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story category RCN Users Report Bit Torrent Troubles
Some cannot seed - glitch or RCN policy shift?
(old news - 01:44PM Tuesday Dec 20 2005)
tags: Fileswapping · bandwidth · cable
Users in our RCN forum have been discussing some Bit Torrent connectivity issues they've been having with the cable broadband provider. "Been trying all sorts of various methods to seed, and I see it is an RCN problem," one user surmises. "I am listed as unconnectable on a large number of my torrents - though not all - leading me to believe some kind of filter is in place."

RCN appears to be denying the charges (though so did Rogers and Shaw when our users discovered they were throttling p2p traffic). A growing number of cable providers see fit to advertise high speeds, but then use hardware to throttle back p2p (particularly Bit Torrent) traffic - while hoping their customers won't notice.

Related:
  1. Comcast Gets Investigated While Cox Gets Free Pass
  2. Sandvine Jumps On 'Protocol Agnostic' Bandwagon
  3. Comcast Begins Testing 'Protocol Agnostic' Network Management
  4. Comcast, Cox, Trot Out Their Worst 'Bandwidth Hogs'
  5. Beating Comcast's Sandvine On Linux With Iptables
  6. Cox Responds to DMCA 'Three Strikes' Report
  7. Virgin Takes Aim At BitTorrent
  8. Tuesday Evening Links
Forums » RCN Users Report Bit Torrent Troubles
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Post a:
joebear29

join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

Oh nooooossss111!1!1

Oh no. Think of all the software patches, home videos, public domain mp3s and shareware products that are not being distributed with BT throttled!

It breaks my heart.

Gelroos
Mad Mage
Premium
join:2003-05-23
Wilmington, DE

Re:Oh nooooossss111!1!1....I'm Shortsighted

I fail to see why the fact that RCN may be filtering and/or throttling the access that their customers are paying for LEGALLY invites a sarcastic rejoinder. Are you involved in any OSS projects? I get almost all of my ISO's via torrents... Maybe some people with limited vision of what this may lead to can be blase about such behaviour, but if it wasn't for all of the people who work to find these issues and then COMPLAIN about them publicly, you would find the ISP's actually creating and LEGALLY implementing the whole "two-tiered" internet that we have been hearing about recently.

Would you be happy paying an extra $10/month for the same access you are supposed to have today? And if you don't, you can't access certain subnets, or use certain protocols.
--
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it's natural manure.The "Tree of Liberty" letter From Thomas Jefferson to William Smith
joebear29

join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

1 edit

Re:Oh nooooossss111!1!1....I'm Shortsighted

I'm sorry, but I don' have time to answer you properly, I'm too busy trying to find an alternate source for movie trailers...

vpoko
Premium
join:2003-07-03
Jamaica Plain, MA

Re:Oh nooooossss111!1!1....I'm Shortsighted

said by joebear29 See Profile :

I'm sorry, but I don' have time to answer you properly, I'm too busy trying to find an alternate source for movie trailers...
Oh, well I use torrents for legal downloads. Perhaps you should just go turn yourself in and let us legitimate users have a legitimate discussion.

rawwhide
Zer0
Premium
join:2000-09-03
Zero
clubs:
·AT&T DSL Service


1 edit
said by joebear29 See Profile :

I'm sorry, but I don' have time to answer you properly, I'm too busy trying to find an alternate source for movie trailers...
Yeah I bet. I wonder what people will think 20 years from now when you have to pay extra to be able to play on line games, send/receive emails, FTP, or use any other type of internet access besides web browsing. Throttle/Block ports except port 80, that's a scary perspective, but if people like myself who are vocal about these issues don't' speak up it very well could become reality.

Big ISP, "yeah, that will be an extra 10 dollars a month to be able to open our email port on your modem." I like to see what you would say to that, because that's where this is headed. It doesn't' stop at email ports either. Usenet, FTP, on line games, or anything other than your web browsing. I can see ISP's doing this too. After all, companies are only out to make money.
--
I didnt do it ... HUH!!!
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28

Re:Oh nooooossss111!1!1....I'm Shortsighted


Completely correct!

It started with Port 25 blocks (which some foolishly continue to defend as necessary for overall spam prevention).

Then locally hosted inbound server ports of all kinds were blocked, from WWW to Mail to FTP.

It continued with known worm ports (with somewhat more justification but still an abridgement of Internet access and utility for some).

Then it extended to "throttling" and bandwidth shaping and tiering of VPN and VoIP and other services.

Then ISPs started eliminating services like in-house Usenet and chat servers.

Every time the sheep-like customers accept yet another restriction on their Internet connection (and far too few even know what term means) it portends a darker future for all of us...

-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function

Shamayim
I already have a Messiah.
Premium
join:2002-09-23

Worth repeating

said by B See Profile :

Every time the sheep-like customers accept yet another restriction on their Internet connection (and far too few even know what term means) it portends a darker future for all of us...

.
--
"tick...tick...tick..." »www.jtf.org/

novaflare
The Dragon Was Here
Premium
join:2002-01-24
Barberton, OH

Re:Oh nooooossss111!1!1....I'm Shortsighted

Blocking out going ports is simply retarded. I know one game used a port (upd port) that was 1 higher than a common worm port at the time for their server. Some idiot tech for a major au isp blocked it instead of the worm port. They blocked some 1000+ customers from accessing the game they were paying to play. My god the number of tickets about that was stagering. Nearly all the 1k players posted. Why in the hell the isp edecided to block a outgoing port ill never know.

As for the legality of bit torrent downloads theres no question pirated software and movies make it on there but the number of games and other software companies distributing their programs on bit torrent is unbeleivable. Youd be hard pressed to find one new game or peice of free ware trial ware etc software that doesnt have a bit torrent download option.

Comapnies have embraced bit torrent big time. It saves them a ton of money in band width costs.
--
DSLR security chat at us.ausirc.net chanel #dslr_sec lets pack this channelopen source dns server for *nix and windows »powerdns.com
Thaler
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA

said by Gelroos See Profile :

Would you be happy paying an extra $10/month for the same access you are supposed to have today? And if you don't, you can't access certain subnets, or use certain protocols.
Yeah, I'd love to see mark up port 80 as a "throttled" service, and see how that one blows over.

Gelroos
Mad Mage
Premium
join:2003-05-23
Wilmington, DE

Re:Oh nooooossss111!1!1....I'm Shortsighted

How about Port 80 to any outside networks that your ISP doesn't have an advantageous peering agreement with?

RARPSL

join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY

said by Thaler See Profile :

said by Gelroos See Profile :

Would you be happy paying an extra $10/month for the same access you are supposed to have today? And if you don't, you can't access certain subnets, or use certain protocols.
Yeah, I'd love to see mark up port 80 as a "throttled" service, and see how that one blows over.
A throttled Port 80 already exists. Cablevision (Optimum Online) just announced a new 30/2 Speed Tier that allows you to run your own Web and SMTP Servers. What they do not document (but has been discovered by those who have purchased this tier and activated one or both of the ports) is that these ports are throttled to 128kbs if activated (thus rendering them relatively useless).
WareWolF2k

join:2000-11-14
Allentown, PA

said by Gelroos See Profile :

Would you be happy paying an extra $10/month for the same access you are supposed to have today? And if you don't, you can't access certain subnets, or use certain protocols.
I have to pay $65.00 extra per month to get uncapped internet. I am not HAPPY about it but since there is no competition I deal with it.
Endgame
Your member at work
Premium
join:2005-07-07
USA
·Pacific Bell - SBC

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

I'm sure glad they're not here in CA then! I use bitTorrent regularly and if I had them I would dump them in 2 seconds flat if it was confirmed that they are really doing this to their subscribers!
--
-_-Mikey says, Broadband over my shiny metal ass! Merry F'ing Christmas Everybody!
ibpitcher2

join:2003-10-29
New York, NY
I'm getting a third of my advertised download speed and I'm not even using bittorrent.. RCN is up to something
r8drfan4ever

join:2003-01-13
York, PA

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

So without any troubleshooting (at least none stated) you automatically assume it's your ISP?
ibpitcher2

join:2003-10-29
New York, NY

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

I've had RCN for 5 years, I know when something is their fault or my own.

BIGMIKE
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA

Is your ISP blocking your access?

P2P program not working? People cannot reach your web server? People can't reach your email server?

It's possible your ISP is blocking incoming connections to the required ports. This test will confirm it. You need to specify the port you want to check. To do that, you have to know the port number your program uses to accept inbound TCP connections.

»www.hackerwhacker.com/freetools.php
--
Type "miserable failure" in Google

sycocowz

join:2002-06-13
Ottsville, PA
·RCN CABLE

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

If you read the thread, you will find we have established that port blocking is not the problem. RCN is actually sniffing the packets and interrupting the connection when seeding a torrent.

RCN claims to not block any trafic other than specific ports like 25 outbound, and they refuse to answer questions about this bit-torrent seed blocking.

I actually observed the problem way back in august: »Does RCN block Bittorrent seeding? , but just recently have many users come forward with the same problem.

Rhobite
Premium
join:2002-02-24
Cambridge, MA
clubs:

said by joebear29 See Profile :

Oh no. Think of all the software patches, home videos, public domain mp3s and shareware products that are not being distributed with BT throttled!

It breaks my heart.
Bittorrent is widely used to trade legal concert bootlegs. Tons of bands now allow taping and trading because they understand that it's a great way to get new fans, who will buy CDs and go to shows. I download a lot of Wilco and Jeff Tweedy bootlegs. It's perfectly legal and the ISP has no right to block BT - if that's what they're doing. Sorry, your holier-than-thou routine is misguided.
--
Jimmysquid.com - I take pictures.

vpoko
Premium
join:2003-07-03
Jamaica Plain, MA

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

said by Rhobite See Profile :

Bittorrent is widely used to trade legal concert bootlegs. Tons of bands now allow taping and trading because they understand that it's a great way to get new fans, who will buy CDs and go to shows. I download a lot of Wilco and Jeff Tweedy bootlegs. It's perfectly legal and the ISP has no right to block BT - if that's what they're doing. Sorry, your holier-than-thou routine is misguided.
I would just say that the ISP is UNWISE to block BT traffic - I don't that it's every been established they lack the right to.

Rhobite
Premium
join:2002-02-24
Cambridge, MA
clubs:

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

said by vpoko See Profile :

I would just say that the ISP is UNWISE to block BT traffic - I don't that it's every been established they lack the right to.
I wasn't referring to a legal right. I meant that if my ISP did this I would switch to a competitor. Although an ISP that uses the word "unlimited" in its ads might run into false advertising problems if they blocked BT.
--
Jimmysquid.com - I take pictures.
Necronomikro

join:2005-09-01
Yeah? What about if you play WoW? The patches for WoW come through BT.

vpoko
Premium
join:2003-07-03
Jamaica Plain, MA

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

said by Necronomikro See Profile :

Yeah? What about if you play WoW? The patches for WoW come through BT.
He doesn't have time for a proper answer - he's too busy posting immature, kneejerk stuff on messageboards.

Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..

said by Necronomikro See Profile :

Yeah? What about if you play WoW? The patches for WoW come through BT.
They also offer a direct download for their patches. You don't have to use BT.

P Ness
You'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already
Premium
join:2001-08-29
Mineola, NY
clubs:

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

said by Matt See Profile :

said by Necronomikro See Profile :

Yeah? What about if you play WoW? The patches for WoW come through BT.
They also offer a direct download for their patches. You don't have to use BT.
THAT HAS A 11 HR WAIT on patch day..

good luck getting the file from file planet without paying for it with thier "premium" service.

if you go to the free download you are capped at 75k and 5 hr download after the 5+hr wait.

YA great alternative.
--
www.stopfcc.comI do not think the government needs to restrict free speech especially on a device that has an off knob.

Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..

Re: Oh nooooossss111!1!1

said by P Ness See Profile :

said by Matt See Profile :

said by Necronomikro See Profile :

Yeah? What about if you play WoW? The patches for WoW come through BT.
They also offer a direct download for their patches. You don't have to use BT.
THAT HAS A 11 HR WAIT on patch day..

good luck getting the file from file planet without paying for it with thier "premium" service.

if you go to the free download you are capped at 75k and 5 hr download after the 5+hr wait.

YA great alternative.
I've never had a wait, perhaps you should try more than one download site?

kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY

Use Usenet

It's that simple.

RightTightLight

@208.17.x.x

Re: Use Usenet

My thoughts exactly!

Usenet RULES!

pokesph
It Is Almost Fast
Premium
join:2001-06-25
Sacramento, CA
clubs:
·Comcast

said by kamm See Profile :

It's that simple.
usenet won't work for private BitTorrent trackers / torrents / seeds / etc..

d@mn greedy ISP's.. we pay for (a) connection to the internet NOT what YOU think we want to connect to stop limiting or blocking uses..
--
Webmaster Steve
- - - - - - - - - - - -
»ppnhosting.com
»sphenterprizes.com
»pokemonpalace.net

kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY
·T-Mobile US

Re: Use Usenet

said by pokesph See Profile :

said by kamm See Profile :

It's that simple.
usenet won't work for private BitTorrent trackers / torrents / seeds / etc..
Umm what are those?
Whatever they are, tell them to post it on Usenet, that's it.

nicetrybutno

Yeah,with RCN's throttled 20 KB/second usenet service (max of 2 threads). That will work. Just think how long it will take to download the headers.

See 7 replies to this post
Forums » RCN Users Report Bit Torrent Troubles


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