What Does 10Gb Give You?

[chrissa1]

I don't download any films or programmes and just use BB for surfing the web, AB and emails?
BT has added £10 this month which I have queried and got the £10 taken off the bill. Thanks.

[VHG]

You don't explain the situation very well.

What is the 10Gb figure (you don't say)?

Is that what you are allowed to download per month, or is it what you DID download (or BT say you downloaded)?

And what did BT add the £10 for (you don't say)?

We are not mind readers, we need to know the right information before we can answer.

[chrissa1]

Please, sir, sorry, sir. ;)

I thought when I joined BT, worst decisions for years, that my BB was unlimited. I have apparently gone over my allowance and every time I do this! they want to charge me an extra £10. I have been using Bb since time immemorial and have never incurred charges.

Never having been charged extra before, I just want to know what I am doing wrong. Their BB usage App is not working at the moment.

[VHG]

Let's assume the 10Gb is what BT say you can download every month.

Well if all you ever do is surf the web, email and AB then I doubt you would download 10Gb a month.

However remembers EVERYTHING you look at on the internet is downloaded to your computer first, and while text will be very small in download terms, video can be huge.

So if you watch a lot of programs or videos on the computer (like on the BBC iPlayer or on YouTube) that will all count to your download.

Also EVERY device connected to your broadband router will download things.

This include smartphones, tablets, things like a Sky broadband box (or similar device) and so on.

Do you have other devices that connect to your broadband?

Also note that things like Windows updates (and other software updates) all count towards your download amount. For example the latest Windows 8.1 update is about 3Gb so if you download that you will use a third of your allowance in one go.

[VHG]

>>>I thought when I joined BT, worst decisions for years, that my BB was unlimited.

You need to check with them what your monthly allowance is.

If you have gone over your allowance then it seems your are NOT on unlimited.

Check the paperwork that came with your broadband order to see what it says.

[VHG]

Do you have a wi fi router?

If so is it protected (do you have a password on it)?

If not then anyone who lives nearby can connect to your broadband router and download files to THEIR computer, and you are paying for it.

You can check this by displaying a list of all the nearby wi fi routers and see if yours says it is protected, or if it says it has no protection (unsecured).

Here is a screen shots showing a list of wi fi routers, and you can see the first two are unsecured.

http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/20080511/free.public.wifi.png

[chrissa1]

Ahh, that makes sense, VHG. My daughter has just left home and I guess her IPhone would have taken up some gigs?

I have BT Vision upstairs which is plugged into the router. if I go back to a scart lead, would that help?

I'll stop downloading updates too. Thanks VHG.

[VHG]

I don't have BT Vision myself but if BT Vision is plugged into the router it probably gives you some "catch up" services so if you disconnect that you may lose that service.

Also don't stop downloading software updates as they often fix important security issues so it is important to keep downloading them.

I think as more and more things are connected to our broadband routers it is probably worth perhaps increasing your 10Gb limit to the next level up and paying a bit more money.

Far better that than to lose things you may already be using (like catch up), or to stop downloading software updates as they are important.

[chrissa1]

On my IPad, my wifi has a little padlock next to it so I guess! it [is] protected. I rarely use Catch Up as I don't really miss programmes. What a sad life I lead. Ha. Thanks again, VHG.

[VHG]

Yes I think if you have a padlock it is protected.