Mobile Broadband

[Cogydd]

<p>Due to a change in circumstances, I am moving onto a narrowboat, I am considering getting Mobile Broadband from Vodaphone, 3, Orange, etc.  Since I have always had an unlimited download limit I have never cared how much badnwidth EQII actually uses however now it had become an issue.  Has anyone any idea how much, on average, EQII actually downloads per hour?</p><p> Many thanks.</p>

[Karlen]

Three related questions:- is there anyway to get updates without going through the patcher?  Ideally it would be possible to download updates on a different computer (which might have a better internet connection) rather than through expensive mobile internet- how much actual data speed is necessary?  Can you play EQ2 through GPRS?  EDGE?- are there settings that decrease your data rate?  For example, if you turn off shadows, does the game stop sending shadow information, or is that all generated locally anyways?

[TSR-DanielH]

<p>The amount of bandwidth you'll need really depends on what you do in game.  Overall, though, the game doesn't use up that much bandwidth during normal operation.  I doubt you'll hit your bandwidth cap without using the internet in some other way.  The patches will be the major drain, though, depending on the size of the update.</p><p>While we don't have the updates available anywhere besides the patcher, it is certainly possible to download the files on one computer and then transfer them over.  Assuming you put the files in the right locations, theres really no wrong way to do it.  You may want to avoid transferring all the UI/INI files over and let the game update those so you can keep your current settings, though.</p><p>I don't have exact numbers on what speeds are needed to connect, but I can tell you they are minimal.  People on dialup usually don't have any trouble playing the game.  Its not the speed that matters, its whether or not your ISP provides a steady connection.  That is why customers using satelite have some issues staying connected.</p><p>The only setting I'm aware of that actually lowers the amount of data being transferred is turning off some of the game text.  Since that information is sent from the server, disabling some of the text will actually reduce the bandwidth used.  That wont have much of an effect on your bandwidth unless you raid a lot, though, since the text you're disabling isn't used that much in normal settings.</p><p>Hope that info helps.</p>