Internet usage

davelees

I am moving from aol to BT following the recent price increases and have a couple of questions:

Is there an accurate way of measureing my internet usage? There will be a computer, laptop and mobile from the same router, so I would like to be able to measure them all on the same device.

Is facebook classed as internet usage?

If I use wi fi when I'm out does that still count as my internet usage, and if so how can it be measured?

Thanks

HappyMJ

Not really...You can keep an eye on it using the tools the ISP gives you. BT has such a tool. You can log into the router regularly to see the logs of what has been transferred...but if the router resets the figures are lost. You can install netmetering software on each computer and manually add them together but if the computer crashes then the data for that session in my experience is lost.

Facebook and anything transferred through the router is internet usage.

Wi-fi outside of the house (using other peoples wi-fi) does not count and if you use netmetering software you need to remember to turn it off when you use it.

If you are worried then go onto an unlimited plan.

macman

Any data going upstream or downsteam on your line, on each device, counts towards your limit. Email, surfing, Facebook, streaming, downloading...
You'll need to monitor each device usig Netmeter or similar.
Wi-fi when out is connecting through someone else's connection-not your problem.

davelees

Thanks for your replies. That's useful re the wi-fi not coming from my connection, it's just a pity that there isn't a monitor that will monitor all the traffic from the router.

HappyMJ

davelees wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. That's useful re the wi-fi not coming from my connection, it's just a pity that there isn't a monitor that will monitor all the traffic from the router.

The router will do it but it has this bad habit of resetting just before I've taken a reading from it and loses the tally so far.

BT's online usage monitor is quite good and BT also send an email when you get to 80% of the monthly limit at which point you choose to reduce usage for the rest of the month or carry on and risk being charged.

davelees

I'm looking for any reviews on Networx to see what this will monitor.

macman

XP, Vista and W7.