Skype bandwidth

peter_the_piper

Does anyone know how much bandwidth skype (with a web cam )uses. We are on a 12meg usage and the OH has a yen to use skype to keep in contact with all her friends. I have a feeling I'm going to have to change suppliers to an unlimited one dependent on the answers rec'd.

elvch01

12meg usage?? do you mean 12Gb usage? is that per hour,day, week, month??

please clarify so we can help you better

peter_the_piper

Yep, 12gig a month. Got me gigs and megs mixed up. I'm from the old school when a 40 meg hard drive was a biggun.

kwikbreaks

The bandwidth used will depend on quality as well as the time used.

Simplest would be to install something like http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Bandwidth-Tools/NetMeter.shtml which will let you see directly how much it is using and will also provide totals.

Things to watch are that it will also count any internal network transfers and can only monitor the PC it is installed on.

peter_the_piper

kwikbreaks wrote: »

The bandwidth used will depend on quality as well as the time used.

Simplest would be to install something like http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Bandwidth-Tools/NetMeter.shtml which will let you see directly how much it is using and will also provide totals.

Things to watch are that it will also count any internal network transfers and can only monitor the PC it is installed on.

I assume this would have to be installed on her machine as I don't have skype on mine. No Friends!!!

ben500

If you have the option available I'd say switch to ntl cable, I have been with them for years my usage has never been restricted and believe me I have high usage. Customer service is non existent but then again in all the years I've been with them I've never really needed it to be honest, I have a package of xl tv, telephone and 10m broadband for £30 pm bargain.

JasX

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Simplest would be to install something like http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Bandwidth-Tools/NetMeter.shtml which will let you see directly how much it is using and will also provide totals.

very useful program I've used before too, worth perhaps taking a note of how much it uses for say a 5 min call with nothing else running and adjusting quality settings/repeating to find a good balance between video quality and bandwidth for different bitrates / codecs depending on what it lets you change.

-will be alot less without the video feed so if you're nearing the end of the month and are running close to 12 GB switching to audio only might help keep you under

Also worth shopping around when your BB contract expires as cheap unlimited deals are fairly common (but read reviews on reliability - customer service levels for the particular provider first ).

peter_the_piper

Not much chance of swapping isp for cable, out in the sticks, lucky to get 7meg download but thats another story. There are a few unlimited out there but a bit wary of them, poor reviews generally. As I have a 1 month contract theres no problem moveing, just who to. O2 as I have a mobile contract with them at present or BT. Unfortunately they are both on 12month terms.

timmmers

You can check the data flow in your router if you wish.

https://www.f2s.com I use for this BW reason and because in years with them I've never had any problems at all. I get up to 80 gigs a month sometimes unmetered.

t

kwikbreaks

peter_the_piper wrote: »

I assume this would have to be installed on her machine as I don't have skype on mine. No Friends!!!

Yes install it on the machine you want to monitor.

S0litaire

I was on skype last night for a couple of hours and it only used 9kb a second for audio when on a call. (so roughly 63Mb for 2 hours of talking)

For a safe bet it would probably be 90Mb / hr for voice and video

(gotta love linux and conky for realtime system info) ^_^