Something weird with the limits....

[kaliboy]

Hi everyone.

I don't know if anyone can help but recently we've also been hit by Sky, for exceeding our usage limits.

According to the email and the usage monitor, we've used 12gig in December and January consecutively. In November we only used about 4!

What's unusual is that none of our internet use has changed over the last two months, in fact, it should have dropped as we were away for two weeks in December.

There's no excessive usage really taking place here.

No illegal downloads or watching films online. (I know because I'm the main user and no one else knows how to!), just web browsing, You Tube, Facebook, BBC iPlayer, and Instant messengers, such as skype.

The network is secure and no one has hacked it, as far as I can see on the router details.

Is it me or are the usage charts a little dubious?

We also get no where near the 10mb speed as we are too far from the exchange. 5mb at max and the wireless router is shocking at best. Constantly dropping signal and barely covers the house.

Any suggestions or coincidences?

Thanks

Matt

[PaulSky]

Post a set of stats (link on the right <<) and explain your physical set up on your telephone line. Also for the wireless issue have you tried changing the channel on the router?

[kaliboy]

HI Paul,

Thanks for the reply!

What do you mean telephone line setup?

I just ran the speed test. 'Your download speed is 1480Kbps. Your upload speed is 460Kbps.'

I've changed the channels repeatedly and put complaints in to sky about the Sagem router, which they've refused to replace.

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 1792 kbps 606 kbps
Line Attenuation 45.5 db 24.7 db
Noise Margin 20.4 db 17.5 db

Dad is wondering if the usage amounts are made up to try and make us upgrade!

[reddwarfcrew]

Didn't BBCIplayer start showing HD content recently. Have you been watching that, if so that would potentially explain the jump if you've gone from watching SD to HD.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcintern...dds_highe.html

[kaliboy]

No, never bother watching HD as it's too slow and jumpy!

[PaulSky]

12Gb on a 1.7Mb connection? I would be dubious about that to be honest, can be done but you have to be downloading for a lot of hours every day. First thing first your line can take more speed if you do upgrade BUT I would question the usage stats and would be installing a download monitor on each PC on the connection or use the router stats themselves to monitor the usage.
Wireless is wireless and can be a pain, have you run a tool like netstumbler to see what is around you on what channels? Also what channels have you tried?

[kaliboy]

There's only 2 computers in the house. iMac and a Macbook Pro. The iMac is etherneted to the router. The laptop and iPhone use the WIFI.

The webcam is used a lot everyday, as we have family that live abroad.

We tried all the various channels recommended. We went through the trouble shooting steps with Sky help. Luckily it was me and not my parents.

They wouldn't know where to start. I'm totally disappointed with Sky's customer service. Even when I'd told them I'd done all the tests they made me do them again.

Then customer service just refused to replace the modem itself.

[User05]

I'm only on a 1.6mbps connection and really apart from logging onto forums, facebook and youtubing, I wouldn't use the internet in large amounts. I managed to rack up 15+gig somehow in consecutive months without even downloading one torrent etc.

I'd argue the usage tool's accuracy, to be honest.

[kaliboy]

Then if there's two of use, surely there's more?

Are Sky taking the mick?

[User05]

Originally Posted by kaliboy

Then if there's two of use, surely there's more?

Are Sky taking the mick?

I actually work for sky - I checked my account during the months and seen my usage pile up questionably. I think I actually got away with three months before being upgraded to unlimited. To be honest with you, I've had a few customers ask the same thing whether it was accurate and I really don't have an answer to it. It did come into force in November last year I believe, so perhaps it is having 'teething problems', but then again said problems could be costing customers up to £5 more a month.

If you're geniunely concerned, there are a good few pieces of software you can get via google that will monitor your usage. So, just browse etc. like you usually would for a month and see what another monitor comes up with. Albeit, if they're hugely different numbers then you could try take it up with sky, but I'd be surprised if much came of it to be frank with you.