How Much Data Do You Use Each Month?

[Gromit]

At the moment I have unlimited broadband data useage, so I have no idea of my monthy consumption. I am with BT. I don't think I am able to view anywhere my data use.
I am tempted to move provider because BT offer a poor service and are expensive. I would say I am a heavy user of the internet. I listen to streamed audio (podcast/iTunes) and some TV.
How much data am I likely to be using?

[murraymints]

most providers offer unlimited useage so does it matter ?

[Gromit]

It matters if I am paying for unlimited but don't need it.

[murraymints]

if you stream tv /radio..you need it !

[murraymints]

BT is one of the most expensive providers..shop around..I have a package for unlimited broadband and home phone with anytime calls ..a lot of overseas calls and 1000 mins to any mobile any network for £29 a month ..EE

[Gromit]

I am going to shop around, which is why it would be useful to know if I am using 5Gb or 50Gb.

Just looked at my bill on-line and there is a button for broadband usage, but when I press it, it says I have unlimited, so it won't tell me.

[murraymints]

maybe Chris/Buenchico can help with technicalities of finding out..he'll be sleeping now..bit of a night owl...will send him here if I see him later

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on what "update" patch MS is sending everywhere that month. And if it actually installs or wants to download it again and again and again and again and again and again...........

[Gromit]

Just looking at audio streaming costs. It depends on the bit quality, but 4 hours of radio a day x 30 days should be well under 2Gb a month.
5 hours of web browsing (100Mb) x 30 days is 3Gb a month.

[Old_Geezer]

Neither my nor my woman's broadband is so called "unlimited" (save for any unfair limitation clause). MS has been known to put us over the monthly limit as they presumably don't give a darn as long as they are in control.

Now-a-days I tend to not watch video clips so often. I used 29G in a recent month, Usually under 25G, but I'm unsure how much under.

[Old_Geezer]

I see I have a usage webpage hosted by my supplier. It seems usually between 17 and 18G a month. Mostly to AB.

[Birdfeeder]

I am with BT and on their web site there is a broadband monitor button to tell you how much you are using. you just log into your account and scroll down to find "Broadband usage"

[Gromit]

Birdfeeder,
As I mentioned earlier. Because I have an unlimited package, they won't tell me. I click on it, and it says I don't have to worry about how much data I've used.

[Gromit]

Old Geezer,
I am Mac an iOS based, so I have none of that Micrcosoft updates problem.

[jno]

I know nothing about this personally, so apologies if this is all rubbish, but it mentions a couple of free usage monitors

http://www.choose.net/media/guide/features/monitor-broadband-usage-data.html

[chrissa1]

I'm with BT, too and have unlimited bb. What do you mean by "expensive," Gromit?

My bb, phone and Youview costs me about £40/month.

[HansUrbancka]

BT is my ISP and, like chrissa1, I Do Not consider it expensive. Unlimited Standard Broadband, Telephone Line Rental and All Calls of up to 1hr's duration are Free. Total cost per month £49.59p. per month.

Be careful about changing Provider because, unless you have Virgin or Sky cables in your area, all Land Lines have to pass through BT Telephone Exchanges and it's Not always easy to get BT to attend to faults which are deemed to be with other companies. A neighbour of mine was with Talk Talk and BT would Not to listen to him, although TT was insistent that there was a fault on a BT Landline. The attitude of BT was that it was a matter for TT to sort-out with it's Customer.

Incidentally, what is the actual poor service which you are getting ?.

Hans.

[Old_Geezer]

Couldn't get those to work jno. tbb meter doesn't seem to be Windows 10 compatible as it's screen is always blank (0 bytes). Bit meter needs a browser to connect to http://localhost:2605/ which it spectacularly fails to do. Nice try though. Would have been interesting.

Your arrangement is dearer than mine chrissa. BT is suggesting I switch to unlimited but the "from" price they quote is lower than the limited quota price I'm presently paying. But what annoys me is that it is near impossible to confirm they won't be insisting on DD but would continue to send the quarterly bill. Why would I stick with them at all if they insisted on DD ? (I think they must not volunteer that information deliberately so folk are not immediately put off.)

[Gromit]

I am paying £50 a month including line
They do 12Gb for £25 am month including line.

If I can halve my bill, I will do. But it is proving impossible to find out if I use less than 12Gb. Just been on the phone to BTs Indian gentleman who told me I had used 0.05Gb on average over the last 3 months, which is clearly gibberish.

[Old_Geezer]

You indicate one reason why one would not stay with BT unless there was a benefit one doesn't seem to get elsewhere.

[chrissa1]

Surely every provider has to use a BT line, whoever you're with. I went "unlimited" for peace of mind, especially when my daughter and son-in-law come to stay.