ISP that states what "Fair Usage" actually is?

Hi

I've just been stung by Demon (they've decided that 50Gbytes/month is fair, looked at those using more than 50GB, and written to them saying "you're using more than this number we just invented, so you're throttled!).

I'm therefore looking for another isp, who states what they actually consider to be fair usage, before they simply penalise you for passing an undisclosed threshold.

It would also be good to know what they do if you aproach or exceed the limit - simply throttle you and maybe explain afterwards (if you kick up enough of a fuss, thanks Demon), email you to warn you, etc. And do they provide some way of monitoring what your usage is in a month, to help you stay within their "reasonable" figures?
(Demon's suggestion was "Google for a tool", couldn't help when I said I run a linux server and a Windows desktop)

Any firsthand experience would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Nige

http://demonic-tale.blogspot.com/

May make an intresting read for you.

I believe iptables has some form of bandwidth build it, may be wroth googling it.

Hi

Yup, had a read through the blog, ta.

I use a router with a firewall, not iptables, actually have a few pc's on a network at home, so its not that easy ...

imho, if Demon are going to say "you exceeded a threshold", they should tell you the threshold beforehand, and make a usage tool available - other isp's do!

Nige

Ahh I misunderstood then sorry, I thought when you said you used a Linux Server you routewd everything through that.


And yeah I agree about the FUP.

np, I could do that, but it will cause network bottlenecks my end (or mean me running more cables ...)

Am currently exploring using a Cisco router from work with an adsl card, that has snmp enabled, so I can monitor throughput.

Its aggro, though, and its noisy as hell, and tbh I don't see why I should have to make up for Demon's incompetance.

Nige

No ISP with a FUP declares what the FUP limit is. They do this so that they can change it at any point they like and without people knowing. So Demon could drop the FUP level to 20GB tomorrow and the first people would know is when they got a letter saying that they had crossed the threshold (again without saying what the threshold they'd crossed was).

You need to find an ISP which has a capped product such as the Enta resellers or Zen.

In reply to:

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I'm therefore looking for another isp, who states what they actually consider to be fair usage, before they simply penalise you for passing an undisclosed threshold.

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I've yet to see a single trustworthy ISP with an active FUP.

Best to choose an ISP like Zen with no FUP or one that has never invoked it as only then do you have some security.

Voting with your feet is the only way the cheating FUP brigade will learn - as it seems the regulators aren't bothered.

Not true,
We have a FUP on some of our products, and it is clearly stated on the product list.
http://www.vivaciti.com/Full_product_list.htm

Edited by vivaciti (Fri 09-Mar-07 13:25:08)

Hi

Thanks for that, but where is your FUP?

What constitutes peak time?

Anyone currently using Vivaciti have any comments?

Cheers

Nige

FUP at bottom of page, FUP listed as 125gb on packages that have the FUP, rather than just guess work (and I agree with you, if there is a FUP, then ISPs should say what it is)
on allowance packaged the peak and off peak times are listed under the FAQs.