Virgin Media and Torrents

[Cyb]

Over the last two days I have noticed my downloading of files via torrents has gone k'put

I normally get reasonable speed of 100-500kB/s which I am happy with however recently utorrent has been downloading any files at 1-12 kB/s

Web browsing is still fast on my 20Mb but now I can't do both at the same time. I can't have utorrent running at the same time otherwise web pages times out :s

I don't know what's happened. It was all working fine. Has VM done something?

I normally the upload limit set at 25Kbs, set it to 5Kbs and the problem is still happening.

Any ideas please on what's happened?
13/01/08


05/08/07


04/03/07

[gss03]

VM might be traffic shaping.

[peterb]

The most likelt explanation (as gss03 sid) is that VM are traffic shaping to give lower prority to services such as torrents (which are 'background' type operations) and higher priority to http type traffic, where a faster and more immediate response is required. Traffic shaping allows VM to make optimum use of limited bandwidth for the majority of customers..You might argue that they should buy more bandwidth, which they could, but of course that would put up the price for all customers and perhaps make them less attractive at the budget end of the broadband market.

You may find that the speeds vary during the day (or more specifically at night) where bandwidth demand is lower, and traffic such as torrents would have a less detrimental effect on network performance, so the priority is raised.

[Templar87]

Traffic shaping is a possibility, but I've not heard of it on VM before. My VM 20Mb is fine with bit torrent, currently uploading at ~20Kb with no noticeable effect on web browsing.

In particular, it seems odd that just a 5Kb upload kills off you're ability to access websites. I'd expect http traffic to be unaffected by such a low upload rate, even if the bit torrent packets are being delayed by VM.

Have you tried using a different torrent client? Might be worth a try to see if it happens with that too?

Last resort is to contact VM I suppose and ask them what's going on :-)

[jimbouk]

Have you hit a cap and been restricted perhaps?

[Andy3536]

I have a 4meg line with them and i've noticed lately that theconnection speeds can be anything from 820kbs to 4.1 meg.
There supposed to be completely unlimited in terms of the amount you download so capping shouldn't be a problem.
It just seems really annoying that we've upgraded to the 4 meg line and hardly ever get anything above 3 meg.

[gurpz1]

are you encrypting traffic in utorrent? sometimes that can reduce or even increase speeds

[lilcompt]

type your ip in your internet explorer or firefox etc and see what the problem is mainly check your firewall and DHCP. And thease problems do happen with utorrent
i now use azureus works well over 255.2kbs sec.

[jimborae]

There supposed to be completely unlimited in terms of the amount you download so capping shouldn't be a problem.

I suggest you read your contract again, see below for traffic shaping during peak hours.

Traffic management - Help - Virgin Media

Although it doesn't restrict the maximum amount you can download it does restrict the speed at which you can download it at.

[Andy3536]

I suggest you read your contract again, see below for traffic shaping during peak hours.

Traffic management - Help - Virgin Media

Although it doesn't restrict the maximum amount you can download it does restrict the speed at which you can download it at.

So any large downloading between 4 & 9 pm will incure a speed cut.

Never knew that, it wasn't me that applied for broadband, i just pay for it.
Usefull info though, it'll all be done after 9 now

[digit]

Alternatively changing your download needs to rapidshare would mean that you would never be in any traffic shapping as its all http traffic Money well spent is an account with them.

[jimborae]

Alternatively changing your download needs to rapidshare would mean that you would never be in any traffic shapping as its all http traffic Money well spent is an account with them.

Wont help with VirginMedia as it goes on the amount you download during peak hours, not what you download. However I do agree that a Rapidshare account is worthwhile investment along with rapget.

P.S. 'Ello to a fellow Newburyite.

[gurpz1]

i find that if i do download regardless where from (http/torrents/ftp) after around 100mb during peak hours, virgin drop me to 1mb download service even though i should be receiving 2mb

[Pup]

Hm, not sure what your problem might be, but I don't think it is any widesweeping change that VM has done. I was downloading a WoW patch using uTorrent today and it was coming down at around 200-250kb/s while uploading at around 80-90kb/s, and irc/web was fine.

I don't suppose you have changed or updated any firewall software?

[Jay]

I hosted torrents, Linux etc on my 20Mb

I now get 6Mb tops at all times and they will do nothing about it. I am going to drop them and put it under my g/f name to get my speed back.

Don't torrent

[Templar87]

i find that if i do download regardless where from (http/torrents/ftp) after around 100mb during peak hours, virgin drop me to 1mb download service even though i should be receiving 2mb

That's part of the new terms of use (see jimborae's post)