We seemed initially, to be able to Start a Race and Join a race without problems.
Then we got ambitious and tried a 20 lap and a 30 lap. We have had drop outs seven times in ten starts. One of us, normally the joiner, drops out of the race. I have noticed that, on about two or three times, not every time, the word LAG appears when the other car is in sight and then he drops out and off the circuit.
We both have Pentium 4s or equivalent with Broadband cxns. A dedicated graphics card etc, nothing integrated.
Are there any hints out there as to why a head to head race, not congested by any means should suffer this.
Should we perhaps go onto an established higher quality host server?
Be grateful for help on this one.

Your computers specs don't have much to do with lag. It doesn't matter if you have broadband either. It all depends on the ping time/latency.

Sorry, I'm quite new. What does ping time/latency do and what do you mean and how do I compensate/correct it please?

Quote from peejayh :

Sorry, I'm quite new. What does ping time/latency do and what do you mean and how do I compensate/correct it please?

Hi there
Ping is the time it takes for the packet to hit the server and return to your computer; latency is the interval between the first send and response generally

if you look at the server list when you search for the server to join it has a ping time next to the name somewheres, the lower the ping generally the more stable the connection, ping times under 100 are best over 400 will give problems

hope this helps explain and gives you a chance to enjoy the great times online racing can bring.
Cheers

Thanks for you reply.
This attempt at head to head racing (with my brother actually) was my first go at on-line racing. I just followed the instructions to START A GAME, set up a Host Name and set up a password we both knew. Then we found we were both on the same track so we let rip.
Now the problems have started and there's only a 50/50 chance that we'll finish the race.
Are you saying that this simplistic way of "getting together for a race" is a bit flimsy and unreliable?
Is there a procedure to get a more stable host arrangement where one doesn't "drop out" so frequently.
Sorry but I have very little experience of what is required for online racing up to now.

Is it possible to find out your ping rate when you are connecting with another person such as Peejay describes in his orinal question?

Could be your firewall is blocking packets, maybe open the (tcp&udp) you've chosen for lfs.

If it was your firewall obstructing packets, would it not prevent connection from happening at all? Does anyone know if you can determine your ping rate during a race?

Quote from Daveebee :

If it was your firewall obstructing packets, would it not prevent connection from happening at all? Does anyone know if you can determine your ping rate during a race?

Hi,
Shift+F8 .As I rememver this is debug mode of LFS.You will see a number over the car.If its up to 0.2 then should be all fine with your connection.