Download limits

eeeeen

just recived an e-mail off btinternet saying i have exceeded Aprils download limit:eek: and if I do it again this mth they will charge me:mad:

Can you explain to me what is a download or what constitutes a down load as I need to understand what i am doing wrong,
I do get updates for antivirus programes but not a great deal, I use on line banking,bingo,ebay, and of course MSE.
I also watch you tube, I dont download music or films but I do surf a lot of web sites (is this classed as a download)
Please help me understand

Brian_Bullocks

eeeeen wrote: »

just recived an e-mail off btinternet saying i have exceeded Aprils download limit:eek: and if I do it again this mth they will charge me:mad:

Can you explain to me what is a download or what constitutes a down load as I need to understand what i am doing wrong,
I do get updates for antivirus programes but not a great deal, I use on line banking,bingo,ebay, and of course MSE.
I also watch you tube, I dont download music or films but I do surf a lot of web sites (is this classed as a download)
Please help me understand

All the above + torrents and things like BBC iPlayer & Channel 4 on Demand

superscaper

Any single piece of information that you see on your PC that has "come from the internet" has been downloaded. What is your download limit?

albertross_2

What you are doing wrong is using BT as an isp. If your contract has seen out it's lock-in period, move to one with no limits, you'll probably save some money in the process. Cutting down on youtube might help in the meantime.

DatabaseError

if you do move to an 'unlimited' ISP, be sure to chose one which doesn't traffic shape, or manage contention in some other, nasty way. The only 'unlimited' ISPs I would suggest would be BE/O2/Sky, even then only the LLU flavour. Be very, very wary of big name ISPs such as tiscali offering 'unlimited' as invariably it is untrue. Perhaps a better idea may be to chose a reputable ISP/package with a limit higher than the one you currently have.

TonyLisaP

I am on Virgin cable and I have no problems with limits, speed restrictions or any other such nonsense and I personally think that ISP that do practice this are appalling.

espresso

eeeeen wrote: »

Can you explain to me what is a download or what constitutes a down load as I need to understand what i am doing wrong,
I do get updates for antivirus programes but not a great deal, I use on line banking,bingo,ebay, and of course MSE.
I also watch you tube, I dont download music or films but I do surf a lot of web sites (is this classed as a download)
Please help me understand

You must be on BT Option 1 5GB/Mth or BT Option 2 8GB/Mth.

This thread here should help you monitor and understand your actual usage.

foreversomeday

Anything you see, watch, read, look at or download on the internet counts towards your download limit. From what you have described, Youtube is probably the biggest culprit, but if you go on certain websites with lots of flash content or large images this can contribute as well.

Annoyingly though you don't sound like a heavy user, unless you are using something like skype or perhaps an IP phone line (I don't know if IP phone lines count.) it doesn't sound like you are using a lot.

Have a look at Martin's Broadband cost cutting article though and see if you could save if you switch. It's in utilities & phones I think.

albertross_2

Virgin already traffic shape, as do many others, to maintain reasonable speeds for the majority (95% of users).

It is only usually an issue for heavy peaktime users who use torrents and filesharing, bingo and youtube isn't likely to be a problem.

BT option 1 is £16 after the first 3 mths, very expensive for a limited service.

bat999

TonyLisaP wrote: »

I am on Virgin cable and I have no problems with limits, speed restrictions or any other such nonsense and I personally think that ISP that do practice this are appalling.

I'm with Virgin cable too and I know from personal experience that they DO shape traffic.
It's here on their website, they don't deny it.:-http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/internet/traffic.html

CHR15

bat999 wrote: »

I'm with Virgin cable too and I know from personal experience that they DO shape traffic.

Aboslutely they do traffic shape. I reckon it's more like 95% who ARE affected than the 5% they claim.

One of the biggest problems is that it is impossible to complain about. Have a look over at digitalspy.

Someone complains that they pay £37 for a 20Meg connection but is throttled to 5Meg for most of the day and almost instantly the OP is flamed for funding terrorism by downloading pirated software.

I've lost count of the times I have been suspended from digitalspy for having a dig at someone who claims his browsing is poor due to downloaders ruining the Internet.

Virgin don't even have to get involved, the assumption is that anyone who downloads is a thief, crook, drug dealer etc.
Youtube, BBC iplayer viewings, game demos, patches, distros etc etc are ignored.

I have paid VM top whack BB connection for years but I cannot recall downloading anything over 1GB and not been restricted to 500kbps before the end for quite some time.