Xtra Blocking File Type ?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Xtra Blocking File Type ?

aussiedean

65 posts

Master Geek

#77525 17-Feb-2011 15:06

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone can shine some light on a problem we are having. Am with Xtra currently and are having problems downloading an initial torrent from a well known web site.

I go to the link for the file where the comments etc are.... click on the link to download the torrent and the browser stalls on downloading the initial file.

Has previously worked okay and have quota left on the account. Am running Win 7 and using uTorrent but have also tried other programs as well with no luck.

Have re-installed both the torrent program and web browser, still with no luck.

So what I'm thinking is Xtra is blocking file types? Is that a possibility as I've run out of ideas to rectify the problem.

Thanks

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#440751 17-Feb-2011 15:09

So, this is one link. Have you tried others, in other sites? Tried others on the same site?

doozy

245 posts

Master Geek

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#440755 17-Feb-2011 15:12

Its not being blocked by us. There is no blocking/filtering apart from the DIA one in the Xtra network.

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aussiedean

65 posts

Master Geek

#440758 17-Feb-2011 15:14

Thanks for the prompt response will look into the issue further then. Will try another site as well.

Cheers

aussiedean

65 posts

Master Geek

#440772 17-Feb-2011 15:34

Just in relation to the DIA then ..if a torrent site... say the one we are using has been found to be a problem it blacklists the whole site or just the problem files?

Also is it an option to not be part of the Xtra DIA filter? We certainly don't download anything that would be considered offensive at all.

Would seem that the freedom to explore a web/torrent site is now in the hands of ISP's then. I understand the concept as we are quite likely here in Australia to be going down the same path. Not that agree with it at all.

Anyway thanks, at least I may have an explanation for what is possibly happening to our account.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#440774 17-Feb-2011 15:37

aussiedean: Just in relation to the DIA then ..if a torrent site... say the one we are using has been found to be a problem it blacklists the whole site or just the problem files?

The filter is on individual files and pages, not whole domains.

aussiedean: Also is it an option to not be part of the Xtra DIA filter? We certainly don't download anything that would be considered offensive at all.

The filter is optional to ISPs, but once an ISP has joined the program its entire traffic is filtered.

aussiedean: Would seem that the freedom to explore a web/torrent site is now in the hands of ISP's then.

No, it's on the hands of the DIA.

doozy

245 posts

Master Geek

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#440777 17-Feb-2011 15:40

if you come across content blocked by the DIA it has a page advising you that it has been blocked and a link to dispute it.

Tarawera Ultra 2015 done, bring on 2016

tomhenderson

26 posts

Geek

#440913 17-Feb-2011 21:44

I've had problems downloading torrent files from what I assume is the same site. I found using https instead of http solved the issue. Try just adding the s to the url of the homepage then find and download the torrent again.

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Turbocharged

83 posts

Master Geek

#441315 18-Feb-2011 21:01

I've noticed the same problem lately when using uTorrent and a well known torrent site (IH). It seems to work perfectly when using a proxy, but without the proxy it either sometimes work or it doesn't. For example, if I try downloading the torrent the first time it usually won't work, but if I keep trying for about 5 more times by clicking the download button, cancelling and starting again it suddenly decides to work. Also, since I've been with Telecom for broadband, there's now around a 5-minute delay for the download box to pop up after I click 'Download .torrent" button. Used to pop up instantly on the previous ISP's I was with.