I Hereby Declare Globe Superstick Totally Useless for Online Gaming!

My relationship with my Globe Superstick has been in a downhill lately. At first it was pretty decent, with download rates reaching maximum during off peak hours and more or less 50% otherwise. But now, I'm lucky if I could maintain a 3 Mbps average, which is even below 50% of my subscribed speed. The average I could get right now is a little over 2 Mbps during peak hours. Honestly, I can live with that, I don't really do too much downloading or HD streaming lately that I will need the full 7 Mbps speed that I've subscribed to. However, it seems like my speed is getting worse and worse by the day, and now my Globe Superstick is completely useless for online gaming.

Yes, I posted some tips recently on how to improve your connection for online gaming but the thing is it's very hard to find that time of the day with optimal connection that will let you play as smoothly as possible. I also said that I could still use it during weekdays when network traffic is pretty low but lately I've been trying every morning to no avail. And even if I succeed on connecting to one of the servers in Battlefield 3, I get kicked out of it after a few seconds. The connection is very very unstable and it's frustrating to play knowing that the connection will drop a few moments later. And yeah, I've tried on other online games like Starhawk beta so it's not with the EA servers or the game.

My Superstick is also now useless in my work, I get dropped out of VPN after a few minutes. Conference calls always drop as well, pretty embarassing when I'm talking to a client counterpart from overseas. It could be the same problem with online gaming but I can't really tell what's wrong.

I've exhausted all workarounds that I can think of and maintained a consistently low ping rate but all my efforts were in vain. I've tried asking my friends in Globe but it seems like there's no other way to solve this but to subscribe to a wired connection like DSL, which means I have to terminate my current subscription (I can have both of course but that would be impractical and costly).

I've weighed my options and thought about it if this Superstick subscription is worth keeping but it doesn't help that old subscribers like me are still paying the same subscription price since day 1 (P1299) while newer subscribers can get the same maximum speed for only P999. I asked Globe's Customer Service earlier and they don't allow any downgrades for my subscription, but then again, why downgrade if it's still useless in online gaming and my work?

I asked them about termination fees and since my lock-in period is not yet through, I have to pay P4995 for the device (the ZTE MF60) which I get to keep and P550 for the admin/termination fees. Fair enough I guess.

I'm not saying that Globe 3G is all that bad. I know a lot of people are getting into mobile internet these days and that's probably one of its best selling points - mobility. The idea that you can check your email as well as your Facebook feed anytime anywhere is a great thing, and in the end it all goes down to purpose. If you're always on the go and want to receive your important emails anywhere you are then I highly recommend this. If you're that social network junkie who wants to check your Facebook or Twitter feeds anywhere you go then I highly recommend this. If you want to download HD movies or any large files at high speed rates then I can recommend this to you as well. If you're like me who wants an internet connection to use for competitive online gaming then this is not for you. If only I'm not playing online games...

I will have my subscription cancelled after Holy Week and then subscribe to a DSL connection but the thing is, this device is still with me so I'd probably snap in a prepaid sim or subscribe again to a consumable plan depending on how often I would need to get online remotely. Who knows, once Globe have upgraded the cellsites here in my area to HSPA+ (take note that I'm trying to avoid the term 4G) I might have the interest again to have a postpaid subscription to Globe SuperStick, especially that they released recently a new SuperStick unit, the Huawei E355. But for now, so long Globe SuperStick. Nice knowing ya.

 If you like this post, don't forget to subscribe to my RSS feed.

Read more »

Posted in: disconnection fees,Globe Superstick,internet,online gaming,wireless internet

Playing Battlefield 3 With The Globe Superstick

I know you guys have seen this dreaded message at some point while playing Battlefield 3. It's very very frustrating especially during those clutch situations where the heat of the battle is at its greatest, grenades flying everywhere and you and your team mates are holding your own to protect the objective and then boom - you lose all the points, all the unlocks, all the kills (and deaths) that you've collected and that particular matchup is recorded as a loss. It happened to me a lot of times, and I always felt like throwing my controller out of the window in sheer frustration. 

Lag. It's a game breaking problem that most of us have experienced one way or another and it's not really something that the game devs can completely eliminate, especially if you have a wireless internet connection like myself. And it doesn't help that our ISPs here in the Philippines are subpar compared to other countries. 

When I check the server browser, I used to always get 1 bar ping on every server wherever it is. It really destroys my gameplay because there are a lot of times that I'm sure I hit the guy first, unload my clip but for some reason he manages to turn around and kill me first. There are times that I've used up a full clip of DAO-12 bullets on an enemy and he's still alive. I feel like my bullets take 5 minutes to hit the enemy sometimes and it's very frustrating. Lag also affects the VOIP, and though the poor quality of the PS3 voice chat is already identified as an issue, it becomes more apparent using a wireless connection (note: The VOIP issue has already been fixed in the recent patch). Especially during those peak hours, I can't understand what my squad mates yell at me.


In this article though, I'll teach you how to enable port forwarding on the Globe Superstick to somehow improve the online experience of Battlefield 3. It doesn't completely eliminate the lag, but it greatly minimizes lag during gameplay which in turn improves hit detection and it also lessens disconnections from my experience.  You can also apply this to other online games as well, but the ports that you need to open might be different. In that case, refer to Portforward to check the ports that you need to open in a particular game, or do a Google search. However, this doesn't guarantee that the game will be playable. Tekken 6 is absolutely unplayable online using the Globe Superstick even with the port forwarding enabled.


I must warn you though, don't even attempt to play Battlefield 3 or any online game if you can't even attain a less than 300 ms ping consistently (to check, just type ping -t google.com or any site on your command prompt). You're just gonna get frustrated even more.

The first thing you need to do is to set a static IP address on your PS3. By default, most routers assign dynamic IPs and the Superstick is no exception. It will assign an IP somewhere in the range of 192.168.0.1xx, but will start from the lowest number available, e.g. 192.168.0.101. When a static IP address is assigned to a wi-fi capable device, the router won't know that the device is using that IP address, so it might assign the same IP to another device. Thus, you need to assign a static IP address that you're sure won't be handed out to another device that connects to your Superstick, so choose a higher number to assign to your PS3. Now let's get started.

1. Turn on your PS3, connect to your Superstick through wi-fi then go to Network Settings > Settings and Connection Status List. Write down the IP address that's assigned to your PS3, subnet mask, default router, primary DNS, and secondary DNS as you'll need them later.

2. Go to Network Settings > Internet Connections Settings. Choose Custom for the setting method.

3. Next choose Wireless > Enter Manually. Don't change your SSID and security settings.
4. For IP address setting choose Manual. Now here's the part where you have to set your static IP. After choosing an IP address, just put the same values for Subnet Mask, Default Router and DNS as your settings that you took note of earlier.

5. Just choose automatic for the rest of the settings and save.
6. Ok, now time to configure port forwarding on your Superstick. Open your Superstick dashboard either through Tattoo Superstick icon on your computer or by typing http://192.168.0.1 on your browser.
7. Go to Settings > Firewall > Port Forwarding.
8. Choose Enable for Virtual Server Settings. In the IP Address field, put the static IP that you assigned to your PS3.
9. The ports that you need to configure are in this link. So basically you need to enter 8 rules all in all. Click Apply for each rule that you enter.

Now try to play Battlefield 3. Feel much better now? Again, this does not guarantee that your game will be lag or disconnection free. This is due to certain factors, one of which is the network traffic. There are weekends when I totally can't connect to any server in the server browser until midnight comes, when network traffic is very low. But when your connection allows you to connect, you will feel like you're really playing Battlefield 3.


Above all this though, my best advice to have a better online gaming experience is subscribe to a wired connection because seriously, Globe Superstick or any wireless internet out there sucks chicken ass. DSL is still the most reliable internet connection here in the Philippines.


Take note that all of this testing is with a HSDPA only connection, so given the lower ping rates and higher upload rates of HSPA+, I believe the online gaming experience is gonna change once Globe has rolled out HSPA+ to all cell sites near my place. However, I feel like the improvements of Globe to their internet services is very sluggish. The moment that my Superstick starts receiving HSPA+ signals here in my place I will put it to test immediately to my online games.


Feel free to comment about your experience with the Superstick especially in online gaming. I would love to hear from you.

If you haven't read my reviews for the Globe Tattoo Superstick yet, you can check them out here:

The Globe Tattoo Superstick Review: Device and Interface
The Globe Tattoo Superstick Review: Network Performance and Internet Experience


If you like this post, don't forget to subscribe to my RSS feed.

Read more »

Posted in: Battlefield 3,Globe Superstick,internet,video games

PLDT Fibr: 100 Mbps Fiber Optic Broadband!

PLDT has just rolled out fiber optic broadband technology to select subdivisions in Metro Manila. This new technology (well, new to us but kinda old already in other countries) promises speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Read more »

Posted in: communications,internet,technology

The Globe Tattoo Superstick Review: Network Performance and Internet Experience

 

This is the part 2 of my Globe Superstick review. On this part of the review, I'll talk about what Superstick is all about - the internet experience.

Read more »

Posted in: communications,internet,technology

The Globe Tattoo Superstick Review: Device and Interface

I've been using the Globe Tattoo Superstick Plan 1299 extensively for 3 months now and now I'm gonna write my thoughts so far with this wireless internet connection. I have to split my article though and discuss my review of the device and the online experience separately. In this part, I'll review the Superstick device that Globe has given me, the ZTE MF60.

Read more »

Posted in: communications,internet,technology

Tips On Choosing The Right Broadband Internet For You

A lot of hype are spreading around due to enhancements that our Telcos are doing with their network. The emergence of the term "4G" seems to have boggled people's curiousity and Telcos took advantage of people's ignorance and used it as a marketing strategy - even if they are not really offering what really is to be expected of 4G. Lots of wireless broadband subscription offerings are coming out lately, like Globe's Tonino Lamborghini promising speeds of up to 10 Mbps. Just recently, this news surprised me that Smart is loading their guns with their new Smart Bro Rocket WiFi Plus offering speeds of up to 20 Mbps (albeit the ridiculously expensive pricing scheme). The offerings for wired connection also gets better albeit more expensive. Then, new players have recently joined the competition recently like Wi-Tribe, Sky Broadband, etc.

However, I'll be blatant here - internet services here in the Philippines are still subpar when compared internationally. Most of the wireless internet connections that we have here promises super fast speeds but are very erratic in reality. At one point you can be as high as 10 Mbps but can also be crap like 0.11 Mbps. The same goes with wired connections but to a lesser extent. Telcos here deceivingly use the terms "up to X Mbps" because they can't promise to deliver the promised speed everytime.

At this point, it's too hard to choose a good broadband internet connection that will truly satisfy your needs. ISPs don't offer any trial periods - once you subscribe, you're locked with that ISP for 1 or 2 years. If you're not satisfied, disconnection fees are very expensive, unless you're having issues with it that really affects your browsing experience (e.g. intermittent connection).


So what are the factors that we need to consider in choosing an internet connection we will not regret at the end? Below is a short list of the things you must assess and some recommendations based on subscriber feedback. I may be wrong, so feel free to choose whatever you think is the best. BTW, most of the things I've discussed are based on my experience and feedbacks about ISPs here in the Philippines but the tips here are applicable even for ISPs abroad.

1. Type of User. If you're the type of user who enjoys internet at the comfort of your own home then nothing can replace a wired DSL connection. It is still the best and most reliable broadband internet out there, wireless internet has still long ways to go to match its reliability. However, if you're let's say a full-time blogger, internet shop owner, or online freelancer and your internet connection is your primary source of income then you might want to consider getting a redundant/secondary connection. Yes, it's gonna cost you a lot more, but you'll never know when your primary internet connection will get busted. When that happens, you suffer a lot as you don't know how long it's gonna take for it to restore. I have my Globe DSL knocked out by typhoon Pedring and it's been out of commission for more than 2 weeks now. I could have called Globe and raged on their customer service if I didn't have my Superstick. They promised that I will have a rebate due to this downtime though. So my suggestion? Get a USB broadband stick or wi-fi stick snapped with prepaid internet that you can use in case of emergencies like this.


On the other hand, if you have a laptop and want internet on the go, then wireless internet is for you. Get a USB broadband stick or wi-fi stick that you can bring everywhere. This is my recommendation especially to photography bloggers who travels a lot and updates their blogs with breathtaking photographs of their adventures. Some people just buy smartphones capable of wi-fi tethering which is sharing their smartphone's internet connection with their other wi-fi capable devices. Then they just subscribe to a smartphone internet plan. That's perfectly fine.



2. Location. If you're living in a mountain, or in the middle of the sea, or somewhere far away like Batanes Group of Islands or wherever, you might be left with satellite internet as your only choice. It's self-explanatory. ^__^ Obviously, your location dictates which ISPs you can subscribe to. When I was deciding which ISP to subscribe when I was in Nueva Ecija, my first choice was actually PLDT myDSL. However, they were endlessly telling us to wait till they have collected 200 pending subscribers as they are out of slots already. We've waited for almost a year but to no avail. Later though we found out that one of our neighbors was using Globe DSL and he's pretty satisfied with it so I was like "screw it, I'm getting Globe DSL instead".


In addtion, your location matters so much as ISPs have different performances in different places, especially if you're considering getting a wireless broadband connection. The same is also true with wired connection. My Globe DSL in Nueva Ecija might be very stable and satisfying, but it's unstable in Mandaluyong area especially when it rains (maybe due to flooding). I'm quite satisfied with my Globe Superstick here in Manila, but it was so bad when I took it home in Nueva Ecija. This is probably the most important factor. 


So how do you determine which ISP is the best choice in your location? For wired connection, you ask for feedback from other people in your area of course. You need to ask your neighbor of his choice of wired internet and if he's satisfied with it. You may also want to research in forums and blogs. 


It's a different story when it comes to wireless connection though. Your neighbor might have a very good connection with his 3G wireless internet stick but there's still a chance that you can't have the same satisfaction when you try it in your home especially if your house is a little bit too far from a cellsite or there are obstructions to your line of sight with it. So in this case, you might want to test first if you have acceptable performance in your home. Borrow someone else's USB/Wi-Fi stick or buy one yourself (if you can afford it) and test the connection via prepaid. Test it in every corner of your home, put in your window, kitchen, bedroom, garage, bathroom and check which area your stick can receive the best signal. 



3. Usage. What are you gonna use your internet for? If you're a heavy downloader who wants to get the latest HD movies and porn from torrent and save them on your 2 TB external hard disk then choose an internet with a higher download rate. It doesn't matter if it's wired or wireless as long as the download rate is high, like 2 Mbps or more. If downloading is all that you'll do with your internet then it can be practical to get USB broadband internet postpaid plans like Globe Superstick, Sun Broadband or Smart Bro Plug-it (don't ever get the Smart Bro Rocket!). For as low as 999 you can get as fast as 5 Mbps speed. And it's unlimited! However, before you subscribe test it yourself first. Refer to #1 for tips.


Note: Yes, a lot of people are saying Globe's Superstick plans have bandwidth capping so for the benefit of the doubt I'll confirm this to everyone - postpaid subscriptions don't have bandwidth capping, at least as of now. Bandwidth capping is only applied on prepaid subscribers, so postpaid subs don't need to worry.

The fastest internet that is offered for wired connection as of now is 5 Mbps while in wireless it's 12 Mbps. However, prepare to shell out higher monthly rate if you really would like to get this. 

If you're just a Facebook or Twitter junkie, then I don't think you need an internet connection with monthly rate. Just get prepaid internet or subscribe to a data rate plan, like Smart's Always On and Globe Powersurf plans. These are pretty cheap and most practical for light internet usage.

For seamless video streaming or video calling, get a high bandwidth wired connection that has consistent speeds. A 1 Mbps connection might not be enough. Get at least a 2 Mbps connection. You might need faster speeds if you're streaming HD videos a lot.

For online gaming though, download rate doesn't seem to matter anymore. What matters is upload rate and ping rates so avoid wireless connection as much as possible especially if you're into competitive online gaming. 150 ms ping rate or lower is ideal, 300 ms or higher is pretty shitty in my book. From the feedbacks that I've gathered, PLDT DSL is probably the best for online gaming, with ping rates as low as 50 ms.

4. Pricing and Bundle. Of course, after we take a look at the first few factors mentioned above, we take a look at the price. As the bandwidth gets higher so as the price, so choose carefully based on what you really need. For example, Sky Broadband offers 5 Mbps internet for just P999 but capped at 15 GB. So you have to make an estimate - what are your usual internet activities? Do you download or stream videos a lot? Do you think 15 GB is not enough for you in a month? If you think it's not enough then just get a slower internet plan with a higher bandwidth limitation. If you think you really need the speed then get the unlimited plan for a much more expensive price.

Bundles can also be factor, and this is probably the reason why I am hesitant to subscribe to PLDT myDSL for my apartment. Subscribing to their internet requires you to have a landline as well which is billed separately and I don't really need it. But when it comes to quality of internet service I can say that PLDT is one of the best. To each his own I guess.

5. Customer Service. Hmm. Do you think I really need to discuss each ISPs' standing in this category? I mean there's no contest here - all of them suck! (don't believe me? Try searhing this in google "<insert ISP name here> customer service sucks"). LOL, not really but yeah, there are times that they are not much of help. For the most part, these customer service representatives are not really technical people so all they're gonna say is the "please monitor your connection within 24 hours and just call us back if you still have issues" crap and pass the responsibility to a technical person. However, when the technical person tends to neglect your concern your blame goes to the CSR. Poor CSRs!

Because of this, this factor is of little significance compared to the other factors I've discussed above and of course, we differ in experiences when it comes to dealing with customer service so I can't really give too much when it comes to this category. However, it does help a lot when you have a reliable customer service to depend on in case everything else fails with your internet connection. Just remember that before calling them, make sure that you have done the primary troubleshooting yourself! Exhaust all possible solutions to your internet connection issue. You don't wanna call customer service just to tell you to restart your router to solve your issue, right?

Hmm, that's all I can think of unless you guys can add some more to this list? Let me know in the comments!


If you like this post, don't forget to subscribe to my RSS feed.

Read more »

Posted in: communications,internet,technology

Debunking Misconceptions About Broadband Internet

In one of my previous articles, I've mentioned that I've just subscribed to Globe Tattoo's Superstick plan. Before I discuss the factors that I've considered when I choose Globe Tattoo, let's discuss first some of the common misconceptions about broaband internet and why they are not true at all.

Read more »

Posted in: communications,internet,technology