Please help with BitComet speed

[zword_of_zeal]

I am very fed up with my BitComet d/l speed, so someone please give me some tips on improvement :(

Here's the problem: I have 5 Mbps cable connection, a Motorola modem (my ISP is Shaw, an Canadian exclusive company, I think), and no router. Normally, my direct (http link) speed is around 500 - 600 kb/s, however, on BitComet, my highest speed peaks around 100 k/s, and it fluctuates, big time. For example. right now, I'm getting a one gig movie file, connected to 25 seeders and 40 peers, and my d/l speed is at 3kb/s.

Also, I am using ZoneAlarm. My current connection is set at Trusted Zone, and my TZ firewall is off. I also tried turning off Internet Zone firewall, but it doens't seem to make a difference at all.

I have looked up quite a few articles, and tried tips such as limiting Global upload rate, and changing listening ports, but nothing seemed to work. So, if anyone have any suggestions or advice, please speak up :D

[Muffin_Man]

You're not going to be able to get bittorrent working with that modem. Shaw is deliberately crippling it the connection. The only way around it is to downgrade to a terayon modem (if you have Extreme-I you SOL). They won't downgrade the modem just because you can't download torrents, so you'll want to say that it keeps going into standby mode on its own and you want one without a standby button.

[zword_of_zeal]

Hi Muffin_Man, sounds like you are familiar with Shaw's products and service. So what you are saying is, that unless I swtich my internet service, I will not get much out of BT clients? :0

I'm not quite getting what you are saying by "standby"... sorry, I'm not very tech-enhanced, if you don't mind explaning. But thank you for responding ;)

[Muffin_Man]

There's a button on top of the modem. If you press it, the bottom light comes on on its own and the modem can't send or recieve information. Some of the modems become faulty and they go into standby on their own, or it gets knocked and people can't figure out why they're not online.
You don't have to switch providers if you get the modem replaced with a terayon one. But, if you do cancel Shaw's service, make sure you let them know why or they'll just keep blocking it.

[zword_of_zeal]

Thank you for explaining.... no wonder my connection just dissapears sometime, I'm so clumsy X)

At this point, I think it'd be too much trouble to return my modem and get a new one, plus, Shaw charges extra for service if you don't use their modem, greedy bastards :(

I just looked up a few news article and complain threads on various forums, and seems like Shaw's been slowing down BitTorrent connections in the lower British Columbia for a while now, to regain lost bandwith, or something like that.... I think they will be forced to fix the hardware soon (costs a few miliions, however) or they'll loose a lot of customers.

Well, I guess its just my luck ;_;

[sorros]

Or you could just buy one on ebay and save $ on the lease charge every month!

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=terayon+modem&hl=en&btnG=Search+Froogle&lmode=unknown&sl=on

As MM said if you switch providers let them know exactly why! Lets face it most of us here only have HS internet so we can share.......If you cant do that why bother with it.

[sorros]

Here's a few offered in the buy now section!

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=so&sbrftog=1&fstype=1&from=R10&satitle=terayon+modem&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=02066&sascs=2&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&so=Show+Items

[Muffin_Man]

It's not a matter of fixing it. Shaw uses what are called Ellacoya switched to selectively block virus traffic as well as torrents. They aren't losing as many customers blocking it as they would letting everyone have ridiculously slow connections as a result of the lines being over-saturated. Enough complaints (to supervisors, not front line tech support reps), though, and they will have to reconsider their implementation.

if you replace the modem with a terayon one, its included with your service. no charge for it at all.

[zword_of_zeal]

sorros, thanks for the links. Though, regretably, I'm not a internet shopper :(

MM, the only reason my family uses Shaw is because of their bunddle pricing (cable TV & HS internet). So the decision's really not up to me, but my parents (they are quite clingy on financial situations). And by the way, on your first reply, you mentioned to downgrade if I have Extreme-I, which I don't. I only have High-Speed, so I'm not sure if its compatible.

Also, what do you mean by the terayon is included in the sevice; that Shaw will downgrade your modem for free (seems unlikely to me), or do I have to purchase the hardware extra, but it will still be compatible with Shaw's service price?

[Muffin_Man]

If you have regular high speed, you can downgrade to a Terayon modem for free. The price stays the same. Call into tech support and they can either book you a service call or let you swap it out in the office. It's just they're trying to phase out the Terayon ones, so you need a good excuse to get one.

[sorros]

sorros, thanks for the links. Though, regretably, I'm not a internet shopper :(

MM, the only reason my family uses Shaw is because of their bunddle pricing (cable TV & HS internet). So the decision's really not up to me, but my parents (they are quite clingy on financial situations). And by the way, on your first reply, you mentioned to downgrade if I have Extreme-I, which I don't. I only have High-Speed, so I'm not sure if its compatible.

Also, what do you mean by the terayon is included in the sevice; that Shaw will downgrade your modem for free (seems unlikely to me), or do I have to purchase the hardware extra, but it will still be compatible with Shaw's service price? Dont worry about internet shopping! If this is the only way you can downgrade your modem I can help. Besides alot of sellers accept personal checks and in many cases will take cash provided you explain your situation to the seller(I dont suggest paying this way) If your from Canada a simple trip to the bank and you can convert your Canadian $ to US and im pretty sure one of those buy now sellers is from Canada anyway.

I think your real problem is going to be sneaking that modem in because your parents arent going to buy "the modem isnt working properly story" know i wouldnt! So to do that simply wait till there not home one day call up shaw with modem in hand and go through the reg process. Once your done SAY NOTHING if they spot the new modem just make up some story that "a cable guy was here today because of problems in the area and said the fix was free at no charge" Hopefully your parents dont call the cable Co. to verify this story.

[zword_of_zeal]

Thank you so much for the information :) But just to confirm, will the performance or general speed be downed as well? And would saying BIttorrent speed being hammered down really be a good reason for them to swap modems? :/

This is my last post of the day. I will respond next morning.

[Muffin_Man]

They won't swap it because torrents are too slow. Thats why I suggested saying youre having trouble with the standby button. It shouldn't effect anything but torrents

[zword_of_zeal]

Alright! I'll try to contact them sometimes soon (I hope they buy it >_>')

It probably won't be easy though.... takes forever to get through on their costumer support line.
Just curious MM, are you currently using Shaw's service with a Terayon modem, or have you used their service before? Again, much thanks for your very helpful advice :)

[Muffin_Man]

I'm on a Motorola modem, but in an area where it isn't filtered. If you call after 11pm you should get through to tech support a lot quicker.

[sorros]

Alright! I'll try to contact them sometimes soon (I hope they buy it >_>')

It probably won't be easy though.... takes forever to get through on their costumer support line.
Just curious MM, are you currently using Shaw's service with a Terayon modem, or have you used their service before? Again, much thanks for your very helpful advice :) Just do as MM says and tell them you need the standby button for security reasons or another story. Demand as a customer the right to swap and explain all the money you spend. When they say "we'll send a tech out in the next few days" Because of your parents you dont want them catching you sneaking about esp. your Dad since most likely he's the one paying for any file sharin lawsuits and wouldnt want it anyway! Tell the cable co. "dont worry about it i'll pick up at my local cable office".

[zword_of_zeal]

Just do as MM says and tell them you need the standby button for security reasons or another story. Demand as a customer the right to swap and explain all the money you spend. When they say "we'll send a tech out in the next few days" Because of your parents you dont want them catching you sneaking about esp. your Dad since most likely he's the one paying for any file sharin lawsuits and wouldnt want it anyway! Tell the cable co. "dont worry about it i'll pick up at my local cable office".


Hmm.... I don't think they'll buy the "security" excuse, since it'll have to make sense, one way or another :(
Anyways, yea! I pay the bills (well, my parents XD'), I should get what I want. Besides, I don't think my parents mind me leeching off BT anyways, since my d/u bandwith rarely exceeds 5 Gigs a month. I'm not a bandwith hog, I just snatch files when I feel too lazy to go to the movie theater, or craving regional exclusive files :p So, its not like I'm on the association of recording or film industry's most wanted list, I don't think Shaw will hunt me down for using BT.

[napho]

Alot of disagreement over whether the old modems are better or not.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,14745153


btw Shaw has Usenet service included. You can download stuff at top speed from those servers . If you want, I'll send you an nzb file and you can test your Usenet support. If you want to, just pick a recent movie or CD listed here http://www.newzbin.com/ and I'll PM you an nzb. It's just like a torrent only for Usenet. Then you can test whatever Shaw gives you.

[zword_of_zeal]

Alot of disagreement over whether the old modems are better or not.
Hmmm.... Seems like I should hold on to my Motorola modem for a while.

Hi napho! I'd love to try out this Usenet stuff, and thank you very much for offering :D

[snuts]

I'm on a Motorola modem, but in an area where it isn't filtered. If you call after 11pm you should get through to tech support a lot quicker.

Thanks for the info, MM.

I'm with Shaw with a Motorla modem as well, and on the Extreme package (I upgraded to get them to quit warning me about bandwidth, though on the regular HS package, they don't tell you what you're allowed. Also, as a sidenote, I spent the summer of 2004 out east and tried out both BEll and Rogers HS- both offered unlimited dl/ul).

Anyway, I don't seem to have any speed filter where I am (Alberta), but I'm wondering if you have any more info about Shaw that I should keep an eye out for?

Also, OT, but I've been using BitComet 0.60 and it's making my machine sluggish. Anyone with a recommendation for a client that is better tha allows you to easily select which files from a torrent you want, please enlighten me.


snuts