Comcast torrent issues?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:17 pm

As reported in the news lately, Comcast Communications, a US cable company with pretty widespread marketshare has, without prior warning, is preventing its customers from uploading (seeding) via the bittorrent protocol. If you're a comcast customer, I would suggest letting them know that you're not appreciative.

More info from a user affected: http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2007/08/21/comcast-is-starting-the-tiered-internet-whether-we-like-it-or-not/

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:25 pm

This really is the beginning of the end, only a matter of time b4 isps over here start doing the same.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:37 pm

Clearwire do it here already(Ireland).

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:50 pm

I'm a Comcast customer, been so for about 8 years with hi-speed internet, however, I haven't seen any speed issue so far. I'm runing at 120k/20k, but if an issue does arise, I will be finding an alternate asap. I dont deal with bullshit.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:47 pm

MaxPayne3476 wrote:

I'm a Comcast customer, been so for about 8 years with hi-speed internet, however, I haven't seen any speed issue so far. I'm runing at 120k/20k, but if an issue does arise, I will be finding an alternate asap. I dont deal with bullshit.

Agreed, and +1

No issue here with comcast.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:43 pm

oh sheet man, I've been living in a comcast house for the last year, I can't bt through my college now but this is still a blow, comcast is pretty much a monopoly through the southeast US. bastards

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:33 am

This is going to suck if this ever starts to apply to me. I've got a little different setup so they may not be able to stop me. (or not. I have been wrong before and they have "warned" me before) I have my self behind a router then to my cable but ALWAYS runnning pg2. Definitely recommend having with as many lists as possible.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:52 am

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.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:59 am

There is an easy workaround to this issue. Move the ports!

The best selection for port numbers is those close to if not overlapping on line game ports. If they shut down these ports, users would pick up pitchforks and march on their offices.

I learned that some providers where starting to do this quite some time ago, and adjusted mine. (I have Fios). I don't think they are blocking, but it certainly doesn't affect operation of the bt client.

A good range of values would be in the 27000-35000 range. Don't forget to reset your router to port forward to the correct ports. I have set my router to port forward 8 ports starting at the base value I have my bt client set to. So for example if you have selected 27960, set the router to forward ports 27960-27968. (if this is a dumb idea, someone let me know, but I think i read somewhere to open a range of ports.) Set it to forward both tcp and udp packets.

For those of you who haven't adjusted your routers, read up on it. By using port forwarding, you will speed your download times tremendously. Consult your individual router manufacturer's documentation on how to do that. There are also guides that go into more detail. (those living in dorms and such are out of luck.)

Most BT clients have the ability to check whether the port is being forwarded. Again, check your bt client provider for more info. Look for port forwarding info.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:57 pm

I'm not having any problems either. Maybe because I never loaded the Road Runner software for my internet. If you are having problems maybe you should remove it and go straight to Yahoo or MSN.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:23 pm

Removing the bundled software that your ISP gave you will not do anything.

The above post about port forwarding is a more accurate approach.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:27 pm

Though not installing there bundled software is never bad advice! Laughing

the gaming thing sounds interesting though, never heard that; though my range is around the 30000 mark, but ive got shaw Smile

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:32 pm

as it turns out i spoke too soon. Sad

comcast is shutting off my torrent upload about 30 secs into it.

also i put the port to use a counter-strike port and no dice Sad

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:28 am

the only way around detection is encryption, make sure it is enabled

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:33 am

Edit: Again it seems to be affecting me now too... my seeding speeds are extremely low now. This is what i got from talking with a rep at the head office

Quote:

Comcast on Tuesday denied rumors that the company is filtering BitTorrent traffic running over its network.

Broadband providers have not been big fans of BitTorrent because the use of the peer-to-peer protocol can clog networks with huge files. The blog TorrentFreak claims that several Internet Service Providers have been "throttling" or limiting BitTorrent traffic on their networks for the past two years. And last week, the blog accused Comcast of going even further to limit the use of BitTorrent on its network.

The blog claimed that some Comcast users had noticed that their BitTorrent transfers were being cut off and that they experienced a significant decrease in download speeds.

Over the past few days, these claims have been widely circulated throughout the Web. But Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas denied that the company was filtering or "shaping" any traffic on its network. He said the company doesn't actively look at the applications or content that its customers download over the network. But Comcast does reserve the right to cut off service to customers who abuse the network by using too much bandwidth.

"More than 99.99 percent of our customers use the residential high-speed Internet service as intended, which includes downloading and sharing video, photos and other rich media," he said. "But Comcast has a responsibility to provide these customers with a superior experience, and to address any excessive or abusive activities usage issues that may adversely impact that experience."

In the rare instances the company has to enforce its policy, Douglas said that Comcast contacts subscribers to work out the issue. But he firmly reiterated that the company doesn't Filter or throttle back traffic.

Given the proliferation of television, and in some cases even near DVD quality content, being delivered over the internet there are legitimate questions about how capable internet providers are of consistently delivering the bandwidth they use as a selling point for their service.

Whether the bandwidth required for Streaming and downloaded video is available is certainly one of those questions, but another is whose responsibility it is to pay for it.

As online content and IPTV services attempt to compete with traditional cable and satellite providers, some of whom will be providing the bandwidth to make it possible, expect both questions to be hotly debated.