dimeadozen experts, help!

[robiola]

Hey guys, I'm a brand new dimeadozen user, and I'm a bit confused about a few things. Is there a thread about this already? I searched, but didn't find anything. The dimeadozen help section helped a bit, but I'm still a little lost because all this is completely new to me, and even basic concepts escape me.... Such as, if I'm downloading files that nobody else is downloading, (it says connected to 0 peers)how can I keep my ratio up? I left the window open for the longest time after download was complete, but nothing happened... Could it be that there's something wrong with my PC settings? Or am I talking bullsh*t because I misunderstood how the thing is supposed to work? I don't really have any new files to share right now, all I can do is seed (is that how you say it?)the files I've downloaded, and besides right now creating a torrent is, I'm certain, beyond my capabilities.... 

[ernest newman]

Here is your problem, if you get on dimeadozen and feel like you want to download all shows on there when you pull up the cure you will end up getting banned. What you need to do is start by downloading all the new stuff that pops up where there are lots of people trying to grab it. Then keep your seeding up at full speed (even after your finished getting it) all the time for awhile on those current shows and develop a share ratio cushion. If you can your ratio to 2 or 3 with those new shows, then you can go back and grab older stuff that very few people are on and it will not kill your ratio. Shows that have been there awhile have very few people downloading them so to get your ratio back to 1 on them you will have to keep the window open for weeks to get there.

So as tempting as it is to go back and get old stuff (old meaning things that have been on there awhile, mainly more than a week or so) you have to earn the right to do it by establishing a large cushion

[robiola]

I tried downloading one of the Top Ten torrents thinking it would meet the criteria you mentioned (I wanted it anyway, Led Zep!), but I had the same problem...I didn't check whether or not it was new... Maybe top ten means it's been downloaded a billion times but not necessarily recently...? So now I guess I'll try doing what you said, downloading new stuff even if I don't really want it, just for the purpose of seeding and getting my ratio up.
Just one more thing:

Then keep your seeding up at full speed

what exactly does that mean? I have to fiddle with the settings in the download/upload window? I always just left it as it was because I was afraid of messing things up!
Anyway, thank you for answering so quickly and fully, you've been extremely nice and helpful!

[robiola]

Oooops, thought of another question or two... How do I spot the good ones for seeding? The ones that have a high count under the heading "snatched"? And for the life of me, I can't find the explanation for this...what the heck is a leecher? Sounds nasty. Sorry if I'm being a bother now with all these questions.

[lostflower4]

"Leecher" simply means you are a downloader (not the seeder). I know, it's kind of a crude term with negative connotations, but that's what it is.

As for keeping your ratio up, it can be extremely difficult for some people even if you follow the correct protocol. My ISP makes it especially difficult to connect to peers, so it's difficult for me to keep up a good sharing ratio even if I download brand new torrents and keep them open 24/7.

Couple that with the fact that my ISP recently increased my download speed/limit, and my ratio has been steadily going in the tank over the past few months. It's really embarrassing. 

Actually, the best thing you can do to help your ratio is to seed original torrents.

[robiola]

Thanks lostflower4... unfortunately, being new to all this (hey, I'm just barely computer-literate) I have nothing new I can upload... I'm beginning to suspect that my dimeadozen adventure will be a brief one! I was lucky enough to get an account to download the Milan concert, and suddenly the wild wonderful world of torrenting opened up before my eyes :roll: (confusing me to no end). We'll see.
Oooooh, I don't want to be a leecher - ugh.
Hope you get your ratio back up, don't want you getting a bad reputation.
Thank you for your help!

[ernest newman]

In some cases you can have a bad provider that makes it difficult to seed. You are almost always going to run into a situation where it comes down much faster than you can seed back up (unless you are a college student or something sitting on a high speed line). All the internet companies cap your upload speed to make life difficult even though in reality it could go faster. Its just a matter of patience. The best thing to look for is not how many times snatched, the best one is where you see a new cure show, say today its the AT version of Milan and you see there is 1 seeder and 200-300 leechers trying to get it. That one will be hot for a little while everyone helps each other until the original seeder is finished. You download one like that and leave it open for a day or two after the thing finished and you should have plenty of opportunity to upload the same amount as you downloaded.

No need to give up, you were probably picking the wrong kind of seed. You want ones with few seeders and tons of leechers (which primarily are new torrents). you will learn to check dime twice a day so you can keep on top of it, and so your always on torrents that are moving

[robiola]

Alright, I'll give it a try.
Thanks again to both you guys for your help.

[j]

One other thing that I have learned (it may just be me) is in the settings of your torrent client, make sure that you have your upload speed set to the maximum setting, even if you will never reach that speed

[robiola]

One other thing that I have learned (it may just be me) is in the settings of your torrent client, make sure that you have your upload speed set to the maximum setting, even if you will never reach that speed

Merci beaucoup, I'll have to check that out. Hey, I've got my ratio up to 0.57! It ain't much, but it sure is better than before. But my little old pc is trying to tell me it doesn't appreciate being left to run for hours on end at a time... I guess you gotta have halfway decent equipment to pull this off... My baby is old and tired.

[rodney]

It's ideal to have your ratio at or over 1.0, but .57 is good enough to keep your account active.  I think you only need a .25 on DIME.

[robiola]

It's ideal to have your ratio at or over 1.0, but .57 is good enough to keep your account active.  I think you only need a .25 on DIME.

That's right, but if I want to go back and download old stuff that nobody else is downloading, than I need to get it higher first!

[rodney]

Ideally, yes, but as long as it's over .25 you're good.

[CureCrusader]

I just got onto dime!!!!
I just got onto dime!!!!

I don't know what to do!!!   

I have a lucky day!!

[CureCrusader]

how do I open the file?
I need a program that can do this ?
does anyone which is best for a torrent?

thankyou.