Picking which ports to run a application through?

[Trash Man]

Hiya, I have been using computers for years, but when it comes to networks or anything like that I don't really know a great deal about it.

I'm having a problem at the moment with download speeds from a newsgroup server that I use. They have given me quite a few different ports to try instead of the standard one they use to see if it helps.

How to change what port I use to connect to their servers? I have a Belkin router, not sure what model tbh

thanks for any help

[Funkstar]

That would be in the Newgroup reader as opposed to the router. It will be in the same settings/options section as your username, password and the server name.

NNTP servers use 119 by default, it could be that your ISP has thottled that port, they do it with file sharing and bittorrent too.

Using a non standard port would get round the throttling if they are doing it based on port number. Some ISPs however, do it by the protocal instead, if this is the case then there isn't a lot you can do about it.

hope this helps

[Trash Man]

Thanks for the help. I don't think they are throttling any port that I am aware of. I can't see anything on there website, would they say on there website? I'm with Nildram.

Been using Nildram, Newsleecher and Newshosting together for about 2 years now with no problems what so ever, but this last week I have not been able to get above 120kb/s, which just happends to be the limit for the trail version of newsleech, but they say it's nothing to do with them, as do newshosting atm.

[Funkstar]

i'm with Nildram too, but haven't used Newsgroups for years. I would think it would be in their Ts&Cs if they are throttling 119

[Trash Man]

Changed it to connect through port 80 and everything is back to normal again. I guess they are throttling port 119 now. Although I can't see any change to thier T&C's in the last week.

[TheAnimus]

it might not be throttling, it might just be QoS giving priority for port 80

[Craig321]

I'm not sure if the same applies for Newsgroups, but on torrent the header of the client gets encrypted to stop the ISP seeing that's it's a torrent client... then when the ISP client cracks that encryption your torrent download speeds will be limited. I'm not sue if it's the same with newsgroups though?

[TheAnimus]

usenet is a very old archain protocol, hasn't been updated at all lately, its only been extend (yenc etc) so no it dosen't do this.

But most ISPs do not throttle usenet, as it tends to be downstream not upstream (which generally means they get in less trouble)

[Trash Man]

Main thing is that it's working fine again

I don't think they are throttling 119, my brother uses the same setup and he is having no speed problems.