Tips to reduce bandwidth? (e.g. block YouTube, disable Windows Update)

By Elliot B.
in Microsoft (Windows)

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Grand Master

Elliot B.

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I have reached my monthly allowance (250 GB), which means there is a 0.125 Mbps speed cap. I have decided to pay ?5 for an extra 5 GB to speed the connection back up to 74 Mbps.

This 5 GB has to last the house one week. I need to reduce the overall bandwidth used.

I have disabled Windows Update on my PC and my parent's laptop.

I have asked my parents to avoid viewing any videos on the laptop or TV (Netflix).

I have disabled access to youtube.com on the router itself.

Any other tips?

Grand Master

+BeLGaRaTh Subscriber¹

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A pair of pliers to the cable should do the trick, you will wait a week for the engineer to come back and fix it and then you will have all your bandwidth back :)

Grand Master

Elliot B.

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  On 11/10/2012 at 21:26, shakey said:

I find getting a company that doesn't have limits to be the best way to have more bandwidth available :p

You have no idea how much I regret going with Plusnet.

And we're 1 month into an 18-month contract :(

Grand Master

shakey

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  On 11/10/2012 at 21:29, King Mustard said:

You have no idea how much I regret going with Plusnet.

And we're 1 month into an 18-month contract :(

damn man. Might be worth breaking it if you can find a better service. A few hundred is a good price to pay for peace of mind and unlimited bandwidth.... at least to me it would be.

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_dandy_

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  On 11/10/2012 at 21:14, King Mustard said:

I have disabled Windows Update on my PC and my parent's laptop.

You need to figure out where your bandwidth is going. Patches for two computers don't amount anywhere near your 250GB cap, or even the extra 5GB you bought. Are you using bittorrent, Netflix or other streaming video services?

How much bandwidth will those two machines of yours be unknowingly burning through when they have crapware installed on them, because the fixes for long-known exploits still haven't been installed?

Veteran

~Johnny

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I always use Opera Turbo when I'm using data limited connections - might be worth getting everyone on your connection to use a browser or a plugin that does similar compression for a bit, and of course there's always options to just not load images at all if you're getting near the limits, or even just force yourself to browse mobile sites.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

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  On 11/10/2012 at 21:53, _dandy_ said:

You need to figure out where your bandwidth is going. Patches for two computers don't amount anywhere near your 250GB cap, or even the extra 5GB you bought. Are you using bittorrent, Netflix or other streaming video services?

How much bandwidth will those two machines of yours be unknowingly burning through when they have crapware installed on them, because the fixes for long-known exploits still haven't been installed?

The 250 GB is not the issue here. The 5 GB temporary limit is.

The two systems are solid so they're not leaking data via. crapware etc.

As I said, I've asked the 'rents to not stream any videos.

Hopefully the 5 GB will last 7 days - but I highly doubt it.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

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  On 11/10/2012 at 22:00, Brandon said:

74mbps!!!!

WTF SO FAST

But with a 250 GB monthly cap, it's pointless.

Even though I'm only 1 month into a 18 month contract, I'm paying to leave. I don't care if it's ?300 to leave. I've sent them an e-mail to find out the total cost, will know tomorrow.

Grand Master

shakey

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  On 11/10/2012 at 22:01, King Mustard said:

But with a 250 GB monthly cap, it's pointless.

Even though I'm only 1 month into a 18 month contract, I'm paying to leave. I don't care if it's ?300 to leave. I've sent them an e-mail to find out the total cost, will know tomorrow.

I see why you went with them initially... that speed. But ya, good choice on looking for another provider. I wouldn't leave yet until you find one though that is unlimited, or at least has a much higher cap.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

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  On 11/10/2012 at 22:04, shakey said:

I see why you went with them initially... that speed. But ya, good choice on looking for another provider. I wouldn't leave yet until you find one though that is unlimited, or at least has a much higher cap.

The ISP said that even though I was within 30 days of the contract beginning, I can not leave without paying ?400+.

I am checking if legally that's fair. The UK tends to have consumer protection in mind, and in my head, 30 days always seems to be the amount. Then again, I did sign a contract, so I'm now unsure.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

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  On 11/10/2012 at 22:33, xendrome said:

If these are correct, cancellation fee's don't see too bad... http://www.simplifyd...rmination-fees/

I'd ditch them honestly.

They're out of date.

I just called them. I have to pay ?189, and I'd lose the money we put into the Line Rental Saver (we paid around ?120 for the first 12 months) :/

?300 to cancel or deal with a 250 GB cap for 18 months :( No idea.

Grand Master

theyarecomingforyou

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  On 11/10/2012 at 22:40, King Mustard said:
?300 to cancel or deal with a 250 GB cap for 18 months :( No idea.

That's a really bad situation to be in but I couldn't cope with a cap like that. I'd blow through it in no time, just as you have. Not only that but I'd be constantly worried about going over, which just isn't any fun. It's worth checking your legal rights, as there may be a way to minimise or avoid any leaving cost - even if it's a longshot it's better checking it out than forking over that much money unnecessarily.

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Xoligy

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Sry to say but i dont dont see how your using 10 gig a day unless none of you leave the house or your always watching HD videos though i will admit i have no idea on netflix as i do not use there service.

One thing you can do is install this on all the computers and see who is draining the most of the bandwidth http://www.floriangilles.com/software/netspeedmonitor/download/

Another alternative is to see see if you can flash your router with custom firmware: http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index oh and of cause install extensions like adblock plus, no script etc etc. But hitting a 250gig limit is something ive not done in a while and that was only because i downloaded alot.

But personally i dont hit 10gig a day unless im using torrents and even then they can be set ona timer.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

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  On 11/10/2012 at 22:53, theyarecomingforyou said:

That's a really bad situation to be in but I couldn't cope with a cap like that. I'd blow through it in no time, just as you have. Not only that but I'd be constantly worried about going over, which just isn't any fun. It's worth checking your legal rights, as there may be a way to minimise or avoid any leaving cost - even if it's a longshot it's better checking it out than forking over that much money unnecessarily.

I've checked my legal stance, and I can not leave early, There is not a cooling off period once the connection has "gone live" (which was three weeks ago).

I just called and to end, I have to pay ?200, plus I'd lose the ?115 that was paid in one chunk for the line rental.

  On 11/10/2012 at 22:55, Xoligy said:

Sry to say but i dont dont see how your using 10 gig a day unless none of you leave the house or your always watching HD videos though i will admit i have no idea on netflix as i do not use there service.

One thing you can do is install this on all the computers and see who is draining the most of the bandwidth http://www.floriangilles.com/software/netspeedmonitor/download/

Another alternative is to see see if you can flash your router with custom firmware: http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index oh and of cause install extensions like adblock plus, no script etc etc. But hitting a 250gig limit is something ive not done in a while and that was only because i downloaded alot.

But personally i dont hit 10gig a day unless im using torrents and even then they can be set ona timer.

I know what you're saying, I just wish I didn't have to constantly think about how much I am downloading. I find downloading 8 GB a day (which is all I'm entitled to with a 250 GB cap) easy to use.

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