Random disconnects with routers & 20mb service

[frustrated_user]

We've been on the 2mb service with Virgin Media for some time - with a SMS Barricade 700BR router providing the connection between our Motorola SURFboard SB5100 modem and 1 Windows XP Home PC, 1 OS X mac mini, and an iBook which piggybacks off the mini using airport. Everything going fine, including with one user who's an enthusiastic podcast/torrent downloader (so large traffic flow).

We recently tried to upgrade to the 20mb service (well, 10mb which will be 20mb in our area shortly). However, we found out that the SMC router was causing a bottleneck in the traffic speed, limited to 5mb or thereabouts; when the ethernet cable is directly into a PC, we ARE getting the full 10mb service. So we buy a new router - a Netgear WNR854T.

When Netgear is plugged in, random disconnections happen, sometimes whilst surfing the net, but very often (every 2 or 3 mins) whilst downloading torrents. CUtting out the router solves this issue - hence suspicions of a faulty router.

We then buy and test out a Linksys BEFSR41. This time, few disconnections whilst surfing but still lots of disconnetions whilst downloading from multiple sources i.e. torrents.

Essentially we've decided to go back to the 2mb service/old router because we can't figure out what's going wrong, and a broadband connection that isn't stable just isn't viable for running a WOW TeamSpeak server (as we do).

I've been reading about the traffic shaping stuff that Virgin Media do on this site, as well as other users complaining that torrents are reknown for disconnecting computer from the net.

Question:

What could be causing the above scenario? Torrents/etc d/l fine with our old slow connection and ancient router. The random discconections don't happen when we take routers (x2) out of the mix... hence this indicates NOT a Virgin Media issue surely? But then we called Vrigin tech support and they won't recommend a router for the 20mb service


Any ideas?

[MovedGoalPosts]

to Cable Forum

Firstly Virgin Media don't support - as in provide assistance - routers. Thus they won't recommend to avoid getting into dodgy ground when a customer has issues.

Torrents generally can expose weaknesses in kit that other useage gets away with. It's nothing to do with traffic shaping which is applied at Virgin Media's end, wheras the problems you are seeing are clearly in your router, or use of it.

There are some basics - firstly your upload speed of any torrents should be no more than 80% of the total speed available (if you get shaped remember your upload speed drops so your torrent speed also needs to be adjusted). Similarly limit your download bandwidth, especially if you have someone else using the internet while the torrents are running.

Now look at how many connections are being maintained by your torrent client. Torrents work by throwing out lots of messages trying to find others who have / or want the stuff you are sharing. These connections can get refreshed very frequently. This can overwhelm the router's memory. Certainly the earlier versions of the Linksys WRT54G series suffered from this. Third party firmware (DD_WRT for example) can help reduce this problem, but you still have to adjust some retention settings in the router.

Finally, and perhaps the biggest problem, by moving to the top tier internet speed, chances are you are now mixing it with all the other big boy users in your area. Contention issues could be having an effect.