#98958 - 12/06/2002 13:51
Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Cha-Ching
I know I crap on cable internet a lot... now I have more ammunition. However, DSL will probably follow cable's lead.
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-Rob Riccardelli 80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#98959 - 12/06/2002 14:00
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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old hand
Registered: 18/08/2000
Posts: 992
Loc: Georgetown, TX USA
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I've been metered from day one with my DSL, 5Gb down 1Gb up per month, then I get charged for going over. Only hit it twice for about $2 each time...
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Dave Clark
Georgetown, Texas
MK2A 42Gb - AnoFace - Smoke Lens - Dead Tuner - Sirius Radio on AUX
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#98960 - 12/06/2002 14:03
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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addict
Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
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!!%#$@)#$&*@#$*&(@#$*(
There, I got it off my chest...what a bunch of money-grubbing aholes...if they aren't getting enough of my cash already. I didn't have a phone in Germany for the same stinkin' reason...
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01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110
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#98961 - 12/06/2002 14:05
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: davec]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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I've been metered from day one with my DSL, 5Gb down 1Gb up per month
How much do you pay for that crappy DSL service?
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-Rob Riccardelli 80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#98962 - 12/06/2002 14:16
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31597
Loc: Seattle, WA
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The one thing that occurs to me after reading this is:
How much bandwidth is wasted on things like pop-up ads and banners? Okay, not much when compared to people downloading warez and MP3s and stuff, but for "joe blow surfer"...
Seems to me that something like this could be the first domino in the death of internet advertising. Software like AdSubtract would see a surge in popularity, I think.
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#98963 - 12/06/2002 14:19
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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old hand
Registered: 18/08/2000
Posts: 992
Loc: Georgetown, TX USA
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How much do you pay for that crappy DSL service? ]
$69.99/mo yeah I'm getting ripped off, (384/128 line) at first it was a good deal back in 1999 when it first rolled out around here. Now, no one really offers DSL that is worth a [censored] in Austin and when I checked with Speakeasy they said SBC doesn't make it easy to switch without either
A) having downtime of up to 6 weeks or
B) getting a new phone line and get it qualified for service through Speakeasy
So I haven't done anything about it. My connection just works and my bill is auto debited so I don't think about it much...
Cable is not an option, we agreed to hate each other with a passion...
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Dave Clark
Georgetown, Texas
MK2A 42Gb - AnoFace - Smoke Lens - Dead Tuner - Sirius Radio on AUX
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#98964 - 12/06/2002 14:20
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: tfabris]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Speaking of ads and warez sites.... The newest version of the Google Toolbar (something I use anyway) has an "experimental" setting for disabling popups that occur when unloading a page. It is fantastic.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli 80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#98965 - 12/06/2002 14:23
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: davec]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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I would take the downtime and get better service. Not only are you paying $20 more than me, but you're getting metered. Just my $0.02.
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-Rob Riccardelli 80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#98966 - 12/06/2002 14:30
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
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Hmm. how long until the first law-suits start appearing for unsolicited IP packets? I've denied 43000 packets in 3 days. Are these going to count on my bill?
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Mk2a 60GB Blue. Serial 030102962
sig.mp3: File Format not Valid.
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#98967 - 12/06/2002 14:36
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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addict
Registered: 30/05/2002
Posts: 695
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I got my DSL hooked up last year in March when Verizon first rolled into town with it. A local ISP had already offered it, but I was willing to take a slight speed sacrifice to get a better price. Since I jumped on the boat right away last year, and committed for a year, I think I have a reasonable price ($39.99/month - 600/90). They have even changed the available speed options & pricing (mine doesn't exist anymore), but I still get what I ordered last year.
If they change things such that I can't continue on this way, I will be severely ticked off. I'm already mad about another dilemma with my damned Dell.
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#98968 - 12/06/2002 14:41
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering acc
[Re: robricc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
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Comparing DSL to Cable really isn't fair as a general statement. For example, nowhere does that article talk about my cable provider, and I have heard no rumors of them moving to metered service any time soon. (I know a few install techs). DSL here is decent, but price gouging and oudated technology thanks to Qwest make it one of the worst choices here. They still can't figure out how to send digital internet signals over digital phone line networks.
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#98970 - 12/06/2002 14:50
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: DeadFire]
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member
Registered: 29/04/2002
Posts: 126
Loc: Virginia
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Don't buy a dell. I am a certified Dell Tech for the military and they are crap. Maybe it as something to do with the fact they they were never meant for use such as what the military uses and abuses them for, but nonetheless there is an extremely high failure rate among the laptops especially. Dells only saving grace is that they overnight parts to us.
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Build a man a fire-keep him warm for an evening-set him on fire-he is warm for the rest of his life.
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#98972 - 12/06/2002 14:58
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering acc
[Re: tfabris]
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addict
Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
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I had DSL at an old Army base in Winnipeg last summer and was perfectly satisfied with it. I hate cable companies with a passion so it was an obvious choice. When I moved here to Windsor last fall, lo and behold DSL wasn't available in my area (I live downtown!) so I was forced to go with cable. I pay $45 a month plus $10 to "rent" the modem, since I am not a cable subscriber...I think I may have to look at other options if these new charges creep in...
I'm still angry from reading that story BTW
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01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110
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#98973 - 12/06/2002 15:08
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering acc
[Re: drakino]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/05/2001
Posts: 2616
Loc: Bruges, Belgium
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I've been metered here too from day one. : 10gig DL, 1.5 gig UL. I've got a cable connection now, but it was the same with my ADSL connection.
AND, though the cable provided 4Mbit DL, 128Kbit UL (effective speeds : +500 Kbps, and 15 Kbps UL), I think I'll go back to my ADSL.
See, the service of this cable just plain sucks. Sure, it's about 4-5 times faster (in optimal conditions) than my former DSL account, BUT :
Their mailserver is down a couple of times per week ;
their phone support is practically non-existant (I once couldn't get to my mail for THREE WEEKS because it was too hard for them to provide me with a new password - the old password just stopped working one day. No explanation, no apologies, no nothing. Luckily my DSL mail account still worked) ;
they raised their prices by 20% last month, just like that ("sorry sir, there's a crisis in the IT sector") ;
they force you to pay auto debited (well, force...If you don't then you can add another $15 to the bill) ;
they insist on using a proxy on which some sites choke ;
they canned their telephony service (since it's not profitable enough for them - but this was the MAIN reason why I switched, 'cause I was happy with my DSL account) ;
they block the ports on which most file sharing utilities work. (I don't mind that facs per se, I DO mind the fact that they try to hide the fact that they do. I has cost me a lot of phone calls to actually get somebody on the line who admitted to it).
The more I think about it, the more pissed I become. I believe I'll give my old DSL provider a call tomorrow. I still got my DSL modem and filter, so the switch should be smooth.
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Riocar 80gig S/N : 010101580 red Riocar 80gig (010102106) - backup
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#98974 - 12/06/2002 15:14
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: genixia]
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old hand
Registered: 16/02/2002
Posts: 867
Loc: Oxford, UK
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Hmm. how long until the first law-suits start appearing for unsolicited IP packets?
Hmmm, that's interesting.
Playing devil's advocate for a moment.... Are they really unsolicited or did you do something (like open a web page) that made your PC request those packets?
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#98975 - 12/06/2002 15:17
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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enthusiast
Registered: 20/11/2000
Posts: 279
Loc: Pacific Northwest
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Where I am in OR I get Verizon DSL 768/128 for right at $35(tax included) + $20 for my ISP. Gotten great service (knock on wood) and been very happy with that--once they got me hooked up, which took close to two months. ymmv.
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#98977 - 12/06/2002 19:27
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: davec]
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member
Registered: 31/12/2001
Posts: 161
Loc: Crete, Il USA
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In reply to:
I've been metered from day one with my DSL, 5Gb down 1Gb up per month, then I get charged for going over. Only hit it twice for about $2 each time...
Great Ceasers ghost...I pull down more than 5Gb a month with 28.8! And here I've been cursing the lack of high speed access in the area - my luck, we'll finally get something here and it'll be metered.
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It's getting to be ri-god-damn-diculous.
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#98978 - 12/06/2002 21:34
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
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Is there some kind of software that can track you much I upload and download over a period of time. I am curious as to what I am using. 5G sounds like alot to me but I really have no idea what I actually use.
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Matt
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#98979 - 12/06/2002 21:41
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: msaeger]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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You want NetStat Live from AnalogX.com. Check out the rest of the stuff on this site. Way cool, and FREE.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli 80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#98980 - 12/06/2002 22:36
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering acc
[Re: robricc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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I'm sure that works well for a single machine, but I use MRTG to monitor that sort of thing. Of course, that assumes that your gateway has an SNMP agent on it capable of returning data about the amount of traffic sent over its interfaces. Most real operating systems do. Don't know about MSWindows, though.
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Bitt Faulk
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#98981 - 13/06/2002 00:05
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: robricc]
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old hand
Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
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hey, anybody want to guess what I pay for my cable internet each month???
anyone??
$ 0.00. yep, that's right. And no I am not stealing and I would be more than happy to pay the bill.
If only AT&T would get their crap together and remember to bill me.
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--------- //matt
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#98982 - 13/06/2002 01:21
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: ithoughti]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/05/2001
Posts: 2616
Loc: Bruges, Belgium
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If only AT&T would get their crap together and remember to bill me.
Hey, I've had that too! First my cable company decided not to bill me for 6 months. Then they came up with the total amount the seventh month.
Great fun!
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Riocar 80gig S/N : 010101580 red Riocar 80gig (010102106) - backup
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#98983 - 13/06/2002 06:47
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: ithoughti]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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I signed up with Comcast three months ago and have yet to receive a bill. I fully expect to receive a massive bill in a few months, but I'm hoping they kinda forget... This never happens though.
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#98984 - 13/06/2002 06:54
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: AndrewT]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Actually, this is very interesting. Let's say I run a Google search for, say, "Jessica Alba." I click on the first link, which opens up a page with sixteen pop-up ads. I didn't actually request those popup ads, they were forced upon me by some jackoff who wants to make money from advertisers. However, it's costing ME bandwidth, which, under this draconian metering policy, will end up costing me more money.
Looks like bullshit, smells like bullshit... Hey, whaddya know, it IS bullshit!
Granted, it's quite hard to fill up a large bandwidth cap with just popup ads, and it's more likely that Usenet/IRC/KaZaA traffic is going to be the real culprit... But I can see room for disputes over who's responsible for my bandwidth being used. People can send me email attachments of any size and because of how POP3 works, I have no way to know I do or don't want the file until after it's downloaded... Then you get all these programs with advertising windows and phoning home to check for updates, automatically download new versions, whatever... There's a lot of bandwidth that gets used without your express knowledge...
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#98985 - 13/06/2002 07:35
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering acc
[Re: wfaulk]
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old hand
Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
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Yes... MSWindows has an SNMP agent... you have to install it though... Just curious, have ever used Cricket?
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Brett
60Gb MK2a with Led's
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#98986 - 13/06/2002 08:26
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: tonyc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12338
Loc: Sterling, VA
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I know it's not cable, but my phone company hasn't charged me a dime for long distance calls for the last two years. We're fearing that as well.
And this is in a house with three college students who have plenty of phone calls back home to make
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Matt
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#98987 - 13/06/2002 09:34
Re: Cable Internet providers to start metering access.
[Re: tonyc]
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old hand
Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
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This whole thing with AT&T not billing us has turned into a real joke at my house. Here is the story...(like you care)
1. Decided to get "digital phone" and cable internet in one.
2. One week into the service and I said to myself "I wonder what would happen if I plugged the cable into the TV?"
3. Free Cable TV. (didn't ask for it, order it, or want it for that matter)
4. Realized that we are not recieving bills for local phone service provided by AT&T, but we are recieving bills for internet access.
5. 6 months pass.
6. Local phone service dies in my house for 3 days. (for those interrested, in order for a company to be called a "local phone service provider", the phone service must be up for 99.9% of the time)
7. Local phone service fixed, after many issues which will not be discussed here, accept to say that they thought we were just signing up for service even though we had been at the house for about 8 months.
8. A month passes
9. Started recieving local phone service bill. (never had to pay the previous 9 months)
10. Stopped recieving cable internet bill.
11. A year passes.
12. Still enjoying our free cable and internet.
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--------- //matt
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