Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I just recently switched to Xfinity internet service with, unbeknownst to me, a 300 GB data limit. Last month, we went over by 100 GB, and this month we are already at 130 GB. It's day 5 of our usage/billing cycle. Yikers. I can't figure out what's eating so much data so fast. Anyone have suggestions to help me budget my data usage? We use these services regularly: Xbox Live Steam Chrome Netflix Skype YouTube Lookin' for some data wisdom, Iri~ Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valor 2,138 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I just recently switched to Xfinity internet service with, unbeknownst to me, a 300 GB data limit. Last month, we went over by 100 GB, and this month we are already at 130 GB. It's day 5 of our usage/billing cycle. Yikers. I can't figure out what's eating so much data so fast. Anyone have suggestions to help me budget my data usage? We use these services regularly: Xbox Live Steam Chrome Netflix Skype YouTube Lookin' for some data wisdom, Iri~ I'm not a network guru, but any streaming service (many of the ones you've listed above) will be heaving contributors to your bandwidth. 130gb in 5 days though is pretty extreme. Consider many HD movies used to at least be what, 9gb? So, you can kind of gauge from there. Siegnir and Iridian ShadowWeaver 2 Crowfall Political Forum: Angry Crows | Crowns and Crows Podcast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinnie 2,399 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) data caps? what is this sort of 1900 tech? Its most likely streaming.. Any form of media streams are going to take huge bandwidth. It also depends on the quality of the content (a 4k YT clip takes more bandwidth than a 480p clip) And btw, 300gb a month is nothing, you should complain to your serviceprovider.. heck, 300gb a month does not even cover my porn bandwidth, let alone anything else. Edited August 3, 2015 by zinnie Iridian ShadowWeaver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) I'm not a network guru, but any streaming service (many of the ones you've listed above) will be heaving contributors to your bandwidth. 130gb in 5 days though is pretty extreme. Consider many HD movies used to at least be what, 9gb? So, you can kind of gauge from there. I know my son downloaded his GTA 5 game, about 70 GB, to his new computer the other day. That leaves 60 GB, which I still find a bit excessive for 5 days. I wonder if it's the combo of Xbox Live/voice coms, Skype voice, and various game patches. I'm hating this data cap; never had to deal with one. Edited August 3, 2015 by Iridian ShadowWeaver Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 data caps? what is this sort of 1900 tech? Its most likely streaming.. Any form of media streams are going to take huge bandwidth. It also depends on the quality of the content (a 4k YT clip takes more bandwidth than a 480p clip) And btw, 300gb a month is nothing, you should complain to your serviceprovider.. heck, 300gb a month does not even cover my porn bandwidth, let alone anything else. It's Xfinity, and I'm in a highly-disputed "test market" area. Apparently this "test market" has been ongoing for a couple of years now. When I signed the damned contract, there was no mention on a data cap for my super-fast service. Now I'm stuck in a 2 year service contract. Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caenth 3,893 Share Posted August 3, 2015 When I signed the damned contract, there was no mention on a data cap for my super-fast service. Now I'm stuck in a 2 year service contract. Read the small print. If it's still not mentioned, well, don't you think you have a solid argument to remove the cap? THE most active European Crowfall community. Join us now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txteclipse 747 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) I've got creepy ethernet drivers that track how much data each of my applications uses; you might want to look into something like that and then start trimming out things using a lot of bandwidth. This article may be of help. As has been said, streaming services are killer, but I can't image doing 130 GB in five days. ...Is GTA V seriously 70 GB? Edited August 3, 2015 by txteclipse Iridian ShadowWeaver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Read the small print. If it's still not mentioned, well, don't you think you have a solid argument to remove the cap? You'd think. I've been reading up on the problem, and it's consistent among people in these "test markets". The terms of the service apply to regular users, and not to "test markets", which are not identified in the contract as a separate group. The FCC has investigated twice that I know of, but to no avail. I very well may have to go back to AT&T, which is slower, but at least I never, ever hit a data cap. So frustrating! Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) I've got creepy ethernet drivers that track how much data each of my applications uses; you might want to look into something like that and then start trimming out things using a lot of bandwidth. As has been said, streaming services are killer, but I can't image doing 130 GB in five days. ...Is GTA V seriously 70 GB? Thanks! I'm checking out the link. Yes, GTA 5 is seriously 70'ish GB. I had to put the kibosh on further game downloads for the rest of the month, just so we'll get by without another overage at $10 per 50 GB. Edited August 3, 2015 by Iridian ShadowWeaver Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinnie 2,399 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I feel like data caps in general is an outdated concept only kept alive to milk consumers. With digital fiber cables and almost limitless bandwidth across the continents, there should never be any form of data caps in a first world country. But then again we are fortunate here in Scandinavia, where we haven't had a data cap since the old modem days. we are spoiled. Iridian ShadowWeaver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 I feel like data caps in general is an outdated concept only kept alive to milk consumers. With digital fiber cables and almost limitless bandwidth across the continents, there should never be any form of data caps in a first world country. But then again we are fortunate here in Scandinavia, where we haven't had a data cap since the old modem days. we are spoiled. It's definitely a bleeding the stone dry sort of exploit by the internet providers in the US. We're in the midst of FCC regulatory changes that will hopefully erase the, I agree, outdated data caps. Google Fiber is closing in on two major cities on either side of mine, about 300 miles each way, so here's hoping that'll be an option soon. I'm just shocked at the data cap thing. I've NEVER had a data cap, even with the old-school services 20 years ago. Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caenth 3,893 Share Posted August 3, 2015 But then again we are fortunate here in Scandinavia, where we haven't had a data cap since the old modem days. we are spoiled. No, we just have internet how it should be. No data caps, high speed broadband. Some US citizens are still on dial up ... Yeah, 1st world country with 3rd world internet. It's a joke. I can get 200 / 20 Mbit/s for €72.50. THE most active European Crowfall community. Join us now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamopeche 778 Share Posted August 3, 2015 my son More often than not, the answers to life's mysteries are right in front of our faces, but we choose not to see them. I mean, I'm assuming "fluffer" is just another pjorative term for carebears, whales, etc. Of course, I could be incorrect, but I doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chancellor 1,805 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Xfinity has unlimited plans, and some providers are willing to buy out your contract if you sign on with them. Either way it'll cost you something to change I think the K-Mart of MMO's already exists! And it ain't us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinnie 2,399 Share Posted August 3, 2015 More often than not, the answers to life's mysteries are right in front of our faces, but we choose not to see them. I think you might have hit the nail on the head here. A BD-rip of a popular movie is easily 15-20gigs, and HD TV shows are atleast 2,2 gigs per episode. I bet a lot of the bandwidth does come from your son. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) More often than not, the answers to life's mysteries are right in front of our faces, but we choose not to see them. Oh, I agree. My sons are both bandwidth hogs, but it's never been an issue since I never had a data cap. I do wonder if the combo of Xbox Live + voice coms + Destiny might be a big culprit. I would blame Netflix, but I'm afraid to stream it now! I already found that Xfinity sets an automatic hot spot, which I disabled. But the data thing is still inexplicable to me. Edited August 4, 2015 by Iridian ShadowWeaver Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinnie 2,399 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I do wonder if the combo of Xbox Live + vioce coms + Destiny might be a big culprit. nope. Games actually use very minimal amounts of bandwidth, suprisingly enough. Streaming and dl'ing is the real hog on your data cap. Iridian ShadowWeaver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamopeche 778 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Oh, I agree. My sons are both bandwidth hogs *snip* But the data thing is still inexplicable to me. Still choosing not to see. I mean, I'm assuming "fluffer" is just another pjorative term for carebears, whales, etc. Of course, I could be incorrect, but I doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jihan 5,468 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Voice comms are actually very low bandwidth, typically in the neighborhood of 64 Kbps. It takes a LOT of voice, about 30ish hours, to add up to a Gigabyte of data. Iridian ShadowWeaver 1 Official "Bad Person" of Crowfall "I think 1/3rd of my postcount is telling people that we aren't turning into a PvE / casual / broad audience game." - Tully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridian ShadowWeaver 1,100 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Still choosing not to see. No, I mean the data cap. Because I've never had one before, I've never cared how much data we were using until now. I just logged into my Xfinity account and found this message "You have three monthly courtesy overages available. After using all three overages, you will be charged $10.00 for each 50GB of additional data provided." That's new. I usually enjoy learning new things. This, not so much. Click your profile name>Click Manage Ignore Prefs>Find "Add a new user to my list" at the bottom of the page>Type in a username>Check options>Save Changes>Silence is bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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