Failing to connect to sever

[DescendTheHero]

Hi i am new to this and am having some problems connecting to my sever.

Version: 0.6.9
OS: Windows 7
Install-type: Windows Installer
Skin (if applicable): Plush
Firewall Software: Norton Internet Security
Are you using IPV6? No
Is the issue reproducible? (yes/no)

I am getting this message now: # Connections: Failed to connect: (10060, "(10060, 'Operation timed out')") 45@ssl.astraweb.com: ### (SSL port number)

I have managed to download stuff for the first few days, however now i keep getting this message
I have tried both the SSL port numbers that connect to Astraweb
I have allowed SABnzbd to go through my norton and windows firewall. I also downloaded the hotfix that relates to Windows 7 (The one the FAQ recommended)
I have the opened the ssl astraweb port and have checked that it is open (however am unable to receive a ping result when using the PFPortChecker tool)

Can anybody help?

Cheers

[shypike]

Hmm, Norton Security...
Did you try a non-ssl connection?
Try Astraweb's European servers, just as a check.

[DescendTheHero]

Yea i did try Astraweb's European servers and it was a no go.
I have not tried a non-ssl connection, but isn't having a ssl connection a important factor?

I have found a way to get a connection now , but it is very weird.
For example i am able to connect and download fron the server when i have a tv show downloading, however when i am downloading a movie on its own it wont connect. However once a connection is established (through adding a tv show) the movie will download. Is there a reasoning behind this? Was a total fluke that this was discovered.

[shypike]

I have absolutely no idea.
You the first to describe this kind of bizarre behaviour.
There is zero relation between what you download and whether or not you can connect to the Usenet server.
Personally, I wouldn't trust Norton Security in this case, but that's just a hunch.

BTW: ssl is mostly used to avoid traffic shaping by ISPs.
It's not primarily a security measure. It's great when it works, but don't worry too much.
At least give it a try without SSL, at the least as a diagnostic tool.

[DescendTheHero]

Hahaha yea i thought it was quite odd.
And yes i am aware that Norton is quite dodgy however its the most widely available and cheapest one for me.
Ok ill try it without SSL, however atm its working fine now.

I really appreciate the help and quick responses. Thank you.

[shypike]

I swear by Microsoft Security Essentials and the standard Windows firewall.
Combined with normally working as a standard user instead of admin,
I feel safe enough.

[sander]

I am getting this message now: # Connections: Failed to connect: (10060, "(10060, 'Operation timed out')") 45@ssl.astraweb.com: ### (SSL port number)

I might be wrong, but I think the "45" means that thread 45 is getting the time-out. If so, I guess there are 44 other threads. That would be many too many. So: what's the number of connections you've filled out at your newsserver? You can find it at http://localhost:8080/config/server/

[DescendTheHero]

The number of connections i have filled out is 45. I just Astraweb (my newsever) and it says that the maximum connections i can have is 50
Should i change this? If so what to?

[sander]

Start with 3 or 5. Normally that will fill your Internet connection.

You can experiment with a higher number of connections, but as a rule of thumb numbers higher than 10 will slow down your throughput. News provider advertisements with "50 connections" is from the "mine's bigger than theirs" marketing department.

[DescendTheHero]

Did 5 for my connections and now its working perfectly.
Thank you very much.