Thebox.Bz

[doctormann]

Hi

I've recently joined TheBox.bz but, frankly, I'm finding it less than useful. I have managed to download some content but I cannot seem to get my ratio up to the required level as normally absolutely no peers are connecting. There are often quite a few in the swarm but I get zero connections. This is never a problem when using public trackers so I assume that there is nothing wrong with my set-up - speeds are set appropriately and ports are forwarded and I have a static LAN IP address.

I've tried downloading the 'free' content from their site - which is supposed to 'guarantee' lots of peers to upload to without counting as extra download. This doesn't work - there are no torrents that I can find where there are more leechers than seeders, even on very new content. I can download the 'free' content OK but cannot upload as I still get very few peer connections and normally none at all.

I'm using uTorrent 2.2.1 and Windows XP Pro SP3. I have tried uTorrent 3.1 but it appears to be bugged - excessive CPU burden - so I have reverted to 2.2.1 for now. My ISP is TOT, 7Mbps/512kbps - works OK most of the time.

Anyone out there having the same problem with TheBox? Any solutions, other than buying some download credit?

Thanks,

DM

[JusMe]

In order to get the maximum benefit of their FLOTW you need to get on it right after it's been posted.

Early Friday morning is best - about 7 a.m. Leave it later and everyone who's wanting to improve their ratios will have already done the FLOTW and it will sit inactive for the rest of the week.

[thaimite]

What Bit torrent client are you using? TheBox.BZ has a very small list of approved torrent clients and in many cases only certain versions of a client are acceptable. If your client is not on the aproved list it will not work.

I stopped using Thebox.BZ for that reason when I switched to Ubuntu. They do not support my preferred client (QBiutTorrent) despite many requestes my a lot of people to revevaluate it over the past 18 months. The new versions have long sonce fixed the reason TheBox danned it in the first place but they refuse to check.

I find I can get all the things I used to get from the Box from other sources (MVGroup and TorrentDay) without the hassle. My hard earned ratio of 2:1 in theBox now sits unused except for a few special cases.

Edit

I have just read your post and nitice you are using uTorrent I checked theBox.biz site

here

and seen this

uTorrent

Recommended version: 1.8.2

Only approved versions: 1.6.1, 1.7.7, 1.8.2, 1.8.3

Latest version tested

: 3.0.0.0 (Result:

NOT Approved

)

[NormanW]

What Bit torrent client are you using? TheBox.BZ has a very small list of approved torrent clients and in many cases only certain versions of a client are acceptable. If your client is not on the aproved list it will not work.

I stopped using Thebox.BZ for that reason when I switched to Ubuntu. They do not support my preferred client (QBiutTorrent) despite many requestes my a lot of people to revevaluate it over the past 18 months. The new versions have long sonce fixed the reason TheBox danned it in the first place but they refuse to check.

I find I can get all the things I used to get from the Box from other sources (MVGroup and TorrentDay) without the hassle. My hard earned ratio of 2:1 in theBox now sits unused except for a few special cases.

It's also useful to get the BIG FREE download on (our time/Thai) at 6am every Friday morning if you can be bothered to get up that is hehe.

That always has thousands of leechers for you.

Good luck, I use that and VIP torrent site.

No bother so far after a year.

The Box does need some time to get used to, but once your ratio climbs you can sit back and relax.

My ratio is 1.364 after uploading 720GB.

[beano2274]

match of the day used to be a good one to download around 9am on Sunday mornings, your ratio will increase.

I binned the box even though my ratio was always over the requirement

[doctormann]

Thanks to those who replied

I'll take the suggestions on board although I don't think that I'll be reverting to an earlier version of uTorrent as the version that I currently run - 2.2.1 - works extremely well on public trackers. TheBox haven't told me that I shouldn't be using it but I suppose that this might have something to do with the problem.

I'm not sure, at this stage, if I'm going to persevere with TheBox as most stuff does seem to be available elsewhere. It's just that TheBox has a very good selection of UK TV. I've also looked at UKNova but there doesn't seem to be much on there.

Maybe I'll have to start getting up early to catch the free content. I have about three weeks to get my ratio up to 0.2 or I'll get suspended. I can't say that I'm that bothered about it!

DM

[thaimite]

Thanks to those who replied

I'll take the suggestions on board although I don't think that I'll be reverting to an earlier version of uTorrent as the version that I currently run - 2.2.1 - works extremely well on public trackers. TheBox haven't told me that I shouldn't be using it but I suppose that this might have something to do with the problem.

I'm not sure, at this stage, if I'm going to persevere with TheBox as most stuff does seem to be available elsewhere. It's just that TheBox has a very good selection of UK TV. I've also looked at UKNova but there doesn't seem to be much on there.

Maybe I'll have to start getting up early to catch the free content. I have about three weeks to get my ratio up to 0.2 or I'll get suspended. I can't say that I'm that bothered about it!

DM

If you check your torrent log on uTorent you may see a message like Connection refused or an error code. Referncing this to tTheBox.biz site will tell you if they have banned your torrent client.

It is sad as the Box is generally a very good site, but their over zealous policy of banning certain Torrent clients is ruining it.

[Daffy D]

^Hi

^{I've been using uTorrent 2.0.4 for many months now and though not on their approved list I have no problem using it with TheBox.}

^{Agree that trying to get a good ratio is almost impossible from here. I download EVERYTHING thats free and over months have managed to build up my ratio to just over 1.}

^{Have you tried tvchaosuk dot com they have a bonus system where as long as you keep the file seeding even if no one is downloading from you you get bonus points which will convert to ratio.}

^:-)

[MKAsok]

Most likely no peers are connecting to you because your connection is too slow. The BT protocol is set up to prefer connecting to the fastest peers.

My stats on the Box: Ratio: 11.847 +1.21 TB UL: 1.32 TB DL: 114.18 GB Act: 41 0 Invites: 10 My Reseeds My Snatches

Get a seedbox if you're using private trackers.

[madjbs]

The Box is run by complete idiots. Spotty teenager like losers who get a kick out of finally having an ounce of power, even if it is only on the Internet. That being said, It is one of the few sources of good British TV on the Internet, so it is worth putting up with the idiotic admin. Once you get a ratio over 1.0 and you make sure you have forwarded all your ports etc, your ratio tends to take care of itself (as long as you keep all your torrents on obviously).

[astral]

It's just that TheBox has a very good selection of UK TV.

I've also looked at UKNova but there doesn't seem to be much on there.

Strange

IME virtually everything on TB is on UKN.

UKN will give you much better returns for ratio building

and without the self important admins

The only negative with UKN is the relatively short life of torrents there

You need to be watching for what is new, as it will disappear within a month or so.

Also checkout TVChaos as another source

https://tvchaosuk.com/index.php

PS Private trackers are fussy about the sw level

I use utorrent 1.8.2 to be safe.

[Lite Beer]

The Box. UK Nova. TVChaosUK. XS Speeds. Will all do the job.

Yes the box is not the easiest to seed but rent a Seed Box for a month or two and it will do wonders for your ratio.

[pattayadingo]

U torrent version 1.8.2 is one of the later ones they recommend.

If you read the FAQ and the rules you will see they will shut your account if you do not use authorised versions of U Torrent and they notice this.

Another thing you said in the original post. Downloading the FREE stuff guarantees loads of peers.

No it does not guarantee that. The idea of free leech is that you take time to d/l these and build your credit on the Box. Then when you have credit you can start to d/l what you want.

You need to be a little bit patient when using the Box.

Ratio: 1.582 +133.75 GB UL: 363.60 GB DL: 229.85 GB Act: 37 1 Invites: 9 My Reseeds My Snatches

The above is over about a 6 month period.

[steve187]

I have been with the box for a few days, there was one series on there ( thanks to RabC) that i could not find anwhere else, torrent or nzb, i am using u torrent 2.2 build 23703 with no problem.

I have reached a ratio of 1.227, using free downloads, and i have managed to download 9gb, of non free programmes, with only one more season of my hard to find series to get. i downloaded 'emma 2009' 2.5 gb and have up loaded 4.71gb

Keep grabbing the free ones, even if they are something your might only get around to watching sometime.

[Lite Beer]

Keep grabbing the Free ones even if you have no intention of watching them.

[astral]

Yes, get all the free ones, as soon as they appear

also look at getting a seedbox to help your ratios

I have used a seedbox for over a year now, cost £100

and have ratios around the 10 mark so can pick and choose what I want to watch

but put all manner of rubbish on the seedbox to maintain my ratio

PM me if you what more info

[AyG]

As others have said, you need to download a lot of the free ones just to maintain a decent ratio. (Does anyone really believe that 100s of people download Pobol Y Cwm to watch it?) It's easiest if you automate the process using the RSS feed. I use Flexget to do this. However, you need to be a bit careful with the setup to make sure you exclude "Classic" episodes of soaps, trailers and repacks.

Personally I find it much easier to maintain a decent ratio on TheBox than on UKNova where the delay before you can start downloading means that there are always lots of seeders and very leechers by the time I can download.

[doctormann]

It seems that uTorrent 2.2.1 is not an issue with TheBox.bz .

I've managed to find a couple of 'free' downloads with a decent peer to seed ratio and I am managing to upload to both. Hardly spectacular but at least something is getting uploaded so better than before. I live in hope of achieving the minimum required before suspension day.

DM

[pattayadingo]

It seems that uTorrent 2.2.1 is not an issue with TheBox.bz .

I've managed to find a couple of 'free' downloads with a decent peer to seed ratio and I am managing to upload to both. Hardly spectacular but at least something is getting uploaded so better than before. I live in hope of achieving the minimum required before suspension day.

DM

Why not have 100 FREE downloads running? A little from each is better than nothing and can build your ration faster.

There are also donations of GB given to newbies. Go through the message board and find out.

[Totster]

I have terrible trouble keeping my ratio up this year, last year I was able to keep it up quite well with the free download and weekly giveaway.

I just bit the bullet and bought 10gig for 10 Euros.

I may look into a seed box

totster

[Lite Beer]

A seed box for a couple of months and hit the free torrents should get the ratio up.

[Digitalbanana]

I have used uTorrent 3.1 on Box.bz without issues.

I can never get my ratios up because my upload rates are fixed at max 10% download rates by my local ISP. I find best is to just download essential torrents from box and get the rest from other sources if they can be found. About once a yr I have to top up the ratio at the Box with a payment but feel that more than compensates the savings made from limited upload rates I get from my cheap Thai ISP.