OT: Internet Monthly/Daily usage meter?

Grazie wrote on 6/14/2006, 4:30 AM

In an attempt to get an intelligent decision as to what Internet Service provider package I want to choose - BT has a very "cute" way of openly NOT being able to tell me what I want to know - I wish to get a handle on just how much/little I do use.

So, here is the question, can anybody recommend a simple freeware package that will do this daily/monthly Internet Usage compiler/counter work?

Thanks

Grazie

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apit34356 wrote on 6/15/2006, 11:42 PM

Grazie, I thought the UK had some great internet plans? 20g a month, ... ready low, like ready poor. If you do not upload/download much, do mostly forums, 20g/month may work today.

Grazie wrote on 6/16/2006, 3:12 AM

20g? That would be around $30. But then there is nothing cheaper for LESS than 20g. It is as if the companies are "cartel-ling" to around 15gbs. Something less than 10gb gets you down to a 2gb at $36/month. The unlimited feature DOES get you up in the $30/pm. So, it would appear that not only is there NO incentive to use LESS - in fact you are more or less welcomed to use unlimited! It is as if there is a positive disincentive to use 20gb down to 10gb. Or rather the "budget" provider is showing how foolish it is to not use unlimited.

However, BT is sticking to its guns on the 20gb and wont budge. Why? I really don't know. But now that I can monitor and see just how typical my usage IS I can have an informed view as to what bracket I fall into.

The most "reasonable" provider I can tell is Tiscali. They have been around for some time now and continually pip BT to the finishing post. In any event, it would appear, roughly, that what I'm discussing is the difference between £180 and £240 and various additional add-ons. Around the lower budgets, AOL have a download restriction that I would find .. . er .. restrictive.

Grazie

mbryant wrote on 6/16/2006, 4:07 AM

Grazie,

Yea, £15 pounds ($28 USD) is about the going rate.. now with MAXADSL you can get 8 MB speeds for that.

The exception is TalkTalk, with it's free broadband if you also use them for your line rental and phone calls. Moneywise it is a great deal - their phone charges are less then BT, and you get free broadband thrown in. But I know someone who has just switched to this, and the broadband is pretty crap... disconnects are common, support is terrible and you have to pay for it....

I'm with Eclipse, who until recently were excellent.. with the rollout of MAXADSL they haven't been so good lately. But some of these problems have been down to BT (who still provide access for most ISPs).

Mark