Skype - bandwidth sucking tulip

[d000hg]

Exactly - a tiny percentage of users, hence this is not normal.

Is there a way to check if you are being used as a SN other than guessing based on resource usage?

[alluvial]

I've never used or even been tempted to use Skype before so I haven't a clue how it works (dropping into numpty mode here).

My setup is a router that hosts the internet connection and wired to this I have a second router configured as an access point. The boy is connecting wirelessley to this and I am using a wired connection to it as well.

Trouble is, the wireless connectivity to the rubbish Netgear router (the internet connection) is almost non-existent so everyone connects to the second (a linksys) that has a really good wireless range. What with all the devices in the house these days, I suppose traffic can get a bit heavy.

Brief investigation on the web seems to be saying that if NAT is enabled on the router (is on the Netgear) then it can't be used as a supernode.

Things are fine when he hasn't got Skype so, I'm assuming that it is just traffic and it's causing a bottleneck hence I was hoping that I could just block it.

I don't think I'll spend too much time on it, if he doesn't play ball, he'll find the access restrictions being turned on again and all internet access will be curtailed which will rather hamper his Xbox social life.

[doodab]

I've never used or even been tempted to use Skype before so I haven't a clue how it works (dropping into numpty mode here).

My setup is a router that hosts the internet connection and wired to this I have a second router configured as an access point. The boy is connecting wirelessley to this and I am using a wired connection to it as well.

Trouble is, the wireless connectivity to the rubbish Netgear router (the internet connection) is almost non-existent so everyone connects to the second (a linksys) that has a really good wireless range. What with all the devices in the house these days, I suppose traffic can get a bit heavy.

Brief investigation on the web seems to be saying that if NAT is enabled on the router (is on the Netgear) then it can't be used as a supernode.

Things are fine when he hasn't got Skype so, I'm assuming that it is just traffic and it's causing a bottleneck hence I was hoping that I could just block it.

I don't think I'll spend too much time on it, if he doesn't play ball, he'll find the access restrictions being turned on again and all internet access will be curtailed which will rather hamper his Xbox social life.

You could perhaps look into using QoS to prioritise the non skype traffic.

Even fairly low bandwidth streaming services can be disruptive as they fill up the buffers in each piece of hardware in the chain, depending on the buffer size you can end up with considerable increase in latency and even dropped packets all of which plays havoc with TCP.

[d000hg]

An article I read said being a supernode only uses about 5Kb/s of traffic. Unless you get further 'upgraded' to being used for file-transfer relays.

[alluvial]

You could perhaps look into using QoS to prioritise the non skype traffic.

Even fairly low bandwidth streaming services can be disruptive as they fill up the buffers in each piece of hardware in the chain, depending on the buffer size you can end up with considerable increase in latency and even dropped packets all of which plays havoc with TCP.

Unfortunately there isn't any QoS functionality on the access point he uses and the QoS on the Netgear one is rubbish. You can set it up for various MAC addresses so I can target individual devices but ut actually seems to make things worse so I've turned it off. I was wondering if it is because the devices that I want to adjust the QoS for are going in via the access point before they get to the Netgear one.

I think I need a course.

[fullyautomatix]

Coincidentally even I am facing the same issue. I started using Skype to do video conferencing and when I start using Skype the router crashes. Looking on the Skype forums they are advising to uncheck the uPNP checkbox. Still not sure if that works.

[Lumiere]

At least it does not cost you anything, next thing you could be asking is how to reduce your son's mobile bills ..

[alluvial]

At least it does not cost you anything, next thing you could be asking is how to reduce your son's mobile bills ..

Actually it does, he cost me 50 quid the other night when might connection stalled.

His mother pays his phone bills. I didn't have one in my day so why should today's kids have one?

[Wanderer]

I've used it for yonks, unless it is using video conferencing it doesn't use more than a few kilobytes of bandwidth so I can't see how it could cause a problem. I very much doubt that Skype is the cause of your slowdown.

Did you try running a ping -t to your gateway and to the server you are connecting to so you can see if there are any latency issues.

[alluvial]

I've used it for yonks, unless it is using video conferencing it doesn't use more than a few kilobytes of bandwidth so I can't see how it could cause a problem. I very much doubt that Skype is the cause of your slowdown.

Did you try running a ping -t to your gateway and to the server you are connecting to so you can see if there are any latency issues.

I'll give it a go tonight, cheers.