Optimize Your BitTorrent Download Speed

1. Hack the max half-open TCP connections

If you’re on XP sp2, your TCP connections are limited to a maximum of 10. This might hurt your downloading speed because it wont let you connect to as much peers as you want. It is supposed to slow down viruses because their spreading strategy is to connect to a high amount of ip numbers, but it could cripple your torrent downloads.

A nice way to fix this is to download this patch.

Note: Some people report that their antivir reports the patch to be a Virus, This is not the case. Check out http://www.lvllord.de/ for more details on this

The patch allows you to set the maximum allowed connections to any number you want. Any number between 50 and 100 is ok (more is NOT always better).

Next you need to configure your torrent client to allow 50-100 max half-open TCP connections

uTorrent: Options > Preferences > Advanced options > net.max_halfopen

Bitcomet: Options > Preferences > Connection > max half-open TCP

Now you’re ready to go…

A third point of interest is that some “windows updates” revert your tweaked tcp connections back to 10. So it’s wise to check this every now and then. You can check this by going to (in windows xp) Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > System… Look for event 4226 (sort by event).

2. Torrent Client Configuration

In order to apply these tips you need to know your maximum up- and download speed. You can test your bandwidth over here (stop all download activity while testing). Also make sure that you applied the tips provided in our previous posts.

Note that there’s a difference between kb/s (kilobits/second) and kB/s (kilobytes/second). To be precise, kB/s = kb/s divided by 8. In this tutorial we use kB/s (like most torrent clients do). This means that you might need to calculate your max speed in kB/s yourself if the speedtest only gives you the results in kb\s (so divide by 8 then).

Settings 1-4 can be found in the options, settings or preference tab of most torrent clients.

1. Maximum upload speed

Probably the most important setting there is. Your connection is (sort of) like a pipeline, if you use you maximum upload speed there’s not enough space left for the files you are downloading. So you have to cap your upload speed.

Use the following formula to determine your optimal upload speed…

80% of your maximum upload speed

so if your maximum upload speed is 40 kB/s, the optimal upload rate is 32kB/s

But keep seeding!

2. Maximum download speed

Although setting your maximum download speed to unlimited may sound interesting, in reality it will only hurt your connection. If you still want to be able to browse properly, set your maximum download speed to:

95% of your maximum download speed

so if your maximum download speed is 400 kB/s, the optimal download speed is 380kB/s

3. Maximum connected peers per torrent

Yet another setting that you don’t want to max out. I experimented quite a lot with the max connected peers settings and came to the conclusion that both high and low number hurt the download speed of a torrent. The following setting worked best for me.

upload speed * 1.3

so if your maximum upload speed is 40 kB/s, the optimal amount of connected peers per torrent is

40 * 1.3 = 52

I didn’t noticed a difference for fast or slow connections here.

4. Maximum upload slots

1 + (upload speed / 6)

so if your maximum upload speed is 30 kB/s, the optimal number of upload slots is

1 + (30 / 6) = 6

3. More Tips

Check seeds and peers
A simple tip, but very important. Always look for torrents with the best seed/peer ratio. The more seeds (compared to peers) the better (in general). So 50 seeds and 50 peers is better than 500 seeds and 1000 peers. So, be selective.

Change the default port.
By default, BitTorrent uses a port 6881-6999. BitTorrent generates a lot traffic (1/3), so isp’s like to limit the connection offered on the these ports. So, you should change these to another range. Good clients allow you to do this, just choose anything you like. If you’re behind a router, make sure you have your ports forwarded (portforward.com) or UPnP enabled.

Disable Windows Firewall
It sucks. Windows Firewall hates P2P and often leads a life of it’s own. So disable it and get yourself a decent (free) firewall, Kerio or Zone Alarm for example.

Turn on Encryption
Encrypting your torrents will prevent throttling ISP’s from limiting your BitTorrent traffic. Check out how to enable encryption in Azureus, uTorrent, and Bitcomet, the three most popular torrent clients.

Optimize your internet connection
The TCP optimizer is a freeware utility that optimizes your internet connection. I found it very useful and it helped speeding up my connection for regular internet activity and for downloading torrents. Just download it, and move the slidebar to your maximum download rate (note that it’s in kb/s). Don’t try to set it higher because that will hurt your download speeds!

Shop online using Ashop Commerce

When was the last time you'd to rush out to the supermarket to buy something?Cant be too far in the past.So how would you feel if there's an online service that brings shopping to your home?Thats the benefit you get with Ashop Commerce.Clearly in this age of e-commerce,anything is possible;that includes shopping cart software that makes it possible to buy items online.The site provides a complete solution for buyers and sellers alike.
Ashop commerce provides leading ecommerce software to provide shopping cart that you can make use of.The methods of payment are fairly simple;you use a credit card for money transactions.An additional advantage is that the service supports common cards like Visa,Mastercard etc.The site provides secure online transcations and hence security will never become an issue.All the buyer needs to do is create an account and start shopping;simple as clicking your mouse!
Ashop Commerce can also be a big boon for merchants who wish to sell their products online;this can be very helpful especially if you're new to the field of merchandise and could some big time help from a trustworthy service.You can setup an online store using the ecommerce software and users can access it to buy merchandise.
Still not convinced?Try out their 10 day trial during which you can learn to waork your way around to using the shopping cart software.Ashop Commerce also provides a lively demo to explain how to get the best out of the service.
A complete package for merchants and customers!

Schumacher may be Germany's fastest taxi driver

Michael Schumacher may well be the fastest taxi driver in Germany after the seven-times world champion shocked a cab driver by taking over the wheel in order to be on time for a flight.

Schumacher, 38, flew into the aerodrome at the Bavarian town of Coburg on Saturday and took a taxi to the village of Gehuelz, 30 kilometres away, to pick up a new puppy - an Australian Shepherd dog called 'Ed'.

But when the former Formula One ace, plus his wife and two children, caught a taxi back to the airport they were short on time and, after a polite request, cab driver Tuncer Yilmaz watched in wonder as Schumacher took the wheel.

"I found myself in the passenger seat, which was strange enough, but to have 'Schumi' behind the wheel of my cab was incredible," Mr Yilmaz told the Muenchner Abendzeitung.

"He drove at full throttle around the corners and over-took in some unbelievable places."

Mr Yilmaz was well rewarded for the unusual journey - on top of the 60 euros (88 US dollars) fare, he was also given a 100 euros (146 US dollars) tip.

Schumacher's spokesperson Sabine Kehm later confirmed the story.

The German track ace, who now lives in Switzerland, retired from Formula One in 2006 after a glittering career and, despite test drives for his old team Ferarri, has insisted there is no chance of a return to racing.

Earning Through Blogging? Join PayPerPost!

Whats more cooler than earning money while doing something you absolutely relish?I love blogging;its one of my passions,like many of you out there.My happiness just doubled when I heard of PayPerPost,a site that allows bloggers to earn money by writing reviews on their blogs.Unlike many other sites that make this earning process somewhat cumbersome,PayPerPost makes it look like child's play.All you have to do is register,get approved(which gets done really fast) and finally put fingers and keyboard together.I signed up to find that PayPerPost opportunities are available in plenty;and so is the green stuff :) You can earn money through your blog network
So how does this work?If you've ever come across the term "advertising",its very similar.Adverisers are on the lookout for bloggers who are willing to review their products/services,and they pay you for it.PayPerPost(or PPP as its fondly called) acts as a mediator between the blogger and the advertiser.Bloggers on the blog network will find this as a big boost for earning online.
If you have a blog but haven't signed up for PPP yet,do a Maverick and join right now!


*This is a sponsored post.

Finally...!!!

Finally......My internet connection is back,and so is The Maverick! I've moved to a new place and thus had wait for my damned ISP to restore my connection.That happened only after numerous phone calls(with some harsh words thrown in).Seems ISPs take customers for granted these days;I'd to endure the agony of not having "the power to connect" for nearly a fortnight :O

Ah..It feels good to be back,really.As I promised,I'll make a few changes in my blog to make it more interesting.
Stay tuned to The Maverick's Haunt!

Online Finances

Loans are hard to get sanctioned nowadays.Looking for a good loan site on the net?Then BestLeadingLenders could be just what you are looking for. Whether it is Personal Loans or
Pay Day Loansthey have it all and it is very easy to secure one of these loans to suit your personal situation. Whatever your requirements,the site has provisions to suit your needs.All kinds of loans are available, such as a loan for your automobile, home, or personal.Services are available nationwide helping people to overcome their bad credits. This is done with the help of given to each and every person.So next time you're in urgent need of a loan,head to this site and get a hassle free experience!

*This is a sponsored post.