1 year, 12 months ago
Why are BitTorrent-client download speeds far less than the advertised speed I should be getting?
I have Verizon DSL here in California. I often use BitTorrent clients to download files. More specifically, I use one of the latest version of uTorrent 2.0 (Build 18296). I have made sure that the proper ports are open and have even tested them to ensure that my ports are, in fact, open and working. Everything seems fine in that department.
I supposedly have a 3Mbps connection. My download of torrent files seems to top out at a total download speed of roughly 320-340 kbps. This seems to be, roughly, 1/10th of my download potential.
I have run tests at a site to see if my service is being throttled and, according to the test, all signs say that it is not being throttled. I ran the test by following the link provided at:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/is-your-isp-throttling-your-bit-torrent-downloads-any-platform/
Is there any explanation as to why my speeds are such a small fraction of what my download potential is? Keep in mind that I am not running any other internet-based services or programs at the time that I am using my BiTtorrent client (uTorrent 2.0). Any answers as to why this is happening would be greatly appreciated.
If you have had similar issues and know how to resolve the problem, you will, more than likely, earn the tip.
Thank you in advance!
I supposedly have a 3Mbps connection. My download of torrent files seems to top out at a total download speed of roughly 320-340 kbps. This seems to be, roughly, 1/10th of my download potential.
I have run tests at a site to see if my service is being throttled and, according to the test, all signs say that it is not being throttled. I ran the test by following the link provided at:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/is-your-isp-throttling-your-bit-torrent-downloads-any-platform/
Is there any explanation as to why my speeds are such a small fraction of what my download potential is? Keep in mind that I am not running any other internet-based services or programs at the time that I am using my BiTtorrent client (uTorrent 2.0). Any answers as to why this is happening would be greatly appreciated.
If you have had similar issues and know how to resolve the problem, you will, more than likely, earn the tip.
Thank you in advance!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$3 Answers
I use a 8Mbps connection and my best download speeds tend to be around 1.4Mbps with massive amounts of seeds/peers using the same program as you.
The thing most people don't realize is Mbps is Megabits per second and not Megabytes per second.
a bit is a binary digit, the smallest unit of measurement of data.
To make things easier, binary digits are put into groups of 8.
a byte a group of 8 bits.
So, 3 megabits per second should give 300KBytes per second.
Use this formula:
8 MegaBits = 1 MegaByte
3 Megabits = 1/8 * 3 MegaByte = 0.375 MegaBytes or 384 Kilobytes (Kb)
Cable and Phone providers know most people don't know the difference or won't figure out what they are actually paying for so they can price it however they like without much hassle by the general public.
The thing most people don't realize is Mbps is Megabits per second and not Megabytes per second.
a bit is a binary digit, the smallest unit of measurement of data.
To make things easier, binary digits are put into groups of 8.
a byte a group of 8 bits.
So, 3 megabits per second should give 300KBytes per second.
Use this formula:
8 MegaBits = 1 MegaByte
3 Megabits = 1/8 * 3 MegaByte = 0.375 MegaBytes or 384 Kilobytes (Kb)
Cable and Phone providers know most people don't know the difference or won't figure out what they are actually paying for so they can price it however they like without much hassle by the general public.
source(s):
I hate cable companies.
I hate cable companies.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
While your prescribed Internet speeds may be 3 megabits per second, that doesn't mean that your connection to every server in the world is going to be that exact amount. This is just your absolute maximum speed, check out http://www.speedtest.net a site that will give you your general internet speed which is likely going to be in the 2.7-2.9 range.
With torrents, you are relying on the upload speed of the various seeds for the file. Once you have looked into your download speed on Speed Test, go back and look at your upload speed. Unless you've made a special plan with your ISP, this is going to be in the 500kbps or 1mbps range. The same goes for the seeds on your torrent, as they are under the same speed constraints.
With torrents, you are relying on the upload speed of the various seeds for the file. Once you have looked into your download speed on Speed Test, go back and look at your upload speed. Unless you've made a special plan with your ISP, this is going to be in the 500kbps or 1mbps range. The same goes for the seeds on your torrent, as they are under the same speed constraints.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
utorrent is an excellent program for torrent downloads. Lightweight and efficient. They have recently added the utp protocol to aid in traffic marshaling at the ISP.
Your ability to download is limited is for one simple reason. It's a peer to peer connection so your download speed is not the limitation it is the other peer's upload speed.
Many users additionally limit their upload speed to values like 10KB/s which is much slower then their upload capability.(so they can surf efficiently while downloading)
So if you have 20 open connections to other peers with 10Kb/s limits then your maximum download speed is going to be 200 kb/s
This is so far below your download b/w as to be negligible. The chances of getting a large number of peers downloading to you at the same time is quite low - depending on where you are in relation to them.
Additionally the utp protocol is supposed to allow ISPs to shape the traffic better and allow users to use torrents without jamming up the ISP's upload receivers. But its a new protocol and is not widely managed yet. There is also discussion suggesting its not working as well as expected yet.
http://www.techhail.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/utorrent-20-utp-improved-bittorrent-protocol-avoids-the-need-for-isp-throttling.png
Your ability to download is limited is for one simple reason. It's a peer to peer connection so your download speed is not the limitation it is the other peer's upload speed.
Many users additionally limit their upload speed to values like 10KB/s which is much slower then their upload capability.(so they can surf efficiently while downloading)
So if you have 20 open connections to other peers with 10Kb/s limits then your maximum download speed is going to be 200 kb/s
This is so far below your download b/w as to be negligible. The chances of getting a large number of peers downloading to you at the same time is quite low - depending on where you are in relation to them.
Additionally the utp protocol is supposed to allow ISPs to shape the traffic better and allow users to use torrents without jamming up the ISP's upload receivers. But its a new protocol and is not widely managed yet. There is also discussion suggesting its not working as well as expected yet.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
In summary, the only way to get faster speed is to buy moar internets.