Has a VPN made a meaningful difference in...

[Noel 4,503]

2 minutes ago, BrianW said:

However not you've introduced a new potential issue in that you'll rely on not only how busy the MSFS servers are, but also how busy the VPN server you're on is.  Also your CPU will be busier because it has to decrypt and extra layer of encryption.

Sounds like this really isn't a good solution for those random times when I get degradation in MSFS performance despite bigtime CPU/GPU headroom.  I think I'll cancel sooner than later so's I don't forget as I don't think they prorate the refund.

Thanks!

[edpatino 1,964]

For what reason would anyone want to hide his real IP address to use MSFS2020?. This could lead to issues regarding license terms, etc. As far as I know Steam has set several conditions for users when they employ a VPN, so, be careful.

[Biggles2010 343]

15 minutes ago, edpatino said:

For what reason would anyone want to hide his real IP address to use MSFS2020?

It's not about hiding the IP address for any nefarious reason. It's about getting around the dubious practice, which many ISPs are suspected of, where they provide full rated speed for their customers when speed tests are being carried out, but deliberately throttle all other downloads to well below the speed being paid for.  This has nothing to do with normal speed variation with high internet loads. It is about ISPs deliberately saving bandwidth to increase profits.

Edited June 21, 2023 by Biggles2010

[edpatino 1,964]

14 minutes ago, Biggles2010 said:

It is about ISPs deliberately saving bandwidth to increase profits.

Until your ISP discovers you... Anyway, good point.

[Fielder 3,680]

In general, a VPN enhances security but degrades performance (internet speed). 

But it's easy to check if the ISP is somehow throttling. Instead of using the popular speed test sites, use the unpopular speed test sites. ISP throttling could  mean a VPN will actually speed up the connection, obviously. 

--------------

I use wifi to connect PC to router, not a cable, so orienting the antenna ears on both the router and on the PC's wifi dongle makes an enormous difference in speeds. Like about double the speed. The PC dongle is not plugged into the PC. The dongle plugs into a wire and the wire plugs into the PC. Such wires are cheap, and can be found on Amazon. 

And then the dongle at the other end of the wire is mounted permanently to the wall, so its antenna ears will not move. I move the ears on the router to match until the speeds are maximized. Verified true in my case that changing the router ears position can double the speed, depending how they are pointed. 

None of this is important if connected to the router by wire. But my PC is far away from the router. On another floor above and at the other end of the house.

 

[BrianW 124]

1 hour ago, Biggles2010 said:

but deliberately throttle all other downloads to well below the speed being paid for

Maybe that's something done elsewhere, but it's not something I've seen.  Someone who exceeds their data limit may be restricted, but it would be that account to all destinations, not specific ones. 

Since Noel was asking about Xfinity I will tell you they have a policy known as settlement free peering, which includes Azure.  This means neither party is charged for any data that goes between the two networks. So again there's no benefit or reason for them to throttle anything.

 

[Noel 4,503]

1 hour ago, BrianW said:

Maybe that's something done elsewhere, but it's not something I've seen.  Someone who exceeds their data limit may be restricted, but it would be that account to all destinations, not specific ones. 

Since Noel was asking about Xfinity I will tell you they have a policy known as settlement free peering, which includes Azure.  This means neither party is charged for any data that goes between the two networks. So again there's no benefit or reason for them to throttle anything.

 

Well that pretty much closes it for me I will cancel and call it a premature foray into an unnecessary expense!  This issue, the primary reason to try this, is probably multifactoral w/ high data usage times of day, high access to MSFS servers, etc.

Cheers

[Sky_Pilot071 580]

I tried the VPN route with my 4G phone with mixed results.  Now that everything is 5G UC all is great (no VPN) with no issues in the past year.  BTW I believe that UC stands for universal coverage,

Also I pay $100 a month for fulltime unlimited data so no more throttling.  Since I travel fulltime phone wireless is my only option.

Cheers

sp

Edited June 21, 2023 by Sky_Pilot071

[stratone 86]

3 hours ago, Sky_Pilot071 said:

I tried the VPN route with my 4G phone with mixed results.  Now that everything is 5G UC all is great (no VPN) with no issues in the past year.  BTW I believe that UC stands for universal coverage,

Also I pay $100 a month for fulltime unlimited data so no more throttling.  Since I travel fulltime phone wireless is my only option.

Cheers

sp

Unlimited data does not mean no throttling .... sorry I have to say this.

Throttling is common. Your provider, VPN, Google Server, Microsoft Azure Server eg. all are or better can do throttling. 

All depends on the general demand and normally not on your personal usage.

Additional, with VPN you have to expect a downgrade of about 20 to 30 % because of the de- and encryption process and to expect more "work" for your CPU. The encyption is the main reason to use VPN, not to speed up your internet .... An advantage of VPN regarding speed can be the ability to choose a server in a different time zone with less demand/access/traffic as long as you can live with higher latency. 

In MSFS you could try a different Azure server if I'm correct. 

Best regards

Detlef

[Sky_Pilot071 580]

2 hours ago, stratone said:

Unlimited data does not mean no throttling .... sorry I have to say this.

Throttling is common. Your provider, VPN, Google Server, Microsoft Azure Server eg. all are or better can do throttling. 

All depends on the general demand and normally not on your personal usage.

Additional, with VPN you have to expect a downgrade of about 20 to 30 % because of the de- and encryption process and to expect more "work" for your CPU. The encyption is the main reason to use VPN, not to speed up your internet .... An advantage of VPN regarding speed can be the ability to choose a server in a different time zone with less demand/access/traffic as long as you can live with higher latency. 

In MSFS you could try a different Azure server if I'm correct. 

Best regards

Detlef

No throttling!  I used to be but now I pay $30 more a month so I'm not.  It is in the contract.

sp