Something is using up my 10 GB Broadband limit

[Deleted User]

Weird_Nev wrote: »

With more and more things on the internet, it really is time to get rid of 'allowances' to take full advantage of what's on offer. You shouldn't have to be worrying about limits and extra charges. I think I had £10 internet a few years ago that was unlimited! To get the most out of your shiny Windows 8 Laptop, you need to have an unrestricted internet connection.

Things like:

• BBC iPlayer (1Gb/hour in HD)
• Youtube (1Gb/Hour in HD)
• Automatic Software updates - as you found out can be big! Several Gb in the worst cases, generally only tens or perhaps hundreds of Mb. Many of the programs on Windows 8 do this in the background - Anti-virus, Win 8 itself, various drivers update in the background, and all htose weather widgets and news feeds connect to the internet to get their information. It's small bits of data, but it all adds up.
• Skype: An excellent way to stay in touch, but it can chew data.
• Backing up Data onto Skydrive or 'the cloud' - This will use as much data as the size of the files you back up, but it's an excellent way to keep cherished photos or importnat documents safe and accessible.

As for your categories:

• Usage before midnight plus the free usage midnight to 8 am Suggest you leave downloads overnight if you can! Until you get unrestricted broadband...
  
• Web Actual Web browsing generally uses very little data unless you like image heavy sites. Less than 1Gb/Month normally
• Email This uses a tiny amount of data, again unless lots of people email you photos or large files to download.
• BB phone calls This is 'voice over internet' calls including Skype, which can be quite data intensive - 10Mb/Min or so.
• Gaming Game downloads can be massive, but actually playing online tends to use very little data.
• Streaming Anything you watch or listen to as it downloads is 'streaming' - youtube, iplayer, internent radio. It can use a lot of data.
• Plusnet FTP (although I don't know what that is) This is 'File Transfer Protocol' and means using an uploader to move files onto a server or another computer. You probably don't do this directly!
• Peer to Peer This is those naughty people who like to 'share' films and music between one another... though it does have legitimate uses too. It's now a popular content delivery method for large files that lots of people want at once.
• Other (I don't know what falls into this category apart from downloading upgrade to Windows 8.1!)
• and FTP non Plus net - again I don't know what this is. This is the same as before - file transfers - but not using Plusnet Servers, I'd guess.

I really think you'd get more out of your computer and your internet access if you found a provider who will give unlimited data. It's no skin of their nose. Whilst it would be worth a few quid a month to you, I bet if you phoned up and threatened to leave there is a deal to be had! Data costs them absolutely nothing, in real terms, anyway, and I doubt that you're oging to turn into the worlds biggest downloader overnight. However, it would be nice to watch as much iplayer and listen to as much radio as you like without worry.

That's fantastic information, Weird Nev, thank you very much. I've been prompted to check my current situation - and I am happy with Plusnet. I have paid telephone rental with Plusnet one year in advance - so that's one bill out of the way for now.

I pay Plusnet £6.49 for Broadband Plusnet Value
I pay 99 pence for Caller Display
I pay £4.50 for included calls up to one hour and I am lucky enough to have some very small discounts for referrals. I was so pleased with Plusnet and recommended them to some friends who took up their products giving me some welcome small discounts.

It looks as if, from checking on line, I can transfer to Broadband Unlimited by increasing my monthly Broadband payment from £6.49 to £9.99 per month and there would be a discount on the £9.99 per month for a limited time if I agree to a fix period contract.

From the helpful links here in this forum/thread I see that there may be cheaper packages available. Because change would be quite an upheaval for me, and I like Plusnet, I am now seriously considering my options with Plusnet for changing to their Unlimited Broadband package for a fixed term contract.

Your post with all the terrific information is giving me the incentive to broaden my horizons on line and, from your post, I see there is still so much more to explore with all the choices available.

Thank you again - and a big thank you also to all the posters who have taken time to reply and who have also given absolutely great information. ....................And this forum is free!!

Crimson

J_B

closed wrote: »

unlimited bb is much more enjoyable, and cheap if you move

https://sales.talktalk.co.uk/

But sadly, not available to everyone

All this stuff on here from you 'townies' about unlimited and 'cheap deals' ain't for us country folk you know.

2MB and tenner a month is all we can hope for

J_B

tyllwyd wrote: »

We've been with PlusNet for over 10 years now, and they've always been pretty good. My main grumble would be that they don't tell you when they change their packages, so it is worth checking their website every now and again to see if you are on the best deal. 10GB is a very low allowance, so unlimited is a much better deal if you think you might go over it.

F-I-L 'upgraded' from 10GB to unlimited a couple of years ago

Price went down by £4 per month!!:eek:

macman

tyllwyd wrote: »

I don't think that's right - their website still shows the broadband essentials package at 10GB for £8.49
http://www.plus.net/home-broadband/broadband-only/
I agree that it's not great value at that price though.

My mistake. But they've taken it off the home page and buried it somewhat. If you click the obvious link 'unlimited broadband', it doesn't appear-you have to go via 'view packages'.

macman

OP, you don't need to pay the published rate to go to Unlimited. Call them up, say you've had a better unlimited offer from TalkTalk/Sky/Uncle Tom Cobley ISP and please could they supply your MAC? Once through to retentions you'll be made an offer to stay, along with an upgrade to unlimited and a minimum term contract.

[Deleted User]

J_B wrote: »

But sadly, not available to everyone

All this stuff on here from you 'townies' about unlimited and 'cheap deals' ain't for us country folk you know.

2MB and tenner a month is all we can hope for

It doesn't seem fair, JB, particularly as other expenses often cost more too and choice is limited. I sympathise.

Crimson

[Deleted User]

macman wrote: »

OP, you don't need to pay the published rate to go to Unlimited. Call them up, say you've had a better unlimited offer from TalkTalk/Sky/Uncle Tom Cobley ISP and please could they supply your MAC? Once through to retentions you'll be made an offer to stay, along with an upgrade to unlimited and a minimum term contract.

…........ I would need to take some 'brave' pills before mustering the courage to ask as I'm a bit of a coward. I'll think about it a bit and would like to try!

Thank you.

Crimson

Messa

"please could they supply your MAC?" - I think you are getting confused with PAC for mobiles ! Your WAN MAC would change anyway if changing providers.

securityguy

Messa wrote: »

"please could they supply your MAC?" - I think you are getting confused with PAC for mobiles ! Your WAN MAC would change anyway if changing providers.

It always helps to know what you're talking about before you attempt to put people down.

An ISP gives you a MAC when you ask to leave. It stands for "Migration Authorisation Code" and it is what permits Openreach and other providers of copper and/or LLU equipment to move you from one service to another. You presumably are thinking of an Ethernet MAC address (Media Access Control) . You are mistaken.

macman

Deleted_User wrote: »

…........ I would need to take some 'brave' pills before mustering the courage to ask as I'm a bit of a coward. I'll think about it a bit and would like to try!

Thank you.

Crimson

Well this is MSE after all...
What's the worst that can happen? They refuse, and you are no worse off.
It's just normal negotiation, that's what retention staff are there for.