*ALL* ntl Cap Discussion (Part 3)

[rogeralpine]

Originally Posted by Chris T

Harsh?! Just how much warez do you now have on your hard drive? I can't even imagine what 250GB of stuff looks like. And please, don't try to tell me it's all legitimate game demos and other fair use stuff. Plus of course that's only the two months they busted you for - how much per month were you downloading before you got your first letter?

Sorry my friend, but NTL's cap has been well known and understood for a very long time now so the way they are treating you is not harsh. You have no excuse whatsoever. IMO you got away with it for too long anyway!

No hard feelings, but my sympathies are not with you, they are with the other poor subscribers on your UBR.

...well, can't believe how short-sighted you guys are. ntl may well have their rules, but to think that they are not draconian is unbelievable. The Beeb have already started VOD trials - how the hell are ntl going to keep up with such a pathetic service. So what are they going to do, "magically" find the available bandwidth in 6 months time and try and win their customers back? How stupid are they going to look? I suspect most users that can remain within the 75Gb limit would prefer to save themselves 20 notes and get the 512 unlimited. (Whilst at the same time signing up for ADSL and seeing what the competition has to offer.)

It''s clear that ntl are being far from consistant which shows them up for what they are - completely incompetent and not in touch with their customers, the service and the very near future requirements of broadband internet. I mean, they've even spoken of a 24Mb service and beyond - if things move as fast as they have over the last few years, we could see such services offered next year - what are ntl relying on here - keeping up with the Jones's but in reality not offering the whole deal? I'm not convinced that's for sure.

You're all bashing the big downloaders - which I agree with to a point - but as far as I see it your average downloader would be happier with a 521Mb unlimited service and save £20 per month rather than a limited super fast line.

[Hans Gruber]

You have to remember NTL won't be wanting to lose it's lucrative TV customers to these future online VOD services. I guess their unlimited service will have to be at a speed just beneath the requirement for a decent streaming service, or they'll be losing a lot of TV revenue.

[rogeralpine]

Originally Posted by DieDieMyDarling

I personally think the best approach for ntl would be to introduce peak time caps, and leave off-peak times unlimited. Maybe set the times in stone, like 11pm - 7am unlimited. Say 75gb cap for 10mb in the peak times, or maybe even keep it at 30GB. Maybe even create a new tier, 3mb unlimited, with a capped peak time, and uncapped through the night. Still pay 37.99, but get 8 hours a day unlimited downloads, in a time that won't affect too many other users.
If the amount of heavy users is so low, ie 1-2% of the ntl customer base, then surely they could all download overnight and not even affect each other too much, as most people would be in bed and not clogging up the networks. Obviously if they were on 10mb it would probably still cause problems, but being only on 3mb would surely be acceptable.

....that's the way I'd like to see it go but I bet ntl haven't got the facility on their network to tailor each persons connection based upon what they've downloaded. So although I bet that would work for the network, I really don't think ntl have the ability to peg someone's connection back when they've taken their 75Gb's worth during peak hours - they can't even supply you with the means to measure your current downloading quantities, so I reckon there's sod all chance of them being able to do this IMO - I'd like to hear otherwise of course!

[mcmanic]

the newsgroup post is so true, i for one will never ever use P2P. My 3meg connection to a paid newsgroup provider for full downstream only requires 12 to 14kb/sec upstream to get a constant downstream, 64kb/sec on this new 512 service is plenty, i don't share illegal films,game, why would i need a higher upstream and use P2P.

Also i'm afraid its the kids who ruin it for everyone by running these P2P programs with their maxed out upstreams, this is what NTL should be targeting these people that use their upstreams 24/7 at max and the only reason these kids do it because is free to use for them but mummy or daddy won't pay any extra for access to a decent newsgroup provider which would ease the network on the upstream side of things which i thought was worse than someone downloading 24/7.

Surely if NTL are monitoring they could monitor peoples upstreams usage instead and this would be a clear indication that they are using P2P and target them, i bet the results would be shocking!

Also i would be interested on how long they could keep you at 512 service, how long before you could ask to be upgraded again?

Originally Posted by rogeralpine

....that's the way I'd like to see it go but I bet ntl haven't got the facility on their network to tailor each persons connection based upon what they've downloaded. So although I bet that would work for the network, I really don't think ntl have the ability to peg someone's connection back when they've taken their 75Gb's worth during peak hours - they can't even supply you with the means to measure your current downloading quantities, so I reckon there's sod all chance of them being able to do this IMO - I'd like to hear otherwise of course!

And before you say anything i have no idea if NTL will do this. But it is possible to check usage and control a individual modem. The equipment to do this is commercially available of the shelf . And i am sure if NTL wanted to do it they could. As to if they will well that is up to the powers that be at NTL.

What i will say is that i am willing to bet Green reps that a ISP in the UK will start doing this within 12 months. It is just down to who has the guts to do it first. But mark my words after one has done it there will be a clamor for it as they will see £ signs from it.

Please don't quote me as saying NTL are or intend to do this as i do not know.

[jrhnewark]

I tend to max out my upstream with mega uploads most of the day. Having said that, I only have 100kbps upstream anyway.

I agree with mcmanic to an extent, but I don't think NTL need to worry at the moment with most of us - it's physically impossible for most of us to upload much more than with dial-up!

Having said that, at the moment, I'd just settle for something other than dial-up. My connection's still flipped!

[maverick]

Originally Posted by rogeralpine

....that's the way I'd like to see it go but I bet ntl haven't got the facility on their network to tailor each persons connection based upon what they've downloaded. So although I bet that would work for the network, I really don't think ntl have the ability to peg someone's connection back when they've taken their 75Gb's worth during peak hours - they can't even supply you with the means to measure your current downloading quantities, so I reckon there's sod all chance of them being able to do this IMO - I'd like to hear otherwise of course!

Watch this space

Originally Posted by maverick

Watch this space

[mcmanic]

just been talking to another guy,

he was 236gig so he cut down to 52gig and got letter saying he'll be downgraded end of the month.

[mcmanic]

i have also noticed by speaking,pm'ing to people i know who are to be downgraded that the majority of people being downgraded are the people only using NTL BB and have no TV or Phone packages. A smart move by NTL not to lose so much money because there will still be alot of people who will migrate elsewhere if put down it would seem!

[Chrysalis]

Bill plusnet already do it, and I think pipex are thinking about it. But both have it based on on peak downloading and off peak. Whilst ntl are basing their caps on all day which I think is the worst thing about how ntl are going about it. Plusnet also do provide measurements but I think the measurements provided dont specift on peak/off peak yet which people are complaining about.

I am not against cap's 10mbit unmetered is not sustainable on a residental pricing point, I just would like a few things changed like a better cap level, something like 150gig to maybe 300gig at a higher price and have these caps for off peak, on peak cap much lower maybe like 10-20 gig. Finally supply a webpage that allows the figures to be viewed, and when limit is reached shows status, if throttled price for extra gigs etc.

[jrhnewark]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Bill plusnet already do it, and I think pipex are thinking about it. But both have it based on on peak downloading and off peak. Whilst ntl are basing their caps on all day which I think is the worst thing about how ntl are going about it.

Plusnet certainly do - it's a much fairer system on the many of us who set downloads to happen in the early hours.

[c1rcle]

Originally Posted by rogeralpine

they can't even supply you with the means to measure your current downloading quantities, so I reckon there's sod all chance of them being able to do this IMO - I'd like to hear otherwise of course!

DU Meter http://www.dumeter.com/ works for me.

[deadite66]

Originally Posted by c1rcle

DU Meter http://www.dumeter.com/ works for me.

which is useless for poeple with more than 1 pc as network traffic is included.

[jtwn]

Install on each machine then.