Sudden drop in utorrent download speed

[LouisMoore16]

Hello,

I've just started using utorrent on my laptop today and originally I could only reach 30 KB/s max. I configured the setting in preference and was able to get it up to around 300 KB/s.

The problem is that it only stays at this speed for 1 min max and then falls around the 30 KB/s ish area again. Occasionally it will climb back up too 300 KB/s again before dropping back down again

Can anyone help

[Ambroos]

A few things to do.

1. Set your upload limit to about half of your maximum upload speed to prevent the upload clogging up the download overhead.
   
2. Enable encryption on the BitTorrent tab. To be really sure you could set it to Forced, and uncheck the 'legacy connections'.
   
3. If the torrent consists of multiple files your speeds could drop when ?Torrent is reserving file space. When the speeds drop, check the status bar for Disk Overload. If it says Disk Overload your speed drop is perfectly fine. After the first few percent of your download you probably won't see any more Disk Overloads.
   

In general ?Torrent works perfectly fine. Speed drops happen from time to time at the start, but it'll stable out after a few minutes max.

[LouisMoore16]

Thanks. Some of the thing you suggested i had already done but I tried the one about upload speed and it's seemed to level out.

What's the best port to use?

[Ambroos]

Thanks. Some of the thing you suggested i had already done but I tried the one about upload speed and it's seemed to level out.

What's the best port to use?

Anything really, just hit random port and make sure the port check works out. Make sure UPnP is enabled both in ?Torrent and on your router's config page. But it doesn't even matter that much for speed, good port forwarding just helps you getting connections faster.

[LouisMoore16]

Why do I need enable UPnP port mapping on? I followed a tutorial which told me not to have it on and since it's been off my speeds have reached 300 KB/s

[+BudMan MVC]

You don't need UPnP -- this is for people that do not understand what a port is, or how to forward it through their routers.. Its for grandma to be able to have unsolicited inbound traffic get to her machine ;)

Are you wireless? Wireless and torrents not really a good fit!

300KB is pretty slow download.. What are you internet speeds -- quick test from speedtest.net should give us something close. Just make sure you not in the middle of doing torrents when you test.

300KB is like 2.5Mbps -- sounds like a wireless G connection to me.

edit: If you on a wired decent speed internet connection. These are more common speeds you should be seeing

And i am in the middle of uploading 1.5 GB of stuff to my dropbox as well. Unless your on a really bad internet connection, or wireless 300KB is really slow for a decent seeded torrent.

[LouisMoore16]

Oh right thanks for that!

Yes I am wireless. It's a BT home hub 2. I don't think my Internet download speed is too great (around 2.5 like you said). I'm not sure if it's that low from my dad being a tight arse and not paying for a good package or BT ripping us off!

[+BudMan MVC]

Well you never going to see your true internet speed wireless, unless its less than your wireless speeds.

Connect your box to the router with a ethernet cable and then test your internet connection.

Doing torrents over wireless kills WIRELESS!! for anyone one else on wireless.

[Ambroos]

Ehm. I get my 6.8MB/s (yes Byte, not Bits) over Wireless. And my mom can surf just fine over wireless. As long as I don't choke the upload, that is.

[+BudMan MVC]

"I get my 6.8MB/s (yes Byte, not Bits)"

And your not on G wireless are you ;)

And I get

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth

[156] 0.0-10.0 sec 978 MBytes 97.8 MBytes/sec

Over my gig connection -- so what is your point?

Wireless is SHARED bandwidth -- does not what portion you try and choke up or down. Its not duplex and its shared.

[soldier1st]

An ip filter can help unless i am mistaken.you could also try this http://broadband.mpi-sws.org/transparency/bttest.php