Download limits on Broadband! I thought I'd been frugal!

[nellypope]

I have a limited download allowance with BT broadband! Most months I stay within that limit, but now and then I have gone over that limit, but I can absolutely guarantee that nothing has been downloaded, music etc. The helpdesk said that normal everyday browsing counts towards the limit, is that right? Does YouTube, iplayer or similar also count? 

[4candles]

Er, yes, everything, including uploading with most ISPs.

[gingejbee]

Sorry nelly, but everything that you see or hear via the internet HAS been downloaded!

[VHG]

Every single thing you look at on the internet is downloaded to your PC before you can look at it.

Every bit of text, every picture/image, every bit of music, every bit of video (YouTube, iPlayer etc).

Text is very small in download terms, images a bit more, but what really eats up the download is video (YouTube, iplayer).

You could probably download thousands of bits of text and images, and that would be less size than about 10 seconds of video.

So it all counts towards your download limit.

[looobylooo]

excuse me for chirping in,
but does aol have a limit on downloads do you know, please? as im forever looking at this that and tother online!
(i pay £12.99 a month, if i remember correctly)

[nellypope]

Thanks people! I guess some recession style rationing needs to implemented! I think I can cope limiting my access but my 2 year old loves the CBeebies website . . . There could be tears!! ;-)

[4candles]

@looobylooo

Their current offerings appear to be limited to 10GB

http://www.aolbroadba...mparing-packages.html

but you may be on a legacy package which has more. Why not ask them?

[craft1948]

I told BT I was thinking of changing my ISP...........I now have unlimited downloads.

[looobylooo]

thanks ever so for replying 4candles, cheers!

is 10gb a fair amount to have?

and yes, i might just give them a call.

[4candles]

@looobylooo

10GB is ample for browsing, email and radio streaming. The more you stream or download video or other large files/software, the more likely you'll need a larger allowance.

[looobylooo]

thanks again 4candles for replying :o)

[Wak]

There's a small FREE program which measures everything you download no matter whether it's surfing or music, etc,.
It's called Bitmeter from
http://codebox.org.uk
and can list it as a daily, weekly or monthly record.
I've used it and it works very well.

[looobylooo]

oooh thats handy, wak .. i will take a look at it, thanks :o)