Download Tracker, which one if any?

Col7777

MY broadband allows me a limit of 40Gb, I have started to watch online TV plus the odd movie also clips on Youtube.

I phoned and asked if this added to my 40Gb limit and at first the guy said no as it is classed as streaming, then he asked his colleague and then said it does contribute to my limit as it is classed as a download.

I know 40Gb is a lot but I was wondering just to on the safe side about installing a download tracker to keep tabs on my usage, are they safe and if so which is the best please?

fiddiwebb

Which isp are you with?

Most these days (but not all) usually show how much you are downloading or have downloaded on a day to day basis which should be shown in your account.

Ximian

Data downloaded to your PC counts towards your monthly allowance, whether it's streaming or downloads, the data is transferred to your PC

Does your ISP not have a portal that you can view your download and upload statistics, or possibly email you with updates regarding your allowance stats especially when you're reaching the monthly limit?

espresso

Read this thread here.

darich

I'd have doubts about an ISP that isn't sure what's included in the allowance.
It could of course be a chimp at a call center but I'd be concerned that I know more than the ISP.

fiddiwebb

darich wrote: »

I'd have doubts about an ISP that isn't sure what's included in the allowance.
It could of course be a chimp at a call center but I'd be concerned that I know more than the ISP.

Well there are quite a few of those around but I'd reckon it was a chimp at the call centre unless the OP is allowed free offpeak usage.

fenlander_uk

espresso wrote: »

Read this thread here.

That's a four year old thread. In 2010 I'd suggest you take a look at Networx. It's free, aggregates download/upload stats across multiple PCs, if required, isolates internet traffic from general network traffic and allows you to record peak/non-peak usage in case your ISP's acceptable use policy distinguishes between the two.

I've been running it for nearly a year now on 3 PCs and it's really excellent.

espresso

fenlander_uk wrote: »

That's a four year old thread. In 2010 I'd suggest you take a look at Networx. It's free, aggregates download/upload stats across multiple PCs, if required, isolates internet traffic from general network traffic and allows you to record peak/non-peak usage in case your ISP's acceptable use policy distinguishes between the two.

I've been running it for nearly a year now on 3 PCs and it's really excellent.

I said read the thread smart rrrrrrr's. Networx is mentioned.

Col7777

Thank you for the replies, I'm with UWclub.net

I'm on the standard package, I've been with them for around 6-7 months and as yet not gone over my limit but with me starting to watch TV online plus Youtube I thought I best check with them.

monosodium

Netmeter only covers the one machine, which is not very useful if you have any other devices which may share your router (wii, ps3, internet enabled tv , other machines, wi-fi phones etc).

The best option is (if like most ISP's you can't query your usage) to get the information from your router. This can be done with software specific to your router or using a web browser (specific instructions apply to each model of router).

But for rule of thumb, according to my ISP's estimates 40gb is....
* 200 hours a month of standard definition video
* 80 hours of Hi-Definition

So if you're watching nearly 3 hours a day (every day) of HD content then you need to be concerned. But that's quite a lot of telly unless you're at home all day with nothing else to do.

Unfortunately clear usage limits are one of the 'get what you pay for' things (after core network performance and traffic shaping, competent technical support should you need it). Cheaper providers entice more people onto their products and have to give everyone less to ensure everyone gets a fair share, so they try to avoid saying what 'fair' actually is or what they'll do when they decide you're not being 'fair' any more...

I'd consider myself a relatively heavy user (we have a 3 y/old who loves cbeebies / iPlayer and a wife who remote controls her office pc all day 2 days a week, plus I watch a fair bit of youtube / iplayer content, have a wi-fi enabled phone and a networked telly) and between us we rack up about 21Gb/30days.

(Obviously if you use torrents a lot then all bets are off as they eat bandwidth for breakfast, lunch, dinner and are more than partial to a midnight snack.)

monosodium

darich wrote: »

I'd have doubts about an ISP that isn't sure what's included in the allowance.
It could of course be a chimp at a call center but I'd be concerned that I know more than the ISP.

That would be BT then... you can talk to their people all day and get a host of different answers!