Free bandwidth usage tracker?

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 23 Jul 2005, 12:17

Hi everyone.

I am looking for a little program that I could run in my task bar along with my Internet connection that would keep track of my upload & download usage. I need one that will keep counting from where it left off so that when I disconnect at the end of the night, it will keep those values and start counting again from there when I reconnect the next day.

Is there such a program out there? I want to keep track of exactly how much bandwidth I'm using so that I can figure out which broadband package I should go for...

I'm already on broadband at the moment at 512/256kbs uncapped, but I want to move to Tiscali but their options are all capped. So what I want to do is measure my usage for the next month with my current ISP so I can work out the best package to go for with Tiscali.

Does anyone know of a (non-ISP-specific) program that will do what I ask?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jul 2005, 13:38

Firstly I'd be surprised if Tiscali don't offer such a program.

My Mum is on Tiscali but seeing as she never remotely gets near the 30Gb limit I can't be bothered to track down the program.

Secondly why on earth do you want to go capped when you can get uncapped services for the same price? The likes of Tiscali are only recommended for newbies and then only those who can see the initial cost and not the long term savings.

Try these:

http://www.efhbroadband.com/freedom.asp
http://www.adsl4less.co.uk/cheapest-broadband.htm

Both don't include the setup fee or modem but you've already paid your setup fee with your current ISP so only need to pay £15 to migrate and the modem is yours from your current ISP anyway.

It will only cost you £15 to migrate and you'll keep your uncapped service. Both Tiscali, ADSL4Less and EFH Broadband are £15 a month, the difference is Tiscali cap you.

A 30Gb cap is very good but IMO a cap is a cap!

For newbies these deals are actually still better, remember after your first year it will work out much cheaper than paying £20 a month for other uncapped 512Kbps packages which include the setup fee and modem.

I'm with EFH Broadband and find them fantastic. Their customer services are excellent. Their telephone support stops at 17:30 but if you e-mail them they'll reply any time of the night (I had a reply gone midnight once).

For newbies you could do what I did (but probably wouldn't bother now) which is to go with the £20 deals for a year and then migrate to one of the above which will work out the cheapest as you've already paid the setup fee and the modem from your ISP is yours to keep.

I tried for 6 months to convince my Mum in the long term these deals are better (capped = yuck) but gave up in the end. As she couldn't see the sense of paying £80 initial cost, even for uncapped.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 23 Jul 2005, 13:39

Nevermind people, I posted the same question on the AV Forums and some kind person responded with a link to a great little utility:

http://readerror.gmxhome.de/

This program is completely free and it is great for tracking your bandwidth usage!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jul 2005, 13:40

What ISP are you currently with? How much do you pay a month for an uncapped service?

IronMonkey wrote:This program is completely free and it is great for tracking your bandwidth usage!

Like I said why bother run the risk and even why bother when you don't have to?

Like I said I'm with EFH Broadband and highly recommend them (actually not heard anything bad about them just lots of praise) but I also hear ADSL4Less are good.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 23 Jul 2005, 13:48

Thanks for your advice bradavon but I'm going to go with Tiscali because they offer 100MB free Web space. It doesn't look like either of the providers you listed offer any Web space at all.

I am moving from my current Broadband provider (F1 Internet) because I am currently paying £19.95 a month for 512kbps uncapped, which is expensive.

The far cheaper option for me is to go with Tiscali's £14.99 a month 512kbps capped at 30GB. I downloaded the usage meter so that I can see exactly how much I am using at the moment. I don't think I'm near 30GB (in fact I probably don't go over 20-25GB on average) so that's why I want to go capped.

That way its just cheaper Internet access for me. Plus I will get the added benefit of 100MB Webspace which I can use to relaunch my long-dead Website which I have missed updating.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jul 2005, 14:15

IronMonkey wrote:Thanks for your advice bradavon but I'm going to go with Tiscali because they offer 100MB free Web space. It doesn't look like either of the providers you listed offer any Web space at all.

Nope. They're no frills services.

100Mb is nothing. I'm paying £25 a year (yes a year) for 2Gb. I'll let you know the details if you're interested?

I'm actually only using 170Mb of it but 100Mb wouldn't be enough. The company who provide me with my web space are very well known and like EFH BB have had nothing but praise.

That way its just cheaper Internet access for me. Plus I will get the added benefit of 100MB Webspace which I can use to relaunch my long-dead Website which I have missed updating.

How so if it's the same price and you don't have to ever worry about going over the 30Gb limit? You could pay the same as Tiscali and keep your uncapped service.

It sounds like you'd prefer Tiscali for the 100Mb webspace. For £25 a year you could get 20 times that.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jul 2005, 14:17

I forgot to add Tiscali only offer a 12 month contract. So if they suck you're stuck

EFH Broadband is only a 3 month contract and ADSL4Less it's only a month.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 23 Jul 2005, 16:29

Tiscali don't suck. I have friends that use their Broadband services & we use it at work too.

I have absolutely no use for 2GB of Webspace so I see no point in paying more for it. My whole site only takes up 10MB - I know how to compress images & keep file sizes down.

Also, I'm not bothered about a 12 month contract. I don't feel like changing ISP every few months!

I would rather go with a well-known ISP that I have had personal experience with for my own piece of mind...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jul 2005, 17:04

I agree Tiscali don't suck but then again for many neither did Splash DVD or DVD Soon