10GB limit?

derrick

Lifeforms wrote: »

Does virgin media adsl have a usage tracker? Most ISPs have this to keep track of what you use, and make sure you don't go over.

Also what are the terms of the 10gb. If it's from 8-8pm peak, then rest is off peak, that can make a difference. Most are something like 7/8am-12am peak time, rest off peak (and thus not counted) Some also offer off peak on weekends.

10 gigs is roughly 333 mb a day for the month, which isn't that much really, but that depends on what you do with it. When you say occasionally catch up, is that every couple of days, or once a week? Do you look at things like You Tube videos (those add up substantially on HD settings, and such)

As has been said it's about 600 mb per program streamed. So you do that every 2 days, then there goes your two daily usage pretty much.

• Find out how much you've gone through on your router (as per above posts to access)
• Find out what exactly that 10GB covers hours wise (peak/off peak times).
• Find out if you have a usage tracker on Virgin to see what you have used so far (good to guestimate future use).
• Find out what your charges are for going over. For example, if it's only another £5 for 5GB, and then you find 15gb is fine, but the next package up is too much, then maybe paying the extra gb's is cheaper/cost effective for you. Assuming they also don't limit the speed on top.
• Find out what the next package up is costwise too (and how much peak limit you get)

Just called them, they do not have a usage tracker

10GB on BT is 24/7, no peak/off peak.

Have no HD, but do occasionally use iPlayer etc if a programme has been missed and not repeated.


As my last post above can only find the info in that post.

Charges for going over are £5. per 5GB.

This package is, according to BT, "for me", as they have,"developed a package just for you", ergo any other packages will be much more.

As I don't need the unlimited calls, I have just spoken to BT and am informed I can take this element out of the package therefore reducing to £5. per month for BB and w/e calls, if I find this is correct then the deal is OK for me

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derrick

espresso wrote: »

Those are some of the line stats. e.g. Downstream Line Rate : 17691 kbps Upstream Line Rate : 811 kbps

My brother has this router but I have not seen it for at least a year but keep looking as you should fine totals for up/down data there somewhere on one of the many screens.

However Connected Connection Up Time :0:04:30:55 shows that you switch off your router rather than leaving it powered up 24/7, so you may not get any useful total data figures.

Your Netmeter seems to be registering fine now - mine is showing a total up/down of 63.25MB for today.

I do switch off or hibernate the computer and router as I assume this is saving on power, would you suggest leaving the router on whilst shutting down/hibernating the computer.

When I say shut down/hibernate, I do this then switch off the whole set up at the wall socket.

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rosy

Don't know if this helps but I have just changed to BT with the 10GB limit. I did have a concern before I went for the package about the limit being enough, but so far I think it's fine. I was on unlimited with another provider before and was used to having the internet on all the time and not worrying about how much I was using but I have found myself being much more choosy, particularly with video, so I dont waste any of the allowance (so more self discipline required but maybe that's not such a bad thing actually!).

I think I have a similar profile to you, probably use a wee bit more tbh - in that I basically browse websites, send a few emails, dont do online gaming. I watch the occasional i player programme and I also use Skype.I'm on for quite a few hours a day. Currently I'm only averaging around 250 - 300 MB a day, which is well within the allowance.

I have found it's the video that really eats up the GB - it can really run away if you don't monitor the minutes - I watch maybe half an hour to an hour of video a week ( that includes eg YouTube, i player and skype calls). Skype takes up a lot ( if its 2 way video streaming), but without the webcam it's fine, it doesn't take up much allowance whether speaking to the other person or doing instant messaging. The other thing that didn't occur to me before I signed up for the limited package was that the updates to various programmes that download automatically ( eg Java, MSOffice, antispyware prog etc) also count towards the total.

I use NetMeter as well and the usage figures it gives me are pretty much identical to what BT says I am using (BT have a free broadband usage monitor which tracks how much you use once you have signed up but it's always one day behind, so useful to have the NetMeter on to have real time data).

Another thing to note with the BT 10GB limit is that it starts counting your usage on the first day of the month, not the day you sign up. And apparently they email you if you are going to go over your limit ( and I was told that they don't charge you the first time you go over your limit) - and it is simple to upgrade to the 40GB limit if you need to ( though at a cost !)

espresso

derrick wrote: »

I do switch off or hibernate the computer and router as I assume this is saving on power, would you suggest leaving the router on whilst shutting down/hibernating the computer.

When I say shut down/hibernate, I do this then switch off the whole set up at the wall socket.

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My router has been powered up 24/7 for many years and the cost to run it is very small. I would rather leave it permanently accessible from the various different devices in the property that connect to it.

derrick

espresso wrote: »

My router has been powered up 24/7 for many years and the cost to run it is very small. I would rather leave it permanently accessible from the various different devices in the property that connect to it.

Only the one computer in the property so is there any advantage to leaving router on or off?

What about me shutting down/hibernating then all power off to computer, any advantage, obviously it saves electricity.

Have just run 2 videos, 1 from you tube and 1 from iPlayer.

Using NetMeter:-

Youtube 4 minute video used 35mb, = 525mb per hour?, (would this be because youtube transmits in HD even though I do not have HD?).

iPlayer 10 minute video used 64mb, = 384mb per hour? (I assume this is in SD, hence the difference in usage between iPlayer and youtube?).

Figures above suggest 3 hours on iPlayer for just over 1GB?

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Lifeforms

Really if it is only a fiver for 5 gigs, you probably would be fine with the 10 GB, but as rosy said, you might just have to moderate somewhat for the first month or two to see that you'd be ok. And honestly if you need that extra 5 gigs (doubt you'd go over that) even an extra fiver a month is not bad.

However it seems most isp do on adsl is basically tiny, out of reach for most ie the 10gb, or massive (40-60) and nothing in between that is even cost effective. so big family, heavy downloader (aka me! almost topped out my 60gb limit (not inc off peak downloads) is great on the 40-60gb ones, and more often occasional emailers, browsers are fine on the 10gb, but some do struggle when they want to do things like catch up.

The bbc iplayer estimate is out. it generally is about 550mb download, or the same to 600 mb stream. It's a shame the BT has no off peak, cus you could've set the downloading to happen over night for you to view next day offlline.

Most also include what you upload too. So for example sending the family photos will add up, when you email them to granny in Australia etc.

derrick

Lifeforms wrote: »

Really if it is only a fiver for 5 gigs, you probably would be fine with the 10 GB, but as rosy said, you might just have to moderate somewhat for the first month or two to see that you'd be ok. And honestly if you need that extra 5 gigs (doubt you'd go over that) even an extra fiver a month is not bad.

However it seems most isp do on adsl is basically tiny, out of reach for most ie the 10gb, or massive (40-60) and nothing in between that is even cost effective. so big family, heavy downloader (aka me! almost topped out my 60gb limit (not inc off peak downloads) is great on the 40-60gb ones, and more often occasional emailers, browsers are fine on the 10gb, but some do struggle when they want to do things like catch up.

The bbc iplayer estimate is out. it generally is about 550mb download, or the same to 600 mb stream. It's a shame the BT has no off peak, cus you could've set the downloading to happen over night for you to view next day offlline.

Most also include what you upload too. So for example sending the family photos will add up, when you email them to granny in Australia etc.

Can you elaborate on how this is out? NetMeter says not. The guy from BT said it would be about 400mb per hour for the likes of iPlayer.

How is it out?

500mb download, or the same to 600mb stream, do you mean per hour?

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rosy

I've checked using i player on NetMeter and I've worked it out ( roughly) as about 420MB per hour or if I click the lower bandwidth option about 240MB per hour (quality suffers though). I did once watch an programme on i player in HD by mistake and that was nearly 900MB/hour. These figures were for me streaming rather than downloading to the PC ( I've been told downloading uses a bit more, but I haven't done that myself to check).

I haven't checked switching PC/router off when not using it but I have noticed that the NetMeter shows a much more rapid buildup of MB usage when I switch on than when I leave it ticking over while I'm away from the PC - will need to do an experiment there I think to get the actual figures to see if it's worth shutting down between browsing sessions.

macman

Switching your router off is not a good idea as then it has to resynch every time you reboot it. This will tend to reduce your line speed. Power consumption on a modern router is tiny-a few watts.

Lifeforms

derrick wrote: »

Can you elaborate on how this is out? NetMeter says not. The guy from BT said it would be about 400mb per hour for the likes of iPlayer.

How is it out?

500mb download, or the same to 600mb stream, do you mean per hour?

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More per program of say 58 mins length. I stand to be corrected, as no one can provide an accurate figure, but I tend to find it around that. BUT not always. some programs are shorter, some go over the 58/59 mins for BBC.

As much as the Guy from BT is nice enough to tell you, ultimately he wants your cash, and will say what ever to get it. I'd believe his estimate as much as mine maybe, and see if BBC will provide a proper number, or sit and close down everything else, and just stream it through a reputable monitor. Not just a 5 or 15 min sample. The whole program from start to finish.

Also does streaming on the BBC work on the principle of downloading; where you're sharing what you've downloaded to others as you download? (I know it used to do that a while ago, but idk if it still does, I download them as windoze media files now)