Internet download allowance

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silkie

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This may be a naive question, but what exactly counts as download in "download allowance" context? I know it must include downloaded films, music, programs and updates, etc, but what about ordinary web connection and surfing? I am connected to the web as soon as I boot up - does that mean I am using up my allowance as soon as I start? What about time spent working with Word, say, or with an installed photo edit program?

My ISP allowance is plenty for me - I am not carping, but I am curious.
 
yep its any and all traffic. Some ISP's count your uploads too. ;)
 
Which ISP is it?

Some of them are not too militant on this. While others will start sending letters out right away.
 
You might find a Net Metering tool useful, there are quite a few free ones to download and they help you to keep track of how much of your allowance you've used. HERE, HERE and HERE are some links you might find useful. :wave:
 
Yup those Net Monitoring Tools are usefull.... only prob is that if you're on a router based setup they aren't accurate :(
 
Thanks for replies and links.
I have just signed up with Zen Broadband (from AOL), and with my deal I get 5GB a month - the personalised customer page on their website gives clear information about how much has been used and how much left, so no complaint there.
AOL was unlimited usage via a modem, with signing on and off to get access to the web. I now am permanently connected and what occurs to me is that if you spent a lot of time "offline" - on games, or personal documents etc - with no reference to the web should that count as ISP usage?
 
ISP usage is only the traffic that passes up and down your connection to your ISP. So if you have your connection all the time then if you leave a browser open it will be using up some of that bandwith. If you have no programs connected to the web and still have your connection open then a very small amount of traffic will occour as the ISP pings your pc to see if you are still connected, this is a very very small amount of traffic, hardly enough to count. Also if you leave the connection open then any programs that are set up to auotomatically update, like anti virus etc will use up a tiny amount of bandwith.

If you are using AOL and do not want to install their software on your pc this is possible by using a router. You can use the modem from AOL along with a router or you can buy a routerand modem combined. This will also give you an extra layer of security as most routers have their own firewall and extra security inbuilt.

happywave.gif
 
Abarbarian - Thanks for explanation. I suppose it must have been the same with my AOL connection.
I've uninstalled AOL software as I've left them - Zen all ok so far.
 
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