COD4 PC Game Browser problems

[Maj Azzwhoopin]

Posted: 05 Mar 2008 14:07 Post subject: COD4 Game Browser

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I am having problems with the in game browser showing servers. It started at patch 1.4 before this everyhting in the browser worked fine.
What happens is when I open the join game and refresh I only show 2300 or so servers if I hit refresh an additional 15 times or so I get another 1000 servers (total 3300). My brother in law sees 17000 the first time he refreshes. I also don't see any of the servers that I have played in the recent past, and if i try to connect to them manual the request times out however if I ping the server via command line I see less than 50ms of delay to the destination. LAst night I hit refresh on my browser for like 30 mins and was able to get my server list up to 10,000 but still did not see the servers in New york that I normally like to play on. I also verified that my Patch level was up to date and exactly the same as my brother in laws, I was able to join a server and verified that PB was working appropriately.
I have DSL service and recently connected my XBOX360 and found my DSL router was using strict NAT so I replaced it with one that has open NAT. I have also disconnected all other network devices and connected my PC directly to the DSL router and verified that the DSL router was not running any firewall or blocking any ports. I also am not running a PC firewall.
What is the problem here. I need help If this keeps up I am going to uninstall the game. It sucks getting some time to play and going through the frustration of trying to connect to a server of the game type with decent latency for hours.

Any ideas?
By the Way I have uninstalled and reinstalled already.

Thanks,
Maj Azzwhoopin

[imported_Whiskey]

First, check your filters on the browser screen (near the top)...you may be reducing the number that the browser searches for.

In general, this "not all servers showing up" thing started around v1.4, I believe. The v1.5 patch improved things, but still not completely fixed. For most of us, we'll get around 10,000 or so on the first search (again, depending on what filters you have set up), and each refresh after that will add another couple hundred.

If you're only seeing a couple thousand show up at first, something does indeed sound screwy with your connection.

If there are servers you and your buddy play on regularly, you can add them to your Favorites, and then you won't have to search for them each time. Also, be aware that if you click on the "ping" column, it will sort from lowest-to-highest, and back again each time you click on it, so that might help.

If you have XFire, try using that to search for servers as well. Some people have more luck with it. I find that pings are also being reported there initially as being a bit high (which makes me think that part is an issue with Activision's Master Server), but they fix themselves with a refresh.

[Maj Azzwhoopin]

I have show empty, show locked and show all basically in my browser options also in I have selected to show all servers and not any one specific game type. An odd characteristic is that via DOS cammand line I can ping a server and have less than 38ms of latency and I can't connect to the server via IP or see it via the browser. but my brother in law with the same version 1.5.49 (I think) can connect and play on the server. I am wondering if my ISP is filtering or blocking certain ports on some of their paths at certain times of the day.
I was also wondering if their is some form of bandwidth calculation that may go on that limits the amount of servers the game browsers shows a client?

Everything worked fine prior to 1.4 then all of this started.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

[imported_Whiskey]

The only thing I can say is that the vast majority of people are not having a problem seeing lots of servers, so this points to something specific on your end as opposed to the patch. Might be your ISP, or some weird conflict with your router/firewall/anti-virus software/etc.

Make sure you do a manual Punkbuster update, just to be sure that's not affecting it (it probably isn't).

[Maj Azzwhoopin]

tonight I am going to delete my config_mp.cfg file and let it be replaced with a new one. and I will manually update my Punkbuster to try it. I have done this in the past but not recently. Since their was a PB patch 2 nights ago and I was not booted last night I think the auto PB update is working on my system. But I'll try anything. I went from playing almost every night to I have only played 3 or 4 times since Christmas (that's when 1.4 came out)

[GrossKopf]

There have been problems with no all servers showing up since the game was released. It's at the point now where the servers might show up for you, but not someone else. There's no real reason for it and we all have to deal with it until it can be properly fixed by IW (so don't hold your breath). It seems like the reason is that the in-game browser was never made to display so many servers. X-Fire is a good place to list servers.