Usage & Allowances

I came across a problem the other day that I hadn't experienced before - i.e. going beyond the monthly allowance.
As a result of this, my ISP cut the download and upload speeds drastically, without any warning. And it took me a few days to discover the reason. At that point, I agreed with the ISP that they should put me onto a flexible arrangement - adding 2GB every time I went beyond the limit and being charged accordingly.
Nine days after setting up this arrangement, I received an email telling that they had added a further 2GB to my allowance. I was somewhat taken aback by this further increase and asked them for a breakdown of usage. When this eventually came, I was surprised to discover that I had used 1GB in one day.
My question is in two parts:-
1. Is there an industry standard mechanism which consumers can use to estimate broadband usage over a period of time ?
2. Are there any regulatory controls over ISPs to ensure the accuracy of their usage figures?

Wagstaff

1 - There are several small downloads that will record your usage if you have only one computer. If you have more than one computer then you can run these on each unless you pass a lot of stuff between them.

tbbMeter from the main site of these forums is quite good. Netmeter is also highly recommended by others.

tbbMeter is being developed further to handle the local network problem above but I've no idea when that will come along.

2 - Not that I am aware of.

Many thanks for the feedback, Bob.
I'll try the meters you recommend. One of the questions I asked the ISP was: "What type of usage gobbles up the allowance - e.g. 1GB in one day?" I didn't get an answer to this, but I assume that certain activities on the Internet are more costly than others.
Anyway, thanks once again for the advice.

Wagstaff

Streaming TV catchup or live sports feeds is quite heavy over a few hours. Any film downloads of course. Start getting too active on eBay and all those little pictures start to add up.

I don't know about the social websites.

Also video calls via Skype & similar uses a lot of bandwidth.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Also video calls via Skype & similar uses a lot of bandwidth.

Not really, because the average line can't upload much more than 500kbps, although some LLU services can go up to 1300kbps, but they're still the exception rather than the rule.

e.g. 1GB in one day

P2P is the greediest type of application and most likely to account for that.

What sort of activities do you use the PC for....
That would help to point answer to your question.

Include in that anything any kids may do....

I know my daughter uses facebook a lot and if viewing pic's it can take a lot of bandwidth up.

I'm not sure what P2P is, Phil.
I've found two definitions: the "path-to-profitability" in relation to Internet startups; and "peer-to-peer" file-sharing. Neither of which I really understand, so not part of my general Internet activity.

Wagstaff

peer to peer or pirate to pirate is perhaps more accurate. Any file "sharing" software like Limewire, Bearshare, µTorrent etc etc in use ?

I mainly use the Internet for looking at utility accounts, gas & electricity etc.; very occasionally purchasing items; looking at emails - I have a yahoo account; searching for information on various topics; occasionally looking at tv programme highlights - did rather a lot when the Ashes were on !!
All fairly mundane activities, and nothing to excite a huge amount of usage, except perhaps the tv downloads.

Wagstaff

Never heard of Limewire, Bearshare, or µTorrent, so doubt whether I've used them inadvertently. I use bits of free software, some of which update periodically - in much the same way that Windows does.

Wagstaff

Watching iPlayer etc can eat a huge amount of bandwidth very quickly. YouTube also consumes a fair amount.

Thanks for the advice, Rik. I'll try to avoid YouTube.

Wagstaff

In reply to a post by Wagstaff:

Thanks for the advice, Rik. I'll try to avoid YouTube.

Wagstaff

Or you could get rid of the ISP that gives you such crazy usage allowances and find one that actually lets you use the Internet?

Bob

I've had a look at tbbmeter and came across a rather heated discussion between, primarily, BatBoy and Andrew and also Seb. Have the issues of privacy over the connection with Isposure been resolved?

Wagstaff

You're right. That's a very good point. If you have the money, you can buy anything !!

Wagstaff

The same argument has been had at least once if not twice before.

It does a small speed test every day and uploads the result to Epitiro, and in my opinion it is a complete non-issue in itself. Far far removed from the appalling Phorm which analyses your traffic and then targets you as well as providing a basis for later Government use of the same technology.

I presume that was the price for them licensing to TBB the software tbbMeter uses. It is also basically covered in the Licence Agreement that it seems they have not read. Specifically Paragraph 11 could not be more clear.

The one point that has been made with which I tend to agree is that some more obvious statement of the Epitiro uploads could be made during the installation process.

It is easily deleted via Control Panel and does not affect the running of tbbMeter.

And your exchange is?

It does this each day:-

2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.292783 : Starting Test
2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.294783 : IO Services Created, Pool Size :5
2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.294783 : Establishing Negotiations with Server
2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.295783 : IO Services Started
2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.331783 : Validating Negotiations Connection
2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.352783 : Negotiating Test Request
2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.378783 : Establishing Test Connections
2009-Aug-27 14:59:56.458783 : Test Connections Ready - Starting Upload Test
2009-Aug-27 15:00:08.711783 : Test Stop Command Received
2009-Aug-27 15:00:09.997783 : Upload Test Complete - Waiting For Continue Signal
2009-Aug-27 15:00:09.998783 : Starting Download Test
2009-Aug-27 15:00:22.046783 : Download Test Complete - Clearing Buffers used
2009-Aug-27 15:00:22.047783 : Test Complete - Waiting For Results
2009-Aug-27 15:00:22.122783 : Results Recieved
2009-Aug-27 15:00:22.122783 : End Test - Closing Down Test
2009-Aug-27 15:00:22.124783 : IO Services Stopped
2009-Aug-27 15:00:22.126783 : IO Services Destroyed
2009-Aug-27 15:00:22.130783 : Test Complete

It must see the IP address so it knows the ISP.

I don't understand, Bob. It must be doing more than this to monitor usage. This looks more like a speed test to me.

Wagstaff

That's the Epitiro log. Just to show you what they are all crying about.

I presume you read my other post just before that one - I didn't edit into it in case you were already reading.

So this is when all the so-called "client data" is passed from TBB to Epitiro.
How does the software actually monitor usage? I presume it runs as a background process and switches on each time Internet access is actioned - and switches off when the access is terminated.

I don't think I saw your last post, unless it was a question about my exchange which I didn't understand.

Wagstaff

Ah - getting myself confused as well!

The last post was the one before the exchange one.

The exchange one is just asking what exchange you are on.

tbbMeter runs constantly, with a timer that you set at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 or 5 seconds. It doesn't send or receive to the internet most of the time, it just gets information from your network card at those intervals.

So for knowing your usage the 5 second reading would be fine. To see what is happening to speed on the real-time graph I use the default 1sec. Very interesting when doing a speed test! It also has a built-in file download system for speed testing which will run multi-threaded if you ask it. Quite useful.

Once a day it uploads your statistics to the tbbMeter web page. That is quite good as it has better graphing than the tool itself, and it also allows you to see the totals of multiple machines if you have it running on more than one, and have registered all copies. Though that is compromised at the moment because of including LAN traffic as I think I said before.

You could spend virtually all day on YouTube and be hard pressed to use 1GB.

Without a doubt (in my mind) it was "except perhaps the tv downloads." which lead to the excess usage charge. Downloads on iPlayer give the size.

Having seen the posts that have come in on this thread, I think I've more or less reached that conclusion myself.
TV downloads must take a very big bite out of the allowance, and yet the various tv channels are almost encouraging you to participate in this costly activity.
How are the ISPs, which offer "unlimited" access, coping with this increase in demand?

Wagstaff

Some of the big ones keep complaining that content providers should subsidise the ISPs. That's a daft idea and imagination the complexity of working out who with a web site should pay something to whom?

For instance - what about this guy.

The fact is we don't have the infrastructure to support everybody downloading and/or streaming their TV programs. My personal view is that it is completely irresponsible of the BBC and ITV to encourage people to do so.

The simplest answer would be for all ISPs to get together and offer these services as a paid extra - that way I don't have to subsidise folks who are too stupid or forgetful to be able to operate a PVR.

BBC now offer HD downloads.

I am not stupid and only occasionally forgetful and quite capable of operating a PVR (four on the go at the moment) thank you. But you cannot completely cover the bases when the broadcaster screws up and as I refuse to pay the Murdoch Tax my only access to Eurosport for the superbike racing is online.

I don't see why my particular pattern of internet usage should incur a premium when yours does not. Smacks of extreme selfishness on your part.

That really starts a whole new debate on Internet usage.
Perhaps ISPs should end the practice of offering "unlimited" deals and move to a two-tier method of charging, where those who want to download video and audio should pay extra for so doing.
It would surprise me if this topic hasn't already been discussed before on this forum.

Wagstaff

This, in effect, is what some ISPs do by offering a choice between fairly severely restricted usage on their cheap options and nearly unlimited on their more expensive offerings. Others, BE being a notable example, have found a more suitable - for them and under present conditions - business model in offering just unlimited usage at a price somewhere between the two extremes.

Sorry if you took my comments personally they were not intended to be personal.

I'm afraid I can't agree with...

I don't see why my particular pattern of internet usage should incur a premium when yours does not. Smacks of extreme selfishness on your part.

though.

I'm a firm believer in paying for anything by usage level (electric, gas, petrol etc. etc.) and if someone chooses to use high bandwith they should be prepared to pay more for that than light users.

Incidentally I'm not an especially light user and have occasionally used iPlayer myself.