Whirlpool

Well guys the end of the month just officially ticked over for our optus billing period.

For the first day I do nothing, I let the data build up so I have a bit extra for the month ahead.

I sit here watching my usage meter and whats this.

Net Usage Info Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:36:36 PM
'yes' Advantage
: Peak Offpeak
Last Update: 2008-04-01 15:37:14
Usage: 88 / 7000 447 / 14000
MB Remaining: 6912 13553
Time Remaining: 29 d 9 h 29 d
Remaining: 232 MB/d (5 kB/s) 467 MB/d (11 kB/s)
Target Surplus: 19 (1d)
Target Deficit: 38 (0d)

Some how Optus thinks I'm chewing data like it's going out of fashon!. :(

Off peak over night they recon I've used almost half a gig, yet I've done nothing (sleeping).

I'm now 3 hours into peak time and they recon I've used 88 mb yet all I've doen is a little light briwsing and typing on IRC.

What a joke. This has to stop Optus!.

Its bad enough that we have the limits here in Australia, and that you charge so much for so little.

You could at least be honest about it all! :(

Damn, as I type this it's just updated again. :(

Another 8 megs mysteriously gone.

Time to turn the cable modem off and change IP's. See if that helps. :(

I notice this happens every month for me.

.-.-.

.-.-.

Here we go.

I happened to reboot my router last night

WAN - Rx : 3457855/ 0 , Tx : 2583498/ 0

So I have received less then 3.5 Meg's since last night!

What a joke Optus.

I will cycle the cable modem to get a different IP. This usually fixes this. I bet if I were to leave it within the week I would have no data left. :(

.-.-.

Why don't you just leave the modem off or disconnected when not in use?

This has been happening to me to I mysterious downloaded 230 mb while sleeping, I checked my computer for any viruses/spyware and found nothing. This has to stop! I watched 2 low quality 25 second videos and I get 230mb used. If this continues I'm definitely changing isp.

The useage meter is definitely playign up.

Last nite, i went nuts on da downloads so that I could use up my cap. I did this, exceeded the cap and got myself throttled. the useage meter showed this, and I also received the email sayign I had dloaded my entire cap. This was fine. I agree with this.

Then today, i just checked my useage meter for April. I have a mysterious 589 MB downloaded, of which I can only account for about 300Mb, and my March useage history only shows about 5000Mb...which indicates I shouldnt have been throttled last nite...

Looks like it's time to make a few phone calls...

I just called customer service and asked what was the problem, they said it was either program updates or a virus, I told customer service I checked for viruses using 3 antivirus and found nothing and also checked for spyware using 2 spyware program, all they told me was you must have a virus or spam on your system. So it was no help at all.

Wow! I'm not the only one eh?

On the 30th I had used 95% of my on-peak and only 50% off-peak, I had had over 20 GB to download that night to start at 1am. I woke up to find my on-peak at 100% so my off-peak was disabled. The downloads started at 1am (checked the logs on the program) and I didn't download anything from 10pm (when it was at 95%) to 12am. That's about 1 Gig that has been unaccounted for! Do you think Optus did this on purpose so I was denied my off-peak usage?

Something fishy is really going on here.

I HATE Optus. FFS!

Andrew™ writes...

I just called customer service and asked what was the problem, they said it was either program updates or a virus, I told customer service I checked for viruses using 3 antivirus and found nothing and also checked for spyware using 2 spyware program, all they told me was you must have a virus or spam on your system. So it was no help at all.

I've learnt my lesson and I now tell them I switch my computer off (even tho I don't)...whilst I can grant maybe 1MB at most to download whilst the computer is off, any more is simply unexplainable...

No, I don't trust the Optus usage meter at all, it's very inaccurate.

Although it wasn't me that downloaded since I was capped the extra downloads may have been caused by this: forum-replies.cfm?t=947297

So probably most of the extra data is counting to this months downloads even with other people who didn't go on a downloading spree, since they may have been capped.

Even if that's true, why would it only count towards the end of the month? And I'm pretty sure most people didn't get a new modem.

J3d1 writes...

Why don't you just leave the modem off or disconnected when not in use?

I run a network here with two workstation PC's for normal use (one barely gets used as it's dad's and he barely understands the net, in fact he unplugs the network cable until he wants to google something [Funny hey]!!). The other is my PC here.

I also have a Laptop on wifi. spends most of it's time turned off.

And a server that I muck around with asterisk and other things. (spends most of it's time turned off).

But my main router (billion 6404VGP) has an ATA (SIP VoiP) for our phone lines.

So I don't want to turn the cable modem off or we have no phone here.

Now during this data usage period that I've spoken about. All PC's were turned off. And only the router was running.

Sure there will be some residual data for SIP registrations etc. But nothing like the 240+ odd Meg that Optus Usage meter has said has been used during todays peak time. :(

And no there were no phone calls during the time period I monitored also.

All automatic updates are turned off. (I got on top of that ages ago). I always update anything I need to during off peak data time.

I did turn the modem off today for a hour to cycle the IP but I notice I still have the run away data usage problem.

It says I am now 65 Meg over my days quota! And all I've done is a little light browsing. :(

Terrible.

.-.-.

Well, the run away phantom data usage has stopped today.

Its funny how it always happens on the first billing day of the new month. :(

Whats the bet it's some sort of bug with their roll over of the month.

.-.-.

I've tried monitoring the amount of data being transfered across the internet through some 3rd party firmware I installed on one of my routers, and then comparing it to that on netstats. I've found that it consistently adds around 20%-25% to what is reported. ie, you might download 100mb, but its reported on netstats as 120-125mb.

Another problem that has surfaced lately relates to close to real-time updating of netstats. I only noticed this because I checked it at 11:55pm on the last day of the usage month. It was about 50mb off being capped. After midnight I checked the usage history (a summary of the months usage), and it reported that I still had 500mb or so of data allowance that remained for the month.

In the past I've tried to ring up Optus to ask them why there is a discretion between the two, but apparently they can't 'look into it' because of the privacy laws. That sounds like a loophole that they can use in order to violate how they measure data usage.

I just checked my meter and according to optus I have used 1.5 gigs, this month. I have downloaded absolutely nothing in the past three days, except for normal browsing.
I am on the old grandfather 20/40 plan and have been with optus since the year dot.

My used data every month is within 1 gig and has been for many years.
The largest data I have ever used in 1 month is 14 gigs, so how they can have me using 1.5 gig in two days is beyond me.

I've found Optus' usage meter mostly accurate. I've got some overnight spill but that is because of Media Center and Windows Updates, etc.

Ledward writes...

I've found Optus' usage meter mostly accurate. I've got some overnight spill but that is because of Media Center and Windows Updates, etc.

Same. I have never had any issues with the optus usage meter. Well actually for a few days it wasn't displaying the usage. But the readings were all correct. I have been connected for over 2 years.

It's now about 3 hours since my last post and my meter is now showing 1.8 gigs which means according to optus I have used another 300 megs.

Absolutely impossible as I have used the comp for surfing ONLY with not 1 download.

cheeka writes...

I have used the comp for surfing ONLY with not 1 download.

Surfing is downloading... those web pages don't get there on their own :)

Sorry about that, theres no need to be a smart a+++,obviously that is known by everybody, BUT one does NOT use 300 megs just surfing for about 2 hours out of the last 3, NO utube, etc etc, JUST surfing.

Just to add a bit more I have now used another169 megs in the last 1/2 hour, again nothing but surfing.

NOW tell me that is correct smartie.

This probably isn't it but if you have a wireless router and haven't applied adequate encryption maybe your neighbours are "borrowing" your broadband.

OK this is getting ridiculous, I have now used ANOTHER 84 megs since my last post.

As previously stated I have been with optus since the day dot ( my original email is optushome ) and I am NOT a whinger, being pretty well satisfied with the service.

Can smartie bottle of grog PLEASE explain to me HOW for the past umpteen years my habits have not changed and I average about 430 megs a day and now I will be averaging OVER 1 gig per day with no change in computer habits?????

RedRover00,

I am on cable.

cheeka writes...

I have now used ANOTHER 84 megs since my last post.

On what?

Can smartie bottle of grog PLEASE explain to me HOW for the past umpteen years my habits have not changed and I average about 430 megs a day and now I will be averaging OVER 1 gig per day with no change in computer habits?????

Now how am I going to be able to explain what you're downloading?

Unless you can prove otherwise, by monitoring your own downloads/uploads, you're going to have to take what Optus say you're downloading as gospel.

oh, and by the way... no amount of name calling has been able to make me crack in the past, or will now

this is why i use a bandwidth monitor to match quota and watch whats happening on my network

cheeka writes...

Can smartie bottle of grog PLEASE explain to me HOW for the past umpteen years my habits have not changed and I average about 430 megs a day and now I will be averaging OVER 1 gig per day with no change in computer habits?????

Use NetMeter to check how much YOU are downloading. Make sure no-one else is using the internet during this period. Just leave it hanging for a few hours (or overnight) and then compare with the Optus usage meter.

Ledward writes...

NetMeter

personally i prefer to use BWMeter for its ability to monitor the bandwidth for multiple adapters, and Port Explorer to monitor software connections

I've had the reverse.
I got the 80% e-mail on Monday and I log on today and see that it only counted 73% of my cap.

Mine's a little weird too. I start my new billing cycle today and it says:

Data used: 2% (474MB)
Days elapsed: 2% (0 days)
And then it still says: NOTE: You have exceeded your monthly data usage allowance. You are now speed limited until the first day of your next billing period.

I've already started my new billing period!
Billing Period: 04 Apr 08 - 03 May 08

Note: I exceeded my quota last month.

What do you guys think?

cheeka writes...

RedRover00,

I am on cable.

yep me too but I have two computers in different rooms and feed my cable through a wireless router so that both computers have access to the internet

just clarifying what I meant. I remember one time i was in the US with a laptop that had a wireless adapter and frequently being able to find unencrypted wireless networks i could "borrow" so that i could surf without having to pay exhorbitant fees to use the hotel networks.

cheeka writes...

OK this is getting ridiculous, I have now used ANOTHER 84 megs since my last post.

It's takes over a meg of download now just to load the Ninemsn Homepage. Web Pages have come a long way and use fancy flash, etc. You'll be surprised how much data is used by JUST surfing nowadays.

Also, do you visit Myspace? Most members pages have a song on them, how much data is used listening to them?

Not sure about songs, but a 2 minute YouTube clip is about 5-6MB.

Just browsing whirlpool takes up 8mb this is surely optus's doing!

Andrew™ writes...

Just browsing whirlpool takes up 8mb this is surely optus's doing!

well why dont u utilize some monitoring software and provide us with some facts. or is that too easy ?

Trust me, I don't trust that thing one bit, I would prefer a days usage like Internode and Exetel have, it shows you what you use a day.

When the Optus network pings your modem it uses bandwidth, like 50MB a day.

no frills writes...

well why dont u utilize some monitoring software and provide us with some facts. or is that too easy ?

If it's that easy, could you maybe supply us with the facts.

My mobile (N95) shows the amount of data downloaded while a page is loading. I couldn't catch what the total size was for the Whirlpool OptusNet forum page, but at 3/4 of the status bar, it had only downloaded 178kB.

As for the YouTube clip, I detached the clip using a Firefox add-on - UnPlug.

I called Optus Tec Support about a 1 year ago with usage meter issues, and the reply was (the usage meter can be out by as much as 10% to 15%).

After receiving this bit of enlightening information, I take the Usage Meter readings as a guide only.

So how is our usage monitored? Do Optus rely on the usage meter or on something more reliable? It would be unfair for Optus to charge us according to the usage meter, if this were true. Unless they give an additional allowance of 10-15%, factoring in the error.

Martybuzz writes...

If it's that easy, could you maybe supply us with the facts.

NOOOOOOOOOOO !!!! then id have to stop all pc usage and network activity for 24hrs... i wouldnt know what to do with myself. actually it would best be done at the start of the month. ill consider doing it next month

I've noticed this too and I'm generally sick of Optus now - the lack of support and appalling helpfulness; the slow speeds (4mbit on 10mbit cable); the ridiculous price:performance ratio...and yes - the Usage Meter randomly decides to add "bucketloads" of downloaded data occasionally - 2 months in a row it decided to add extremely large amounts of data downloaded to my meter - 9GB the first month and 12GB the second month...I'm only on 12+24GB and we got capped as it counted it...mind you the 9GB and 12GB were apparently downloaded OVERNIGHT! While both my computer; and my family computer were turned off!

I have a theory that when we get capped it's not even "Unlimited downloads" then...I'm pretty sure whatever we download while we are capped is taken from our Peak Usage at the beginning of the next billing month, because I started with about 550MB downloaded of my peak this month, and it happened last time too.

I'm done with Optus.

The meter is definatly highly inaccurate.

I just had another run away data period where a couple of hundred megs's disapeared over a 2 hour period and I wasn't using the computer.

I've looked at everything.

Wireless is secure, and shows no clients.
Automatic updates are turned off.

All that really idles along data wise on my setup is my SIP registrations on the ATA and my IM clients.

There is no way any of that should be hungry on data.

The only sure fire way to stop it is to put the cable modem on standby.

But this isn't what I want from an internet connection.

I have an ATA for my phone line, so I don't want to loose incomming call ability.

I also notice that this problem seems to be creeping as in it's slowly getting worse.

I really do wonder if it's some underhanded scheme to try and push people off old plans. :(
.-.-.

vk4akp writes...

The only sure fire way to stop it is to put the cable modem on standby.

If that fixes your data meter issue, then the runoff usage is definitely on your end. Since the modem itself doesn't download information (if you notice that when you unplug the CAT5 cable from your modem the activity light stops blinking) then any data that's counted is definitely your usage.

No way I trust it...

Once this 24 (urgh) contract is over we'll be moving to the now-attractive Internode ADSL2+.

They are really pathetic when it comes to service; they try to make up for it with credits, but my time/effort is worth more than $60 off the bill!

edit - staying OT: Their usage meter seems to be getting worse. (Just like their plan value!)

vk4akp writes...

The only sure fire way to stop it is to put the cable modem on standby.

Optus count usage at the CMTS.. putting the cable modem on standby doesn't disconnect the modem from the CMTS, but it will stop your computer from accessing the internet.

Ok I agree with all what’s been said but the fact is optus is not going to budge.. I had an ongoing issue with them a year or so ago when all of a sudden I had downloaded 20 odd gbs in a few days from the month starting and it kept happening; mostly taken out of my off peak. Spoke to one of the i.t specialist (lol) who recommend I supply some proof that i hadn t download etc.. Anyways to cut the story short.. yes there is problem with the usage meter and most times because of it and delayed reporting on it we all have to go back to the stone age of connection speeds .. but I don’t think optus really cares. As for mb counting on irc well that’s expected as there is a connection established and all that is said in the channels is considered download essentially..also the use of instant messengers and small things that we all miss as we dwindle on the conspiracy of the usage meter. .Here ends my rant.

I don't know if this is relevant or not....

I came home the other day after leaving my computer on all day and noticed on the network monitor I have running that I was both downloading and uploading approx 15kb/s while nothing was happening. I did a spyware scan with adaware and windows defender (vista user) and both came up clean. The only way I could stop it was to hit the standby button. When I came back online I was back to 0kb/s upload and download. I checked everything that could possibly be downloading i.e win update, virus scanner update and nothing was downloading anything. Needless to say I now leave my modem in standby mode whenever I am not using the computer.

OK, Yes, sorry to be inaccurate.

I must admit, I usually turn the modem off totally to stop the data flow. What I am doing is cycling the IP served to me. I notice that if I don't leave it off long enough I sometimes get the same IP back and I continue to get the data issues.

I have tried just putting it on standby a couple of times but quickly learnt that it makes no difference.

I do have a bit of a theory on this also.

I do wonder if optus guestimates the usage by monitoring or sampling data flow at a given time and then just averages it out over time until the next sample is taken?

The trouble is though depending on demand they may not be able to sample again for some time. I do remember reading somewhere that the usage meter is only updated every so often also and not always at equal intervals.

My firefox net usage meter is set up to check this every 15 minutes and I note that some times it has updated and yet other times it hasn't.

OK now the next thing is that I notice the run away data issue seems to happen often after I have been downloading heavily for short periods.

For example, like many others do, at the last day of the month I try hard to use up the remaining data.

Come midnight the usage meter becomes unavailable as they do their monthly reset. I also stop using the computer. ( My downloads are scheduled using Flash get ).

Yet I wake up the nest morning to find that mysteriously I have some how not only been metered for hundreds of megs of off peak data I have also been metered as using peak time data in the first day of the new month yet peak time hasn't even started yet!.

This continues on, sometimes all day or even for days. I am usually forced to try and cycle the connection for a new IP.

What ever is causing this, it's just not good enough.

They really need to do something about it.

The value for money just isn't there as specially for the newer plans. And comparing it to whats offered over sea's, Australian ISP's are a bad joke. :(

.-.-.

One of my computers (Win XPSP2) was downloading-uploading without a browser open or any other internet connection I could see.

A search for Spy ware, Trojans or Viruses came up blank.

The problem was a Process running called (svchost.exe).

To fix the problem, I checked the windows firewall and found it to be turned off; I turned the firewall back on, problem solved.

The computer was definitely downloading until I turned the firewall back on. I have no idea why.

vk4akp writes...

I do wonder if optus guestimates the usage by monitoring or sampling data flow at a given time and then just averages it out over time until the next sample is taken?

Routers have 'counters' on interfaces, each customer would have an interface on their gateway router (a CMTS for cable customers, an LNS for resale DSL and a BRAS for DSL Direct), and this interface would have associated counters. These counters increment with every bit that travels to or from the subscriber.

There would be no 'guesstimate', especially since now that Optus charge excess fees on some plans.

Jack.Daniels writes...

There would be no 'guesstimate', especially since now that Optus charge excess fees on some plans.

OK, thats interesting to know.

And if thats the case the system sounds infallable?

So I wonder what the go is then.. ???

.-.-.

jb2525 writes...

The computer was definitely downloading until I turned the firewall back on. I have no idea why.

Yea, I've been through everything as well over and over again just in case. Spyware checkers, antivirus scans, Auto updates turned off on everything, and so on.

But the thing is, when the run away data thing gets really bad. I have turned the computers off here totally for hours and even half days and the data still ticks away at a huge rate. Hundreds of megabytes.

Nah, something's not right.

Another thing I have thought about is the possibilty that my IP is being port scanned or Dos'ed.

I have read that there are major pirate networks out there that just systematically scan networks for vulnerabilities and open ports.

I assume this could run the data up as well.

If this is the case the only fix is to turn the system totally off. Which once again disconnects my phone lines. :(

.-.-.

I never realised the problem was so extensive, but I did always think the Optus usage meter over-estimated my usage. I'll check it a bit more thoroughly now.

For those with a WRT54G router, you should be able to monitor your WAN bandwidth (and therefore your uploads/downloads to the modem) on the status page. If those numbers don't match up to what the Optus meter says, you have PROOF they are over-counting your data.

Tenoq writes...

If those numbers don't match up to what the Optus meter says, you have PROOF they are over-counting your data.

Net Usage Info Tuesday, April 08, 2008 3:40:52 PM
'yes' Advantage
: Peak Offpeak
Last Update: 2008-04-08 15:32:44
Usage: 1169 / 7000 2180 / 14000
MB Remaining: 5831 11820
Time Remaining: 22 d 8 h 22 d
Remaining: 257 MB/d (6 kB/s) 537 MB/d (12 kB/s)
Target Surplus: 535 (3d) 1553 (4d)

My Router (Was reset before midnight end of last month)
WAN Rx : 28852040/ 60

Optus 1169 + 2180 = 3349 - my router 2885 = 464 descripency.

As for proof. I honestly don't think they would consider anything proof unfortunatly.

.-.-.

You can go to 192.168.100.1 to restart and "factory reset" your modem.

Factory rests always give you a new IP, and sometimes even manage firmware updates or frequency changes.

I have a 1.6gb discrepancy...

Jack.Daniels writes...

Unless you can prove otherwise, by monitoring your own downloads/uploads, you're going to have to take what Optus say you're downloading as gospel.

Well obviously Optus is wrong. Since I've been in year 11 with a year 12 subject, the homework has stopped me downloading videos and music. I still average over 1GB per day.

This is ridiculous, I don't use the net except for MSN and light browsing.

I've taken my router out for a couple of days and it still happens.

whoops double post

tikalal writes...

This is ridiculous, I don't use the net except for MSN and light browsing.

which monitoring tools are u using ?

Did anyone notice that the usage meter went down just then with some error about the "transaction server".

Weird, i'm having complete opposite results!

Downloaded 6-7gigs this morning, nothing registered at all.

My usage meter has been working fine. I have been switching my computer off every night at about 11pm and switching it on at 7 in the morning. Logging onto the usage meter right away, it shows a total of about 0.4MB used. Have done this for a week now.

Same thing happening, downloaded 10gigs this morning, only registered as 2 gigs. Weird, but i'm not complaining ... :D

0.4MB overnight is probably optus checking your connection to see whats downloaded... Which they then count as your downloads/uploads

I'm just about to re-boot my router because I've lost VOIP registrations for some reason. This is a shame as I wanted to keep track of the data descripency for the full month.

But not to worry.

Router Up time 15 days.

WAN Rx : 5489/ 0

Net Usage Info Wednesday, April 16, 2008 7:27:21 PM
'yes' Advantage
: Peak Offpeak
Last Update: 2008-04-16 19:23:01
Usage: 1949 / 7000 5072 / 14000
MB Remaining: 5051 8928
Time Remaining: 14 d 4 h 14 d
Remaining: 351 MB/d (8 kB/s) 638 MB/d (15 kB/s)
Target Surplus: 1695 (8d) 2394 (6d)

So, 5072 + 1949 = 7021 - 5489 = 1532

So already 1.5 Gig's gone with the Optus Pixies somewhere and I'm only half way through the month! :(

Terrible! :( :( :(
.-.-.

vk4akp writes...

So already 1.5 Gig's gone with the Optus Pixies somewhere and I'm only half way through the month!

like most other users here, u arent supplying us with all the information needed. if ur not willing to monitor ur bandwidth and connections and share the results then ur complaint is invalid. come back when u have some facts

Yup, I know, that's fine with me. Usage meter seems accurate for my account then, apparently. Hopefully it stays that way! Someone was claiming that when Optus pings an account to check for data usage, it takes about 50MB/day... not the case for me.

Provided the usage meter doesn't go up when my modem is disconnected. ( Which I do periodically when I'm near a cap. ) I'm not worried about false entries into the usage.

It's fairly accurate.

Many people do not realise they are infected with bot nets.

Botnets use enormous amounts of usage in UPLOAD, by spaming emails, pinging servers and making connections to irc servers etc. they dont' download much.

Now if upstream doesn't count, then this isn't a reason, so does it?

Is the meter usage problem only to do with Cable users? I seem to have suddenly eaten up my bandwidth and gotten capped when I've barely been using my connection.

I called up and got a guy from an Indian call centre who told me there was no team leader/manager I could talk to during the night shift. Apparently I managed to use up 4GB today, when I didn't download anything.

bambam2 writes...

Same thing happening, downloaded 10gigs this morning, only registered as 2 gigs. Weird, but i'm not complaining ... :D

I have a 20gb discrepancy this month, in my favour :D You seem to be the only other one...

I just worked it out just then, +30gb for me, funny thing didn't even know I downloaded that much till now.. hehe :D

I've also found the usage meter to be quite right (have both Cable & Wireless).

At most only a few megs out most times, probably due to usage when I turn computer on/off during which time I'm unable to record my usage.

My only compliant is the slow update time, the usage meter (at least for my wireless) can sometimes take 2 hours+ to update, if it wasn't for the connection program recording stats I could get in big trouble ($150/gb extra charges ouch).

hell NO!!!
Check out what recently happened to me!! /forum-replies.cfm?t=961910

This is only the third month I rejoined optus (I knew I'd regret it, and I do). I'm the type that can really plan my downloads and in the past, have never gone over any limit, whether I was with previous optus, TPG or iprimus. I just take extra care in my mind as to how much data I have left and how much each file is before I download~ esp towards the end of the month.

So the first month I was back with Optus FEB 2008, I manage to use 19933.92 (20Gig Limit). Pretty good hey.

Towards the end of March, March 29 to be exact, there I knew I had just under 1.4Gig left to download. So I chose to download 10 files of just under 100MB each. I just let the 10 files download, and walked away. When I came back~ Guess what? somehow the 10 files costed me over 1.5Gig and I was over the limit by 130MB! I quickly shut down my comp and decided not to use the net for the next two days till my usage is restored. On March 30, I checked my usage using my mobile phone, and somehow with all the home computers off, we still registered 30MB usage that day. And I just went and pulled the plug on the Modem. Only when the modem is OFF, that's when NO usage data gets registered~

And that's my story how Optus managed to earn an extra $24.00 off me!

Trust OPTUS USAGE METER?? NOT A CHANCE!!!
I now have my mind set on believing that I only have like 18-19GIG of data each month~ yet this still happens /forum-replies.cfm?t=961910

rubystation writes...

I quickly shut down my comp and decided not to use the net for the next two days till my usage is restored. On March 30, I checked my usage using my mobile phone, and somehow with all the home computers off, we still registered 30MB usage that day

yep thats a legitimate complaint. did u call optus about it ?

I've only had the internet connected this afternoon and I've already used 562mb...I'm not sure if this is right (although I looked at Youtube vids and did a few downloads e.g Vista SP 1, Firmware update for my N95 etc also my brother was on his computer too so he would of used some of the usage too)

So would the usage meter be right/accurate? And also what day each month does the usage reset? (on Fusion $99 ADSL2 20GB)

slashrox writes...

I've only had the internet connected this afternoon and I've already used 562mb...I'm not sure if this is right (although I looked at Youtube vids and did a few downloads e.g Vista SP 1, Firmware update for my N95 etc also my brother was on his computer too so he would of used some of the usage too)

VISTA SP1 alone is 450+ meg therefore you would have used this amount !!!

| Damnit | writes...

VISTA SP1 alone is 450+ meg therefore you would have used this amount !!!

You sure about that? I downloaded my Windows updates (which included SP1... I'm pretty sure it did as when I installed the updates after downloading them it said "downloading Vista SP1") and it was around 200-250mb all together. Confusing.

slashrox writes...

You sure about that?

pretty sure, maybe mine has the language pack aswell ? i heard that the full update included some language pack excessive download but I dont usually participate in the automatic updates provided by microsoft.

rubystation writes...

And I just went and pulled the plug on the Modem. Only when the modem is OFF, that's when NO usage data gets registered~

Always been this way, putting the modem into 'standby' only terminates the connection between the modem and computer/router and not with Optus.

Annoying, you just have to remember to 'pull the plug' (I turn power point off, killing the rest of my equipment, including modem) when you aren't using it.

thats what i do :)
but i havent even received my dl meter so yea i wouldnt trust them, ive tried calling them and they just put me on hold for 5 minutes... with their crappy selections of songs.

jojoho writes...

with their crappy selections of songs

loud too hey

I think the problem people encounter is that Optus measure data usage before it reaches your modem. So it includes all information sent to your IP address, requested or not (DDoS etc). This also means you could have your computer turned off and still accrue usage.

This scares me.

We got (made to get) a new cable modem because of changes to the Optus network. Old one was an original Cable Modem 100 (the brick). Worked perfectly for 8 years.

Optus deliver a new Motorola modem to us and say install this. I think it was 4 April 2008 when the old one would no longer work.

We've never had a download limit problem. BUT, in April we had a big download problem. Daily monitoring was required to keep under our limit of 12GB. On day we used 800MB and I still can't work out where all of it went.

After reading this thread, I wonder if it is the new modem or the network changes that have caused havoc?

walton writes...

We got (made to get) a new cable modem because of changes to the Optus network. Old one was an original Cable Modem 100 (the brick). Worked perfectly for 8 years.

/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=Update_Pro

Hmph last week i downloaded the free version of trackmania, its about 600MB, all good, i always thought there was something sus with the download meter as i thought they were charging me for uploads even though on my plan theyre not counted, once the download finished and i checked the usage meter 10 mins later after installing the game i got charged 1.2GB !!! what is with this?

I finally realized what was causing my problems, it wasn't the usage meter it was simply huge windows updates eg, microsoft office 200 mb update etc.

This is whats a load of BULL

Just got my internet last night, not knowing what plan i was on because my mum set it up (I know, not a good idea) I checked my usage.

Just 20 minutes into my cycle, (85% days used) i was on 250mb, what the?

samcm writes...

Just 20 minutes into my cycle, (85% days used) i was on 250mb, what the?

It's the 29th of May out of 31 days...sounds about right

I think he meant the modem had been plugged in for 20 minutes and had recorded 250MB of usage.

There is about 5GB of unaccountable usage in may. (netlimiter on all the computers, with WPA wifi)

1 day elapsed, i downloaded a 700meg torrent last night... download is at 1.5 gigs... right....

At last, I'm not alone, hooray.

My useage meter ticks over faster than a $1.60/lit fuel bowser, and does it when the computer is shut down.

I will admit to have never turned off the modem in maybe 8 years or so, it works fine but the computer has to be running to receive and send data, or there are aliens inside the modem ?

So I did a sly test, I'll catch the lil green buggers and turned off the system and also the modem and went so far to pull the plug, guess what, same same, the data just dissapears and I certainly aint using it, so as I don't beleive in lil green men it's a real good chance the Optus usega meter is well and truely broken, NBG, RS, stuffed, you get the idea.

Problem is that optus don't get it, their software is perfect, their hardware never fails, must be why some poor elderly pensioner couple in Tassie copped a monthly phone bill marked into several millions, now just who are you kidding Mr Optus, or is this meter just a meter in name only, yeah, your name ! coz it's not my data your counting.

digisol writes...

must be why some poor elderly pensioner couple in Tassie copped a monthly phone bill marked into several millions

Do you have a news link for that?

shkip writes...

1 day elapsed, i downloaded a 700meg torrent last night... download is at 1.5 gigs... right....

That sounds about right for a fusion plan? Uploads and downloads counted + a bit extra for torrenting.

i was downloading some stuff on the last day of april – about 10 minutes before midnight i stopped downloading. next morning i had 400mb used on my account.

have the same thing at the folks house – if they haven't gone over the limit by midnight it will reset at midnight on the dot. if they are capped they wont reset until later in the morning.

digisol writes...

but the computer has to be running to receive and send data, or there are aliens inside the modem ?

Sorry, but wrong.

Unless the modem is powered down, it is receiving data, regardless of the state of the computer or the standby button on the modem.

shkip writes...

1 day elapsed, i downloaded a 700meg torrent last night... download is at 1.5 gigs... right....
Optus is counting it as double for me....

shkip writes...

1 day elapsed, i downloaded a 700meg torrent last night... download is at 1.5 gigs... right....

Torrents are a notoriously bad way of calculating downloads as they only count good packets and any they have to discard as crappy wont get counted.

And if you on a fusion plan, any uploads are also counted.

That could explain the extra usage?

Evan writes...

digisol writes...

but the computer has to be running to receive and send data, or there are aliens inside the modem ?

Sorry, but wrong.

Unless the modem is powered down, it is receiving data, regardless of the state of the computer or the standby butt

Last night I averaged the data hitting the wan port of my router while the rest of the network was inactive. I measured the data (port scans, pings hack attempts etc) for an hour. I then worked out how much unsolicited data would be counted by optus as usage over the course of a full 31 days.

It came to about 2.9G ... thats a big slice of the quota for some plans.

If you are on a small cap plan, I suggest logging into your router or modem and releasing the ip obtained with dhcp then switching off the modem while its not inuse.

Dave_1901 writes...

then switching off the modem while its not inuse.

+1. I've advised my parents who are newbies at this cable internet thingy to do just that.

Especially as they are on a fusion plan which doesn't cap but charges :(

We have been charged for excess usage on Optus Cable. How much heed do we pay to the 80%, 90 and 100% warnings then? Just how inaccurate is it? We're still being quite accurately billed for excess.

The way optus charge is a bit of joke.
But hey guess what if you are on the internet, if your modem is turned on or not, someone can still address packets to you and chew up your download. Also the GB limit is GB on the multilines, which has about 10bits per byte, which is why modems counting the data typically end up 25% out.

DanD writes...

Also the GB limit is GB on the multilines, which has about 10bits per byte, which is why modems counting the data typically end up 25% out.

Ok, first off multiline is an Optus Business product name for one of their phone services, it's the same as an OnRamp service that Telstra offers. Both are voice so neither a Multiline nor an OnRamp has any data usage limits.

And secondly, there is not 10bits per byte (not by telecoms standards anyway), the excess is covered in overheads such as addressing, CRC, etc, which is standard to how networks work. It is not shoving more bits in somewhere that they can't go.

Tezmyster writes...

Ok, first off multiline is an Optus Business product name for one of their phone services, it's the same as an OnRamp service that Telstra offers. Both are voice so neither a Multiline nor an OnRamp has any data usage limits.

Um actually half of your statement is only correct.

It is not only just voice, as it infact a single 64k channel for data, but since i worked there, there was infact a discussion on whether they would make it available to customers. This was over 3 years ago. I dont know if it has. Couldnt even care less because it was going practically useless anyway. Secondly i think Optus would much prefer it to be called an alternative digital service to the Onramp service that Telstra provide. Not the same product.

Couldnt imagine an organisation of 100+ people sharing 1x 64k channel for data, unless it was used for redundancy for mission critical systems.

I believe there is a difference.

Ballzieee writes...

I believe there is a difference.

I think Telstra have moved away from the OnRamp product name anyway by the looks of things, rather they now have a family of ISDN products that clarify what their respective purposes are. The one smilar to Optus Multiline is Telstra's ISDN10/20/30.

Obviously both have different products that are more data focussed, but the earlier poster named Multiline (although I suspect this isn't what they meant to refer to).

TicTacToe writes...

think Telstra have moved away from the OnRamp product name

Yes but I believe it still appears on some bills.

Ballzieee writes...

It is not only just voice, as it infact a single 64k channel for data, but since i worked there, there was infact a discussion on whether they would make it available to customers. This was over 3 years ago. I dont know if it has. Couldnt even care less because it was going practically useless anyway. Secondly i think Optus would much prefer it to be called an alternative digital service to the Onramp service that Telstra provide. Not the same product.

Yeah, true, but the 64k channels go straight back to the DMS so they would either have to be split off or used for a modem service,. I know there was talk of multiplexing them for video conferencing but that was a while ago now, and seems pretty pointless considering a data service would do the same thing much easier.

TicTacToe writes...

I think Telstra have moved away from the OnRamp product name anyway by the looks of things, rather they now have a family of ISDN products that clarify what their respective purposes are. The one smilar to Optus Multiline is Telstra's ISDN10/20/30.

Yep, that's the one I meant, I'm not up to date with the "new and improved" Telstra product names ;-)

They may have notified staff of the fact the usage meter was inaccurate in EHB. That way no-one will ever find it, or know about it. Anyone who's ever worked for Optus will know what a nightmare EHB can be to find something in.

Tezmyster writes...

because it hasn't been announced as a problem by the company nor is it evident as being a problem

Yes it has.....

I know there was talk of multiplexing them for video conferencing but that was a while ago now

hehe. Unfortunately for Optus, the standard Telstra ISDN2 @128k was confirmed to still be the better alternative for video conferencinig :-(

hasher22 writes...

Yes it has.....

Only thing listed on the service status page for both DSL and Cable is regarding hoax emails, do you have a linky for where Optus advised of a usage meter prob