Win7 Yellow Light, odd situation

[secef]

1) What version of BitComet are you using?

BitComent 1.16

2) What type of Internet connection do you have (ADSL, etc.)?

Not entirely certain… my guess would be some sort of T1 line that’s split up amongst the apartment complex I live in.

3) Do you have a modem? Do you use a router? What make and model are each one of them? Have you forwarded your port?

No, I’m connected directly to a pre-existing datajack in my apartment (more details below where I describe my problem better)

4) If you have more than one router, be sure to mention the make and model of both devices, how are they connected (i.e. in which connector of both devices is the network cable plugged) and which one of the devices is connected to or is the modem.

Also, if you have more than one computer make sure to mention in this case, to which router is every one of them connected.

Not relevant in my case.

5) What version of Windows, Firewall and Antivirus do you use?

Windows 7 Enterprise x64, Windows Firewall, none installed at the moment

6) If you are asking about a specific torrent or file that you have downloaded, make sure that you include the complete torrent name, as well as the complete names of the files and their respective extensions/formats (e.g.: .rar, .wma, .bin, .cue, etc.).

Not relevant.

*7) For speed-related issues, please run various speed tests at a site such as speedtest.net (make sure that no other computer is using your Internet connection and that all other programs - including BitComet - are closed, during the tests). Include the results, along with the settings that you are presently using, in your post, so that we may review and offer suggestions to improve its performance. *

Speed is and isn’t my issue. I’m not seeking max performance, I’m seeking performance period.

So, my problem.

Here’s what’s going on. I live in an apartment complex that offers relatively cheap high speed internet provided by an outside company and administered by a small in-house tech group within the complex. What sort of connection it is they’re dividing up amongst us, I’m not sure, but speed tests rate my connection at about 2.8 Mbps down, 0.9Mbps up. Anyway, ever since I moved in here, on BitComet I’ve been getting a yellow light “Blocked:68.xx.xx.xx” status down in the corner. After following all manner of guides found on this and other websites related to port forwarding and firewall exemption setting, I’m still not getting a green light or any appreciable download speed. I’m at the point that my computer is just directly connected to the datajack that’s already in my apartment and I’m still having this issue.

Now, the IP that is specified as being blocked is not in any way my individual PC’s IP (according to ‘ipconfig /all’ anyway), nor any IP I immediately recognize. I have a 10.x.x.x IP, whereas my IP according to BitComet (and various other sources such as whatsmyip.com) is 68.x.x.x. The sheet I received on move-in explained that each unit in the apartment complex is on its own VLAN, so I suspect that even though I’m as close to being directly connected to the internet as possible, I’m still behind something like a regional switch.

So, I need some help here. Some guidance. Some sage-like wisdom, if you would. Is there anything I can possibly do to make BitComet work in my present situation? Or am I pretty much at the whim of whatever firewall the goof troop of IT folks has set up on this apartment’s VLAN?

I appreciate any and all advice I can get on this matter. Thanks a bunch!

[kluelos]

Bad news first? Nothing you can do about it.

The IP address you have, “10.x.x.x”, indicates that you are on a private subnet, because that address block is reserved for the purpose. You can’t have an IP address that starts with 10. out on the actual internet. It isn’t legal, most commercial routers won’t route it. Private subnets only. there are some other blocks like that, of which the most used is probably 192.168.xxx.xxx

The address you see from “whatsmyip.org” is the ROUTER’s ip address. that’s the way routers work. They substitute their own address for yours, forward your query, then take the reply and, um, route, it back to you on this private subnet.

If you see that “your” IP is in either reserved block, you know you’re behind a router, and in this case, one that you do not control.

Can something be done about it? Certainly. It just isn’t likely. Depends on how friendly and willing whoever manages the router is. In my experience, the “person in charge” of the router at an apartment complex can sometimes reliably identify a cable, (as opposed to, say, a water hose) if asked. What she does is to call the company that manages this thing, which charges the complex by the hour. Will they configure the router the way you need? Probably not, not even if you are willing to pay the (high) hourly rate they’ll charge to do it and the complex would allow it.

Even if they would be willing to talk about it, most likely they won’t even consider opening a hole in the firewall for you or allowing you a static IP address for it. You’ll just get a flat “no” before you’ve finished speaking.

What you’d likely need to do is get your own ADSL connection into your apartment via the phone line, not using their internet service at all.

Your situation is very typical of facilities that provide internet service. They’re usually not worth anything, and I don’t consider them a benefit. More of a nuisance, actually, so if there’s a choice between a complex with internet service and one without, all other things being equal, take the one without.

If you are too far away from the nearest phoneco office, you won’t be able to get ADSL service anyway.

[secef]

Aye yai yai… I suspected as much, but I wanted to see if there was anything I was possibly overlooking. Seems like that’s not the case though. I’ll just have to look into other local providers and compare costs because whatever extra I’d have to pay would be worth it to have more thorough dominion over my interwebs pipe and home network.

Again, thanks a bunch.

[Dark_Shroud]

Also, since you said you don’t have an anti-virus installed try MSE.