Connection unstable

I am having the same problem, some time a few weeks ago i started getting these symptoms every ride. Never seen them before.

No other noticable degredation on my network performance using speed/latency tests. The only thing i can see is spikes and horribly high readings in the ping test on zwiftalizer…over 400ms average with big spikes (from a UK wired connection, no wifi involved)

I play a lot of online games and some of them on US servers, checking these they are as low and reliable as they always have been…i.e. for Overwatch i get a ping of around 20ms to a european server and 50ms to a US server, this is the same as it has always been. I realise these numbers might not be directly comparable but the point is the US server latency through my connection has not changed for anything else other than zwift.

The other thing that i would expect to see a noticable drop in quality on if the problem was more my side is overseas video calls, my work involves me being on teams meetings all over the world and they are also as stable as they always have been.

It’s frustrating and is intrusive enough to make zwift races an annoying experience. Not sure where to go from here.

Hello Jason. I feel your pain & frustration. I’m having exactly the same experience as yourself.

My situation started two weeks ago & nothing changed since.

I normally pay my Zwift payment every year throughout the Summer but not this time. The response from Zwift is an disgrace & embarrassment.

Hi Jason and Dave,
These ‘unstable connection’ and ‘connection disconnected’ seem really common now. My speeds are good. The ping test seems weird. Averaging 400+ with huge spikes of anything up to 1200. I’m in the uk and never had these issues ‘till last week. Haven’t changed anything here. Annoying as it takes your mind off the racing completely.

I really hope you get it sorted, mine just went away after a while without changing anything.

I just did another TDZ stage this evening and it dropped in and out several times. it pretty much happens everyride whatever world, whether race or just a normal ride. The impact is obviously way more harsh in a race mind.

I am trying to remember exactly when it started, i am not 100% sure but i think it started immediately after the latest zwift client update around the beginning of feb. that might be a complete red herring mind.

The more i think about it, the more i start doubting myself on the exact timing of the start of the issue, I expected it to just clear up after a couple of days so just ignored it for a bit.

Damn it is irritating.

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Does anyone know if Zwift is doing anything about this? It doesn’t seem to make any difference as to which world, course I do. Every two/three minutes I get Connection unstable or connection disabled. I still see riders, just lose the place in the ride and all messages. Not sure if I lose the draft.

Hi Richard. I’m having exactly same issues. Message Zwift multiple times & get varied responses. Basically they just pass the buck saying thanks for teling them and will look into it. The whole situation is a complete joke.

Hi Jason I’m confident my issues started after the last big update. Rode tonight and every couple of minutes get disconnected but riders still stay on screen. 20 secs later back connected. I’m guessing races will be a nightmare.

Yep, seems to be getting worse!

So if i run the zwiftalizer ping test at home i get the terrible results we are seeing. I also ran this from my parents house and saw the same terrible results. 2 different ISPs, 2 different types of connectivity both in Plymouth, UK.

I am currently in London doing some work and have just run the ping test from the corporate network i am on. It is absolutely fine.

I am not completely sure what this means but it does tell me a couple of things:

  • the problem affects multiple ISPs
  • it might be localised to certain areas so is related to network routing

if i knew the IP for the AWS oregon servers i could run a traceroute to give a bit more detail on where the problem hop is…my guess is it will be more on the zwift responsibility side of things than our ISPs.

This is just speculation of course in the hope that a zwift networking guy reads this and takes a deep dive look at the issue.

I’m glad it’s not just me - well, not actually glad we’re all having issues, but glad there is clearly wrong with Zwift and the more of us that report the fact the more chance they might fix it.

Pretty sure it started with v1.33. I don’t think I can recall seeing it before that. Now the alert comes in every minute or two. I even bought a massive long network cable, trailed through the house, direct to the router in case it was the WiFi. But nope, it’s definitely Zwift because all other network activity is rock solid and I’m connected direct to the router now.

So to Zwift, please start investigating as clearly it’s a real issue.

Hello Dave & thanks for adding to forum your frustrations.

I’m convinced it’s Zwift as I have done same as you and also have fault with 4g.

Zwift don’t give a monkeys but just keep taking the money!

Hello Jason. Just a quick message to see how your Zwift is performing?

I have just gone 3 days 4 hours runnung & miraculously no issues.

Yes famous last words - I have changed nothing my end so as previously thought was Zwift server end.

Just like to see if others are ok now?

Dave

Only just found this thread. Having exactly the same problems. Apple tv 4k- dedicated setup (not used for anything else). Haven’t had any dropouts for over 2 years using it on Zwift. Since last update getting “connection unstable” and “connection disconnected” messages multiple times per hour. Races (and group rides) now completely impossible as I get spat out the back every time this happens. Tried last night using laptop and no drops- will keep repeating this to test if issue is with Apple tv

@Dave_Tedstone_HFD_cc I did a 30-minute ride yesterday and I didn’t get any disconnects. Didn’t want to paste a reply too soon in case it was just a fluke… I’m doing a treadmill session later, so it’ll be interesting to see if that goes smoothly as well.

Hi guys very interesting we’re all appear to be using Apple TV maybe just coincidence.

Just found this email from Zwift support which I have pasted below.

Just wish weeks ago Zwift be more transparent and admit it’s their fault. I spent hours here trying to resolve…

Hello Dave,

This is Rowdy at Zwift HQ with tier 3 technical support. I want to confirm that this issue will be resolved in the next game release. You may still experience the Connection Disconnected message, but it should occur less often once the update is released.

@Nigel_Tufnel - aren’t you getting connection disconnected msg’s? Interesting update in case you didn’t see this.

@Dean i used to get the messages, but didn’t last night. I thought I had read in a different thread that the messages had been turned off until Zwift could figure out what was happening. What is that other thread? I will take a look. Or perhaps @Gerrie_Delport_ODZ could merge the two, if they are covering the same topic.

they did say that but either they didn’t or they turned them back on - i had them shortly after they said they’d been turned off too

Hi Dave,

The last time i was on zwift was the 21st feb and it was still disconnecting then. I am away from home for a week or so but will update on how it is on my return.

For what it is worth, i don’t use apple tv.