Dear limewire users,

I ll put this in a simple way. I have a 1Mbps ADSL connection and my limewire used to download with 70-80 Kb/sec max speed. About 2 months ago speeds dropped to about 8-15 kb/sec max. NOTE: I haven't changed ANY settings of firewalls, I am checking for adwares, trojans etc PLUS when I download files over the internet like email attachments etc I STILL get speeds of 100kb/sec!

So I say "ok...maybe I have to download the new version"..So I download version 4.12.6. This didn't change anything. So a few facts that started happening out of the blue about 2 months ago:

1)If I would have as high as 8 sources to download from, speeds would be max of 10-15 kb/sec instead of 80kb/sec just a couple of months ago
2) Sometimes even with 10 hosts I would get the sign "need more sources" (I haven't activated the licence option....so no worries about that

The green bars are full and there is a firewall (Zonealarm), the same that I had 2 months ago. Basically, I haven't changed anything to my system and I still have normal file downloads of 100k/sec through firefox for instance. I havent' activated the "licence" option.

Windows 2000 platform, p4 2,6 Ghz, 1 GB Ram

I would appreciate if you either send me a solution or just let me know that the problem is general and it is not going to be solved (especially to promote Limewire Pro perhaps?)

thank you in advance for your time

So you're seeing the firewall icon in LW (brick wall)?
Download a file from here & see what speeds you get
http://www.magnetmix.com/video.shtml

Has anything at all changed since your speeds have dropped (new ISP or plan, new hardware etc)?

What are your details (excuse any repeat questions)?

OS(Win XP etc)
LW & Java version (help > about LW & you'll see)
Firewall you're using
Modem/router brand & model
ISP
Connection type (DSL etc)
Where you connect from (home, school, student accommodation etc)
Are you sharing a connection with other computers
Is this your first try with LW
Have you tried other p2p apps & if so, do you have the same problem

ok...tried to download from the link you told me...0-3 kb/sec! Awesome! isnt' it?

No, nothing changed, no hardware configuration nothing. I still download files as high as 100k/sec (for example the setup of winzip from its homepage lets say)

So here are the details

Windows 2000, No service pack, but this was the case two months ago wasn't it...? I don't like service packs...they can alter a lot of things...for the worse

LW 4.12.6 and java J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 update 6 (the same I was using two months ago)


Firewall ZoneAlarm 6.1.744.001, (the same I was using two months ago)

Router Fritz.box fon

ISP...do I have to tell you this? it is a bit private I don't think that the ISP has stopped the limeware activity

Connection ADSL 1024

I connect from home, no other sharing computers and I don't try limewire for first time as I told you.

I tried e-mule once but could not find a lot of results so I uninstalled it. Limewire was the best two months ago.

Thank you in advance for your time

Priapos

If the magnetmix files download really slowly it's not a good sign. It can often point to an ISP throttling bandwidth for customers using p2p. That's why we ask people the name of their ISP...not because we're nosy.

You could try deleting LW's preferences folder while LW's closed. See points 2 & 3 in the thread below:
Fixes for LimeWire

You might want to update your Java as well, the latest version is update 9. See point 1 in the thread above. Just remember to use the offline installer for JRE.

How do you have your router set up (UPnP enabled, port forwarded or neither)? If you're seeing the firewall icon, you could enable UPnP within your router, if it supports UPnP. Then choose the relevant option within LW's tools > options > advanced > firewall config. Another option is to manually forward a port...the router's manual should have details.

Have you called your ISP to ask about throttling bandwidth (bear in mind that people at the helpdesk often don't even know that this kind of thing's happening)? Some research using Google might also turn up some info.

Thanx for the advice birdy. I will install latest Java. I understand your concerns about the router settting, however keep in mind that I didn't change these and the whole thing happened out of the blue, so it cannot be the router. IF it would be the router (needed lets say port forwarding) then it would not even connect at all. I think it may be possible that the ISP is putting a limit. I am wondering if they have the right to do this!

Anyway...I ll try to install latest Java and I may give them a call to see what's happening.

thanx again for your help

priapos

PS: I would never imply that you are nosy I just don't want to share this info with hundreds of people. I would not mind sending it just to you but I am new to this forum and I don't know how to send a PM. IF you have a list with ISPs that have restricted access to P2P then I can send you my ISP.

Priapos

First of all, I don't understand why you should be worried if people of this forum knows your ISP because your identity cannot be discovered purely by knowing your ISP. If anybody wants to know who you are, via your ISP, they will have to get a court order, warrant or some other legal instrument.

You probably don’t know this but ISPs throughout the US and UK are increasingly turning to anti-P2P techniques (aka Bandwidth Shaping) to curb their customers use of P2P applications. I, like you, found that one day I could download at a fairly good speed (in the region of 50kbs to 150kbs) then the next day I found I could no longer download any video clips, I could still download the odd MP3 but video clips were out.

I found out, via the internet, that my ISP, at the time was Virgin, had introduced “Bandwidth Shaping” and, what’s worse, made no public announcement or any indication that they had done this. And what I found so despicable, they would not admit it even though I had phoned and emailed them, they answered my other questions but on “Bandwidth Shaping” they were silent.

If you check through this forum you will lots of people that now find that their ISPs have suddenly introduced anti-P2P measures without warning. I guess your ISP has now joined the ranks of the Anti-P2P ISPs



UK Bob

ukbob, please allow me to be on the safe side...will you?

Secondly, by doing a little research I realised that I, too, belong to the category of ISP you mentioned earlier on....So I wrote a complaint letter which I think is going to end in the recycle bin anyway but I sent it to all sort of different departments. I also mentioned that in case this situation lasts, I won't renew my contract and I am going to make others do the same through forums, newspapers etc...It is time to show that the end of monopoly and the rules of competition can indeed change some things...except in case that all ISPs follow the same rule...in which case we are f****d!

thank you for your really useful info for once more.

yours

priapos