Why don't I get full speed in uTorrent?

ithehappy

Senior member
Oct 13, 2013
540
4
81
This thing is bothering me! I download something via uTorrent in PC (the Pro version), I can never achieve maximum speed, yet the exact same file is downloaded from my phone at full speed using the Android uTorrent app!

Don't get shocked, I have a ridiculous speed of 1.8 mbps (not MB), thus I can achieve a max of 225-230 KB/s, with Android's uTorrent app I have that speed always, maxed out, but when I download the same file via Windows' uTorrent app the average speed never crosses 187-188 KB/s, no, upload speeds aren't taking the additional space, it remains under 1 KB/s!

I have run that setup wizard of the app and selected the nearest location, and it selected some settings by itself, but that isn't cutting it.

Please advice.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
136
People have to be uploading to you at that speed. A LOT of guys have limiters in place when they share. Also, loads of torrenters are just poor and can only afford dial-up or slow DSL.

Also: They wont admit it but many ISP's limit torrent speeds. I know FIOS does it. Even when I'm torrenting nothing, just passing check data back and forth, my internet slows a lot.


As more and more people use Android for torrents you should expect those speeds to drop too.
 

Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
you need to set your upload to at least 27 KB/S (50 KB/S recommended) to unlock the download ratio cap.

You cannot be downloading at full speed when you are not seeding to anyone
 

ithehappy

Senior member
Oct 13, 2013
540
4
81
I mostly always keep my UL speed at unlimited mate, at least when I see there are a lot of seeders for the file.

So there is no way I could be downloading at full speed in uTorrent? Darn that sucks :(
 

vailr

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,365
54
91
I mostly always keep my UL speed at unlimited mate, at least when I see there are a lot of seeders for the file.

While downloading, try throttling the upload speed (for that particular torrent) to something between 40k to 75k. Of course, this setting will vary, depending on your broadband speed. Doing that can often improve the download speed. Once the download has completed, then re-enable unlimited up speed.
 
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Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
I mostly always keep my UL speed at unlimited mate, at least when I see there are a lot of seeders for the file.

So there is no way I could be downloading at full speed in uTorrent? Darn that sucks :(

That's even worse!!! when your upload is above 70%, your cripple your download.

It needs to be balanced.....40% of your upload speed is the perfect ratio in order to download at full speed yet not limit your download speed because you are not contributing
 

ithehappy

Senior member
Oct 13, 2013
540
4
81
Okay guys, thanks, I will try to use 40% upload speed. In any case, is there any other torrent client which could work better than uTorrent?
 

soldsoul4foos

Member
Jul 9, 2010
38
0
0
Switch to Qbittorrent. Utorrent sucks. I used it for quite a while a couple years ago and had the same complaints. Qbittorent SCREAMS!
 

Rudee

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
11,218
2
76
Switch to Qbittorrent. Utorrent sucks. I used it for quite a while a couple years ago and had the same complaints. Qbittorent SCREAMS!

I certainly don't agree. I've tried both Qbittorrent and Utorrent, and Utorrent was the one that was fastest.
 

Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
Switch to Qbittorrent. Utorrent sucks. I used it for quite a while a couple years ago and had the same complaints. Qbittorent SCREAMS!
While not faster, but I also switched to qBittorrent as I don't need any spyware bundled with uTorrent.

Even if I choose not to install any of the crapware that comes with uTorrent Free, after it's installed, SUPERANTISpyware informs me that the ask toolbar was silently injected in my browser
 

sweenish

Diamond Member
May 21, 2013
3,656
60
91
Paid uTorrent. That's hilarious. I ditched utorrent shortly after they introduced the ads.

qbittorrent or transmission for windows are what i use. qbittorent is closer to what utorrent used to be. Transmission is pretty clean.

I certainly don't agree. I've tried both Qbittorrent and Utorrent, and Utorrent was the one that was fastest.

You're one-off example certainly offsets their one-off example.
 

Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
Paid uTorrent. That's hilarious. I ditched utorrent shortly after they introduced the ads.

qbittorrent or transmission for windows are what i use. qbittorent is closer to what utorrent used to be. Transmission is pretty clean.



You're one-off example certainly offsets their one-off example.
I don't mind paying one time for it, but they are asking a yearly subscription fee that's crazy...paying for an AV here, VPN, Internet from my ISP, Office 365 subscription, phones, electricity, don't want to add more bills.....
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
617
121
you need to set your upload to at least 27 KB/S (50 KB/S recommended) to unlock the download ratio cap.

You cannot be downloading at full speed when you are not seeding to anyone


I have downloaded at 2 MB/s and was hardly uploading. It's based on many factors. Network congestion protocol, half open ports, number of connections, TCP/IP time outs, etc.


I run DD-WRT and have more leverage.

I blogged about torrenting here. http://blog.systechforum.net/?p=72 Maybe you'll learn something maybe you won't. I don't know I just wrote it.
 
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Mushkins

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2013
1,631
0
0
you need to set your upload to at least 27 KB/S (50 KB/S recommended) to unlock the download ratio cap.

You cannot be downloading at full speed when you are not seeding to anyone

Is that 27Kbps documented somewhere? I've always set mine to 20 and haven't seemed to have any download restrictions at all in utorrent. On a popular one i'll hit 6-7MBps as long as the seeders are there.
 

TheRyuu

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2005
5,479
14
81
I have downloaded at 2 MB/s and was hardly uploading. It's based on many factors. Network congestion protocol, half open ports, number of connections, TCP/IP time outs, etc.


I run DD-WRT and have more leverage.

I blogged about torrenting here. http://blog.systechforum.net/?p=72 Maybe you'll learn something maybe you won't. I don't know I just wrote it.

I don't think half open connections is a problem anymore, at least since Windows 7. The default should be fine.

Also from that blog post you linked to, you shouldn't have to add your torrent application to the firewall and block incoming connections because your router will (in all likelihood) do that already. It's probably set to only allow incoming connections from established or related connections (e.g. one's that you've made). The result of not doing any port forwarding for your torrent application is that other peers won't be able to establish connections to you but you can initiate connections to them. This might be a problem for seeding since I think they'll likely be trying to establish the connection to you in that case.

If you connect through a VPN that above doesn't matter since that will bypass your router basically although you're likely to run into a similar problem on a VPN unless they explicitly allow port forwarding (some providers do).

PIA supports AES but only through their program, you can still use the regular openvpn client but you'll only get blowfish (which is still fine). I'm not sure how that other one supports not having to install anything considering openvpn requires the TAP adapter (unless it's not openvpn based).
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
617
121
I don't think half open connections is a problem anymore, at least since Windows 7. The default should be fine.

It isn't a problem for me using Windows 7, but it could be if you have a lot of torrents running. The default in Win 7 is 20.

Also from that blog post you linked to, you shouldn't have to add your torrent application to the firewall and block incoming connections because your router will (in all likelihood) do that already.

Negative. If the application is connected then SPI isn't blocking rouge connections from uTorrent. I had Comodo firewall on and was seeding/downloading in uTorrent and got an IP connection attempt from China. "That blog" Is my blog.

The result of not doing any port forwarding for your torrent application is that other peers won't be able to establish connections to you but you can initiate connections to them. This might be a problem for seeding since I think they'll likely be trying to establish the connection to you in that case.

Negative. I don't have portforwarding on and I can seed just fine. It's through peer exchange and in fact the warning indicator in the lower right of uTorrent shows everything fine. You should never port forward unless you run a game server, Teamspeak, etc.

If you connect through a VPN that above doesn't matter since that will bypass your router basically although you're likely to run into a similar problem on a VPN unless they explicitly allow port forwarding (some providers do).

Never use port forwarding and I use a VPN and have zero issues.

PIA supports AES but only through their program, you can still use the regular openvpn client but you'll only get blowfish (which is still fine). I'm not sure how that other one supports not having to install anything considering openvpn requires the TAP adapter (unless it's not openvpn based).

If the VPN.AC stand along client doesn't see the TAP adapter installed it will install it.
 

riahc3

Senior member
Apr 4, 2014
640
0
0
Some posts on here are shocking. Really have to wonder if people know what they are talking about on here...

Do you have the neccesary port/ports open on your firewall?
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
617
121
THERE IS NO NEED FOR A DAMN PORT TO BE OPEN!!!

I don't have a port open and like I said I get 2 MB/s download. Opening ports for that hackware and your asking for trouble. It's most likely his network.
 

riahc3

Senior member
Apr 4, 2014
640
0
0
THERE IS NO NEED FOR A DAMN PORT TO BE OPEN!!!

I don't have a port open and like I said I get 2 MB/s download. Opening ports for that hackware and your asking for trouble. It's most likely his network.
Anything and everything involving outside networks needs to have ports open, on one side at least.

The reason you get 2 MB/s download is problably because you have UPnP and/or NAT-PMP enabled on your router which in itself is asking for even more trouble.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
I pretty sure I set my upload to 10k/s

ill dl at full load or ~3.4 megs a sec assuming there are enough seeds on the torrent