disclaimer : the following instructions have been tested and any links I post are verified, but I in no way shape or form take responsibility for anything you happen to break using it ( if its even possible to )

( ALWAYS scan any files downloaded from the net with a anti-virus program )

The program I usually use for online games is pingplotter. You can download it from here . Which version you download is up to you, the freeware version is proberbly the most simple, and it does what you need from it.

This program does not actually " fix " anything on its own, but merely an informational tool which tells you your latency to online servers. For example if I am having a game of CS ( or insert game here ] I can use this program to run a detailed trace which will list all the hops between my LAN at home/work, to the game server i wish to play on.

The same can be said for checking my lag in ultima online when i play here.

• Run pingplotter
• In the " address to trace " window enter the following : server.uo.burstfire.net
• be sure to leave a decent Trace Delay, and set the Amount of times to trace to 5 or 10. ( for example 5 tracers with a 30 second delay would be fine )
• Press Trace

If you did it correctly you'll see something similar to this but including your own servers and so on...

Target Name: server.uo.burstfire.net
IP: 82.136.3.37
Date/Time: 13/01/2004 19:05:07

1 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms *edited ( my own ip )*
2 9 ms 7 ms 8 ms 9 ms 8 ms [10.30.128.1]
3 116 ms 8 ms 8 ms 7 ms 8 ms gsr01-se.blueyonder.co.uk [62.31.224.161]
4 8 ms 8 ms 8 ms 8 ms 8 ms [172.18.8.61]
5 11 ms 11 ms 11 ms 10 ms 12 ms [194.117.136.118]
6 16 ms 12 ms 12 ms 12 ms 15 ms burstfire-telewest-pvtpeer.burstfire.net.uk [194.117.147.86]
7 24 ms 14 ms 12 ms 11 ms * [82.136.3.37]

The abose is a typical example of my ping to the server. It also tell's me if theres any packetloss along the way, and if there is lag what the actual source is. ( in this case its the 3rd hop which seems a little laggy, maybe my neighbours downloading pr0n )

The information this program gives you can help you determine if you are really suffering from " shard lag " or if its your own isp that needs to pull their finger out and sort your connection. Remember if you do find you are lagging on the final hops, to give it some time, due to the amount of people constantly connecting it's bound to occasionly spike.

Hope this helps.

http://winmtr.sourceforge.net/winmtr_bin.zip

use this instead of pingplotter, gives more useful info, for Burstfire Staff to help out

It could also be a adware problem or a internal windows configuracion problem.

Use one or 2 adware removal programs (I use Ad-aware SE and a firewall with the capability to remove adware. I use Armor2net Personal Firewall).

If the problem is not solved try a internet acelerator.
Some times restoring the internet connection to windows defaults solves it.

Scan your computer for Virus ( If you see your modem light blinking constantly and you know there is nothing using the internet on your PC always suspect a Virus or Worm)

If u dont wish download a program for tracerouter, u can use MsDos. Under Xp systems go to Start/Run and write "command" or "cmd" a MsDos window will pop up type /ping server.uo.burstfire.net

Tracing route to server.uo.burstfire.net [82.136.1.11]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 28 ms 15 ms 15 ms 192.168.168.*
2 16 ms 15 ms 17 ms 192.168.201.*
3 17 ms 15 ms 15 ms 217.15.*.*
4 16 ms 15 ms 15 ms 217.15.*.*
5 18 ms 17 ms 15 ms ge1-15.73-1.datastream.com.mt [217.15.97.70]
6 24 ms 23 ms 28 ms pal5-maltacom-4-mt.pal.seabone.net [195.22.218.1
21]
7 69 ms 71 ms 71 ms linx-lon1-racc1.lon.seabone.net [195.22.209.109]

8 68 ms 69 ms 68 ms GigabitEthernet5-0.linx2.lon1.level3.net [195.66
.226.77]
9 69 ms 68 ms 69 ms so-1-2-0.gar2.London1.Level3.net [212.113.0.118]

10 216 ms 202 ms 71 ms so-6-0.metro1-londencyh00.London1.Level3.net [21
2.113.3.30]
11 72 ms 69 ms 71 ms ge-3-5-146-cr1.sov.as9153.net [80.253.125.118]
12 71 ms 73 ms 71 ms 82.136.1.11

Trace complete.