wgr614v6 slow net browsing when using Bittorrent

[wongnog]

Hi guys. I have a WGR614v6 router connected wirelessly to my computer using a D-Link DWL-G122. When I use uTorrent to download/upload files, I'm able to max down/uplink so I get max 1000 Kb/sec down and 120 Kb/sec up (kilobytes, not kilobits) which are in line with my ISP provider (Rogers). Only problem is that my net browsing then comes to a grinding halt until I either quit uTorrent, restart my computer, or restart the router. Net browsing on my wired computer is just fine though. I have tried limiting my down/upload speeds but that doesn't seem to be helping, I think it's the # of connections that uTorrent makes that is reachin the WGR614's limit. Does anyone know of any settings I should change in either the router setup or the utorrent client that could fix this problem? I'm confident this is a router problem as I've switched to a D-Link DI-524 and I can browse fine while downloading (but that router has a problem with dropped connections, so that's an entirely different matter!)

Thanks for your help guys.

[GLaDOS]

using bittorrent or or torrent software causes problems in the router due to the enormous number of connections required to handle a torrent. Up and down, and just the entire web of a torrent. Dlink's are notorious for being able to handle some things like this better as they are more for the gamer user. Netgears routers especially the WGR614 are not intended for this kind of traffic.
So the answer is, don't be downloading torrents, and I don't care if you're downloading legal content or not. Just don't do it.

[wongnog]

yikes, that's aweful to hear. I'm following an FAQ on the utorrent site which says to disable this and that, reduce # connections, etc. Seems to be helping but I was hoping there was more I could do on the netgear router setup side of things. Just out of curiosity what kind of router would you recommend for my use? Anything in the N series?

[GLaDOS]

No I don't recommend anything in the N range, because it is still draft, there is no standard to it yet.

[jmizoguchi]

Originally Posted by wongnog

yikes, that's aweful to hear. I'm following an FAQ on the utorrent site which says to disable this and that, reduce # connections, etc. Seems to be helping but I was hoping there was more I could do on the netgear router setup side of things. Just out of curiosity what kind of router would you recommend for my use? Anything in the N series?

most home end are only allow 100 or less concurrent connection period

[jmizoguchi]

remember some through put on wireless

802.11b connects at upto 11 mbps, and is typically good for perhaps 6~7 mbps
802.11g connects at upto 54 mbps, and is typically good for perhaps 25~32 mbps
Super-g connects at upto 108 mbps and should be good for 50~60 mbps (I haven't actually tested this one - I don't particularly care for proprietary technology)
802.11n - the dark horse - supposedly this will go up to 270 mbps, and deliver something in the range of 80 mbps - but what will actually be in the final spec is anyone's guess, so feel free to grab your own numbers out of thin air.


having more than one wireless adapter will also make each wireless throughput be lower.. so using wired will be more stable but you still need to follow less than 100 on concurrent connection for torrent

[wongnog]

I have a positive update to this thread. Was following a uTorrent forum FAQ on SLOW/INTERRUPTED INTERNET CONNECTION OR OFFLINE TRACKERS while µTorrent is running that gives many suggestions. I did them all and then re-enabled the settings one by one while testing net browsing speeds, and found the only thing causing a slowdown was enabling DHT. My connection settings are set for max 100 connections per torrent and max 450 globally, and that doesn't seem to be causing the router any problems -- that is unless I enable DHT. So I recommend others try this if they have any similar problems.

[Mars Mug]

DHT does cause problems for some people.

It is also important to set your upload and download rates correctly, in particular the upload rate since this is typically a 10th or a 20th of the download bandwidth. Swamping the upload rate will throttle both downloads and uploads other than the torrent itself. So set the upload rate to a maximum of 50% of the upload bandwidth if you still want to browse easily while using torrents.

[wongnog]

aRRRRGH it seems that I have solved the slow net browsing problem by disabling DHT, but now I am loosing my wireless connection after about an hour of bittorrent use. I have set max global connections to 50, and max half open connections to 4. I have capped my upload rate to 76 Kb/sec (max is ~120 Kb/sec) but left download rate at unlimited. However I still lose connection if I'm only seeding. I like to watch the speed tab in uTorrent and I see a nice steady upload/download speed, but then suddenly it will all drop to 0. However Windows still thinks it's connected and only rebooting my system will regain the wireless connection. If I right-click on the network icon in my system try and press Repair, it just stalls on "Disabling network connection".

Both my wired and wireless computers are running WinXP with SP3 RC2. I am using WEP and have the wgr614v6 loaded with firmware 2.0.19_1.0.19. I am going to try the router reset and also downgrading my firmware to 2.0.19_1.0.13 to see if it makes a difference. Any router settings I should change from default? I have disabled SPI firewall, and have also set up my 2 computers with static IPs using the address reservation section of Lan IP setup. UPnP is disabled and the correct port is forwarded for my bittorrent client. Would appreciate any other suggestions you guys may have. Thanks!

[GLaDOS]

WEP can slow things down, and causes a lot of overhead in the memory of the unit, as I understand. This was what a learned along time ago, when wireless began. In a galaxy far far away...
Sorry, I don't know if using WPA is any better with in regards to this, but I recommend, turning off wireless security all together, see if that helps some. Then try WPA, see how it's affected.

But torrents are heavy on networks, and thats just what they do.
Plus your ISP may not like torrents, most don't so they do what they can to limit torrent activity. So much for net neutrality. =/