I really don't want to jump ship but please look at your Caps

[Bill]

I doubt that we'll change the hours though as they are specifically designed to ensure that gamers and evening SSH workers etc are not swamped by streaming

Ah, so that's the rationalisation... something for me to bear in mind as I don't do either.

... for those who are able to schedule their downloads.

That's the problem- my main download sites are iPlayer and iTunes, neither of which seem to offer any scheduling options. But I appreciate that it's my problem not yours, and it can wait until after the Olympics.

In the meantime, anyone know of a download manager for OS X that can handle those two sites?

[Tacitus]

In the meantime, anyone know of a download manager for OS X that can handle those two sites?

The only iPlayer downloader that I know of was iPlayer Downloader.  Whether it's still around I don't know as the Beeb continually tried to block downloading except through the iPlayer app a while back, so maybe the author simply gave up the struggle.

Speed Download is a download scheduler which might work.  It used to be available in Lite (free) and paid versions.

[Steve]

I followed a trail and came up with this , never used it though.

http://tom-tech.com/iplayer_automator/iPlayer_Automator/Get_iPlayer_Automator.html

[Bill]

Thanks both, I'll have a look at those.

[kerrso05]

Bill......I know we are way off the subject but I actively promote an application on the WebUser Magazine site that might fit the bill (no pun intended) it is called GetiPlayer and I use it all the time to schedule downloads from the BBC

Here it is:-

http://bit.ly/Kitv6V


I have a windows set up and it works there ..as far as I am aware it also works with OS X

[kerrso05]

The download manager I use is Internet Download Manager and I can thoroughly recommend it because you can schedule downloads but I don't think it works on Macs

http://bit.ly/KiuunM

[Bill]

it is called GetiPlayer and I use it all the time to schedule downloads from the BBC

That looks like at least a close cousin to the one that Steve suggested, but thanks for the recommendation

I did think it would good to be able to schedule 4oD as well (I watch quite a bit of C4), but on reflection... with the cr*ppy resolution they often use the files aren't all that big anyway!

[Ardua]

What is a SSH worker? Clearly, the IDNet business is focused on business and gamers. The latter is a something of a surprise when I look at the number of retired people who contribute to IDNetters! I am retired but I have to confess that I have never played a game online in my life. I may have to re-think my priorities 

[Simon]

I'm not retired, and neither have I! 

[Bill]

What is a SSH worker?

SSH - Secure SHell. It's a way of implementing a secure connection over an insecure network like the internet. I'm not sure why it needs a low-latency/low jitter connection, but if Simon says it does then I'm happy to believe him

I am retired but I have to confess that I have never played a game online in my life.

Ditto.

I may have to re-think my priorities 

Also ditto... I'd never seen the "ideal target" IDNet customer profile spelt out that way. I don't have any problem with them doing that, it's just unfortunate (for me!) that my usage pattern is almost diametrically opposite to it

[Simon_idnet]

Bill, you are most definitely an ideal target!

[Bill]

I know a few people who would wholeheartedly agree with that, but fortunately they don't have a firearms licence 

[Simon]

 

[Gary]

I think I may have to look elsewhere, this thread has shown me that. Tonight my pings went up to 118ms turns out Guildford 21cn BRAs is having issues and that effects my area code (AAISP info)  http://status.aa.net.uk/apost.cgi?incident=1536 I really I wish IDNet had info like this on their site.

  Having to change the way I use the internet is a compromise I can't make, its easier for me  to move on which is sad but I'm not idnets 'customer demographic' even though I should fit part of it, Its just who to move to. Being at home most of the day due to my disability means my usage is more quirky I guess. 

[Bill]

Its just who to move to.

It is indeed... I withdraw my comment earlier about IDNet being uncompetitive- if you fit their "profile" they're definitely in the hunt.

I'll wait to see what IDNet come up with after the Olympics before making a decision, but a quick look around does no harm. So far, just based on my personal patterns and not a comprehensive list:

AAISP- Waayyy too expensive, excellent though they otherwise appear to be

Zen- a bit pricey, but a possibility.

ADSL24- very tempting, but enough to overcome my reservations about re-sellers...? Not sure.

Decisions, decisions... but fortunately not yet

[Gary]

It is indeed... I withdraw my comment earlier about IDNet being uncompetitive- if you fit their "profile" they're definitely in the hunt.

I'll wait to see what IDNet come up with after the Olympics before making a decision, but a quick look around does no harm. So far, just based on my personal patterns and not a comprehensive list:

AAISP- Waayyy too expensive, excellent though they otherwise appear to be

Zen- a bit pricey, but a possibility.

ADSL24- very tempting, but enough to overcome my reservations about re-sellers...? Not sure.

Decisions, decisions... but fortunately not yet

I agree, understanding the demographic makes more sense, having been with them quite a while now I am loathed to move, I have come up with a shortlist like yours, Bill. The thing is today I call up with an issue and they are on the ball, they see the drops and are looking into it. I wonder will I get that anywhere else, swings and roundabouts as ever, and sometimes as I have leant the grass is not always greener as they say on the other side. I'll sit and wait and see till after the Olympics too.

[Technical Ben]

Hmmm. I could get over double the bandwidth allowance for £1 more with ASDL 24+...
It might be worth trying them for half the DL speed (at 12mb, speed is not a worry to me) for the "unlimited" bandwidth. So it takes twice as long to download a game, but I can download it during the day, and not have to wait till night. If it's youtube or BBCiPlayer HD, 12mb is more than enough, yet I won't eat my bandwidth cap in a week. :/

Hmmm, most of those seem to offer double the peak allowance at a minimum. Very tempting to swap to one that also don't traffic manage.

[kerrso05]

Guys this is were I am at with this news from Simon (Idnet) to look at the caps after the Olympics.....this is what I wanted them to do (just a pity they can't do it sooner but I understand).....so I have no gripe with there response and that's why I find it very hard to leave them.
The problem I have now is I don't think Idnet consider me as part of their "customer demographic" which is a pity but I have to accept reality. Don't get me wrong, the move to possibly  increase caps is good news and must be welcomed by all but it doesn't really solve my problems of having to stay up late to download.....yes I know I can program Internet Download Manager to come to life after 12.00 Mid-night and I could program GetiPlayer to download BBC programs that I have missed but my main computer is in the bedroom (and you can't sleep with the hum, doesn't matter how quiet the computer is) and also I don't like electrical equipment on when the family are sleeping.

To recap. Thanks Simon for your involvement in this discussion, much appreciated. It looks like I will have to look at other options and as others have demonstrated there isn't too many options............the only one that appears to be giving me what I want is ADSL24 (but the reviews about them aren't that great) so it looks like I am the same as others here I will have to wait till after the Olympics and then decisions will have to be made

Thanks again to all who took part in this discussion, it was very worth while

[pctech]

I suspect a lot of IDNet's business users don't post here because they are well too busy running a business?

[zappaDPJ]

...the only one that appears to be giving me what I want is ADSL24 (but the reviews about them aren't that great)

My research is pulling up very mixed reactions to ADSL24 which is shame. The price is right as are the peak/offpeak ratio and hours but the service delivery seems to be somewhat hit and miss.

[Ardua]

Before deciding to stay with IDNet, I took a hard look at AAISP. A 4 unit FTTC package gives about 0.25GB peak per day for Mon to Fri and 100GB for evenings 6pm to 9am and weekends. Carry forward is also useful. The downside is the risk of extra costs if peak gets hammered.

[kerrso05]

Before deciding to stay with IDNet, I took a hard look at AAISP. A 4 unit FTTC package gives about 0.25GB peak per day for Mon to Fri and 100GB for evenings 6pm to 9am and weekends. Carry forward is also useful. The downside is the risk of extra costs if peak gets hammered.

Ardua I haven't a clue what AAISP is about.....don't even like the look of the site.......were is the A 4 FTTC package you are talking about?......it looks austere and uninviting to say the least....they wont win awards for their website design whereas at the other end of the scale ADSL24 looks cheap and tackie.....if the truth be told Zen and Idnet looks just about right...inviting, with enough information and enough detail to let you know what you are getting into

[Ardua]

]

I may regret this as I am no expert. As explained to me. AAISP has a simple FTTC pricing model based on units of broadband similar to units of electricity. To get FTTC, you pay a daily charge plus £3.90 for each unit of broadband that you use. You have to purchase a minimum of 2 units per month. Four units would cost £37.80 per month and this is what I used when I compared IDNet, to AAISP and Zen as the monthly figures were £35.74; £37.80 and £36 respectively.

The metering works like this. Between 9am and 6pm (Mon to Fri), a unit buys you 2.5GB of download. Between 6pm and 2 am (and from 6pm Fri to 9am Mon) a unit equates to 50GB of download and between 2am and 6am a unit equates to 1000GBs of download (quote to cater for those doing backups unquote). The meter doesn't stop running, it is just goes faster at peak times and slower at off-peak times. The pricing model allows you to carry forward some of the unused units and run a deficit against the following month if you download more than you have paid for. This is the complicated bit and you will need to read the section 'How it Works' on the AAISP website.

The downside is that £3.80 for 2.5GB of peak usage can result in a large bill if daytime usage is not monitored closely. My example was based on 4 units which gave me 5GB peak (2 units) and 100GB off peak (2 units). Assuming 20 working days in a month, this equated to above .25GB per day Mon to Fri. Clearly, if I only used, say, 50GB off peak then in my example I could use 3 units peak or 7.5GB without incurring any extra cost.

I hope that this makes sense?  There are better explanations on the AAISP forum in TBB.

[kerrso05]

Ardua thanks for that....but No Thanks. I don't know about the rest of you but I wouldn't have anything to do with that..........watching this and watching that. I couldn't be doing with that. Idnet is plain and simple and even more simpler is Zens, you have one cap and once you go over it you are charged, no messing about, don't have to worry about peak an un-peak times....what could be simplier. Also to me AAISP sound quite expensive,..... no...... "Thanks but No Thanks" 

[Lance]

Something to bear in mind when comparing packages and caps is that with Idnet uploads are unmetered and unlimited. This may not be the case for other ISPs which sometimes include upload bandwidth within the capped allowances.