Should BBC iPlayer be streaming at over 800 MB per hour?

Big_Graeme

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

This is vital information for people streaming at the end of their month because it means they could easily go over their allowance without realizing it. And at the extortionate rate of over 10p per MB that 3 charge, that could be very expensive indeed.

Why aren't you an one of their "All You Can Eat" plans?

Kernel_Sanders

Big_Graeme wrote: »

Why aren't you an one of their "All You Can Eat" plans?

Several years ago I applied for their broadband sim-only 5GB/1 month rolling contract at £15.99pm but it took them so long to arrange the first direct debit that they took 2 months in one go, sending my current a/c into debit. When I rang to complain and give a month's notice they immediately offered me it for £8 a month, which I bit their hand off for. To this day I rue doing so because at the time there was a 2 year 15GB/month contract at the same price which I could have asked them for instead, but didn't suggest it because I thought any retention deal would end after 2 years and not go on indefinitely (as the 1-month one has). I didn't realize then that 2-year just meant 2-year minimum .
I've tried a couple of times to see if I can transfer my 50% retention deal to another product, but they won't let me. Does anybody know if it's possible any other way?

paddyrg

Not sure it'll help much to switch - all the new contracts are limited to 2 or 4GB tethered, so you either will need a phablet to watch with any comfort, or be back in the same place.

Nada666

Big_Graeme wrote: »

Why aren't you an one of their "All You Can Eat" plans?

That's only for telephones. Tablets and mifi are limited. New contracts no longer allow tethering.

There may be hacks and workarounds for those who switch to telephone plans but there tend to be OS and deeper restrictions on what can be fed out from a phone.

forgotmyname

600mb average for an hour show is about right. If you choose a lower quality then it can be less.

If your worried about the data usage stream in a lower quality or download it via wifi for later viewing.

Big_Graeme

Nada666 wrote: »

That's only for telephones. Tablets and mifi are limited. New contracts no longer allow tethering.

There may be hacks and workarounds for those who switch to telephone plans but there tend to be OS and deeper restrictions on what can be fed out from a phone.

Aha, thanks for the info, I guess that is in the small print.

Kernel_Sanders

forgotmyname wrote: »

600mb average for an hour show is about right. If you choose a lower quality then it can be less.

If your worried about the data usage stream in a lower quality or download it via wifi for later viewing.

I've worked out that the lower bandwidth stream is about 285 MB/hr. I can't get any free wi-fi for my PC and the BBC no longer allow you to 'collect' programmes on an SD card at the library, which I used to do regularly.