How to Calculate Useage Limit

Hotspur

Before I choose my ISP I would like to have an idea on the dowload limit I will require. Is there any way of calculating the use prior to signing with an ISP?

Most of my Internet use will be general surfing, e mails etc and no online gaming or large downloads of music/video. However, I would be interested to know how much of the usage allowance video chat (as in Messenger) may take up on broadband. I'm thinking of signing to an ISP with a 5Mb limit per month. Would this be sufficient for say two hours video chat a week?

Thanks

Quentin

Very hard to guess - but there is a little app you can install which will monitor your bandwith.

The longer you use it, the more accurate it will be for a month, but you could use it for a typical 10 day period and multiply by 3 if you can't wait a month.

Netmeter:

http://readerror.gmxhome.de/

charltonfan1

I think you mean 5GB per month. This will be plenty for your needs

magyar

I assume you mean 5 GB and not 5 MB! (5 MB is about one large photo!) As Quentin says, measuring usage is the best method, but then again if you don't have broadband already then it's not going to be very realistic.

To be honest, if you don't download music/video then you should stay well within that limit.

espresso

Quentin wrote:

The longer you use it, the more accurate it will be for a month, but you could use it for a typical 10 day period and multiply by 3 if you can't wait a month.

No need to multiply by 3 as it has a Projected usage display based on current usage. See the 'invisible' sticky at the top of this board.

Carl.

Be wary of "streaming" services too if you have a low download limit as these will also affect your usage, a site like YouTube can easily burn 1GB of your allowance in a few hours.

I would recommend something similar to Eclipse (https://www.eclipse.net.uk) who offer an unlimited download off-peak allowance and a 20GB peak allowance (6pm-midnight) for around £14.99/month. That way you will get to see your usage on Broadband because as a previous poster indicated your usage is likely to increase once you have broadband.

Be aware that if you take the free router most ISP's offer you will most likely be locked into a contract, whereas if you purchase your own router, you may well be able to find a monthly contract, useful until you find an ISP you're happy with.

magyar

Carl. wrote:

Be aware that if you take the free router most ISP's offer you will most likely be locked into a contract, whereas if you purchase your own router, you may well be able to find a monthly contract, useful until you find an ISP you're happy with.

That last bit's a very good tip - didn't know that.

Carl.

They lock you in to recover the cost of the router usually, in the same way that mobile companies like O2 have a 12 month contract if you take a phone but offer monthly contracts for just the SIM.

Hotspur

Thanks for the input/links everyone.

Yes I meant Gb not Mb

I am considering MAAF and Eclipse, who both have fans, and not one of the big players and will also look at monthly contracts as well now so I don't get locked into a long contract with poor service.

Carl.

Happy to help a fellow Spur! lol!

If you're not already aware of it, there is a thriving Spurs forum @ https://www.spurscommunity.co.uk you might want to join!

chairman_miaow

Hotspur wrote:

I am considering MAAF and Eclipse

I was thinking of changing to Eclipse too - but they're getting terrible ratings and user comments here :

http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_details.php?isp=16#