4 stars is the best ping. 1 star is bad ping.
if your getting connection errors during a game, or right before you connect with someone... it might be because someone is on the internet and using the bandwitdth. If not, then maybe it's the other person's.

I must say after my first real stretch with going online, this game isn't too bad online.
I must say that I've handed over people their ass and have had my ass handed to me many times. There's some skilled players, and then theres some real cheap ass players who will beat you with the same guy 2 times and then won't accept your challenge again, like you're not in their league. (My experience with a real cheap ass Darrius player.)
Overall, I say I'm happy with it, but the damn mechanics are screwy...I go to do a blackdragon ball to someone on the falling cliffs and they are ducking and blocking...I figure that it would get blocked and I'd bounce back up, but I go over the guy and fall off the cliff...blah...
I haven't come across a throw happy person yet, but I have come across telethrowers...they're a pain, but easy to beat, but a Darrius player who does the same specials by backing away and then rush punching or twisty kicking is pure shit because it's the same stuff over and over and ducking and blocking doesn't do anything sometimes and standing and blocking doesn't do anything sometimes.
Overall though, despite some small nuances, I'm very happy with this mode. If the hit detection is fixed a little more and some moves weren't as abusable, then it'd be perfect.