GUIDE: Max Out Download Speed Using Utorrent

Hello Mr. DVDBack23 and others: (Please excuse the long post, first time here and unsure how much info to share)

I have been using utorrent for 6 months using torrents from torrentspy.com and never knew how bad my situation was until I found this forum. However, after following the guide (with a few problems that I will describe) I am only able to increase my upload speeds.

Situation Background:

I live in Taiwan and am using LSC HighSpeed internet. My IP address reads something like 222.2??.dynamic.cctv.lsc.net.tw. My service is rated at 6M/384kb. Also, I am using a fairly new Toshiba laptop with Windows XP and service pack 2, and a motorolla SB5100 cable modem. I don't think I have a router as the cable comes from the wall to the cable modem then into my laptop. So no router right? Also, I am using only windows firewall and norton systemworks pro for antivirus protection. I have enabled an exception in the windows firewall for both the utorrent progam, and the listening port I have chosen in utorrent preferences (port number : 33159)


At one point about a month ago, I became unable to connect with any trackers, even with very popular torrents from torrentspy.com like Lost. I suspected throttling but have no way to confirm this. My ISP was not on the azeureuswiki about bad ISPs. However, I changed protocol encryption from disabled to enabled, and the problem was fixed.

My first problem is this...

I ran several speed tests. When running speed tests from servers near my city in Taiwan, like the guide says, I get download speeds from 6320kbps to 5683kbps and upload speeds from 540kbps to 463kbps. (**these upload speeds are higher than my rated speed, is this normal?**) When running speed tests from servers in North America, where I believe most seeders and peers will be, I am getting download speeds from 2447kbps to 1204kbps (**This seems really really bad right?**) yet upload speeds from 540kbps to 444kpbs. (**Identical to the Taiwan server tests**)

Do you see an immediate problem here so far? What results and thus values should I be using for my global upload rate etc. (I have been trying upload max values between 20 and 38, trying to fix this.)

My second and priority problem...

When using utorrent1.6, my upload speeds will reach as high as 65kB/s when I choose an unlimited upload rate, and will cap at whatever global upload maximum I choose. However, my download speed has never ever reached higher than 25kB/s and averages around 15kB/s no matter what values I choose for my global download or upload speeds in utorrent preferences. So my download speed is slower than my upload speed and much much slower than what it should be.

This seems very very slow and very wrong and I don't now how to fix it.

Seeds/Peers Question:

Also, I'm confused about seeds and peers, as I will try to download a torrent from torrentspy with a high number of seeds and peers. The torrent will say it has 60 seeds and 150 peers, but I will connect with only 5 seeds and 17 peers for example. Not sure if this has any effect on what's happening. As well, even when downloading at 15kB/s, the tracker status always shows "Connection closed by peer".

My Current settings (though I've been trying many different combinations to try and fix this)

Randomize Port each time utorrent connects: UNCHECKED
Enable UpNp Port Mapping: UNCHECKED
Add uTorrent to windows firewall exceptions: CHECKED
Proxy Server: Type: NONE

Global Max Upload rate: 30
Alternate Upload rate: UNCHECKED
Global Max Download rate: 0

Global Maximum Number of Connections: 450
Maximum Number of Connected Peers / Torrent: 200
Number of Upload Slots: 4
Use additional Upload Slots: CHECKED

Enable DHT network: CHECKED
Enable DHT for new torrents: CHECKED
Ask Tracker for scrape: CHECKED
Enable Peer Exchange: CHECKED
Protocol Encryption: ENABLED
Allow Legacy Connections: CHECKED

Maximum Number of Active Torrents: 3
Maximum Number of Active Downloads: 2
Seed while Ratio =< 150%

Also, the net.max_halfopen is 8, but I don't understand what this is, so I didn't change it. Also, I don't understand the TCPsys patch fix thing so I have ignored that so far.

I ran the broadbandreports.com tweak test from the guide and it said that my rswindow was fine yet it recommended being open for pinging. (I entered 6000 for Advertised speed, yet when doing the test, I noticed that it only downloaded at 1200 which is consistent my north american server speed test results)

Please somebody help me...I'm quite lost....

 

Accidental Double Post...I apologize..steve

 

once you have got the tweak test results what do you do with the results? how do you do what needs to be done??

 

I think that one is pretty normal. You're talking about the swarm of the seeders and peers right? I usualy get 60 seeds connected out of 400. Something like that.

make the net.max_halfopen to 10.(normal). But if you want to get better dl speed, I suggest you make it to 50.However, here's the catch. If you make it to 50 and more, your computer is more vulnerable to viruses. I tried opening mine to 50 and it really increased my dl speed like ten fold. Well, I really didn't like it cuz you can't surf the internet while downloading. It sucks up all the bandwidth from your internet. I didn't get any viruses too although I know its very vulnerable. You can try that if you want.

 

I'm also having the same problem..

My speed test is:

download: 4794 kbps (599.3KB/sec transfer rate)
upload: 366 kbps (45.8KB/sec transfer rate)

Which number do I use when doing my calculations. Also, what is my connection type (Utorrent). I have it set on 2 MB's. I'm also on cable.

Thanks for the help.

 

once you have got the tweak test results what do you do with the results? how do you do what needs to be done?? and when i take the speed test it says now testing for ever i left t on all day it just sed now teasting someon pease help. thanks

 

Try this speedtest: http://www.speedtest.net/ or http://www.internetfrog.com/mypc/speedtest/ The first is Global, the second is B.C., Canada, I think; both very accurate.

 

cool guide mistycat. just found out that my dl rate is 902kbps.

 

Schwaber....thanks for the reply....

1. about the seeder / swarm values. For example, one torrent that I'm downloading, (a TV Show season from Torrentspy) shows me as 2 of 8 connected (150 in Swarm) for Seeds and 19 of 804 connected (650 in Swarm) for Peers. Does this still seem normal?

2. I would like to follow your advice about changing the max half-open value to 50, however, isn't this the value that is capped by XP Service Pack 2, and thus I need to run that TCP patch thing? I'm very unclear about this. If you can shed some more light, I would really appreciate it....

thank you..steve

 

2. Yeah, your right. Patch, then change the value to 50.

 

1. I think thats normal too cuz I get that kind of result once in a while. usually it shows me 97 of 230 connected. So yea, I think thats normal

2. you can actually download the patch for the 4226 thing on the web. I just forgot what site that was but just google it.

*CHECK THIS SITE OUT BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD THE PATCH click here

 

once you have got the tweak test results what do you do with the results?

 

@DVD, I was just glancing back through the old pages and I saw this on page2. I was wondering how do u change your megabyte connection to like that? Cuz u know, I was planning to go dsl from my current cable modem and someone told me that cable is still better. So is it just perhaps the megabyte connection alone differs it? and not the type of connection you have? (dsl. or cable modem)I also wanna know if you're using dsl or cable modem

@tycobb, what kind of connection do u have?

* Am in great desperate.. Lmao

 

I what to build a computer just for utorrent. I have an old pent 2 with 98se in it. If i take evrything out but the os will it run utorrent, it has 256 ram? If not what is the minimium system requirements.

 

once you have got the tweak test results what do you do with the results?

how do you tweak your computer?????

 

U mean you already changed your net.max_halfopen to 50? If so, then leave it. You don't have to do anything. Well, just make sure that you don't get 4226 warnings.

 

@ps3rocks

dude, I finally got rogers high-speed "extreme" internet and its worth it! I switched mine from light to extreme and Am getting at least 164kbps dl speed. And not the mention, my internet does not crash anymore. I could surf the net while downloading files.(I can't do that before) I heard you already switched to bell right? Any progress at all?

*I know my dl speed sucks compared to dvd's, but its more than enough for me

 

dude(dvdback), what if u don't put your 80% of your max upload speed as the global max upload speed? will it affect the dl rate? Meaning, will not reach its max dl rate..?

can someone convert this in kbps for me. I don't know how:

Download speed: 5478304 bps
Upload speed: 685688 bps

 

6881 6882 and 6883 are closed says shields up
and the rest are stealth.
I opened up my ports for my router already.
i turned off my windows firewall.
i even turned off my norton to see if it would open
but it always says the same thing.
I can open my ports for my other computer and make it work, but for this one it doesnt seem to open.
I have a netgear router and yes i checked to make sure my ip address number was right when i port forwarded.