[Merged] NTL - New 1MB / 5GB Cap - should I subscribe @ 300k with NO CAP ?

[ian@huth]

How many times has it to be said that having a fast connection, say 3 Mb/s, doesn't mean that you have to push it to its limits all the time. Many people have cars that are capable of over 100mph but never go over 70 mph and are only used for a few hours per week. NTL could possibly give all customers 3 Mb/s and it wouldn't make much difference except for the few users who want to download the entire internet in a day and then do it again the next day.

[Chrysalis]

who says we want to push it to its limits all the time?

you either assume there is light usage <10 gig usage or 24/7 leeching but no inbetween I am sorry but there is a inbetween and I think people grabbing 40-80gig a month on a 2mbit or 3mbit connection is not that abusive.

[Neil]

You're all just going round in circles now, making the same comments, & using the same replies.

I think the time has come to close this thread.....

[Rone]

You might be right Neil, and i'm not going to disagree.
Judging by the amount of views cap threads have had, its obviously got many people curious.
But i will say several different and valid points have been raised here, with no slagging or verbal abuse, which is nice.
If only some of the decision makers read the main concerns that have been voiced, and might make some sort of concession favourable to all, it really would make for a happy christmas\new year.
Apart from that, its wait and see i suppose.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Rone

You might be right Neil, and i'm not going to disagree.
Judging by the amount of views cap threads have had, its obviously got many people curious.
But i will say several different and valid points have been raised here, with no slagging or verbal abuse, which is nice.
If only some of the decision makers read the main concerns that have been voiced, and might make some sort of concession favourable to all, it really would make for a happy christmas\new year.
Apart from that, its wait and see i suppose.

The problem is these threads are identical to the ones we had when we forst broke the news of the cap years ago....

There is nothing new being said or discussed IMO.

[Mauldor]

Before the thread gets closed once again, I wish for somebody technical to explain this for me if they can:

ADSL - 90%+ of the providors I have checked offer Lite and PowerUser packages, Only the Lite packages come with a CAP. Now understanding the reason for a CAP is that heavy users ofd the line will take most of the Bandwidth away and leave little if any for the other users. Now how for example does ADSL Providors manage that??

Using NTL as a comparrison if I may - they chuck users on UBRS - grouping XXX together in the same area, this having so much bandwidth. The theory of all of this is that if everybody was on at a different time, then there is more than enough bandwidth to go around in a quiet area.

To me it seems very simple - ADSL can cope with "Heavy" users no problems and it seems Telewest also can cope yet NTL cannot. Would someone who is Inside NTL and technical explain why we need a CAP on all the services and how does a Business Line differ apart from the price to how it is wired up? Do they get there own UBR?

[andrew_wallasey]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

20gig isn't high usage, for a 1mbit+ connection, I sense NTL are starting to be arrogant like BT and feel invincible so they can treat customers how they want, but their reputation already isnt great and word gets around.

Also I dont like anyone who uses a modest amount been called a warez user, I use 30-60 gig a month usually, NTL are effectively telling me they can no longer provide what I want.

I meant 10 - 20gb per day.

[Chrysalis]

there is something worth discussing, and it will be the case until NTL back down, close this thread and another will pop up, I got no idea why the mods hate cap discussion so much.

andrew_wallasey yep 10 gig a day certianly is high, I can see NTL are wanting to stop the 24/7 leechers which I dont blame them for but the people who use more then 40 gig but less then 100gig have got caught out with this and lose out.

[AndrewJ]

I am going to have to calculate just how much net I am using per month.

I am sure even with just forums, online gaming on zone.com and Yahoo games and I am maxing even 40gb per month, as I am normally online 24/7 I dont run a webserver or use p2p or torrents, but I leave my systems running apart from the laptop.

And with 3mb I thnk everyone who uses torrents will be going nuts on them and maxing it out.

So I wonder then will NTL have resources to comment to every single user who goes over it? or will they make it automated.

[mcmanic]

ok, so what about "what i see become the norm in the future" downloading game content, like Half-Life 2 via steam and probably pay per film subsciption downloads, are we not to be allowed to do this, defeats the object of having BB in the 1st place if you gotta pay for a piece of software then find out at the end of the month you getting charged extra from NTL for going over the Cap (if they do go this route)

seems to me that we are going backwards instead of forwards where the interent is becomes an alternative to going to the shops to buy your games, video's ect.

I'm on 1.5meg, don't plan to change, and don't wish to find suddenly enforced to a 5 gig a month cap, thats just silly, means for example - i download Half-life 2 then i'm screwed for the rest of the month!

[etccarmageddon]

Originally Posted by mcmanic

I'm on 1.5meg, don't plan to change, and don't wish to find suddenly enforced to a 5 gig a month cap, thats just silly, means for example - i download Half-life 2 then i'm screwed for the rest of the month!

if you're currently on the 1.5mb service then you're paying £38 a month which on the 'new' options will give you 3mb and 40gb a month. you'd only end up on a 5gb cap if you downgraded to £18 a month.

[th'engineer]

I must agree with Neil we are going over the same areas again.

I have said, and still have the same view if you do not like the idea its simple change your provider.

NTL are not going to change their mind even if the reasons for not doing it are sensible. Thats past experience sure all the team here will agree

They have never at corporate level listened to customers concerns so do not think they will change now.

Remember Mr Bill Goodland of NTL views of customers

BTW note corporate level before our resident NTL workers flame me

Neil was one that has changed his provider and gets a good service.

If you wish to stay on cable unmetered there is AOL who have no limits.

Even advertise it on the TV.

[ntluser]

Originally Posted by th'engineer

I must agree with Neil we are going over the same areas again.

I have said, and still have the same view if you do not like the idea its simple change your provider.

NTL are not going to change their mind even if the reasons for not doing it are sensible. Thats past experience sure all the team here will agree

They have never at corporate level listened to customers concerns so do not think they will change now.

Remember Mr Bill Goodland of NTL views of customers

BTW note corporate level before our resident NTL workers flame me

Neil was one that has changed his provider and gets a good service.

If you wish to stay on cable unmetered there is AOL who have no limits.

Even advertise it on the TV.

I think the best that forum members and customers can hope for is that NTL will review the CAP limits, say in 12 to 24 months or so, after they see what demands NTL users make on their system i.e. cable network.

They have set limits which they think the system can handle and after all if NTL goes down we all suffer irrespective of our usage.

Maybe in time with system upgrades and with the system showing that it can cope to NTL's satisfaction CAP limits may well be increased.

Let's take what they are offering for the time being and see what happens.

[Mauldor]

This is how I personally work with the things thats come out of NTL....

They introduced a Cap (soft) - I carried on doing whatever i was doing, my theory was quite simple, if they kick up a fuss - I can cancel and move my business elsewere. What did NTL Gain by introducing this cap? Nothing but a lot of un-happy people, for exmaple myself I went back to BT Line and Sky Box.

Next problem that came my way - upping the price of 1Mbit - again no great shakes, i call them to cancel, they offer me 3 months half price. When price comes back to normal I switched to 750/128.

When we had one problem after the next in my area - I was alreayd speaking to providors to arrange ADSL Install and looking online shops to buy ADSL Network capable modem. The problem got solved and touch wood, never came back - so I still just about hang in there with NTL.

When the new Speeds / Cap comes about - then I will assess the situtation when it is written in Black and White, if they charge extra per MB or cut your speed down, its a quick call to change to ADSL (been a lucky person who can have either or).

Personally I wish I lived in a Telewest Cabled Area, they are definatly showing the way to go forward. If NTL are that blind that they are not doing a market reserch of what the customer wants - then they deserve to go bust as far as Im concerned.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by Mauldor

snip>
Personally I wish I lived in a Telewest Cabled Area, they are definatly showing the way to go forward. If NTL are that blind that they are not doing a market reserch of what the customer wants - then they deserve to go bust as far as Im concerned.

How do you know that NTL aren't doing market research? Have you ever stopped to think that NTL are giving what most customers want and are happy with, not what a very small minority of customers demand, many of which they would be better without.