Illini Torrent

[U of I 89-05-10]

Someone suggested the website Illini Torrent last year for me to watch full length Illini games from past seasons. The specific game I wanted to watch was UI at Iowa from 2005 (when there were 4,000 UI fans in Carver including the Krush). I could never get it to work, and I just tried it again today except this time with the UI-IU game at the Real Hall last year; it still didn't work.

Is anybody able to watch these, and, if so, can they help me figure out why I can't??

Thanks in advance.

[Illini25]

What is not working for you, the download off of the site or the video file after your done with the download? What kind of file is it? Some of them require you to burn to dvd in order to watch it. Or it just depends on the file extension and what player or codec is required.

[IlliniRunIn07]

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

Someone suggested the website Illini Torrent last year for me to watch full length Illini games from past seasons. The specific game I wanted to watch was UI at Iowa from 2005 (when there were 4,000 UI fans in Carver including the Krush). I could never get it to work, and I just tried it again today except this time with the UI-IU game at the Real Hall last year; it still didn't work.

Is anybody able to watch these, and, if so, can they help me figure out why I can't??

Thanks in advance.

I'm not an expert on torrents at all. But you do know that you need a program like BitTorrent to download these torrent files and watch them, correct?

[U of I 89-05-10]

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

I'm not an expert on torrents at all. But you do know that you need a program like BitTorrent to download these torrent files and watch them, correct?

I did not, thank you. Every time I click on what I think is the link to the video, it says that Windows is unaware of the program. There is an option for Windows to "search online for a program" for it, but then it just says that it couldn't find anything.

[jgreen87]

Basically, BitTorrent is an advanced peer to peer application. Users download a .torrent file, which, when loaded in a BitTorrent application (like BitTorrent or uTorrent) allows the user to connect to a swarm, and begin downloading a specific file. The swarm is basically the file you want, split into equal pieces between users that have the file you want. While you download, you only download a certain % of that file from that user. You NEVER have a direct connection with another user, it is all done via the swarm. Because of this schema, no one uploader is bogged down with seeding for an entire swarm. After the user downloads a file (called leeching), they are expected to upload back to the swarm (called seeding). You can only seed when the tracker (hosted by a site such as IlliniTorrent, along with the .torrent file hosts and keeps track of connections) allows you do upload to another user. IE, if no one is downloading a chunk, specifically from you, you aren't seeding. Unlike Kazaa, or LimeWire, the user has no direct access to a file, and there is no website access to a particular file (in other words, Illini Torrent doesn't have access to the content it hosts.) Everyting will revolve around your ratio: your percentage of leeching versus seeding. And this is where IlliniTorrent fails miserably. Plus, you have to have your client running in order to contribute to the swarm.

The primary way in which IlliniTorrent fails is that there are waay to few users to create a speedy swarm. It took me two months to download the '07 Ohio State game (which, at 230 mB, should have taken 2 hours max). And since there are no users to seed, there are none to download. Therefore, you can seed all you want, but if no one is downloading, your ratio doesn't improve. And if you can't maintain a 30% ratio (meaning you seed 30% of what you download) the site locks your account and limits your traffic. == A waste of time.

How to get around the BitTorrent client:
At first, like Kazaa and LimeWire, BitTorrent was a great tool. But now, they are still like Kazaa and LimeWire: only good for porn. Plus, many ISP's, such as Comcast, and Bell - affiliated ISP's are restricting traffic, and throttling end - user bandwidth (how much data you can download/upload). What do do then? Go to Google, and type in something like "Illinois football at/versus team name + year + Rapidshare or Megaupload" Do not forget the quotes, or you will return a bunch of useless queries.

All downloading is now through your browser, however there are some drawbacks: Rapidshare and Megaupload have a grace period that you must wait before downloading another part in the file. But with help from tools like cryptload, the downloading/waiting period can be automated, so you can download while asleep or at work whatever. But be careful. As with Kazaa, BitTorrent, whatever, always scan the file for viruses/spyware/malware before opening that file. In fact, my download folder location is my McAfee's quaranteen folder.

[jgreen87]

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

I did not, thank you. Every time I click on what I think is the link to the video, it says that Windows is unaware of the program. There is an option for Windows to "search online for a program" for it, but then it just says that it couldn't find anything.

If any of my above post helps, and you still want to download via BitTorrent, you should ditch IlliniTorrent and check out BuckeyPlanet.com. The have other content other than Ohio State videos, but not alot. tenyardtorrent.com was a good one as well, with fast swarms, but sadly, the tracker went dow about a year or two ago and hasn't been up since. The owner pledged that the site and tracker would return, but trackers are incredibly intense to program and take a long time.

[plooger]

Originally Posted by jgreen87

If any of my above post helps, and you still want to download via BitTorrent, you should ditch IlliniTorrent and check out BuckeyPlanet.com. The have other content other than Ohio State videos, but not alot.

Given the main criticism of IlliniTorrent in the previous post was that there are too few users, I would think that *more* users would be just what the doctor ordered. Or at least part of the solution. Regardless, there's little to no Illinois content on BuckeyePlanet, but I'm eager to learn of other alternatives. (Is there some aggregation page, somewhere, that lists people who trade DVDs, etc?)

Originally Posted by jgreen87

The primary way in which IlliniTorrent fails is that there are waay to few users to create a speedy swarm. It took me two months to download the '07 Ohio State game (which, at 230 mB, should have taken 2 hours max). And since there are no users to seed, there are none to download. Therefore, you can seed all you want, but if no one is downloading, your ratio doesn't improve. And if you can't maintain a 30% ratio (meaning you seed 30% of what you download) the site locks your account and limits your traffic. == A waste of time.

Many valid thoughts here, though the 2 months download would seem to be extreme and not what I'm seeing nowadays. One other factor the hurt IT.net for quite some time was the Comcast blocking of bittorrent traffic, effectively knocking many users and torrents offline.

I think IlliniTorrent did something about the automated demotion and throttling, but I'm not sure (my ratio over there hasn't made it an issue for me). Given the low traffic, the typical bittorrent tracker rules dont' really apply, and the automated mechanisms do need to be reworked or disabled. I really view the site more as an online archive, making games available -- with emphasis on availability, over speed. (Though speed would improve if more users participated and seeded some subset of the content.)

Cheers!

[davidlee930]

I used this site a long time ago and it is fail. FAIL. BUT, if you are really dying to watch a game, a ridiculously long d/l time its probably worth it. Some videos on that site are pretty much close to impossible to get elsewhere, especially for free.

[jgreen87]

Yeah, I wish that someone would just put all of the vids on Rapidshare so we don't have to worry about all that BitTorrent nonsense.

[plooger]

Yeah, I wish that someone would just put all of the vids on Rapidshare so we don't have to worry about all that BitTorrent nonsense.

Nothing stopping anybody from doing it, but it's markedly easier to critique that which exists than do something about improving it.

Until such time as the videos exist elsewhere, declaring the one site where they can be found as "FAIL" seems theatrical, at best. And dissuading others from using the site, when it's participation that improves download times, seems confused.

[jgreen87]

Originally Posted by plooger

Nothing stopping anybody from doing it, but it's markedly easier to critique that which exists than do something about improving it.

Until such time as the videos exist elsewhere, declaring the one site where they can be found as "FAIL" seems theatrical, at best. And dissuading others from using the site, when it's participation that improves download times, seems confused.

Well, for new users, Rapidshare is the easiest choice. Most people get confused when they download the *.torrent file and have no idea why its not playing in WMP. With rapidshare, just pop the link(s) in to cryptloader and let it do its thing. I am not overly critiquing IlliniTorrent as an outright 'FAIL', but there are better alternatives, even if you do want to use torrents. leech.tenyardtorrents.com is back online, and with a good seeding base; just downloaded the entire 2009 BCS National Championship game in 780p in under 3 hours. Not bad considering the 4+ gig file size. I have had good experieces with Buckeye Planet, which does have more than tOSU torrents, if only a few. I can't remember the name of the UM torrent site; haven't been there in a while; think it was gobigblue.net or somethingorother. Anyway, there are alternative with much better leeching rules than IlliniTorrent. And while I think that Rapidshare is the best method of transferring files, I would say the next best site would be leech.tenyardtorrents.com

[plooger]

Yes, I can't argue with your statements on velocity of downloads, but the advantage would seem to be moot when the content just isn't there. (i.e. the scope of the discussion was Illini videos) And, as prev. stated, speeds would improve if more users actively participated. (No question that the site will never improve if it is merely viewed as a site from which to parasitically leech content, without contributing back.)

Re: TYT... Thanks for the heads-up. I'd checked there a few times recently, but the site had been offline. Just from the list of active users on the main page, no question that it's a more active site and downloads will be world's swifter, but I'm interested in how much Illini basketball they'll have -- given it's theoretically an "American football" site. (very self-aware of them to be so specific) I've finally signed-up and look forward to browsing.

Finally (for now)... the Michigan-specific website is mGoVideo.com -- but it's not responding, at present. (I'd hit it successfully a week or so ago, but can't establish a connection, now.)

cheers..!

[jgreen87]

Originally Posted by plooger

Yes, I can't argue with your statements on velocity of downloads, but the advantage would seem to be moot when the content just isn't there. (i.e. the scope of the discussion was Illini videos) And, as prev. stated, speeds would improve if more users actively participated. (No question that the site will never improve if it is merely viewed as a site from which to parasitically leech content, without contributing back.)

Yeah, I see what you are saying, I just think that IT's minimum ratio rules are absurd for how little users there are. I've lost two accounts because (the rules at the time) were that you had to had a ratio over .20 in two weeks. I downloaded 2007 UIUC at tOSU and 2007 PSU at UIUC and no one ever downloaded it from me. I couldn't seed those files to save my soul. Most other trackers don't force the minimum ratio rule unless you have dl'd 20 or so gigs. I can see with more contributors seeding, it would be a better tracker. But if you are looking for football videos, I believe other trackers are worth paying a visit to. Basketball on the other hand, as you pointed out, is another story. You can't beat IT for basketball videos. (Forgive me, I am much more of a football fan than basketball and did not take it into consideration.)

Originally Posted by plooger

Finally (for now)... the Michigan-specific website is mGoVideo.com -- but it's not responding, at present. (I'd hit it successfully a week or so ago, but can't establish a connection, now.)

Thanks, I bookmarked a page for the Greatest of UM by the BTN, restored my computer and forgot the name of the tracker.

EDIT: I did some checking on TYT, and found that most of the Illini torrents had no seeders. So....nevermind...I guess things were better before the site went offline. The 08 Rose Bowl has some seeds, as does @PSU. I heard that most of these torrents are made from a captured HD stream using one of those HD antennae's that plug into the USB port on your PC/MAC. Do you know how this is done. I had a PDF on how to do it, but it is beyond me. Here, take a look at it in my next reply

[jgreen87]

Here is the PDF:

[jgreen87]

Here is the PDF:
If I knew how to do this, I could atleast be a reliable seed (my notebook rarely gets turned off). Basically, this is waay to complex for me to understand right now. Hmmm, how did this reply get here????Ummm see above?

[plooger]

Originally Posted by jgreen87

Here is the PDF:

Thanks for the PDF. I wish I'd had it a week ago, and maybe I could have cap'd today's Purdue game in HD. Well, there's still time before the NCAAs start.

Re: Bball vs Football... yes, there's the rub. IlliniTorrent was started during the glorious 2003-4 basketball season, and so has always had a heavy basketball weighting... likely exacerbated by the brutal auto-management bots that were in place for much of its existence.

As for those ratio rules, that's something I'm looking at changing (further, beyond what's already been done), and will be considering all of what you've said (and possibly soliciting add'l feedback). One irony is... that IlliniTorrent has always had a policy, I believe, that donors are exempt from the ratio policing, so there's always been a way to override a sub-optimal ratio.

Thanks for the dialogue.

[jgreen87]

Oh you run IT? Wow, now a feel a tad guilty on some of the things I said. Its a great site, don't get me wrong, maybe I am just a bit grumpy with the way my fb torrents went. If I were into basketball as much as I was football, perhaps I would be raving about the site, and have a ratio of 5000%.

[jgreen87]

Originally Posted by plooger

Re: Bball vs Football... yes, there's the rub. IlliniTorrent was started during the glorious 2003-4 basketball season, and so has always had a heavy basketball weighting... likely exacerbated by the brutal auto-management bots that were in place for much of its existence.

Not only that, but what do you think of when someone says UIUC sports. You think of basketball, and that is something I should have considered.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by jgreen87

I heard that most of these torrents are made from a captured HD stream using one of those HD antennae's that plug into the USB port on your PC/MAC. Do you know how this is done. I had a PDF on how to do it, but it is beyond me. Here, take a look at it in my next reply

I pull a lot of HD content off my Comcast HD DVR using the firewire port, but Comcast frequently changes the 5C flags, or breaks the functionality altogether with a firmware "upgrade" fairly often so it can be frustrating.

I did D/L the Michigan fball game off TYT, very nice H264 conversion of the game.

[jgreen87]

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

I pull a lot of HD content off my Comcast HD DVR using the firewire port, but Comcast frequently changes the 5C flags, or breaks the functionality altogether with a firmware "upgrade" fairly often so it can be frustrating.

I did D/L the Michigan fball game off TYT, very nice H264 conversion of the game.

Nice, back at my parents, we had a DirecTV dvr with a usb port. Maybe I should convince them to take a look at Comcast.

[kissprof]

A few things.....

1. The entire concept of a torrent seems difficult at first, but it really is easy once you get the hang of it. It takes about, what, 30 minutes of concentration for a seasoned computer user. If you are afraid of the active-x download or call your son every time your computer freezes, it is probably not for you. Certainly not for everyone, but also not the universal mystery that it is sometimes portrayed as. Also, if you expect a game to be done 30 minutes after you start downloading, it is not for you. Most games take days, sometimes weeks if there is only one seeder.

2. Illinitorrent, I tell you what, a few guys are busting their butt. In 2009 alone, there have been over 60 games added. That's an average of 12 per week! There are hundreds of registered members but only a few that contribute. If there were more, the site would be exponentially better. It's the classic can't get a job without experience, can't get experience without a job scenario. You can't have torrents without users, and you can't get users with no torrents. Well, thanks to about 5 fans, the torrents are there, currently 136 games available.

3. There are other ways to get games if you don't like torrents. I do a ton of trading of games with people and my collection has grown a ton in the past 6 months because of Illinitorrent and some awesome mail traders. My list of Illini games can be found HERE. If you want to get involved in trading via snail mail, hit me in the privates.

[jgreen87]

Originally Posted by kissprof

A few things.....

1. The entire concept of a torrent seems difficult at first, but it really is easy once you get the hang of it. It takes about, what, 30 minutes of concentration for a seasoned computer user. If you are afraid of the active-x download or call your son every time your computer freezes, it is probably not for you. Certainly not for everyone, but also not the universal mystery that it is sometimes portrayed as. Also, if you expect a game to be done 30 minutes after you start downloading, it is not for you. Most games take days, sometimes weeks if there is only one seeder.

2. Illinitorrent, I tell you what, a few guys are busting their butt. In 2009 alone, there have been over 60 games added. That's an average of 12 per week! There are hundreds of registered members but only a few that contribute. If there were more, the site would be exponentially better. It's the classic can't get a job without experience, can't get experience without a job scenario. You can't have torrents without users, and you can't get users with no torrents. Well, thanks to about 5 fans, the torrents are there, currently 136 games available.

3. There are other ways to get games if you don't like torrents. I do a ton of trading of games with people and my collection has grown a ton in the past 6 months because of Illinitorrent and some awesome mail traders. My list of Illini games can be found HERE. If you want to get involved in trading via snail mail, hit me in the privates.

1) Yep, it does take a while, especially 1 seed/leech, alot of new people delete the media files after they burn the game to a disc, and I think that is why there aren't as many seeders. People aren't trying to be a$$es by just leeching, its just that they don't know any better.

2) That is an impressive list of videos. Wasn't that first Rose Bowl (57?) the first ever Illini game to be aired on TV? Got to be worth a couple of $$$.

3) Torrents are getting more and more popular, and its good to see that IT is evolving with that. I think that they next big step for torrents is not the trackers, but the user applications (BT, uT, etc) it would be nice if they could auto detect and configure network settings. If a user can't dl/ul, what do they have to do? Port forward this, configure that, change settings here, even seasoned computer users can get confused with that. While I am ranting, anyone know how to bypass a router NAT setting of strict? My landlord won't give me the username/password to the router, so I am high and dry with that setting right now.

[plooger]

Originally Posted by jgreen87

Not only that, but what do you think of when someone says UIUC sports. You think of basketball, and that is something I should have considered.

Yeah, I probably tend towards that; but I was mostly framing my thinking around the original post, up top, where the OPer was asking about a specific UI/Iowa basketball game they had tried to pull-down from IT, but hadn't had much luck. No question that IT is light on football; maybe 4-6 games, in total. But nothing's stoppin' ya from adding more...

(I have just recently begun actively caring for IT, after an extended transition period from its original creator, and was updating the 'Links' page w/ other Illini-related resources, and figured I'd do a search here to see if IT was mentioned -- at which point I came across this thread, and felt compelled to register, in order to defend the website, or at least frame its usefulness. Bit my lip for a number of days, though. )

[plooger]

Originally Posted by jgreen87

Oh you run IT? Wow, now a feel a tad guilty on some of the things I said. Its a great site, don't get me wrong, maybe I am just a bit grumpy with the way my fb torrents went. If I were into basketball as much as I was football, perhaps I would be raving about the site, and have a ratio of 5000%.

No worries. And nothing to feel any guilt over; it's not like a war was started on false pretenses or sumpin.

And it's inarguable that the automated ratio rules have been draconian, and illogical relative to our user count and traffic.

Rather than continue the practice, I've issued a general amnesty and the bot has been powered-down -- at least until a more appropriate methodology is devised (or filched from another site). We'll have to see how well people do with contributing back, without fear of immediate consequences. Fingers are crossed.

Re: football... As mentioned previously, IT is definitely light on that content... so feel free to share what you have.

[plooger]

Originally Posted by jgreen87

I think that they next big step for torrents is not the trackers, but the user applications (BT, uT, etc) it would be nice if they could auto detect and configure network settings.

I tend to agree. I think it's the complexity of the clients that poses the biggest hurdle. The download process should be made as transparent as possible -- for a 'NOVICE' setting. A browser plug-in would probably be needed to make the torrenting process completely transparent.

Originally Posted by jgreen87

While I am ranting, anyone know how to bypass a router NAT setting of strict? My landlord won't give me the username/password to the router, so I am high and dry with that setting right now.

Ugh-ish situation. My only thought would be to check whether UPnP configuration would work for your apps/devices, and then whether the landlord would be amenable to that method of auto-configuration. (Gets you the port-forwarding you need, theoretically, without admin access to the router.)

This article relates to the Xbox world, but is applicable.