One thing you can do is connect directly to the server, bypassing the global server.
You will need the IP and port number of the server to do this.

Right click on your Freelancer Icon. The Icon (shortcut) that starts Freelancer.
Select Properties
When the Freelancer Properties comes up select the shortcut tab (if it's not already selected).
In the target box you will see
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Freelancer\EXE\Freelancer.exe"
Add -sxx.xx.xx.xxx.xxxx at the end - replacing the x's with the server IP and port number.

So it looks like this
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Freelancer\EXE\Freelancer.exe -s65.67.82.238:2302"

Or you could create an internet shortcut if you have the Freelancer Web Launcher installed:

freelancer://65.67.82.238:2302/

(IP is just an example)

some lag is caused server-side, depending on what anti-cheat software they have loaded.
some lag is caused by the network connection at the server's end.

some lag is caused by other computers at your end using your bandwidth.
some lag is caused by other programs (even ones you might not think would cause lag) running on your computer.

the ping time is the total time it takes for an FL packet to be sent to the server, handled by the server, returned to your computer, AND handled by FL on your computer, so anything you can do on your end to reduce the amount of time your computer needs to complete handling of the packets will reduce your ping, and hence, your lag.

Chris Bates

All right, thanks for the answers, I will try the shortcut thing..

Just one more question: I have a PIII 600, 128mb RAM, ATI Radeaon 9200, almost the minimun system specs to play freelancer (hey! and I can play it with all at the maximum!). I started to play in a server and experienced LOT of lag when the game had to spawn several new ships (in missions, for example, when you arrive to the mission area, or in random encounters in the middle of the space, going NEAR of the planet atmospheres (some funny histories I have to tell about lag near the atmosphere when I was correcting the course and my ship blowing up). It's use to be always more when the ships spawn (little frustating explode just because your computer didn't realize that those xenos were attacking you..)
Well, this problem it's caused by my computer? In the SP I had some problems with the BIG battles, as there was LOT of ships fighting, but in MP it's with over 5 or 6 ships on screen (And more if there are another player on the screen).
Thanks again for the answers

yeah, it's your system. see if you can upgrade your processor first- shouldn't be too expensive- check www.pricewatch.com for comparison prices. I've seen 1GHz P3's for $37 (133MHz bus) so the slower ones shouldn't be too different.