download limits

[Baz]

are the charges for exceeding download limits just based on the peak times.
Can you not ' borrow ' some allowance from your off peak time 


what does any one use for downloading in the off peak times, like a manager or similar so you can set it to utilise that time.

[Steve]

I get up early 

[Baz]

I get up early 

   I dont 

[Rik]

They're based on when you use them, Baz, and you can't offset peak against offpeak. The allowances reflect the load on the network. To give you more bandwidth during peak hours would cost more. It can be done, but prices would have to rise.

[wecpcs]

are the charges for exceeding download limits just based on the peak times.
Can you not ' borrow ' some allowance from your off peak time 


what does any one use for downloading in the off peak times, like a manager or similar so you can set it to utilise that time.

I use Windows Taskmanager to wake up my hibernated PC at midnight which is then set to run Getright (download manager) and then put the PC back into hibernation when downloads and MS updates are complete. It all works perfectly.

Colin

[JB]

what does any one use for downloading in the off peak times, like a manager or similar so you can set it to utilise that time.

I use sabnzbd running on a linux system to start any usenet downloads in the middle of the night. It is also available for Windows and Mac. If it is any other kind of download I normally call a bash script from cron at the appropriate time.

I use Getright if I am leaving a Windows computer on overnight. (Not often).

[Rik]

I just tell Sue to sit up late and click the button after the witching hour.

[Moley]

I'm having difficulty re: download limit.  Every month I get charged - yet I do nothing different to what I was doing before the "new improved" rates arrived in Feb.  I rang support today and they said to upgrade to ASDL+2 pro - which I agreed to - only to find that my exchange isn't ready for it.  I'm stuffed   I can't afford to keep paying extra every month, yet there is no alternative package for me.  Any ideas?  I don't want to leave Idnet but right now it seems my only option.

FYI I don't download movies or anything, I play WOW, and use Itunes for music - that's it.  Can't understand why I use so much bandwidth.  Have checked my security, I have no viruses - I just don't get it

[Rik]

Hi Chris

Do you take the daily RSS usage feed from IDNet, or check it manually on the customer portal? That would give you an idea when your bandwidth is being used, and how much. Similarly, you could install a metering program on your machine(s) to check usage, though that will include LAN traffic generally. Are you connecting wirelessly?

[Glenn]

You say you have no viruses, have you also checked for spyware/malware?

[Rik]

Hi Chris

I've just spoken to support, you downloaded 4.4GB yesterday, 2GB of which was between 15:15 and 18:45. You also uploaded 270MB.

Unless you're getting a lot of stuff from the Apple store, this screams unsecured wireless network to me, but perhaps you recognise something in that time frame which you were doing?

[zappaDPJ]

It screams Warcraft background download to me Rik Every few months Blizzard deliver a few gigabytes of new content, the latest being 4.45 GB.

That said playing Warcraft and using iTunes shouldn't take you anywhere near your limits. As said above you need to start investigating things.

[Rik]

Thanks for that Zap.

[Moley]

Hi all,
My network is secured and I have a password that's changed weekly.  Only my son connects wirelessly.  And yes I check regularly for spyware/malware and run a good anti-virus (Norton 360).  I'm really at a loss to know what else I can do - all I know is, a few months ago I never came anywhere near my limit and now I'm over it nearly every bill!  Need to get to the bottom of it.  There is a background WOW download atm - but it nowhere near accounts for the current usage.

[Rik]

Your afternoon usage fits almost exactly with the WoW update that Zap mentions, though, Chris. Do you know what your son uses his machine for?

[Moley]

I'll try the RSS feed at least I can see when its peaking then maybe

[Rik]

You'll just get daily figures, peak and off peak, but you can at least see how the month is progressing and what your projected usage might be. What level of encryption are you using on the router?

[Bill]

Need to get to the bottom of it.

At the very least, sign up for the RSS updates of your usage ("Bandwidth Usage" on your account page) and install something like tbbmeter that can separate LAN and WAN traffic.

[Glenn]

Is there a bandwidth monitor available for your router?

[Steve]

Bill can you not use your influence so get a Mac version off tbbmeter as well.

[Bill]

Bill can you not use your influence so get a Mac version off tbbmeter as well.

I've tried... MrSaffron's reply was "Given 6 months of no other work then its do-able for Mac."

[Moley]

My son is at Uni mostly - he's been home for the summer, but most of the time he's not even on his laptop.  He plays XBox stuff, but he does all his updates and downloads on his father's connection at weekends (good scam huh).  He also runs the same virus/anti-mal/spy stuff as me.  My daughter also connects and she's the typical teen - facebook etc - but she swears she's not uploading/downloading - I thought I'd cracked it when she mentioned she rents the odd movie on iTunes but I put a stop to that - and still no difference.

If someone is indeed hacking into my allowance, how on earth do I find out?  I've looked at all my router settings (Linksys fyi) and all looks fine (WPA Personal security mode).  Ordinarily I work during the daytime, just happen to be off this week, and determined to get to the bottom of this before I'm bankrupt

[Rik]

I've tried... MrSaffron's reply was "Given 6 months of no other work then its do-able for Mac."

Can we get him sacked?

[Baz]

Hi Chris

I've just spoken to support, you downloaded 4.4GB yesterday, 2GB of which was between 15:15 and 18:45. You also uploaded 270MB.

Unless you're getting a lot of stuff from the Apple store, this screams unsecured wireless network to me, but perhaps you recognise something in that time frame which you were doing?

just a quick question on this Rik, I thought uploads don't count to usage

[Rik]

My son is at Uni mostly - he's been home for the summer, but most of the time he's not even on his laptop.  He plays XBox stuff, but he does all his updates and downloads on his father's connection at weekends (good scam huh).  He also runs the same virus/anti-mal/spy stuff as me.  My daughter also connects and she's the typical teen - facebook etc - but she swears she's not uploading/downloading - I thought I'd cracked it when she mentioned she rents the odd movie on iTunes but I put a stop to that - and still no difference.

Well, installing the TBB meter which Bill refers to on each machine will give you a very clear idea of where the bandwidth is going.

If someone is indeed hacking into my allowance, how on earth do I find out?  I've looked at all my router settings (Linksys fyi) and all looks fine (WPA Personal security mode).  Ordinarily I work during the daytime, just happen to be off this week, and determined to get to the bottom of this before I'm bankrupt

It's highly unlikely if you're on WPA and changing passwords frequently. Given that we only knew of your usage initially, it seemed an obvious candidate, but now we know that yesterday's use can be accounted for, the best way forward is the RSS feed and the TBB meter.

Does your router list connected devices? If so, that would show you an interloper if you look at the right time.

[Rik]

just a quick question on this Rik, I thought uploads don't count to usage

They don't, Baz, but most viruses will show in the upstream usage, not the downstream.

[sof2er]

just a quick question on this Rik, I thought uploads don't count to usage

I'm quite sure they don't as I've been uploading about 40-60 GB a month (streaming games and such in HD) and I've never ever had any charges related to that.

[Bill]

Don't even know if this is possible, but could someone have hacked into the router from the WAN side, so that they're effectively by-passing the password?

Even if it isn't, doing a reset to manufacturer's defaults shouldn't do any harm... but note your username and password first!

[Moley]

I've looked at the router a few times to see if it logs who's using the bandwidth, but can't find anything.    I've just checked the WOW download also, and its only done 1.7 of the 4.5 download - so that doesn't account for the spike yesterday - I don't have it background downloading whilst playing as it causes lag issues - I let it run overnight after exiting the game - so it shouldn't be showing up in the afternoon anyway!

[Glenn]

Would http://www.pmasoft.net/englisch/onlineeye_prof.htm be of any help, the demo is free for 31 days?

[Bill]

Another possibility, if the router supports SNMP, is PRTG's Network Monitor.

http://www.paessler.com/prtg/

I used it some years ago on a Windows machine and it wasn't bad, the free version did everything I needed.

[Rik]

Hi Chris

On the 21st, you had 5MB of overnight traffic, but during the day you had bursts of quite heavy downloading, eg 934M, 539M, 800M, 800M, 167M, 232M, 378M, 210M during various hours from morning till midnight.

Do you use a download manager for WoW, if so it might be worth double checking the settings.

[Gary]

Maybe use your router to block the ports WoW uses just for a day, and see what happens to your download usage?

[Rik]

Do you know the ports offhand, Gary?

[Gary]

Do you know the ports offhand, Gary?

Ports 6112, 3724, and 6881 through 6999 should be open for the downloader, Rik.

[Rik]

Thanks, Gary. 

[Gary]

The other thing was, I was wondering what kind or WPA key is being used, is it randomised (well as best as) using ASCII ? If its short ones that are word based a dictionary attack via wardriving could be a way in, there are enough tools out there to use  Must admit though it would be odd for someone to bother to do all that for the amount being used.

[Rik]

It seems the least likely cause, doesn't it, particularly as it's changed weekly.

[Gary]

It seems the least likely cause, doesn't it, particularly as it's changed weekly.

It does, Rik. If those ports are blocked the downloader will find another way round but will be much slower, it would be a good way to see if it slows things down.

[sof2er]

Another option would be to limit the amount of DHCP addresses if possible so that it's only enough for the amount of computers in your household. It is possible to allow certain MAC's to be only connected to your router, they could probably be faked as well..

I hardly doubt this is a case of anyone using your internet.

The way how I monitor my daily download is to go to my local area connection.



It indicates I've uploaded ~29 MB and downloaded ~140 MB, however it also tracks network activity and it resets whenever you re-plug your ethernet cable, restart PC so incase you need to restart take notes on DL. I don't restart my PC until I go to bed or have any network activity sending files between each other so this is a pretty good way of tracking your usage every day (and they're 99.9% accurate with the IDNet control panel). For multiple PC's just track on every one for the day and add them up, that should be pretty accurate of your total usage that day. If somehow your usage is mysteriously way more than that then it's most likely a case of someone else using your internet.

[pctech]

This thread is a good example of why there should be a cap on the amount of bandwidth.

[Bill]

This thread is a good example of why there should be a cap on the amount of bandwidth.

It's not that long...

[Gary]

This thread is a good example of why there should be a cap on the amount of bandwidth.

Not really from my point of view, just watch your bandwidth usage at the end of the day its up to the person whose PC/Router/internet connection it is to keep it secure and watch what they download as I see it as in this post then work out what's going on, and since its a £1 GB after you go over its not really breaking the bank, I would rather go at full speed and pay a few quid extra than be throttled to lower speeds.

[Gary]

It's not that long...

[Moley]

I've installed the network monitory thingy as suggested - will let you know what it shows up 

[Rik]

Keep us posted, Chris.

[Technical Ben]

If there is anyone else in the house, I'd suggest passwording the PC. Just in case they are using youtube ect when your not looking. Especially if it's HD content or Iplayer (200mb to 800mb) made me think of Iplayer right away. Looked like someone was watching TV all day at your expense.  

[Edit]
PS. I'd suggest using OpenDNS and blocking access to any unsavoury sites. You could even use open DNS to block youtube and bittorrent and Iplayer. That way you can rule out/prevent anyone else in the house downloading\watching too many movies. 

[Baz]

another question on this.I started this thread as I got an early warning email about going over my limit,had them before so didnt worry but its getting close now and started thinking about it and getting confused about the limits.

Do you get charged extra if you go over your limits as 2 separate limits or a total of both if that makes sense.

I have the 180GB package,  40 GB  peak times and 140 GB off peak.Now if for example at the end of month my peak limit is  39GB and off peak is 5GB is that 2 separate limits or is it totalled up and you get charged.The way it comes over in the emails says just the times that may go over but the account page gives a total as if you will get charged.


sounds a daft thing to ask now but its not clear,especially when you get the emails sent out 


Damn kids

[DorsetBoy]

In the case of 39GB and 5GB there is no charge as they are 2 separate limits. Think of it as 2 accounts one for peak the other for off peak.  Only let the kids use the internet after midnight 

[tKe]

Would anyone be interested in a small app that logs the bandwidth usage (the values shown in the Vista/7/Android gadgets). I could maybe either modify the existing gadgets to log the values so you can graph them, or write a separate app that sits in your system tray and logs/graphs them?

That might help provide a (roughly) hourly breakdown of bandwidth usage to better work out when the majority of your usage is being (ab)used.

Thoughts welcome, happy to have a play.  It may not be able to provide monitoring to the granularity of tbb but it does provide the figures IDNet are using for charging (including the split between peak and offpeak).

[MarlyM]

Anyone tried this: AnalogX Netstat Live

Looks good.

I used to monitor all the time when I had smaller caps.  Then I went to unlimited, then I came here (and realised I wont hit the cap anyway).

I've just installed the little gadget which takes the info direct from IDNet to monitor my account.  Only because I want to though, not because I need to.

Would be interested to know if you get to the bottom of your problem Moley.

Personally, I'd disable the wireless for a couple of days and only use your current machine connected via a cable.  At least that way you know if it's your machine doing it.

BTW, I don't think the term good anti-virus and Norton 360 go hand in hand    (My personal opinion anyway!)

[Lance]

With regards to limits, I'm pretty sure that there is only a limit on the peak time. I believe that, if you wanted, you could use your entire bandwidth off-peak.

[Technical Ben]

With regards to limits, I'm pretty sure that there is only a limit on the peak time. I believe that, if you wanted, you could use your entire bandwidth off-peak.

Yes (if to clarify though) you can.

If my allowance is 10GB and off peak is 30GB. I can download 29GB off peak, and 9GB peak. So in total I've got 38GB in a month, and pay no extra. I've done this before when I over did it with free game and MMO demos (4-8gb each, although did not try WOW , and only a few days demo time ). I quickly learnt that they are all rubbish and not worth the bandwidth let alone the subscription fee!