1GB Cap Letter!!!!

[Pia]

Originally Posted by Calum.W

Hmm, i'm not bothered about the changes, however would it be bad to overuse the limit one day, say if i was just downloading linux?

It doesn't matter if you go overthe limit one day, so long as you don't do it consistently. Also, if you are on a 1 gb a day cap, then NTL say it doesn't matter as long as you don't go over 30gb in the whole month.

Hmmm now i wonder if they do the same for anyone on the 3gb a month cap......somehow i doubt it!


btw, what is linux?! lol sorry if that makes me sound daft!!

[vaiolator]

I have been confused recently as to the inclusion of uploads in the limit.
This is a quote from the AUP, my underlining btw. (found here http://www.home.ntl.com/page/userpolicy&source=ntlworld)

"Normal use" of the service is defined as up to 1 gigabyte downstream of data transfer daily (which equates to approximately 200 music tracks, 650 short videos, 10,000 pictures or around 100 large software programmes downloaded per day).

To me, it clearly only states downloads and I would feel anyone would have a good argument if uploads were included. I would have thought the word traffic would be used if both were included.

[jonifen]

Originally Posted by Paul M

You would have exactly the same problem if you were on ADSL with the "standard" 50:1 contention ratio - if someone started downloading 300GB a month then it would affect the other 49 - if a few started it then the rest would be in trouble. That is the whole problem of a contended system - you share the bandwidth, if one or two start hogging it then the rest suffer.

So by countering the download whores who pump 8gb+ a day, they offer the customers faster connections, so they can leech even faster. In my opinion, I'd be happy with a 1Mb connection being the maximum available if there was no download cap limit. How much bandwidth is available to each UBR then? I wonder how that compares with Telewest's UBR bandwidth setup...

It's strange really, because we got on NTL's 512k connection a few years ago as it was advertised for being better for people with more than one computer in their house. Having three computers in the house which all have access, this looked the best option. Couple of years later, they slap this download limit on us (after making a 1Mb service available which then went to 1.5Mb and now at 3Mb).
I was on the 1.5Mb connection (£37.99 pm) as I liked being able to get software/game updates quick and easy and I went through a phase of wanting to try different linux distros (this was shortly after all that with msblast etc came about :p). I've now "dropped" to a 2Mb service (£24.99 pm) because I don't see the extra speed worthwhile for what I use the internet for. It's still very quick getting my updates and the odd visit to the news-server.

NTL want to rephrase their caps in my opinion. Instead of 1Gb a day, it should be 50Gb a month maybe - I can often go over 1Gb a day over the period of a week (this I would imagine would earn me a cap letter?) but for the remainder of the month I may barely use the internet.

Like I said before... I signed up to an unlimited service. Had I wanted a cap, I would go to JJB and buy one or use "Wanadont" broadband. No, I have never downloaded over 200Gb a month... to be fair, I dont think I've ever done over 100Gb a month. To blame this on the people who use it a lot is a little unfair in my eyes. If NTL really want to teach these people a lesson, they should put all the persistant offenders onto the same UBR... let them fight for bandwidth between themselves - it'll be amazing to see the influx of calls to disconnections!

But like many other people have probably mentioned... we dont see Telewest incurring download limits on their connections, and their flagship package is 4Mb download with 384Kb upload - talk about a "download whore's" fantasy (well... apart from the huge pipes they appear to have in Japan and such places!)

Originally Posted by piaswales

btw, what is linux?! lol sorry if that makes me sound daft!!

It's like an alternative to Windows... because its mainly "Open Source" (i.e. the code that the program is made of is easily obtained), its highly customisable to a user's requirements. Its a lot more common these days after the vulnerabilities that Windows have (or had - depending on when updates come out and what they fix) have been greatly publicised and making people more aware about security.
However, Linux wont give you instant security - its like your house in a way... leave the window open and someone could try to get in. Computer security is similar - has lots of "windows" which open/close to allow traffic through them.

Errr... back to the 1Gb cap subject anyway

[Chrysalis]

Its a sad reality, alot of isps started by offering broadband as the type of service for heavy users, who have home networks, download all day etc. Few years later its now marketed as a web browsing solution.

Classic example of moving goalposts.

[jonifen]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Its a sad reality, alot of isps started by offering broadband as the type of service for heavy users, who have home networks, download all day etc. Few years later its now marketed as a web browsing solution.

Classic example of moving goalposts.

very true... its a shame really, because otherwise I would speak of NTL's broadband in the same sentence as Blueyonder (which I had the pleasure of using for a few years when I lived at my parents house... my Mum still uses it now) as it has actually been very good for me - but this could have a lot to do with my location rather than NTL themselves...

edit: just had a 2nd thought... My comment about BY and NTL in the same breath? I wasn't including the supplied email service

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Its a sad reality, alot of isps started by offering broadband as the type of service for heavy users, who have home networks, download all day etc. Few years later its now marketed as a web browsing solution.

Classic example of moving goalposts.

They probably thought in those days that customers would be law abiding citizens who would not be tied to their machines for more than a few hours each day, would watch video on their TVs and listen to radio on their radio.

In the beginning ISPs were more interested in building up a customer base than what customers were doing with their connections. Now they are thinking in terms of making a profit from broadband not having it as a loss maker.

The vast majority of customers will have no problem staying within the caps and they do far more than just a bit of web browsing and emailing.

[jonifen]

Although, If all I wanted was browsing and emailing, I'd use dialup or a 256k type package from an ADSL company. I got NTL broadband installed because the possibilities were endless. Seems they aren't endless anymore... well, as far as 1Gb anyway.

I know its all about money - they cant operate on a loss. If thats such a problem, like I said a few posts up - stick all the leechers onto 1 UBR and let them fight for connectivity. If its them that have induced NTL to bring the cap in, let them live the situation that other "law abiding" users are apparently put in by their "selfish" download sprees.

Quickest way of making people vote with their feet (or bb connection!)

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by jonifen

Although, If all I wanted was browsing and emailing, I'd use dialup or a 256k type package from an ADSL company. I got NTL broadband installed because the possibilities were endless. Seems they aren't endless anymore... well, as far as 1Gb anyway.

Nobody in their right mind would choose a dialup connection over a broadband one. Dialup is not much cheaper, ties up the phoneline, is open to premium number scams, has to wait for connection and probably has a two hour cut off. Even people who only do a bit of surfing and emailing download the odd large (in dialup terms) file and would prefer to get it in seconds rather than half the evening. Having a 1Mb broadband service doesn't mean that you have to max it out 24/7.

Originally Posted by jonifen

I know its all about money - they cant operate on a loss. If thats such a problem, like I said a few posts up - stick all the leechers onto 1 UBR and let them fight for connectivity. If its them that have induced NTL to bring the cap in, let them live the situation that other "law abiding" users are apparently put in by their "selfish" download sprees.

Quickest way of making people vote with their feet (or bb connection!)

Sticking all the really heavy users onto the same UBR is a great idea but I think most customers will not want to pay significantly higher charges to pay for their relocation to that UBRs area. The heavy users wouldn't like it either as they may not want to move house especially if they are put in the same area as all the other leechers and all have to compete for sales of their warez at the same boot sale.

[Millay]

Im a heavy user, id be more than happy to pay a premium, for a more realistic cap level.... I certinaly dont think its fairof us to sit here and moan about it, if we want something you have to pay for it, bandwith costs money..

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ian@huth

The heavy users wouldn't like it either as they may not want to move house especially if they are put in the same area as all the other leechers and all have to compete for sales of their warez at the same boot sale.

I love the way you assume everyone is a warez monkey....pathetic.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I love the way you assume everyone is a warez monkey....pathetic.

I don't assume that at all, I know most of the very heavy users are only sharing linux distros.

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by ian@huth

I don't assume that at all, I know most of the very heavy users are only sharing linux distros.

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by ian@huth

I don't assume that at all, I know most of the very heavy users are only sharing linux distros.

Groan, change the record willya

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Groan, change the record willya

not starting to get to you is it

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Groan, change the record willya

I'll change my record when all those heavy users have the balls to own up to what they actually use their connections for.