Torrenting help and tips

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 am

Here is some useful info i have found out about torrents.

1. Choose your ISP wisely

The basic rule is that the maximum Torrent download speed that you can get can’t cross the upper limit of the bandwidth
provided by your ISP. Usually ISP’s specify the upload and download maximum for the connections. So it is always better to
have an ISP who provides better Download and Upload limits for an affordable price.

2. Choose the right uTorrent client

Always choose the latest versions among the available BitTorrent clients. uTorrent, Vuze etc are some of these latest
versions available now. The latest versions are equipped with provisions for obtaining the highest download speed and an
overall smooth downloading experience.

3. Check the seeds and peers

A peer is a computer which participates in the P2P sharing either for downloading or uploading. A seed is a computer who has
got a complete copy of the file and is sharing that file in the network. A leech is a computer who doesn’t have a complete
copy of the file, and is downloading the file at the moment. A leech becomes a seed when it completes the download and shares
it over the network. It is always advisable to choose the files with more number of seeds and less no of leeches. That means
the file with the highest seed to leech ratio.

4. Altering the firewall configuration

By default the firewalls block all the uTorrent connections coming through. This can adversely affect the downloading
speed. So you must make sure that your firewall is configured in such a way that it allows the uTorrent connections through
it. This can be done by checking the box ‘Add Windows Firewall Exception” in the firewall settings following the path
options/preferences/connection. For ease some users may disable the firewall, but it is strongly advised that you shouldn’t
disable your firewall that it will open your computer to serious threat.

5. Limiting your upload rate

A peer to peer sharing is all about simultaneous upload and download. So every BitTorrent clients must upload some data at
the same they are downloading some other data through torrent. For obtaining a high download speed you should vary your
upload speed accordingly. Usually the upload maximum by the ISP is very much less than the download maximum. It is only
50Kbps for a 2Mbps connection. For fast downloading you can set your uploading speed to 80% of your maximum uploading speed.
You must vary the speed as the download progresses for an efficient downloading. Keep the uploading limit maximum in the
beginning and then slightly decrease it as the download progresses. In uTorrent the upload limit can be set from the option
Global Upload Rate.

6. Selecting a different port

The default port for the BitTorrent file sharing is one between 6881 and 6999. As BitTorrent sharing involves high bandwidth
usage the ISP’s usually throttle traffic on these ports. So you can increase the downloading speed by selecting some port
above 10000. Usually uTorrent randomly assign the port as the application starts. So set a specific port with a number above
10000, by disabling the Randomize port checkbox.

7. Increasing the number of Maximum Half Open TCP Connections

Usually the maximum no of half open TCP connections in Windows with SP2 is set as 10 for blocking the virus
multiplication. But torrent needs more. To facilitate this a patch TCPIP.sys is available. Through this patch you can set the
maximum no of open TCP connections. Set it to any number between 50 and 100.

8. Protocol encryption

Some ISP’s constrict the bandwidth for P2P sharing. Protocol encryption can be used to override this restriction. Check the
Allow incoming legacy connections box and make the outgoing Encryption as Disabled for getting maximum speed on Torrent
downloads. Between non-encryption is not advisable as it may lead to some encrypted client to be left as undiscovered.

9. Connections and bandwidth

The BitTorrent client you are using will allow you to enter values for

Global maximum no of connections: It is the maximum no of connections BitTorrent client can make for any P2P sharing. Setting
this no to a very high value will take up useless bandwidth, and to a very low value will miss out some peers. For a 256kbps
connection you can set this number to 130.

Maximum no of connected peers per torrent: Set this no to one which is closer to the no of available peers for the file.

No of upload slots per torrent: It gives the maximum no of peers to which the BitTorrent client uploads at a time. Since a
low settings may affect the download set it to a moderate low value.

10. Miscellaneous

Disable the individual files for download along with a particular file, if we don’t want them at the beginning of download.
Be familiar with your BitTorrent client settings from the users manual or web.

Also take a look at these links of other guides that could help you improve your downloads.

Port forwarding isohunt guide

Simple port forwarding easy to use port forwarding tool

Speed test test your isp speed

uTorrent settings guide

Creating torrents and uploading

Peerblock blocks bad ip's

If you think your isp is throttling you click here

Not sure of the differant video source's? Click here

Confused what to do with Rar, Zip, 7z compressed files? Click here

Having trouble with the bit torrent lingo? bittorrent vocabulary

Keep getting dodgy downloads? Look here How to spot a fake torrent

All of this is what i have found out here thanks to others, so if anyone would like to add there hints and tips, i think we could get a good guide going.

Thanks to schlomo72,thetazzzz,bazzer101,weirdobeardo,robmead,Crooked_Ferret

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:12 am

nice post =$9artan=

add these useful links as well to it and i will sticky it

Simple Port Forwarding an easy to use automatic port forwarding tool

Speed Test test your ISP speeds

Peerblock blocks known bad IP's

most importantly

Learn to Spot Fake Torrents

im sure there is more

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:19 am

This wiki link comes in handy BitTorrent vocabulary Good post =$9artan= Wink

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:20 am

some good advice =$9artan= and some extra toasty additions ......

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:25 am

=$9artan= wrote:

8. Protocol encryption

Some ISP’s constrict the bandwidth for P2P sharing. Protocol encryption can be used to override this restriction. Check the
Allow incoming legacy connections box and make the outgoing Encryption as Disabled for getting maximum speed on Torrent
downloads. Between non-encryption is not advisable as it may lead to some encrypted client to be left as undiscovered.

I'm pretty sure Comcast does something like this. Sometimes (not all the time) when I'm torrenting, it completely disables my ability to use the internet for anything else. Resetting the modem always fixes this issue, and it usually only happens after I've finished dl'ing and am just seeding. I get a little paranoid about it, and I haven't been torrenting as much as a result.

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:13 am

weirdobeardo wrote:

=$9artan= wrote:

8. Protocol encryption

Some ISP’s constrict the bandwidth for P2P sharing. Protocol encryption can be used to override this restriction. Check the
Allow incoming legacy connections box and make the outgoing Encryption as Disabled for getting maximum speed on Torrent
downloads. Between non-encryption is not advisable as it may lead to some encrypted client to be left as undiscovered.

I'm pretty sure Comcast does something like this. Sometimes (not all the time) when I'm torrenting, it completely disables my ability to use the internet for anything else. Resetting the modem always fixes this issue, and it usually only happens after I've finished dl'ing and am just seeding. I get a little paranoid about it, and I haven't been torrenting as much as a result.

some also throttle your speeds... there is another link for that but i cant remember it... i think tazz does Wink

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:25 am

My comcast can upload at around 250 kb/s

However, I have to set it about 100 max if I intend to surf while the client is running. Otherwise my internet basically just lags out on me and page loads get extremely slow.

I just change the max upload depending on whether I am using the computer or not at the time. It takes like 3 seconds to change the setting.

The real problem is that residential class internet is just not made for uploading. It's made for downloading, for watching streaming video.
...and in general has just enough upload to manage to play online games and upload some photos now and then.

I just doesn't really support high uploads even though the system is capable of sustaining them.

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:35 am

I think the link for checking whether you are being throttled is:
http://broadband.mpi-sws.org/transparency/bttest-mlab.php

Well thats the one i use anyway. It may have been tazzzz who suggested it to me. It was someone on here anyway Smile

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:48 am

bazzer101 wrote:

I think the link for checking whether you are being throttled is:
http://broadband.mpi-sws.org/transparency/bttest-mlab.php

Well thats the one i use anyway. It may have been tazzzz who suggested it to me. It was someone on here anyway Smile

yup... thats the one i was looking for... thanks bazzer

Glasnost

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:34 pm

Yep good link bazzer101 Very Happy

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:59 pm

Oh yeah, and Comcast has a limit to how much one can download now. I think it's like 250gb/month.

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 4:08 am

Thank's for the help guy's.

Added a bit extra now. Wink

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 4:16 am

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 4:51 pm

This is very helpful. Thank you!

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:56 pm

This we site lets you know if your port is being blocked in things like utorrent by your isp
http://www.canyouseeme.org/
this is anther handy one here
http://www.utorrent.com/testport
you should get your magic tick in that one lol..

If you need to edit a torrent file
http://torrenteditor.com/