Home network router shows higher transmitted packets than received

Routing94 · 30 May 2014

So, after my router reset itself, I had to set it up again. no problem. Got it up and running, checking it was all fine, when I saw this under statistics.

The received bytes was a figure of around 7mb. The transmitted bytes was 47mb.

The packets, received was about 20000, transmitted was easily twice that.

I don't upload anything at all. I would watch youtube videos, browse webpages,and the received always seemed a lot less than transmitted.

What would be causing my network to transmit so much data and receive so little? There are no unauthorized devices connected to our router, so I'm at a loss as to what is using up all my bandwidth and what data it's sending?

Is it a simple thing, like I've misunderstood received/transmitted actual meaning, or what?

LuzTeTT · 30 May 2014

Are you talking about the LAN statistics, or is this what your router is saying?

If the former, are there any shared services on the network like HomeGroup, streaming or file shares?

If the latter, what?! It could be a virus. Check your Resource Monitor to see what is doing what and also to confirm which PC is doing it.

Routing94 · 30 May 2014

It's under the routers menu statistics, specifically a header called LAN statistics, if memory serves me correctly. I'll double check tonight. There is also one called WAN statistics, which is a lot lower, and generally makes sense in terms of sent/received data.

Given there is also only one hard wired pc to the router, it strikes me as odd that one pc is transmitting all this data.

I didn't know about resource monitor either, so I'll take a look at that. And no, there is no network sharing on my home network, certainly not anyone actively sharing files between computers.

I thought it strange, but can't think what it could even be transmitting?

Edit:

Out of interest, how high should transmitted packets be in relation to received packets, or should they be roughly the same?

LuzTeTT · 30 May 2014

Routing94 said:

It's under the routers menu statistics, specifically a header called LAN statistics, if memory serves me correctly. I'll double check tonight. There is also one called WAN statistics, which is a lot lower, and generally makes sense in terms of sent/received data.

Given there is also only one hard wired pc to the router, it strikes me as odd that one pc is transmitting all this data.

I didn't know about resource monitor either, so I'll take a look at that. And no, there is no network sharing on my home network, certainly not anyone actively sharing files between computers.

I thought it strange, but can't think what it could even be transmitting?

Edit:

Out of interest, how high should transmitted packets be in relation to received packets, or should they be roughly the same?

Well, I think you have your definitions right.
Received is data that is hitting the client as far as the client is concerned and transmitted is data that is being exerted.
So, transmitted should usually be the lower factor in all respects. Even my router seems to think so for both the LAN interface and wireless interface. I can't really comment on my internet since I have ADSL with little to no upload bandwidth but, again, transmitted is significantly lower than received and not just for the obvious reason.

Since you have mentioned that this is only on your LAN level, I think there might be something interesting going on there. Check the router's system log. Can you also check Window's connection status? You just right click the blinking computers and bring up the Network...Center and then click on the main active network connection.
It should look something like the attached image.

Routing94 · 30 May 2014

Okay, I'll try that. Are the bytes shown as sent/received under that menu just for that session, correct?

LuzTeTT · 30 May 2014

Routing94 said:

Okay, I'll try that. Are the bytes shown as sent/received under that menu just for that session, correct?

Yes. As long as it has been connected.

Routing94 · 30 May 2014

Okay thank you. I'll update the thread when I find out more.

Thank you so much for your help thus far. :)

LuzTeTT · 30 May 2014

Routing94 said:

Okay thank you. I'll update the thread when I find out more.

Thank you so much for your help thus far. :)

I love to serve. Your appreciation is very welcome.

Routing94 · 30 May 2014

Okay, so checked the wireless laptop, that's fine. More received than sent. Checked my networked LAN pc, and the total sent is higher than received. On first boot, checked resource monitor. SVCHOST.EXE was the highest culprit initially sending 4000 bytes but has now dropped down to zero and no longer appears on the network list.

My highest culprits now are the simple things like a web browser, sending no more than 800 bytes or so depending on what I'm doing.

Any ideas?

And looking up the routers menu, this is listed under statistics:

This is where my concerns lie, look at the total transmitted data! In no way could we have transmitted over 1 GB of data!

LuzTeTT · 30 May 2014

Routing94 said:

...

It looks like you are doing a lot of networking locally.

Is there only a PC and a laptop on the network? One wired, one wireless?
Are you positive there is no printing, streaming, remote access, HomeGroup, file sharing or other services being exchanged between the two devices?

svchost.exe is Window's main process for everything service related. Was there anything in brackets while you were looking? Was it all in caps?
Is it possible for you to send a screenshot of your Resource Monitor?