Can't connect to POL in the afternoon?

[Gtpod]

Hey.

For some reason I just cannot connect to POL after a certain time of day. In the morning, I get through POL fine, yet I can't get FFXI to load without crashing. In the afternoon, even switching to the POL window in Windows takes a good 4-5 seconds, and the various connections just all time out before I get to the game menus. I've tried repairing through Steam and through POL; the former fixed nothing, the latter times out with POL-1158.

Any ideas why? I doubt it's my PC at fault, because a couple of days ago I was able to play FFXI for a few hours, before I zoned and it crawled to a stop. I doubt it's my internet connection at fault, cause like I say, I did get on that one time.

This is the Steam EU version, with POL Ver. 1.18.00n Any help would be great.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Have you checked your firewall settings on your computer and modem/router maybe a port it needs is closed?

[Falkoner]

Today I have not been able to get onto the game either. I can log into PoL but once I try to load my character I get the Black "Downloading Data" screen but then it never goes anywhere.

[Gtpod]

I don't use a firewall, and since I've been able to connect once before, I can't really see how it'd be a routing problem.

[NightDagger]

I don't use a firewall, and since I've been able to connect once before, I can't really see how it'd be a routing problem.

How long have you been playing the game? You say you logged on "once" before then got black downloading data? I would also check with your ISP as they will block ports that you will need to play. You have to look online for what ports have to be open & call them to get them opened.

[RAIST]

Today I have not been able to get onto the game either. I can log into PoL but once I try to load my character I get the Black "Downloading Data" screen but then it never goes anywhere.

This sounds like an IP is getting blocked or otherwise is unable to reach your PC. This happened to me several updates ago with certain zones. After researching it with netstat and watching my firewall's log, I picked up a new subnet trying to reach my system from the POL domain--firewall was blocking it. Whitelisted the subnet, and the zones started loading again. This may not be your particular problem, but it IS a problem that exists, and the work around is to either whitelist the IP's or subnets, or at the very least direct the port traffic to the gaming device.

If you have a home network with more than one system on it, you may need to have the port traffic for FFXI forwarded to your gaming device--especially if it is not on the main PC/laptop that your ISP is defaulting the passthrough data to go to. I forget the exact port traffic as I just whitelist the subnets instead--but that information is out there, probly Google it easily.

This can be a BIG problem with people on something like cable who also have IP phone from their ISP on the same line--all non-phone traffic may be defaulted to go to a specific PC/Laptop's MAC address. In that scenario, you have to clone that PC/Laptop's MAC address to a router, then set up a forwarding rule to send the FFXI port traffic to your PS2/Xbox/other PC/laptop.

Raist

[Falkoner]

Thanks Raist, I will investigate this

[Nadeu]

Gtpod,

If you are experiencing or seeing any of the following at any point, we do have a few suggestions.
Connecting to/staying connected to the PlayOnline Viewer, FINAL FANTASY XI or Tetra Master, click on your character handle and crash/black screen or get stuck at downloading data screen, click on the character select button crash/black screen or get stuck at downloading data screen, randomly getting kicked out of game, or seeing the lag meter go red, seeing more chop/lag/disconnects around crowed areas, having trouble accessing only a specific zone/zones, having trouble logging in only a specific character/characters, getting any of these errors; 3113, 3100, 4001, 1160,

Suggestions we have
===================
1 a. Check to make sure you have properly configured or turned off any of the following:
Firewall software, Antivirus Software, Parental-Controls, pop-up blocker software, Routers, Proxy Servers, NAT Servers, Internet Connection Sharing services.

1 b. If you are using any kind of software/hardware Internet Sharing service/device the following ports need INCOMING access to your PC. TCP 25, 80, 110, 443 and 50000 - 65535, UDP 53, and 50000 - 65535, also check to make sure that the ports mentioned are not blocked by your ISP for INCOMING access. Proper configuration of any of the above items mentioned should be done by following the instructions in the software /hardware manual or calling the manufacturer's technical support.

2. We recommend turning off any background programs, this should be done using msconfig startup tab:
How-To: Turn off background programs using msconfig.
(Win 98/ME) - Open the start menu and select run, type msconfig and press ok. Select the startup tab and
uncheck everything except for SYSTRAY and scan registry.
(Win 2K/XP) - Open the start menu and select run, type msconfig and press ok. Select the startup tab and choose Disable All.

3. If you are receiving the error FFXI - 3113 - Protocol Timeout Error, ensure that Client for Microsoft Networks is installed in your Windows network properties. If it is installed, you may want to try uninstalling and reinstalling it.

4. If you have had a software firewall program called Zone Alarm by Zone Labs installed on your computer at any point in time - even if it is uninstalled now, you need to reinstall it, turn it on, configure it to allow PlayOnline to access the internet, and leave it active.

Please take note of the following FAQs
======================================
* Proxy servers, and satellite connections do not work correctly with FINAL FANTASY XI.

* You may need to set up a web browser for your PC if you are having trouble accessing PlayOnline.com.
For more information, please refer to the appropriate vendor's instruction manual.

* Your router may require that you use a PC to configure your network settings.
For more information about how to configure your network settings, please refer to the instruction manual that came with your router or contact the manufacturer directly.

* If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) specifies a DNS server, you need to make sure to configure your settings to allow packets to pass through UDP Port 53 as well.
For more information, please refer to the instruction manual for your router or the information provided by your ISP.