Comcast torrent issues?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:02 pm

No need for a fuss people.

First of all, there's ways around this issue (be it by port-forwarding, tunneling or encrypting data-transfer). Second of all, for most people there will be alternatives to Comcast for internet access. Thirdly, Comcast doesn't provide internet connection to the planet. They cannot ever restrict internet as a whole to any more than their own customers.

As for "it's the end of the e-world": remember, however they may be rumored and even proven to be infringed at times, you do have a right to privacy . Filtering can only be done up to a certain extent without infringing your privacy. At which point you can take things to court.

You pay for what you want to use. Competition keeps the prices and limitations down while it keeps speeds and features up. If there's only two ISP's in your area and they both start charging you for using BitTorrent or whatever other service, that's one unlucky you . Again, there are legislations to be held into account. It is very unlikely that an ISP will get away with making their customers pay to visit a website run by another person/organisation/company. P2P is a little more complicated, as it's not owned by anyone.

Ask yourself: How likely is it that 'they' (hey, who's they anyway, company's are run by people who may use BitTorrent themselves, you know!) will introduce something like this on a broad (international) scale? Let me tell you straight out: not likely by far.

-V.

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:42 am

I sent and called their investor relations line. I wrote them saying I was an investor disgusted with their service and censorship and was dumping all of their stock and advising everyone I knew to dump theirs and boycott buying any... Wink

They wrote me back real quick asking me to please reconsider.

They also pleaded with me on the phone I should stick with them.

Flood them. People think calling service people to complain costs Comcast money.

Nothing like tying up their broker I would bet....LOL

http://www.cmcsk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=118591&p=irol-contact

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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:16 pm

unfortunately for me its either dial up or comcast Sad

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:03 pm

really, if the telecom act of 96 had not given them so much more power and even more control of the "airwaves" then cable and net would be a lot cheaper. as far as cost/MBps tradeoff, the us is below Estonia (#24). That is, Americans are paying too much for the cable that was funded by their tax dollars to begin with.

Crying shame really. Once again the public gets the shaft. They overcharge us for something WE funded and then they deny us USE of it? Inexcusable!

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:21 pm

fortunately i dont use Comcast but it seems like only a matter of time before TDS and Charter start doing the same thing in my area. i guess i cant really speak for Charter but TDS are a bunch of pricks. i have "2mb/s" service and it never comes close to that. my friend on Charter has 3mb/s and they up his to 5mb/s for free. i feel screwed.

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:52 pm

Strange, my friend has Comcast and is having no problems seeding torrents.

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:09 pm

What hasn't been widely reported is that Qwest, since the beginning of this year, has started inhibiting P2P file trasfer as well. Since Qwest is the major and sometimes only competitor to Comcast in many markets, that's a problem for those wishing to switch ISPs as a response to this issue. Even though there are a few independent ISPs were I live, they all lease their bandwidth from Qwest. The only other alternatives are the prohibitively expensive mobile carriers.

Several calls to Qwest technical support and customer service have only resulted in various quotes of the Terms of Service: users are prohibited from using Qwest high speed DSL for VOIP and P2P file sharing. Qwest does offer its own VOIP service for an additional fee.

Comcast and Qwest are using real time packet analysis to shape and control traffic. It's incredible to think that the hardware exists that can analyze millions of packets per second! For torrent users this means that simply changing ports or encrypting downloads will not necessarily avoid packet shaping.

As has already been mentioned in this thread, one reason ISPs are doing this is to avoid customers learning just how oversubscribed their networks are. In my state Qwest is a publicly regulated utility and was sued by the state for insufficient infrastructure. The state won, and Qwest has been required to make 200+ million in upgrades. We'll see...

Of course the other reason ISPs do this is the whole net-neutrality thing. Comcast has started it's own VOIP service, Qwest wants to start its own video distribution service, etc. Third parties that use Comcasts' and Qwest's bandwidth to provide the same or better services for free or lower cost are just a pain in their assets! Twisted Evil

With the amount of money involved and the lack of alternatives available, I doubt complaining to your ISP will have any effect. A legislated solution is required. Let your elected officials know that you believe in choice and open competitive markets!

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:57 am

I used to be a tech support guy for their high speed internet(in Newfoundland Canada is where I used to work) anyway, Comcast have a system where they can detect remotely what you do with their net connection. Changing your ports is NOT going to help. they have very sophisticated technology that monitors anyone seeding or spamming through their service. i had heard 6 months ago that they were going to implement stopping seeders. I just never thought they would go ahead with it. Beware people, this is how they plan to catch people. I would switch to another provider if I was in the States, but Comcast in two years time will be offering up to 250Mb/s transfer rates.
The choice is yours.

A tip from a voice on the other end.

Thank you for calling Comcast, My name is ___ can I get your telephone number beginning with the area code please?...........

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:35 am

I can still seed, seeding now w/ Azureus 3.0.2.0 with full encryption (no fallback), lazy bitfield, and high number non-standard ports. However, it is confirmed that Comcast is blocking any seeding that is detectable, at least in part of their network. Here in Chicago- don't know. I'm not interested in opening up my settings to seek out blocking.

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:01 pm

bigmac375 wrote:

i have comcast and so far no problems here. recently they upgraded my upload from 45 kBps to 110 mBps, so i am seeding faster than ever. Smile

i must say, that i will be switching to verizon fios no matter what happens.

same here...I'm strongly looking forward to my 15/2 connection - just waiting til my year intro period is over ($33/month for 4Mbps, not too bad). Maybe by then they'll have the 20/5 option up. We'll see how that works out. Hopefully they won't follow suit with comcast.

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:03 pm

primetard wrote:

I can still seed, seeding now w/ Azureus 3.0.2.0 with full encryption (no fallback), lazy bitfield, and high number non-standard ports. However, it is confirmed that Comcast is blocking any seeding that is detectable, at least in part of their network. Here in Chicago- don't know. I'm not interested in opening up my settings to seek out blocking.

I'm in Chicago as well...no problems yet

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:16 am

Not sure if this will work for everyone, but it did for me.

Recently, I noticed a sharp decline in seeding speed (and, needless to say, I have Comcast). However, following a recommendation from a friend, I downloaded PeerGuardian. I noticed an immediate difference, and whenever PeerGuardian is running, my seeding speeds (leech speeds, as well) are higher than ever.

Hope that helps.

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:30 pm

I've got Comcast cable near the Atlanta area, and I haven't had any problems with slow speeds or problems with seeding. Rolling Eyes

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:14 pm

I am actually on the phone with them right now. I noticed a significant change and I thought it might just be something on my end. Of course, I'm a complete noob so it might possibly be something on my end. But you guys got me thinking that maybe its not. I'm on hold.

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:36 am

If you're not located in the US, there's probably no need to read further...

After my previous rant, I decided to check on broadband options in my area. Worse than I thought. Every local ISP I checked no longer offers their own branded DSL service, they all are re-sellers of Qwest DSL. That leaves only two real broadband providers in my neck of the woods: Qwest and Comcast. Both are known to use packet shaping.

If you haven't been hit yet, don't get complacent; packet shaping is coming to a neighborhood near you. Qwest, Comcast, and the other big boys are ready with expensive bundles that will meet all your needs, at least they'll meet what they tell you you need, and they'll use all the lobbyists and technology at their disposal to throttle the competition.

Here's a link to an interesting essay comparing broadband in the US and Japan, that sheds some light on how we got here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-welsh/why-japan-is-eating-ameri_b_62608.html