Weak Connections .. plus....
 

First, the particulars....

WinXP Home (SP1)
256mb
1.6mhz
80gb HD
LimeWire 4.0.5
XP Firewall configured as instructed here: http://www.limewire.com/english/content/firewalls.shtml

ISP= Earthlink (Pennsylvania)
Dail-up connection

The only time I get a decent connection is within the first 5 minutes of being connected when my connection is 'turbocharged'. After that, I get 'fair' at best. it also disconnects itself countless times.

I've been downloading the same file for the last 5 days. It's 29% complete, and at this point, doesn't look like it'll get done until I'm well into my 50's (I'm in my 30's now). I've left LW on overnight, and have gained a grand total of 1% on my download in the last two days.

During my search, I can see results that say better than 107 people all have this file, but I am always awaiting sources. When I finally do get a connection and get in line, when my turn comes, it's downloading at a less than 1kb clip.

Even worse, when I go to the monitor section, people are grabbing my files like crazy. How can I get next to nothing for 5 days, but people get files from me at what seems to be a much better clip?


No disrespect, but my other program (who shall be nameless - the Lite version) was tons better - and faster - than this and I didn't have any of the connection problems. The problem there was that people who write viruses seemed to use it as a testing ground or something. I want to like this program. I want to spend $18.88.... but so far, I don't see that it would be worth it....


So far, all I get is frustration.

...a little help please?



Thanks
LBD

By the way, I also installed the latest version of Java hoping that would help somehow. No dice.

you get a fair connection because LW doesn't like firewalls, atleast your not disconnected like some other people on thse forums. and don't worry about if it's fair or lower, as long as you have dsl or higher, your good.
the file that you are downloading may be very popular, but many people might want it this is why I believe you get that awaiting sources.
keep trying and if the file isn't too big try it again maybe an error was created
People uploading like crazy for you is a good thing as LW likes people that are good to share, but if you'd like to lower some options go in tools, options, uploads, and in there there are two sub categories which let you chose things like which speed you'd like to dedicate to uploading and how many people can upload from you at the same time.

On a dial-up service you can't really afford to allow unlimited speed or slots for uploads! Whilst people uploading from you WILL help you connect & find sources for searches, the way you may have it set possibly allows too much of your bandwidth to be used. I'm a dial-up user myself & have just a couple of slots & keep a limited upload speed. It's a sacrifice dialup users sometimes have to make. Just as a trial, reduce your upload slots to one & limit the speed. I think that will make a dramatic difference. If so, you can then decide how much more you can afford to allow to give back for uploaders in regards to slots & speed. Hope this helps.

I figure the best thing to do is to pay for a broadband connection. LOTR is a very patient guy to insist on using Dial up. Also, don't pay for Pro if the basic version doesn't work for you: the two versions are only slightly different so paying for pro will very likely not make any difference.
Another thing: do you browse the net at the same time you dld via LW?
Also, disable Ultrapeer capabilities from the Options since on a Dial up it probably won't do any good (you can't be an Ultrapeer unless you got Turbocharged status anyway).
Try configuring Limewire as instructed here here . Maybe it will help with that file you are trying to get (it won't help much for the connection status though).

Thanks for all the info.


If I could afford broadband, I'd already have it. :D Not an option at this time. I'm about to move into a new house so my expenses are needed for other more important things (like letting my wife turn the damn place into a museum -- ugh).


Actually, what you told me was what I ended up doing after I wrote the original post, I just didn't get to reply until now.


I went through and checked all of my settings. I had changed them once before and everything was cool. Then it all went 'wrong' with the disconnections and poor speeds (even for dial-up)

After tweaking all the settings (I think the upload speeds helped the most - too many taking from me, not enough giving) I now stay at turbocharged throughout the time I have LW on, and my dl speeds range from 2kb-6kb.

Of course, I had to cut down on how many could dl from me and the speeds at which they could do so. But hopefully it'll all even out in the end. I only wanted a couple things anyway. I don't just dl every day. :D

Thanks for all the help folks! :cool:



Oh, by the way.....

I never surf and dl at the same time. That's why I generally don't do a lot of dl'ing. If it's something big, I leave it on auto-pilot over night.

Hah! Just hope that your wife doesn't wander around these threads....

yep lol shure hope so