Broadband limits
Discussion
Hi, I was hoping for a bit of advice. We are looking to get broadband at home due to the ever worsening state of dial up, but due to my total lack of knowledge of anything PC related, I'm lost. Speed is not a major issue per se (but would be nice!), because I don't download much, just visit webpages etc, but we want a reliable connection so have been thinking about using BT? or AOL? The AOL seems good, 256k, no download limit, whereas the BT is 512k but a 1GB monthly limit.
Do you know if a download is when you 'save as' something to the hard disk, or whether everything you view (e.g. going on PH, hotmail or goggle) is considered a download as well? If this is the case, 1GB would be used up pretty quick!
There also different types of broadband, as I understand it ADSL (which goes down the original line?) and another type, where a second line is physically installed (apparently Telewest is like this?). Which would be most suitable? I don't fancy some engineer demolishing our road and walls to construct a new line?!?
Any advice gratefully received!
Ben
Do you know if a download is when you 'save as' something to the hard disk, or whether everything you view (e.g. going on PH, hotmail or goggle) is considered a download as well? If this is the case, 1GB would be used up pretty quick!
There also different types of broadband, as I understand it ADSL (which goes down the original line?) and another type, where a second line is physically installed (apparently Telewest is like this?). Which would be most suitable? I don't fancy some engineer demolishing our road and walls to construct a new line?!?
Any advice gratefully received!
Ben
If you are already with BT, ADSL is the way to go.
BT-Yahoo broadband seems fine to me.
In terms of downloads, the figure will include all downstream traffic, so web pages, the lot. I don't know how they enforce the limit though, I guess it's more for people who transfer huge amounts of data per month on a regular basis.
BT-Yahoo broadband seems fine to me.
In terms of downloads, the figure will include all downstream traffic, so web pages, the lot. I don't know how they enforce the limit though, I guess it's more for people who transfer huge amounts of data per month on a regular basis.
Its everything thats sent or recieved vids email etc 
this link might help
www.wanadoo.co.uk/popup/time/dart/whatmean.htm
this link might help
www.wanadoo.co.uk/popup/time/dart/whatmean.htm
docevi1 said:
BT are changing their policy come Jan, they are putting a 15Gb bandwidth cap a month, which is fairly pants! They are however lowering their prices.
I'm looking round for suitable suggestions as well...
15GB is a lot of traffic!
Monitor Period 39 days, 20 hours, 38 mins
Upload 7050 Mbytes
Download 13586 Mbytes
That's with 4 PCs in the house and a fair few albums/software/windows updates done.
If you use the 1meg connection the limit will be 30GB, currently tho I'm unlimited.
I'm not sure if they stop your service or charge you for what you use over the limit if you do go over.
When I heard they were imposing the limit I was a bit wound up and looking to change, but being as I really only use about 10-15Gig a month max I should not be too worried, and work pay for it so matters little.
Cheers
Paul
I'm not sure if they stop your service or charge you for what you use over the limit if you do go over.
When I heard they were imposing the limit I was a bit wound up and looking to change, but being as I really only use about 10-15Gig a month max I should not be too worried, and work pay for it so matters little.
Cheers
Paul
I use a heck of a lot more than 15GB a month! I move stuff between here and Uni all the time, and if I download a series (say Alias or Pimp My Ride which didn't make it to UK Terrestial TV), play games, download film clips, send files to mates... I can easily make huge bandwidth in a month. Add my usage to the fact my dad uses it a load to do courses and play, my mother browses a fair bit. And of course, it takes into account upload and download...
They say
regarding the throttling.
The price drop (£3) doesn't seem the loss of bandwidth at all.
>> Edited by docevi1 on Friday 15th October 20:54
They say
btyahoo.co.uk said:
"BT will not apply this usage allowance until early 2005. After the date, if your monthly usage allowance limit is exceeded, you will have the choice of a restricted service for the remainder of the month, or the option to buy additional usage capacity."
regarding the throttling.
The price drop (£3) doesn't seem the loss of bandwidth at all.
>> Edited by docevi1 on Friday 15th October 20:54
Also take a look at Broadband with Tesco.net over a BT ADSL line. Around 20 a month, free setup and I don't think any bandwidth limits.
I'm happy with me cable Blueyonder so if you can get cable it's worth a consideration aswell. This is through Telewest. It needs a new cable fitted, I decided to route out where the cable was going to go before they got round and got them to thread it through 2 cavities across the loft and to the study, they didn't mind at all as I'd already got everything ready.
>> Edited by JoolzB on Friday 15th October 21:11
I'm happy with me cable Blueyonder so if you can get cable it's worth a consideration aswell. This is through Telewest. It needs a new cable fitted, I decided to route out where the cable was going to go before they got round and got them to thread it through 2 cavities across the loft and to the study, they didn't mind at all as I'd already got everything ready.
>> Edited by JoolzB on Friday 15th October 21:11
I use the internet a lot but not for 'Downloads' as such. Mostly PH, shopping, eBay etc.
I use Metronet which gives you 512Kb BB starting at £10pcm. After that they charge 0.25p per Mb: my average bill is £13-14. You have to pay for connection and an ADSL modem, but it pays back in time.
www.metronet.co.uk/adsl/paygo
I use Metronet which gives you 512Kb BB starting at £10pcm. After that they charge 0.25p per Mb: my average bill is £13-14. You have to pay for connection and an ADSL modem, but it pays back in time.
www.metronet.co.uk/adsl/paygo
BT Yahoo 512 kbit/sec line never used to have a limmit (we have been with BT ADSL for a long time now).
It's now sitting at 15GB per month, but the price has dropped from £29.99 per month to £27.98.
Here's the good bit: for £29.99 (the original price) you can have a 1 Mbit/sec line, which has a 30GB/month limit.
I think an extra 2 pounds per month is well worth it, and far better spent on broadband than say a dolphin that I have never seen other than on the sponsor forms that seem to drop through my door.
It's now sitting at 15GB per month, but the price has dropped from £29.99 per month to £27.98.
Here's the good bit: for £29.99 (the original price) you can have a 1 Mbit/sec line, which has a 30GB/month limit.
I think an extra 2 pounds per month is well worth it, and far better spent on broadband than say a dolphin that I have never seen other than on the sponsor forms that seem to drop through my door.
LaurenceFrost said:
Here's the good bit: for £29.99 (the original price) you can have a 1 Mbit/sec line, which has a 30GB/month limit.
I've got a 1Mbit/sec line for £29.49 with no limit
PlusNet
(If anyone decides to go with them please email me for my referrer code, I get 50p per month off
)Thanks for all your responses
This suggests a non limited broadband service would be best, and Tesco broadband (cheers JoolzB
) looks like a good deal.
I assume the 'speed' of the connection varies as it might with dialup depending on the global usage of the internet at the time? Do you know whether the speed of the broadband varies depending on the service provider? I understand that all the info travels over BT lines and through BT exchanges etc, therefore would BT broadband be given a priority so to speak? (Excuse my ignorance of all things computer techy!). And would a developed provider such as AOL, Wanadoo etc. provide a quicker service than a new one, like Tesco?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm just eager to get broadband set up now!
Thanks again
Ben
This suggests a non limited broadband service would be best, and Tesco broadband (cheers JoolzB
) looks like a good deal. I assume the 'speed' of the connection varies as it might with dialup depending on the global usage of the internet at the time? Do you know whether the speed of the broadband varies depending on the service provider? I understand that all the info travels over BT lines and through BT exchanges etc, therefore would BT broadband be given a priority so to speak? (Excuse my ignorance of all things computer techy!). And would a developed provider such as AOL, Wanadoo etc. provide a quicker service than a new one, like Tesco?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm just eager to get broadband set up now!
Thanks again
Ben
Um, whatever you do, do not go with a company such as Wanadoo or the dreaded AOL! AOL do things in a very funny way which will start to become very restrictive once you know what you are doing!
There will be no difference in the level of service by the different companies, all that will be different is the level of customer service you will recieve - for instance the best in that respect will be BT themselves as they will fix problems directly.
As for speed, it does depend on the internet as a whole, but no-where near as bad as dialup. It's not until you start trying to download big files that you will notice any problems with speed. Non at all.
There will be no difference in the level of service by the different companies, all that will be different is the level of customer service you will recieve - for instance the best in that respect will be BT themselves as they will fix problems directly.
As for speed, it does depend on the internet as a whole, but no-where near as bad as dialup. It's not until you start trying to download big files that you will notice any problems with speed. Non at all.
Oh, and you must love the Tesco site. Apparently I can't have broadband & that I'm not running Windows.
Isn't it lovely when you see the power FireFox has over I.E! I will never use that piece of pants again after seeing so many sites fall down as they can't get the information that IE allows about your computer!
Isn't it lovely when you see the power FireFox has over I.E! I will never use that piece of pants again after seeing so many sites fall down as they can't get the information that IE allows about your computer!
Even the Lowest (256k) Telewest cable broadbean has a 700Mb per DAY limit!!
You BT people are getting robbed!
I don't think mine has a limit, I sure hope it doesn't anyway.
If i recall correctly these limits are not strictly enforced. It wouldn't, say, suddenly stop mid pictur dwonload, leaving you with no access for the rest of the bill period, they just don't like you going over it too often. If you do they send you an email about "reasonable usage".
You BT people are getting robbed!
I don't think mine has a limit, I sure hope it doesn't anyway.
If i recall correctly these limits are not strictly enforced. It wouldn't, say, suddenly stop mid pictur dwonload, leaving you with no access for the rest of the bill period, they just don't like you going over it too often. If you do they send you an email about "reasonable usage".
I'm with Metronet, thumbs up so far, had a prob in may when connection went dead, phoned em up, sorted in ten minutes, kind, curtious, helpful with a willingness to accept and understand that you are having problems.
Plus I use the net a lot and using about 1-1.5gb a month and only paying about £14-15.
Plus I use the net a lot and using about 1-1.5gb a month and only paying about £14-15.
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