Bit torrent speed issues ~NTL modem is it a router?

[biggyd]

Hi all, I'm new to this place. Just wondering whether someone might be able to help with this torrent speed queery.

a few stats: running XP sp2 through NTL 750k cable broadband.

I'm trying to download using Bitlord 1.1 and can't get out of the 10-20 kb/s range (average about 8kb/s and from what I can work out it's not badly seeded). I've followed various guides for setting up Bit Torrent's and have opened the port in XP Firewall and in Zone Alarm. Patched XP with lvllords patch and played around with various setting. I've pretty much tried everything guides and other forums have talked about on this issue.

However there is a part which talks about opening ports in routers (port forwarding). I didn't think I went through a Router, but now I'm having second thoughts.

It showed me how to get the gateway ID from ipconfig and then adding the ip address into a browser address line to bring up the router - I don't get a router... just page cannot be displayed. I was wondering whether my NTL Pace set top box is a router or just a modem? If it is a Router does anyone know how to access it to open the ports?

This is where my own limited networking knowledge gives up on me... One other though I had was the way I am connecting to the set top box - it's through the USB connection dongle - could this make a difference?

Hoping someone out there has a thought or two,

Cheers
Biggy

[Chris W]

the stb is not a router- it is just a cable modem, and the usb dongle won't make any difference (although, if you have an ethernet card in the pc you are much better off using the ethernet connection)

[biggyd]

Thanks Chris, I'll stop looking at the router opening ports reason for my problems and try an find another reason why I can't open up for faster downloads.

I have been doing a NAT Check and with the torrent ID and port from and it fails and states :Unable to connect. This likely means you need to adjust your port forwarding configuration, or there is no client running on that port.

I have a client running through the port, so was wondering whether it could have something to do with the way NTL routes via unspecific IP adresses. Could NTL be operating as a Router?

Ta for the shout about the USB - I Always wondered about it as a connection. I've got an ethernet card and will plug up (I'm sure in NTL's starter pack it said it was best to use the USB!)

Does anyone have any thoughts why I can't get faster connections with BitLord?

Cheers
Biggy

[AbyssUnderground]

Try a different client. Ive used uTorrent before and it seemed very fast if you put your upload in the 10KB/s mark.

It doesnt need installing and is about 100KB I think.

[~Dan~]

I use shadows experimental (the updated version is called bittornado) and my torrents always go really fast.

I don't know bittornado, I'm still using shadows experimental, but it can't be much different. Go into preferences-advanced and set "local ip" and "ip to bind to" to your ip, otherwise it sometimes uses the webcache instead. Set max peer connections to something like 60. Lower your upload to something around 2 thirds to 3 quarters of your maximum upload speed - if you upload at your maximum speed it severely slows your download speed.

[Jim galbally]

to start with, ditch bitlord its a spywared up version of bitcomet.

also your STB/modem, is NOT a router.

however, ZONEALARM will likely be the casue of your problems. it doesnt like bittorrent, and even the latest veriosn cant cope properly with it. disable it and see if that makes any difference.

also whats you upload speed set to, thats does make quite a big difference.

[jellybaby]

I use bittornado and bitcomet and get excellent speeds from both. I'd highly recommend Bitcomet as it connects to the DHT network, so you end up with alot of connections

[swoop101]

Most private sites have now banned bitcomet.