Monthly Archives: May 2020

Slow Download Speeds on Steam For Linux

I’ve been getting horrendously slow speeds on Linux Steam (~500k/s) and 5-6Mb/s on Windows, and only now found out why. There’s a ticket on GitHub for this:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/3401

In short, the client is very aggressive on its DNS requests, which normally causes it to be throttled by servers, leading to really slow downloads. However, using dnsmasq allows the requests to be cached locally and offload the requests.

Even though the instructions are for Arch, they worked for me:

  1. Install dnsmasq
  2. Modify /etc/dnsmasq.config and add the line listen-address=127.0.0.1
  3. Restart the dnsmasq service (systemctl restart dnsmasq.service) or reboot your machine

Enjoy the speed

Training in Quarantine – Day 46 — VE Day

A free Friday because I’m now on 4 day week, and it’s VE Day, so my one-hour walk came across several roads with bunting and lots of Union Jacks. It certainly was suitable weather for it…

Lots of people were queuing and saw the longest queue outside Tesco Supermarket (and not Sainsbury’s surprisingly)

After the one-hour walk, I then did my Fitbit workout, which was just shy of 35 minutes and I certainly felt it afterwards….

Training in Quarantine – Day 45

Dropped an email to the insurance brokers to ask when I would expect to see the final cheque for my car and they advised end of this week, early next. And I then asked about the hire car and they advised I am entitled to the car for another 7 days after the receipt of the final cheque.

Problem is, I can’t get another car right now due to the lockdown, but I did check on Car Wow and Auto Trader. Car Wow seems much easier to use. And I have already got an offer from a Toyota dealer in Woodford Green, about 1.5 hours bus journey away (three buses) and only about 10 miles.

Doing early shopping tomorrow, so only did my 1hr walk today, and no FitBit workout, but should be able to finish this week’s set if I work out Friday/Saturday/Sunday

A nice hot day, no queues except outside Sainsbury’s, and a few at Co-op on the way back.

Training in Quarantine – Day 43

Did the long walk again today, only a few queues today, outside Tesco Petrol station, Sainsbury’s and Tesco Supermarket.

Forgot to bring my earbuds so it was a silent walk around the 5k lap, but surprisingly relaxing. No music meant I was left to my thoughts. Of course, it did also mean I was bugged by some beggars on my way around — they always seem to congregate around Sainsbury’s for some reason….

Wreck 2

Got my first cheque in the post from Aviva the insurance company the other driver is part of. Now waiting for the second cheque from the Salvage agents.

Also got a refund from DVLA for the remainder of my road tax since the car is now written off.

Training in Quarantine – Day 41

Grey skies, but no rain, 45 minute walk, 4.76 km, and no queues at most of the shops. A few people waiting outside the butchers and the Co-op, but nowhere else.

Beginning to think most of the panic buyers have bankrupted themselves, or are desperately trying to shift their hoard, like the guy mentioned on Sky News Australia