Ongoing connection problem..

[Saucy (DayZ) 38]

I've literally never had any problems with the mod until recently -- more namely after I purchased the two DLC, simply purchasing them because looking at heavily pixelated models was getting a little old after all this time. The first issue I ran into was not even being able to launch the game after installing both, I would get an error for each separate DLC and then one that would in turn not let me launch ARMA 2: OA (I forget what they entailed, but I believe it was a CD key issue or some sort). After hours of irritation, I decided it was best to just give up on the DLC and to uninstall them. After I finished doing that, I'd try to join servers and get the connection failed issue for every one I tried to join (fully updated DayZ and ARMA 2 Beta Patch, mind you) and then the server would go to max ping. I then tried to verify the cache of both ARMA 2 and ARMA 2: OA, both times I got that one file was missing and that steam had downloaded something. I launched both game individually and got the first time set-up for each. I tried to log into servers and still got the same issue. I decided to finally just uninstall both ARMA 2 and ARMA 2:OA, deleted both folders from my steamapps, and reinstalled both. After updating both the Beta Patch and DayZ (installed DayZ through Steam this time), I could connect to a FEW servers, maybe 1 out of 10 that I tried, the rest giving my previous issue. I've tried updating to the EXACT Beta Patch that each server was updated to, and still NOTHING. I was finally able to connect to the main server I play on, one that I was getting the connection failed up, by direct connection to the IP.. but every time I abort and log back in, I get a coast spawn. It's really getting old and I'm starting to wonder if it's worth the continued effort to try to fix this close to stand-alone or if I should just wait.

TL;DR:

Purchased through Steam

Updated manually

Launched originally through Steam (didn't work, swapped to launching via the Launch Arma2 OA Beta Patch exe, helped for some servers?), never through Six or Commander

Issues didn't show up until purchase and installation of DLC

Can connect via direct IP, every log in is a coast spawn with all my gear