Help with Plusnet Broadband

cajef

At least we have got you connected now, the internet light will flash when you are online and information is being transmitted/received.

Are you sure your usage was 172.44MB and not 172.44KB, you could not use that in 10 minutes, it would take all day browsing to use that amount.

Foxy16

Thank you for replying cajef. I have just double checked my usage on Plusnet and it definitely states 172.44MB, my bandwidth meter read 168MB, this is worrying me as I am on the 8GB per month limit. The past 3 weeks usage with dial up was only 1844MB, something is wrong, as I have just spent 2hrs on the internet through dial up and only used 18MB.

cajef

Does seem odd, I assume you are going into 'My Account > Connection Settings > View My Usage' on the website?

Foxy16

Hi cajef, yes that is how I viewed my usage. Tried again this morning, turned the computer on, hadn't even opened up a browser window and 8.5MB has been used. Still on dial up, I am going to raise a ticket and go from there, as obviously I can't use it with the galloping bandwidth. Thanks Diane.

cajef

Yes does appear to be a problem, you will use a little bandwidth overnight if the router is left on usually only a few KB, that is normal but if it has been off there should not be any usage, will be interesting to see what they say, best of luck getting it sorted.

macman

You should be alright to use your broadband while Plusnet get the data issue sorted-bear in mind that you have an average allowance of 267MB per day.
You can't compare the usage on dial up, as the data transfer is so much slower (between 10 and 50 times slower), you will use much more on broadband-because you can do far more in the same timescale.

Foxy16

Update: I have received tremendous support from Plusnet, especially Plusnet Rep: from this thread, who very kindly tel. me. At his request I kept a log of sites visited, time spent, and usage recorded on my meter (evenings only) and have sent this to him. e.g. Fri. night 50mins on the net 237.53MB used. Sat. night 55mins on the net (same sites bar 1 viewed) 85.81MB used. Sun. night 30mins (same sites) 14.75MB. What a fluctuation, now Saturday afternoon I ran Spybot and had 3 entries fixed, whether this has made a difference, I just don't know. But at least things are stabilising, and I might be able to throw away the tranquilisers soon, rofl.

Also now, when I am reading a thread no usage is recording whereas before, my meter was going like the clappers, this was happening when I had all windows closed as well. Fingers tightly crossed now.

Once again, thank you all for your replies and help, it is greatly appreciated. Diane

macman

What anti-virus are you running (and are you running SP3 version of XP)?

Foxy16

Hi Macman

Avast antivirus, Zone alarm firewall, yes have SP3 version.

Diane

Jemma-T

Stop/turn off Zone Alarm until you get everything fixed. XP will start up it's own firewall and of course you have an even better hardware firewall on the router. You can go back to Zone Alarm later if you like.

Can you try another router from a friend or neighbour?

I assume Plusnet (BT with less adverts) still use ADSL in your area and this can mean rather poor signals for a few days so add that to the equation too.

Try and get the PC as close to the main BT socket as possible and ONLY use the supplied cables. If all is well then you can move things to how you liked them.

Also, there's not much to instal lwith a router so if it came with a CD I'd ignore the CD or uninstall it and enter your details manually. Routers are much smarter than old modems to the exten there is no installation on a Windows system. Yes, companies may give you a disc but that's just to fill your PC up with crap and try and sell you stuff.

Google the Thomson and refer to the userguide and do things manually.