Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Experience

Today was the first time I have ever used Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection with a friend. My experience with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection wasn't the best. I signed on at 7p and my friend signed on at 7:10p, but we never saw each-other until he called me and we signed off then on again at the exact same time. The first battle and first trade also crashed and froze. After that, (everything, like when we signed off to change our teams) we had to call each-other to make sure we signed on at the exact same time!