connect the HH as i dont think my draytek says what profile its running.

Yeah, I'm not too sure about routers and what-not... I just know that FastPath is a major boost for gamers... BT actually has it on their site... you can search for it, I'm too lazy to dig it up... just google "bt fast path" lol

[Neo_VR]

Just hooked up the HH again and yes im on Interleaved..

Now just need to find the helpdesk number as its not easy navigating thru BT's site

[Jay]

You must remeber that by doing this it removes error correction from the line and can cause a poor line to become unstable and drop. If this is the case you could actually lose speed as your profile with drop you down until its stable.

[Neo_VR]

Well my line is pretty stable. synced at 6.5mb with these stats:
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 11.5 / 19.5
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 19.5 / 19.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 25.0 / 15.0

altho ping has never been very good - between 60-90ms usually

[Neo_VR]

Sorted... after spelling it out to the overseas guy on the other end of the phone it should be off in the next 48 hours..

For future reference, it might be an idea to mention online gaming, as soon as i did they had a better idea what i was talking about

[Robscure]

Sorted... after spelling it out to the overseas guy on the other end of the phone it should be off in the next 48 hours..

For future reference, it might be an idea to mention online gaming, as soon as i did they had a better idea what i was talking about

[edit: Neo, make sure you don't forget to restart your hub when its finally switched to Fast, and record the speed results! Take the test now while interleaved, show us your ping/download/upload speeds from www.speedtest.net and then when you restart your modem after being switched to fast, then take the test again, you should see an improvement in your ping... A more accurate way to measure ping is to goto your command prompt, start > run > cmd.... And type "ping www.google.com" for example... And write the numbers down where it says "Minimum Ping, Average, Max"... it may be 20-50... but if you get fast path then it will be 2-15.... Also, they might turn you back over to interleave automatically with some weird thing, I forget what it is, but I heard about people getting switched back and forth or something, so if that does ever happen then call and tell them to keep you PERMANENTLY on fast... then you will have to call them to change it, as it won't change automatically... But that could be wrong, maybe it doesn't affect you, but I heard about someone complaining about that before so..]

lol yeah if you get caught up with an overseas... I was lucky to have someone who spoke good English and knew what I was talking about right away.

I hope it works for you! I know it did for me...

For example, in World of Warcraft, my ping was 150-300 everywhere... But now it's 50!!! It's really amazing.

I don't think most people have to worry about the "error checking" thing that comes with Interleave... Unless you live out on a farm, I don't know why any city/town connection should be so bad as to not work on Fast Path... But if it doesn't, just ask them to switch it over again. Make sure you write the number down lol

[Neo_VR]

Well my line is pretty stable. synced at 6.5mb with these stats:
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 11.5 / 19.5
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 19.5 / 19.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 25.0 / 15.0

altho ping has never been very good - between 60-90ms usually

Well, just done another test and its been put on... pings to bbc.co.uk are now 18ms compared to around 55-65 that they were before, sync speed has gone up to 7.9mb - COD5 game pings have dropped down from aroud 60-90 to 25-35 and the internet just feels much more responsive

*best_tweak_ever*

[Robscure]

Well, just done another test and its been put on... pings to bbc.co.uk are now 18ms compared to around 55-65 that they were before, sync speed has gone up to 7.9mb - COD5 game pings have dropped down from aroud 60-90 to 25-35 and the internet just feels much more responsive

*best_tweak_ever*

I agree, it is indeed the best internet tweak, possibly best tweak, ever...

Always these "tcp/ip" tweaks that never work, and people even say there's no way to improve your ping... Lies.



Glad it helped you, have fun.

[kalniel]

Fastpath helps me loose 1.6mbps

[LuckyNV]

Fastpath helps me loose 1.6mbps

A side effect is actually a gain in sync speed, for myself I gained about 1.1Mbps sync speed.

only moving to an Annex M connection would you lose some download