this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2024
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I've recently made it to Act 3 in Baldur's Gate 3, and my integrated graphics on my laptop aren't keeping up, so now I have installed it on my desktop machine and am using Steam Remote Play (my desktop is plugged into the TV, it's not a proper desktop setup).
Often, the Steam connection drops out and the game keeps playing on the desktop but I can't connect back to it from the laptop.
Any suggestions on what I could do to either stop losing the connection or let me connect back to it after it drops?
Set up:
Are you trying to do this over ethernet or WiFi?
If you're trying to use wifi that connection needs to be stellar for this to work well. No over-lapping channels with the neighbours and not too many clients.
If you're experiencing this on a wired connection, look into if your gear supports jumbo frames and confirm it's a gigabit link.
Try using Vulkan mode for BG3.
Laptop is on WiFi, desktop is on ethernet.
Laptop is directly next to an access point that is connected via ethernet, though I know the network is not super stable. I often have to restart the ISP router after it drops out.
I am confused why Steam doesn't let me reconnect though. Normally if the game is running you can open Steam and choose to connect to it. But I don't get this option, it's like it's forgotten that it started the game.
In Steam it's set to use Proton and I select the bg3.exe or whatever it's called, not the bg3_dx11.exe. Is this using Vulcan mode?
Are you able to connect everything involved via ethernet?
Wi-Fi can be unreliable for many reasons so being near it isn't going to change the thought much.
A quick google suggests to me that it's Vulkan if you are running it that way but I can't confirm.
What may be happening is that when the connection is unstable it may not be well designed enough to handle the dropped connection gracefully to let you reconnect.
I'm running a Framework laptop and don't have the LAN expansion card as it wasn't release at the time I got my laptop. I can order one, but they also don't sell Frameworks in my country so it's a long freight forwarding process 🙁.
I've been considering a new gateway (rather than the ISP router) to see if that helps stabilise the network. Maybe that will be helpful until I can get a proper LAN connection.
If I recall correctly the framework laptops have a bunch of USBC ports?
If so you could just get a USBC dongle for it.
In the meantime we can evaluate the quality of your WiFi. If you have an android phone, I find this app works fairly well for visualizing the network.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vrem.wifianalyzer
Additionally, If you have a dual band router I would suggest disabling the 2.4Ghz band unless you have any legacy devices that use it.
Check that your network isn't overlapping with any other networks.
Yes framework expansion card slots are just a bunch of USBC ports, but seems a waste not to get the proper expansion card that slots nicely into the laptop looking like it was built in instead of a boring regular dongle.
I checked out the app you suggested, not entirely sure what I'm doing but the app seems happy with my wifi. My network is strong, others from neighbours are all pretty weak.
Unfortunately I need 2.4Ghz wifi for a bunch of home automation things.
Do you see any overlap on yours in the graph view?
Some, at much lower strengths. Most of the graph is covered though, and the access point is using the recommended channel. It has band steering so automatically changes the channel to optimise.
So there's a few issues at play.
That automatic channel changing feature is more harmful than helpful in this context.
If you're able to lock it onto an entirely empty channel it'll help. Try for channel 106
I have the ISP router and two AmpliFi mesh access points to provide the wifi. The ISP router also has a wifi network, this is the 2.4Ghz one for the IoT devices.
When I try to change the channel for the access points, I don't get the option for channel 106. I only get the option for 36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157, 161.
I also noticed that I had missed that there's a little button in the wifi scanning app to toggle between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. I noticed if I change the channel, a whole bunch of hidden networks come with it. I think this must be related to the mesh network, it's a lot of networks though! 8 or 9 of them, two separate ones with the same network name (I presume the two access points), and the rest all marked as hidden.
In the app, what does the width of the bar represent? It says something like Wifi_Network 157 (155) and has a big flat top that seems to cover a range. Is that indicating that nearby channels can interfere with each other?
Another thought of mine is that wireless devices can perform poorly if they are too close to the AP. (Like less than a meter)
Assuming you're not in a country that blocks the use of those channels. There is a bunch of corner cutting gear out there that won't let you use a big chunk of the 5ghz spectrum.
If you're shopping for new stuff look for gear that supports DFS channels in the future.
Mesh networks can perform poorly for applications that are sensitive to latency and jitter. (Such as steam's remote play)
It's possible that some of those are related. My assumption is that there's interference from your own devices and the neighbours. But a mesh network isn't an ideal environment.
This is indicative of the channel width. It's a common occurrence to have a network use overlapping channels to increase performance.
The take away is that not all channels are isolated from one another and it's possible for a network to have many of them bonded together.
With Wifi_Network 157 (155). It's indicating that the network's real channel 155 with a 80mhz channel width. But it's configured to channel 157 for its beacon as not all devices will connect in 80mhz mode. 157 represents the 20mhz channel it's configured to camp on.
Yes.
Channel chart source: https://readus247.com/best-5ghz-channel/
Wow thanks for all the info!
Huh, I wouldn't have thought of that. I'm pretty close! I'll try moving it a bit further away.
Last night it was much more stable, I didn't have any Steam dropouts (only the BG3 crashes which seem pretty common in Act 3 after having none until then, and I'm not the only one). But I do have the option to create a separate non-mesh network from the AP if I need to. If I have further trouble I'll give that a go.
When I changed the channel, the whole lot came with it, hence my assumption.
Channel 165 tends to be empty if you do try that.
If your core problem is bg3 itself crashing then I've gone on a silly tangent here.
You might find act 3 is more stable in dx11 mode assuming proton is up for the challenge.
Two issues here: Issue one, BG3 itself crashes all the time. This most likely isn't linux related, because it's been rock solid up to Act 3 and everyone across all platforms complains about all the crashing in Act 3. Solution - quick save all the time.
Issue two, sometimes Steam Remote Play will disconnect from the game. The game continues to play on the remote PC but the connection is lost, and it won't let me reconnect (which is something Steam normally lets you do, but this might be because it's a non-steam game).
Your info on wifi networks to prevent the connection dropping has definitely been relevant and helpful!
Now that patch 7 has landed has your experience improved?
Oh I hadn't realised it had! I'll have to make sure I update before I play again.
The release notes seem to cover lots of specific crashes, but I'd guess my issue is more generally that if it's trying to shoe too much stuff on the screen (like a crowded city) then it crashes. I have turned the graphics settings right down and it happens less, but still happens at least once each time I play. I'm keen to check out that patch and see if it helps. Thanks for letting me know about it!
Oh, tough one. I don't know what's that protocol. But I guess it's not tied to WiFi. So, How about getting a cheap ethernet switch? That's how I connect devices in my living room to the router given by ISP that's on the other side of the wall.
The laptop is connected via WiFi (to an access point directly next to me), I don't have a LAN port for it at the moment.
The desktop is connected via ethernet.
Normally Steam will let you reconnect to a game that's already playing, but I don't seem to have that option. It's like it forgets it's running.