Internet connection dropping when downloading via torrent

[TanyaC]

Hi, I have a real tricky one I just can't seem to solve.

I have a D-Link Dir655 connected to a DSL-526B ADSL2 modem. The pair are bridged. This configuration has been running fine for a year.

4 days ago I reinstalled windows 7 x64. Now, when I download torrents the connection drops after 15 - 30 minutes, and comes back up 1 - 3 minutes later. When the connection drops it takes the modem connection down; every device connected to the internet drops.

When I had reinstalled I upgraded all my programs to the latest versions, but I have since rolled them back to the versions being used prior to reinstalling.

The download program is call FreeDownload Manager. It includes a bit torrent client. This have never exhibited any problems before.

I also use Malwarebytes with realtime protection, and this blocks various sites. This is typical behaviour, and again has never been a problem.

This time when I resinstalled, I uninstalled WIndows Tablet components, Windows Search and disabled the Program Compatability Service, after reading sites like BlackViper. I have since reinstalled and re-enabled all these features.

I also turn of Remote DIfferential Compression, but again, that's been off for many months.

I've tried tweaking various settings in the download manager, all to no avail.

Can any one offer some ideas on where I might look for a solution?

thanks
Tanya

 

[Qdos]

All that can really have changed when you reinstalled Windows are that you will have reverted to the default settings of your ethernet adapter. You can find it in device manager. Right click it, go to properties, disable the power management and under the advanced tab optimise the settings it's capable of performing at so as to take full advantage of it.

You could also open an elevated command prompt and type ipconfig /renew

See if these steps fix matters

 

[Layback Bear]

Do I understand your problem correctly. You download using a torrent and you have problems.

 

[TanyaC]

Do I understand your problem correctly. You download using a torrent and you have problems.

Yes, I know where you are going with that comment. Lets nip that one in the bud

But I've not had problems for years downloading via torrents.

 

[TanyaC]

All that can really have changed when you reinstalled Windows are that you will have reverted to the default settings of your ethernet adapter. You can find it in device manager. Right click it, go to properties, disable the power management and under the advanced tab optimise the settings it's capable of performing at so as to take full advantage of it.

You could also open an elevated command prompt and type ipconfig /renew

See if these steps fix matters

thanks for the suggestions.

I've tried /release and /renew, and /flushdns, and my adapter configs are the same as they have always been - defaults.

I have also disabled IPv6, (via adapter properties and the disabledcomponents registry value), but that has been disabled for almost a year.

I also done the basics; reset the adapter (disable, enable), uninstall the adapter and then reinstall the LAN drivers for the mobo.

 

[Qdos]

To be honest, my money would be on the modem dropping out given all you describe.

Are you also using other ports on the router at the same time as downloading or seeding torrents?

 

[TanyaC]

To be honest, my money would be on the modem dropping out given all you describe.

Are you also using other ports on the router at the same time as downloading or seeding torrents?

THe download manager uses port 1500 for torrents. Of course, other ports like 80, 443, and ports used by steam, counter strike, and whatever other games he is playing at the time would also be open. But thats common place, a shouldn't cause a problem.

I've tried to restrict the kids from seeding as much as I can. I really don't want people connecting to my network. There is just as much legit stuff being offered via torrents as there is questionable stuff these days, and playing cat and mouse with him is just a waste of time.

But, I digress. I'm inclined to think this is a modem problem, but I did the rounds earlier today and no one had one in stock. They are only $48 AUD these days.

My other option is to dump the 655 and go for an all in one solution, which is going to be over $250 to match the functionaility I have now.

My ISP suggests this is not a modem problem. They are saying the signal levels are constant, they are seeing sessions die but no actual disconnects. I'm skeptical about level 1 service staff's knowledge though.

I've also posted at D-LINK to see if I can get any feedback there, but as yet no responses.

Hopefully, someone will come up with something definitive, either here, dlink or when I talk with more technical people tomorrow.

 

[Qdos]

Given your location I would recommend you take a look at the Billion 7800 units...

Not only are they excellent, they're already IPv6 complaint, and they perform superbly... and it'd be rather patriotic if you were to have one lol...

Billion Wireless ADSL2+ VPN Firewall Router Series

 

[TanyaC]

Given your location I would recommend you take a look at the Billion 7800 units...

Not only are they excellent, they're already IPv6 complaint, and they perform superbly... and it'd be rather patriotic if you were to have one lol...

Billion Wireless ADSL2+ VPN Firewall Router Series

Thanks for that suggestion. I had a read of the manual, and spoke with a reseller, but billion dont seem to have customer contact phone numbers, so I was unable to determine what features, and limits to those features applied.

For example, I use DHCP reserverations, mac address filtering, QoS, port forwarding, SPI, OpenDNS server, web URL filtering. I have 13 time schedules, 15 ACLs, 17 devices (so 17 MAC address entries), wifi, WPS, and more.

Couldn't tell if the billion will support my needs. It looks like it has most of the features, the question is then whether it has enough space for the multitude of configurations I have.

In the mean time, I've found a DSL-526B. It's 60km away, and it's $52. I am going to get it shortly. The problem may not be the modem, so I may end up with a spare modem.

But no-one has been able to suggest anything else, so I am just crossing my fingers.

Will let you know when I've swapped over.

Tanya

 

[Qdos]

The Billlion gear is the dinkum' business...

You'd just need one or two gigabyte switches behind it...

Will link you to a UK reviews page, but it is Oz' gear I believe...

Billion BiPAC 7800N Wireless-N ADSL2+ Reviews

 

[TanyaC]

The Billlion gear is the dinkum' business...

You'd just need one or two gigabyte switches behind it...

Will link you to a UK reviews page, but it is Oz' gear I believe...

Billion BiPAC 7800N Wireless-N ADSL2+ Reviews

Lol. You like this product, yes!?

Thanks for the link. The reviews didn't really tell me much. I'll join the forums and ask some direct questions, see if I can get answers.

I did note that the unit relies totally on SNTP. It has no real time clock. Since it doesn't mention if it supports DST, I suspect it may have problems with times on DST changeovers. Anyway, we'll see what we get from the forums.

thanks for your help.

BTW: I have a download going for an hour now, with no drop outs. All I did was update my Malwarebytes subscription to the latest version, and redownload the latest definitions, and so far I've not had a problem. Could it be....???

Re switches: I have a 16 port and 2 8 port swtches.

 

[Qdos]

Lol. You like this product, yes!?

I have a download going for an hour now, with no drop outs. All I did was update my Malwarebytes subscription to the latest version, and redownload the latest definitions, and so far I've not had a problem. Could it be....???

Can you tell I'm that much of a fan?

However it is seriously good kit compared to a lot of other gear...

Be worth you thinking about a Mikrotics Routerboard too...

Malwarebytes? Only reason it could conceivably interfere with a connection is if it's clearing out infections that are in turn influencing the connection - not impossible, but as for giving you a definitive answer - no can do!

Q

 

[TanyaC]

Hi,

Yes, Malwarebytes was a red herring.

The problem is a combination of torrent connections, HLSW software running and the fact that when he play's Garry's Mod, a Steam game, it opens 681 connections just for that game alone. This is overloading the router and causing it to reset.

What is bizarre is that there has been no change in the patterns of usage for 12 months at least. My son adamantly asserts that he has always had his torrent set and 1000/20, has played Garry's mod for years, and has been an administrator of several online game servers for 6 months at least, and all of the activity occured concurrently without problems.

From my observations, he is correct. He has been doing things this way.

So why then has this started to overload the router now, whereas prior to a week ago it didn't?

We still don't have an answer to that question. So we've had to modify how we do things. His torrents are now 500/1. I have posted a steam support ticket to see if they can tell me if 680+ connections is normal for a single game, and I'll be reinstalling his PC tomorrow.

Overall though, we sstill have not found the cause of the problem.

Tanya

 

[TanyaC]

This issue is not resolved.

It seems steam was another red herring, although it seems that the 680+ open connections for steam is a problem, according to steam support, we are now working on that as a separate problem.

The problem with the downloads still persists. And it happens when no other PCs are turned on except the server, and when no online games are being played.

The PC downloading also blue-screen on me with code 0x000000F4.

The maximum number of connections has been dropped from 1000 to 50 and yet the problem persists.

I replaced the modem, but it made no difference. I haven't replaced the router. I am going to reinstall my computer now that it has started BSOD's, and I will factory reset the router again and rekey all configurations from scratch.

But in the meantime I'd welcome any ideas from people here.

thanks
Tanya

 

[TanyaC]

The saga continues;

The connection started dropping out with no PCs turned on at all. I think that eliminates hardware and software issues with the PCs, and leaves the router and phone line, since the modem and all associated cabling have been replaced.

So I called Tel$tra and after performing some basic tests, they said there is a problem with the line, so they sent out a techo who said their is no problem with the line.

But then, the problem is intermittent;

He agreed to replace the ports on the RIM and suggested that there was nothing else he could do. So I've started a download and it's been going for 10 minutes, so within the next hour at best I'll know if the problem is fixed.

The only thing that hasn't been replaced so far is the router.

Will revert
Tanya

 

[Qdos]

Do you trust your provider is the key?

Don't they have a log and graphical interface you can access which records drop-outs?

Could be the router, but without looking back I think you have a separate router and modem, no?

Only thing I can suggest is hauling the performance and error logs off both those pieces of hardware...

 

[TanyaC]

Do you trust your provider is the key?

Don't they have a log and graphical interface you can access which records drop-outs?

Could be the router, but without looking back I think you have a separate router and modem, no?

Only thing I can suggest is hauling the performance and error logs off both those pieces of hardware...

Yes, router and modem are separate.

I have to ring Tel$tra back because changing the ports did not work. It solved a couple of phone line issues I had, but the internet dropouts are still occuring. And for some reason the connection drops at 09:01am every day. I have nothing in the router to reset the connection.