How can my connection be good "sometimes"?

[ManicRaider]

I don't get it. Whenever I complain about a point-blank range Gnasher shot not gibbing the enemy, someone says it's my connection. My sister claims it's because I have a cheap connection and should pay more to get more speed (or whatever). But I also have games where it works just fine or is more powerful than expected. How do you explain that? I haven't paid my ISP for a faster connection. Do speeds go up and down? I ask because I'm thinking about getting their (my ISP's) next to best or best package but I don't want to spend any money just for the same old things to happen.

[ChocolateBacon]

Your connection does change, yes. My download usually hovers between 14-16. If there's someone using your Internet while playing, that doesn't help either.

Sponging is not only your connection, it's the other player's connection and the distance between you and the server.

[RexMantlepiece]

One of the dirty little secrets out there is a deal where you only get your full bandwidth during non-peak hours. Here in Southern Colorado, you can only get the top-tier speeds in Colorado Springs and Denver. Then, Qwest puts limits on that during peak usage periods, which is why my K/D is better at 4 in the morning than it is just a few hours later at 8am.

I don't know if this applies to you, it would depend on your region and your provider, but it's pretty common with the bigger carriers.

[Arcano Player]

He sido testigo de que cada ves y mas frecuentemente se están dando estas situaciones de que se dispara a "quema ropa" al oponente no una si no dos o hasta tres veces y no le sucede nada, la ultima ves fue a un amigo que tiene mejor conexión que yo (yo 5 megas, el mucho mas) y pareciera que sus disparos no hacen el mismo daño que hace un mes hacia, esto y los recientes vídeos de Lag Switch me hacen pensar que no todo el tiempo estamos jugando con servidores dedicados ya que también en partidas rápidas he sufrido de desconexiones que "botan" a todos los jugadores, saludos.

[dueric]

The other players' in the lobbies connections will have just as much affect on your playing quality as your own.

[DatBoyPacMan]

He sido testigo de que cada ves y mas frecuentemente se están dando estas situaciones de que se dispara a "quema ropa" al oponente no una si no dos o hasta tres veces y no le sucede nada, la ultima ves fue a un amigo que tiene mejor conexión que yo (yo 5 megas, el mucho mas) y pareciera que sus disparos no hacen el mismo daño que hace un mes hacia, esto y los recientes vídeos de Lag Switch me hacen pensar que no todo el tiempo estamos jugando con servidores dedicados ya que también en partidas rápidas he sufrido de desconexiones que "botan" a todos los jugadores, saludos.

Every time I play against people from your region I go 1-10.

[JuggaloJ4y]

what is your connection speed?

[Arcano Player]

what is your connection speed?

la de mi amigo es de 10 megas

[Prohibited]

Your connection does change, yes. My download usually hovers between 14-16. If there's someone using your Internet while playing, that doesn't help either.

Sponging is not only your connection, it's the other player's connection and the distance between you and the server.

Pretty much this....

I have been in games with a crisp connection, then someone with value price interwebz will come in and the quality decreases considerably
Sorta mind***** you when shots that were gibbing before, suddenly get swallowed!