Here's an example of how a p2p bandwidth shaper can work against Gnutella: Bandwidth Shaper Sample - typical of how some ISP's use it (click on link) ie: giving priority to net surfing & low priorities to p2p sharing. However there are different types of filtering & filter programs that are used. One of them being Sandvine. Amongst the techniques sometimes used is port blocking of those using p2p sharing programs. Perhaps initially a detector after which a filter of some sort is applied to that particular user.
A more up-to-date list of ISP's known to shape or block p2p sharing bandwidth can be found here http://wiki.vuze.com/w/Bad_ISPs


1. The 1st 5 I can add here are Insight. Insight seems to specifically target Limewire. One person found a solution (if only temporary), if you view the sticky in this section (Important!!! A Fix for those whose ISP's block Limewire - pages 1-3 have more proxy options.) See example here. AND More Proxy instructional help with specific details, links & sample


2. Tiscali is known in some locations in Europe (such as Italy) to filter/shape p2p sharing bandwidth (ie: slow down speeds.) There's been reports on the forum & various articles online. One reference is here in 2nd last article at bottom of linked page: Jurisprudence | EDRI (hopefully I can find some of the original articles I read last year in 2004.) More recently: Tiscali blocking Limewire. _And ISP Problems... Namely "Tiscali" - Tech Support Forum. __The Tiscali company has focused its presence in 5 European markets: Italy, UK, Germany, The Netherlands and Czech Republic. It has bought control over many other ISP's in those markets and applies similar p2p blocking or shaping techniques in all. Tiscali owns an IP and VoIP network of 15,000 kms, covering all European countries, the US included. UK, Click the Fair Usage Policy link on left of page on this link: Fair usage policy. The companies Tiscali bought in UK generally retain their original business name but now use Tiscali's policies on blocking p2p sharing (try to investigate who is the parent company of your ISP. Tiscali now controls very large areas of the UK !) Things to try: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/downlo...k-tiscali.html


3. Rogers of Canada has been confirmed to be shaping bandwidth. See Rogers cable filtering


4. Optimum Online (particularly of Long Island) are totally blocking all p2p sharing!!!. See Error Message: machine doesn't appear to have active connection/ firewall blocking LW - Gnutella Forums for just one of many, many examples!!! It seems they are blocking ports. Go to LW's menu bar, Tools>Options>Advanced>Firewalls & change the listening port to one between 49152 - 65535. Press Apply. Then restart LW. Ports 64049 or 50012 seem good for this isp.


5. TalkTalk UK is known to shape bandwidth (confirmation email from Talktalk shown here.) See posting & findings HERE (click on link) It seems TalkTalk may be a subsidiary of Tiscali who are known to shape bandwidth or refuse p2p connections. TalkTalk apparently don't shape the bandwidth during certain hours, see THIS for details!


6. Cox is known to filter p2p. Apparently they don't apply it to all people within any area, but more-so individuals. See: Problem with Cox Communications? ______ Hidden selective p2p upload blocking!. Sneaky monopolistic tactics Cox Cable bought the local CableAmerica.

New reports on Cox & petition: Cox Internet - Blocking Ports Petition (<- please sign this petition.) Broadband reports & also eMule forums (Thanks to KathW for the these latter Cox links)


7. CIS (Clark Information Systems) a 3rd party ISP blocks ports to disrupt or stop p2p programs. "I called my ISP, and they said they have certain ports blocked so that people cannot use file sharing programs for bandwidth purposes." - sent via message to me.


8. (a) * Official report on UK isp's that throttle speeds: ISP's that cap heavy bandwidth users & p2p (click on link)
__ (b) * Worldwide listings of ISP's who shape p2p sharing bandwidth: (i) Bad ISPs - AzureusWiki _ (ii) List of Internet Service Providers That Throttle P2P Traffic


9. Clearwire (click link for details) blocking ports & p2p programs. 10. PIPEX (click link for details) P2P traffic shaping. / Homecall (Both PIPEX & Homecall are owned by Tiscali. See Tiscali links above for details of what to do.)
11. MicroLnk (click link for details) blocking ports. 12. Virgin (click link for details) P2P traffic shaping. 13. Hellas On Line (HOL) (click link for details - Greek site) - traffic shaping. Other Reports: emule forum. Shaping. OTE has also been criticized for artificially limiting the number of packets passing per second through an ADSL line. 14. Charter appears to be severely shaping certain users who probably fail in their fair use policy of bandwidth use. No official report except many reports on this forum of same problems; Problems uploading & downlding & this one Slow speeds & especially point 13 of their user policy. 15. Speednet in Michigan throttles limewire during the day.

16. Shaw cable services. There's been evidence both in this forum as well as other p2p forums of capping speeds for p2p use, eg: Even caps on other p2p programs. One day you get 100-150 KB/s & the next about 3 - 5 KB/s. Example 2: Slow everywhere, Example 3: Lots of people using p2p, Examples 4 & 5 which were ideal, removed due to those sites being sold.

17. Plusnet blocking ports. May happen all of a sudden & the port test for 6346 showed "The page cannot be displayed" and "Cannot find server". After trying a port in the 49XX range people can once again connect. Example here. OSX example Where is the Firewall?

18. CARPHONE WAREHOUSE BROADBAND SERVICES (used for AOL services in parts of UK), are 'Shaping' p2p bandwidth. Posts in reference to this: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/connec...downloads.html _ and _ Problem (full connection but no search results)



Either others or myself will add others to this list as they come to hand. I'm aware of at least a couple of others but will need to investigate. Likewise anybody who is CERTAIN their ISP provider is blocking their service or filtering please add your isp here. (Please supply evidence 'if' available. Verification helps.)

EURO1NET block your ports i had nothing but trouble, uninstalling service pack 2, reformatting, opening ports on my pc, nothing worked. I rang them up to ask if they blocked ports they said they do to p2p networking.

TISCALI are going to block ports too, but this is not confirmed

im with TALKTALK.NET excellent service now

(Edited only to highlight the isp text!)

Well add another one to the list.

This doesn't look good. Just searched BPS. http://www.bpsnetworks.com/aup.html

Servers
Users are not permitted to establish servers on any BPS Networks connection without prior, written consent from BPS Networks. Types of servers specifically banned include, but are not limited to:

Sharing of files (ftp servers and peer-to-peer sharing software, such as Napster® or Gnutella® are examples)
Mail servers (SMTP or POP3/IMAP servers)
Web Servers

It looks as though you have to get special permission, otherwise they block p2p programs.

http://www.comcast.net/terms/subscriber.jsp

Material Downloaded through the Service: In addition to any content that may be provided by us, you may access material through the Service that is not owned by Comcast. Any such material may be downloaded from the Service only for your personal, non-commercial use, and you are not allowed to redistribute that material over any network (other than a residential home network located in the Premises) or sell or offer for sale that material. Unless other terms and conditions expressly apply to specific content, you may make: (a) one machine readable copy, (b) one backup copy, and (c) one print copy of any material downloaded from the Service; any other copying, or any redistribution or publication of any downloaded material, including, without limitation, posting to any other online service, must be with the express permission of the relevant copyright holder. In any permitted copying, redistribution or publication of copyrighted material, any changes to or deletion of any copyright notice are prohibited. Other terms and conditions may apply to your use of any content or material made available through the Service that is not owned by Comcast. You should read those terms and conditions to learn how they apply to you and your use of any non-Comcast content.

IP Addresses: Comcast will provide you with dynamic Internet protocol ("IP") address(es) as a component of the Service and these IP address(es) can and do change over time. You will not alter, modify, or tamper with these dynamic IP address(es) or those of any other customer. You agree not to use a dynamic domain name server or DNS to associate a host name with the dynamic IP address(es) for any commercial purpose. You also agree not to use any software on or in conjunction with any computer(s) or network device connected to the Service that provides for static IP address(es). If applicable, Comcast will release and/or recover the dynamic IP address(es) upon disconnection, discontinuance, or termination of the Service or this Agreement.


It appears as though you can d/l but not u/l

There has been an instance of Plusnet blocking ports. In this case, it happened all of a sudden & the http://www3.limewire.com:6346/ test showed "The page cannot be displayed" and "Cannot find server". After trying a port in the 49XX range this person was once again able to connect. This company has probably detected this person using p2p or just simply tried to prevent p2p use generally by blocking ports known to be used by p2p programs. Example here. (edited to highlight isp name)

Another to add to the list is Shaw cable services. There's been evidence both in this forum as well as other p2p forums of capping speeds for p2p use, eg: Even caps on other p2p programs. One day you get 100-150 KB/s & the next about 3 - 5 KB/s.
Example 2: Slow everywhere, Example 3: Lots of people using p2p,
Example 4: Bingo: Confirmation of Filtering at Shaw, Example 5: Bearshare Forums
(There's been word Vista III media is also related in its type of business practices.)

I'm not absolutley possitive but i believe Vista III Media blocks or filters the P2P Because i have tried everything in the forum and nothing works. I called to check and they say they dont but why would they want you to no. If anyone has any ideas on how to help me please let me know i have a thread on slow downloads.

http://www.triad.rr.com/Triad/legal/...agreement.html

This may be another potential problem where you can download, but not upload.

Read Paragraph 5 b

This is not a blocking or filtering isp AFAIK but just very strict rules. Which barely makes it relevant in this thread topic. But Optimum Online has come to our notice after a user noted they'd been sent a letter of warning from them for uplding copyright material whilst using Kazaa. The companies rules are here: 1. http://www.optimumonline.com/index.jhtml?pageType=terms & also 2. http://www.optimumonline.com/index.jhtml?pageType=aup

I called my ISP (COGECO) in Canada, and I got some foreigner. I asked him if There were any blocks in place, and he said no. Bull. I called back and got a regular I talk to there, and He said that they have been blocking ports 6346-9999. I asked him since when, i was DL'ing yesterday, and he said since 2 AM this morning. But, I did get him to unblock me, for how long i don't know.

(Edited only to highlight the isp text!)