Internet hangs when download starts

[DeanShu]

Hi all-

I recently bought a new computer. I am using uTorrent 1.7.7, build 8179, and running Vista Home Basic.

My problem is that everytime I start downloading a new torrent, my internet as well as everyone else on my network hangs. Firefox and Trillian lose their connection to the internet. This lasts for about 1 to 2 minutes.

I know it isn't a router or DSL issue because on my old computer (a laptop) uTorrent started and downloaded torrents flawlessly without any glitch at all.

I was wondering if there was any cause for this problem, and what I could do to fix it.

Thanks,

DeanShu

[Firon]

If it affects other people on the network, it IS a router issue. You're overloading the router.

http://forum.utorrent.com/viewtopic.php?id=15992#p258231

[DeanShu]

I will try to connect the modem directly to the computer; I've just tried using the settings recommended in the post you linked me to.

However, is there a reason why the uTorrent on my old computer works? Should I try and clone the settings from that computer to my new one?

Thanks,

DeanShu

[Firon]

Different settings, I'd assume.

You don't need to connect directly to the modem, just find settings that work using the guide I linked to.

[DeanShu]

Thanks, I used the recommended settings and it worked.

Not sure which one it was that was causing the disconnection, though.

Thanks for the help,

DeanShu

[jewelisheaven]

First thing people notice which causes that is DHT, second would be the hardware not able to handle the increased load of a forwarded port, third would be the high concurrent peer count.

The problem with the current Speed Guide default settings is they're too lenient for a majority of users. You can always tune your numbers as you use uT, but remember: The more peers you connect to simultaneously the less likelihood of being able to upload efficiently to them. Given the default timeout of 5 minutes for inactive connections you're not likely to keep peers who you don't upload to which could be a bad thing if you hop onto a fast peer with a large upload pipe.

I would recommend connecting to no more than 10x the upload slots you have (to accommodate half peers and half seeds which you won't be uploading to) but in reality you don't need > 5x. Also if you want faster downloads lower the number of active torrents to allow faster uploads per peer which will kick you above others where applicable in the queue for persistent uploaders. 3-5 KiBps is OK, but in certain cases you need 10 KiBps sustained to stay on a fast peers good peers list. Then of course there's the predicament if you're seeding stuff initially: @ 15 KiBps you can just get a 4 MiB piece out in 5 minutes, prior to peers disconnecting from you. It's all about how you use your ut