Bandwidth notification

[Niall]

I think the bandwidth notification process is broken. I just got an email telling me:

"Over the time period 04/11/08 to 06/11/09 (367 days) you have downloaded 31.17gb of peak time data."  <-- No that's not a typo (on my part at least)

It then goes on to tell me that based on my usage so far this month, I'll have downloaded 59gb at peak times.


Sometimes I think the notification process can be a little bit irritating. You spend a couple of days downloading video trailers for a new game (and the associated character creation tools, etc), along with Windows updates for 3 PCs and instantly get told this. Couldn't this warning be issued at the middle of the month as that would surely show a more accurate reflection of what your usage is?

Over the last couple of months I have actually exceeded my bandwidth (only by a 2-3gb) as I've been bored to death and have been downloading any trailers (for films(HD), HD game trailers, TV Shows, music clips on Amazon mainly, with the occasional Myspace site for new bands, websites for CGI development for films, etc) patches for old games, demos for games, new program releases for updates,  I see when I come in from work/gym. As I'm only just tripping over the limit, it seems a bit over zealous to be notified all the time.

I doubt I'll get within 5gb of my cap this month as I've actually got things to do from now on, but still it seems that it'd be nice if the bandwidth notification would work properly and not pester you the second you go over the average for a day or two.

[Rik]

If you didn't get warned, Niall, how would you feel when you got hit by a bill? The idea is to give people a chance to modify their 'behaviour' before it's cost them money.

[Simon]

It's also slightly less accurate at the beginning of a month.

[Bill]

It's also slightly less accurate at the beginning of a month.

That has to be a candidate for understatement of the year 

I sometimes leave big downloads until the first of the month to see how high I make the figure go 

[Simon]

I've always been understated, Bill.  

[Rik]

Especially in that LBD.

[Bill]

I think you can get a pill for it these days 

[Rik]

Since the 60s, Bill. 

[Simon]

Especially in that LBD.

You were there??  

[Rik]

I have the photos. 

[Simon]

 

[Sebby]

[Ted]

Definitely something screwy with the notifications, I just got an email telling me I was looking at 51gb download this month, which is ridiculous.

The RSS feed tells me 32gb and so does the customer area, even this is artificially high as I downloaded a 4.3gb file (Mandriva 2010) a couple of days ago.

Something's not right. 

[Niall]

If you didn't get warned, Niall, how would you feel when you got hit by a bill? The idea is to give people a chance to modify their 'behaviour' before it's cost them money.

I'm fine with being notified in the middle of the month, it's just a bit annoying when you're told within a couple of days of downloading a couple of large files or maybe as I've done, watched/streamed a load of things online whilst bored to tears and then get notified immediately.

If I was to spend the rest of the month not using the PC then the bandwidth would be miles less. I realise it's a guide but setting it to the middle of the month and maybe a few days before the bill is due would be better.

Oh and it being correct would be nice. I don't know why it's telling me 31gb in a year! Oh and if it's 31gb for the last year, can I have my £12 back for the 3 times I've been over the limit?

[Rik]

Send a copy of the email to support, it sounds like they've got the wording wrong.

I still argue the present system is the lesser of two evils. It think you're downloading 15GB/day, so after a couple of day, four at most, you'd have exceeded any bandwidth allowance.

[Mohux_Jnr]

Over the time period 04/11/08 to 06/11/09 (367 days)

This is the important bit, its for a whole year!!

I got one too and something is definately wrong if you compare to useage in control panel.

[Rik]

Support has been alerted, Mo. How's your connection now?

[Mohux_Jnr]

Outstanding, 7.021 speed, 26 ping and 37 upload, consistent any time of day. I had applied for my Mac last week due to the ping problems and within 3 days normal service had been resumed. I am more than happy if it stays like this and other than the SMTP and notification problems I have consigned the mac code to the bin  .

[Rik]

That's good, Mo. To be fair, we'd all waited a long time for the fix, not least IDNet, who have had to put the growth of the company on hold while they waited for BT's elastic delivery schedule. I'm confident that things will be back to normal now, like misconfiguring the port 587 authenticated SMTP. Even that has it's bright side, though, it was done on Friday because they'd spotted a potential for failure in the old server, and pre-empted it. Give your Dad my regards would you, tell him I miss him about the place.

[zappaDPJ]

For some reason that I can't identify my usage has shot up 3 fold according to the stats page which has triggered some rather large monthly bills. Last month I installed net meters on all the PCs here and I still can't identify the sudden and rather massive increase in usage  

[Rik]

Have a word with support, Zap, the BT radius servers have been known to get it wrong. No-one in the house hitting iPlayer or YouTube suddenly?

[zappaDPJ]

I general watch an hour or two on iPlayer after midnight but I've always done that. The usage here during peak times is minimal. Something changed 3 months ago, I just can't track it down yet so I will speak to support.

[Rik]

I take it any wireless connection is secure and you've scanned for malware?

[Gary]

I general watch an hour or two on iPlayer after midnight but I've always done that. The usage here during peak times is minimal. Something changed 3 months ago, I just can't track it down yet so I will speak to support.

I would download a tool called Prevs, you cn use it free and it will tell you if you have infections, it has an amazing detction rating over most antivirus www.prevx.com and as Rik says check your Wireless for security.

[zappaDPJ]

I'll might give that a try, thanks Gary. I'm running DiamondCS ProcessGuard which has never let me down yet, I'm reasonably confident my PC is completely clean.

The wireless connection did give me enough cause for concern to turn it off. My Netgear router was logging a connection that didn't appear to be part of my network. I've since learned that the logged messages were garbage as they still occur when the wireless is switched off.

[Rik]

Puzzling. Talk to support, Zap, they can see the traffic levels from your router.

[David]

I would download a tool called Prevs, you cn use it free and it will tell you if you have infections, it has an amazing detction rating over most antivirus www.prevx.com and as Rik says check your Wireless for security.

Would this clash with any other security used Gary do you know ?looks good

[Gary]

Would this clash with any other security used Gary do you know ?looks good

Not really David, it has an issue with Defence wall if you use that and key scrambler but otherwise it works great with all other AV's even Kaspersky, I don't actually use it any more as I have the mac now, it has the occasional FP but they correct them within half an hour if you email them, with safe online included as well its a great package, <comment removed - possibly not legal to transfer key to a third party>

[Rik]

Wording now sorted on bandwidth notifications...

[David]

Not really David, it has an issue with Defence wall if you use that and key scrambler but otherwise it works great with all other AV's even Kaspersky, I don't actually use it any more as I have the mac now, it has the occasional FP but they correct them within half an hour if you email them, with safe online included as well its a great package, <comment removed - possibly not legal to transfer key to a third party>

Thanks Gary

[Niall]

Wording now sorted on bandwidth notifications...

Hurrah!  

[Rik]