NA - Packet Loss and Lag on Desktop only

[FrostyNovaPrime]

I've recently come home from school and updated FFXIV on my usual desktop computer. My family had upgraded our Verizon Fios router while I was away. Ever since this week (5/13-5/18) I've been experiencing random and severe packet loss. When playing the game on this device, everything works as normal to start but a few minutes into actually playing I start lagging where everything in the instance freezes mid-action for 2-3 seconds before teleporting to catch up to the server. This only happens on my desktop, when playing Final Fantasy XIV. My connection to other services and games is fine, and my family doesn't report any issues with their connections. As a kicker, FFXIV connects fine on my laptop device with no issues.

I'm aware of the recent DDOS events and I'm not sure if its any residual effects from those that affected NA data centers. My friends haven't reports any problems as severe as mine. I play on Primal/Excalibur but have also experienced it on Crystal/Mateus. I tried many things to fix the issues, ranging from:
1. replacing my old Wifi adapter (I have no access to ethernet where my device is set up, located on the 2nd floor right above the router's location)
2. Adjusting various network, adapter, and firewall settings: Use of IPv4 addresses, changing to the 2.4GHz band (made it worse obviously), following instructions from others on these Forums with similar issues of packet loss. I've made sure FFXIV is allowed through my network's firewall.
3. Restoring game files
4. Fully reinstalling the game.

My traceroute:
1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms CR1000B.mynetworksettings.com
2 3 ms 4 ms 5 ms lo0-100.NRFLVA-VFTTP-311.verizon-gni.net
3 10 ms 11 ms 9 ms
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 14 ms 14 ms 13 ms ae-26.a05.asbnva02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * 75 ms 76 ms ae-4.a00.scrmca03.us.bb.gin.ntt.net
10 76 ms 75 ms 76 ms xe-0-0-5-0.a00.scrmca03.us.ce.gin.ntt.net
11 * * 74 ms
12 74 ms 74 ms 74 ms 204.2.29.122

[wizisi2k]

confirming same packet loss on Optimum Fiber except I am unable to login at all. Ever since the 5/7 maint, I have had issues connecting to the NA datacenter to login to my main on Balmung. I have had packets start dropping once I connect to a lobby server to login. If I can get in there, as soon as I login, packets start dropping. Bypassing the routing by going on hotspot works as well as using the Cloudflare WARP program work to allow me to play. I have had lesser success with using Norton's VPN set to CA and MX; the Norton VPN US server gave me the same 2002 error that I get on my home connection when I last tried it.
Using win MTR and pinging neolobby08.ffxiv.com has me find the packet failure starts at the node labeled "ae-15.r20.nwrknj03.us.bb.gin.ntt.net"
When I can get packets to start getting through, they cease to get thru once I try to login.
Below is my tracert using 100 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms READYSHARE [10.0.0.1]
2 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
3 18 ms 5 ms 5 ms 14.55.128.2
4 5 ms 5 ms 6 ms ool-4353f798.dyn.optonline.net [67.83.247.152]
5 7 ms 6 ms 6 ms ool-4353f790.dyn.optonline.net [67.83.247.144]
6 7 ms 8 ms 7 ms 67.59.251.64
7 9 ms 8 ms 7 ms 64.15.0.52
8 * * 12 ms nyk-b7-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.153.104]
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 8 ms 9 ms 8 ms nyk-b1-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.135.131]
11 9 ms 7 ms 18 ms ae-17.a02.nycmny17.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.8.229]
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 * * * Request timed out.
18 * * * Request timed out.
19 * * * Request timed out.
20 * * * Request timed out.
21 * * * Request timed out.
22 * * * Request timed out.
23 * * * Request timed out.
24 * * * Request timed out.
25 * * * Request timed out.
26 * * * Request timed out.
27 * * 82 ms 204.2.29.8

[Votraftur]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

We apologize for any inconvenience experienced when trying to play Final Fantasy XIV. For us to better assist you, please respond with the following information:

Are you using a VPN?
Are you using a wired or wireless connection?
What Platform are you using? (Steam/Windows/Mac/PS4 etc.)
Does the issue occur with one character or multiple characters?
At what point do you get disconnected and/or are unable to connect?
How often does the issue occur?

Internet Service Provider:
Region/State:

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

[FrostyNovaPrime]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

We apologize for any inconvenience experienced when trying to play Final Fantasy XIV. For us to better assist you, please respond with the following information:

Are you using a VPN?
Are you using a wired or wireless connection?
What Platform are you using? (Steam/Windows/Mac/PS4 etc.)
Does the issue occur with one character or multiple characters?
At what point do you get disconnected and/or are unable to connect?
How often does the issue occur?

Internet Service Provider:
Region/State:

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

Are you using a VPN? No, using a VPN I seem to get fully disconnected (error 90002) from the game when the packets drop.
Are you using a wired or wireless connection? Wireless, wired/ethernet connection isn't available.
What Platform are you using? (Steam/Windows/Mac/PS4 etc.) Windows
Does the issue occur with one character or multiple characters? It's occurred on all my characters at least once.
At what point do you get disconnected and/or are unable to connect? Packets are dropping most in instanced duties (dungeons, raids, trials), but the issue has happened even when idling inside my house.
How often does the issue occur? Every 20-30 minutes while playing if I record the time I experience the packet loss.

Internet Service Provider: Verizon Fios
Region/State: East Coast USA

[Votraftur]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

The issue you are describing is most associated with interference with game data. Many actions can trigger this error, such as a slow internet connection, certain security/privacy changes on the default Internet browser, an application running in the background causing interference, use of a VPN or an odd connection (EG: schools or cafes), a possible virus detected on the device, many rapid payments at once, and numerous other actions.

We advise clearing the cache/cookies/browsing data from your default web browser, disabling any web browser extensions (EG: ad-blocker) and trying again. We also suggest resetting the connection (router/modem) you are using to connect to the Internet before trying again.

Open the control panel of the PC and go to ‘Network and Internet’. Once there select ‘Internet Options’
- Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
- Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
- Under the "Privacy" tab, click “Advanced” and select ‘Accept’ under both First Party and Third Party Cookies.
- Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
- Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED. [SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
- Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
- Right-Click on the FFXIV launcher icon and select "Properties"
- Hit "Apply", then "OK" to save the changes.
- Please RESTART your PC now. Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"
*Make sure your fire wall or antivirus program is not interfering with the game

Lastly, check to see if the following port ranges are opened on your router. You can contact your ISP and request they open them for you:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040

Try disabling background applications and do a clean boot by opening the task manager and selecting the “Start up” tab. Disable everything and then restart the PC.
Lastly, we suggest to power cycle the router by shutting down the Router and leaving the power supply unplugged for 5-10 minutes.

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

[FrostyNovaPrime]

I've tried these suggestions at the start of the issue when researching for a solution, before I posted my issue here to the forums. I retried going through the steps just now and they didn't work just like the first attempt. I still experienced high latency and packet loss about halfway through an unsynced test of a dungeon.

[Votraftur]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

Please try the following:

- Make sure that the Windows OS is fully updated.
- Try running FINAL FANTASY XIV as an admin.
- Perform a clean boot by opening the task manager and select the 'Start up' Tab. Disable everything.
- Please be sure that Final Fantasy XIV is installed to the C: Drive. (If Steam version, make sure both the game and Steam are installed on same drive)
- Please be sure to disable or remove any overlays (Discord, Steam, NVIDIA etc.) as they may interfere with startup.
- Flush DNS: Within the "Command Prompt" of the device, please type the command "ipconfig /flushdns".
- Reset TCP/IP: Also within the Command Prompt, type the command "netsh int ip reset" and then restart the computer.
- Delete the Patch Folder: Navigate to the folder using this path This PC > Docs > My Games> FFXIV ARR > Downloads > FFXIV patch (Use for either the version update error or cannot download patch files error)
Then either rename or remove the folder, the next time FINAL FANTASY XIV is launched, the client will repair the folder.
- Change local DNS: Please try changing the local DNS server to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
- Delete local files with corrupted character data, please note this will not delete the associated characters.

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!