Please explain something to me....

[Big Muddy]

Dishnet Internet is the only service available in our neck of the woods, since they bought out Hughes Internet.

So, they pretty much have me by my balls.

I am allocated 10 GB of usage each month, and I can view a chart of usage on my account page, anytime.

I always thought "download" meant viewing a video, downloading pictures, or stuff like that. Does it also include my viewing time here at GH or other sites?

And, I thought "uploading" meant when I actually sent videos, pics, etc. to other people. Does it actually include posts that I make on GH and other sites?

Am I wrong about this???

If so, please explain to me and give me examples of both download and upload because I nearly exceed my "upload" allowance each month, but never exceed my "download" allowance.

Reason I'm asking is that if I exceed my 10 GB allowance before the end of the month, Dishnet reduces my speed to almost dial-up level....maybe I can reduce my usage, if I know better what to do and not to do on my pc.

Thanks.

[Niner]

Ed, I do not know the answer. When you find out, please post here, as I have been seeing their adverts and wondering about this service.

[Big Muddy]

Sunny, the Dishnet service is only for my home pc, and yes, we have Wi-Fi and a router.

Our cell phones are CSpire, formerly CellSouth, and totally separate from our Dishnet service....our cell phones have unlimited call and internet service.



Niner, I really like the Dishnet service....it's not dsl, but still good for country folks....that is, until I exceed my monthly bandwidth allowance, which has only happened a few times over the past 4 or 5 years....most recently, this month.

I was just wondering how I could avoid exceeding it in the future.

[Buckrub]

I don't know, Ed. I'm interested in what you find out.

This is similar to my beef with cell phones. You can see each individual "hit" for web services on your account online, but it's almost impossible to know exactly what your phone is doing to cause that hit. In other words, who is the culprit? Hard to figure it out.

Automatic updates to apps was killing me, and I had to turn it off. Now there is a setting "only update when WiFi is ON, then update automatically".....which is good.

It seems that these Satellite ISP's would have an "All you can eat" package, though............

[Big Muddy]

I don't know, Ed. I'm interested in what you find out.

This is similar to my beef with cell phones. You can see each individual "hit" for web services on your account online, but it's almost impossible to know exactly what your phone is doing to cause that hit. In other words, who is the culprit? Hard to figure it out.

Automatic updates to apps was killing me, and I had to turn it off. Now there is a setting "only update when WiFi is ON, then update automatically".....which is good.

It seems that these Satellite ISP's would have an "All you can eat" package, though............



So, you can't get a phone with unlimited nationwide calling, texting, internet, etc., etc.???....you guys and my wifey talked me in to mine, and I love it....$59.95 per month.

And, with your chirren and grandchirren scattered all over the country, I'm sure you prolly need those features a lot more than I do.

[Buckrub]

I can get it, I can't get it for that price. I have the Data Share plan.......me and wife on it.......4GB......more than I use, but that's new.......I haven't had it long, and had the small data plan before that. However, talk and text are both unlimited. With my home phone bundled into that, my dang phone bill is now over $200 a month. Not sure who gives you unlimited data (internet, email) for $60 a month, but I don't know of such a plan by anyone. That's awesome. NEVER change that even if they beg you to.

[Big Muddy]

That's a routine plan offering down here for CSpire....and, wifey and I don't data share, either.

One correction, however, I stated incorrectly....my nationwide calling is limited to 500 minutes per month....however, I make my conversations brief, and I rarely exceed 300 minutes....wifey's plan is unlimited....she'll talk to a day'um fence post. ;)

[Buckrub]

I had that type plan till wife got the Note II phone, and we switched to the Data Share. Those plans, they are selling data and GIVING away talk and text, both are unlimited.

I still can't believe you have unlimited data for that price. That's awesome.

And yeah, my wife almost NEVER exceeds 1,440 minutes per day talking to the kids.

[Big Muddy]

Sunny, I NEVER listen to ANY music, unless it's coming from my truck fm/am radio.

I don't quite understand your wifi statement....I've got a router connected to my home pc....so, how is that going to reduce my bandwidth usage on my home pc???....the home pc is where I want to reduce my usage.

[LJ3]

Most of those agreements are pretty simple in theory. Download is any network packet (the vehicle used to deliver information to you computer) that is from the internet, to your PC or other devices. Upload is the other way, from your PC to the internet. Surfing sites like ours is very light traffic. Downloading or uploading video content or music is moving much bigger amounts of data.

The measurement they use is the amount of data actually received or transmitted, in theory.

[Captain]

Sunny, your blondeness is showing again... The ONLY Internet service he has comes IN from a satellite. He hooks up wifi (router) to that IN source. So everything that hooks on to his wifi is using data coming through his satellite, and there is a limit on the service.
He don't have another wifi source (land phone line, cable service etc) to use.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Buckrub]

Sunny, WiFi makes WIRELESS data transmission 'free', or not charged or counted.........but it is still WiFi. Most folks don't pay for usage on their ISP, but satellite users do. They are not like the rest. They are limited to amount of data. Your ISP (and mine) is not limited.

Don't confuse the Wireless (phone) data usage and the main ISP for your laptop or main computer.

[LJ3]

I thought wireless had no wires or anything and you could like, use the air for free and stuff? How can you charge for something invisible in the air?

[Big Muddy]

EXACTLY, CAP....an excellent explanation....I was wondering what she meant because everything that goes thru my Dishnet service is bandwidth usage....it doesn't matter whether the usage goes thru the router, or directly to my home pc.


And, Len, my upload usage is what I don't understand....upload usage is what Dish says that I use the most of....I VERY rarely send videos, pics, and NEVER any music....the download usage, which I have never exceeded, I can come nearer understanding because I do watch video clips and links....but, rarely ever send any out.

Hence, my initial question about what all is deemed to be classified as "uploading"???.

I must be uploading some sheeit that I don't realize is classified as uploading.

[Buckrub]

When you catch it, dufe.

[Hombre]

Eddie,

Yes whether your on a site of down loading a movie you are pulling bits that are adding to your usage. When you post you are uploading and going to a page downloading. As LJ said above going to this site should be nominal and I wouldn't worry about that. I would consider videos like youtube and others, they will have the most effect. Other things you can think about: Unplug your modem when offline, this is incase you have any background apps running. Email, Messaging, etc...they will pole the network and cause uneeded data usage. Second, make sure you computer is set up to ask you for automatic updates. If its end of the month you might want to delay a download (Virus scanning updates or Windows. Third, quit watching so much porn. Honestly number 3 will probably fix all your problems :D.

The other question I'd have for your provider is: If they are going to throttle you is there an intermediary throttling that could happen. So if your at 5Mb down and you hit 8Gb can they take you to 2Mb down, rather than waiting for the 10Gb and going to a 56K?

[Big Muddy]

Hombre, VERY good info. and explanation....and, they DO start throttling me when I reach 70% of the bandwidth allowance....it's barely noticeable, UNTIL I reach 100%....then, it's like dial-up, plus infinity!!!

;) As far as the porn-watching, when you've seen one pink coochie, you've seen 'em all. ;)

However, since you mentioned it, a few of months ago, grandson and an older buddy of his stayed with us over the weekend....later, when I found out and confronted my grandson, he told me his buddy logged onto my router, and watched ONE porny video.

Boys will be boys, so I dismissed it, until later that month, when Dishnet sent me an email, stating that my usage allowance had been exceeded by 146%!!!....I'd say the kid watched more than ONE video!!! ;)

[Egghead]

BM, perhaps the terms "upload" and "download" are referring to the provider's standpoint vs. yours. In other words, as seen from the provider's standpoint, anything you send to the internet might be seen as a download from you through them to the internet and anything you get from the internet might be seen as an upload to your network. I've seen this when viewing client's bandwidth information...

[Buckrub]

Uh Oh EGGGGG. He can't live without YouTube funnies!

Ed.....belly up to the Bank, man.

[Big Muddy]

Hadn't thought of it like that, Egg....makes sense, too.

[Buckrub]

Sunny, he has a land line. But it isn't used for Internet connection..........if it were, he'd be on Dial Up (too slow). Here's what he has:

- Landline phone, used to talk to humanoids only. Only voice.
- Wireless phone (has talk, text, and internet connection for the phone, but is not used for his desktop computer)
- Satellite connection for internet for his desktop computer. This is his "wifi" connection to his ISP via router.

[Big Muddy]

Sunny, he has a land line. But it isn't used for Internet connection..........if it were, he'd be on Dial Up (too slow). Here's what he has:

- Landline phone, used to talk to humanoids only. Only voice.
- Wireless phone (has talk, text, and internet connection for the phone, but is not used for his desktop computer)
- Satellite connection for internet for his desktop computer. This is his "wifi" connection to his ISP via router.


BINGO----GIVE THAT MAN A CEEGAR!!!

Hey, wait a minute, dude....you been snooping around in my house, again??? ;)

[Buckrub]

No........but may come by there around end of August......... you're on notice.

[Big Muddy]

No........but may come by there around end of August......... you're on notice.

Promises, promises....we've been down this logging road before....I still think you musta smelled the boilt peanuts and chittlin's cooking, and decided to skip out. ;)

[Niner]

Did I read on here that you have unlimited data, Ed?
if so...and if your phone is capable...you might be able to turn your phone into a wifi hotspot, and surf that way.

[Buckrub]

Without 4G LTE, he'd be limited highly on speed..........

[Big Muddy]

Yep, Niner, unlimited data, and I've got the hotspot capability on my iphone, but how is that going to help me reduce the bandwidth usage on my home pc???

[Buckrub]

BM, if you did it that way, you'd be using wireless connection to internet, NOT your ISP connection. He isn't saying connect your phone to your router wirelessly. He's saying use your WIRELESS cell phone provider's service to connect to internet, and then use a Smartphone as a WiFi hotspot and connect your home computer to that.

That works, and it solves your usage-based billing issues, but without 4G LTE (which you ain't gonna get for many years out there), you'll be really slow that way.

[Thumper]

As far as the porn-watching, when you've seen one pink coochie, you've seen 'em all.


Ummmm .... NO! I'd have to disagree with that statement so far! I wanna see 'em ALL before I make that determination. :D

[Buckrub]

This is scary. Ninth time I've agreed with Thump this summer.

:notworthy

[Hombre]

BM - Thinking of it a little more. It makes no sense that the upload would be higher than your down load. Are you uploading videos, pics, regularly, and more, than you are watching them? Also, is anyone playing on-line video games? Multi-player games will be more even with upload / download usage they are updating environments around the player but relaying the player actions up. Other thing could be if you don't have a secure WIFI connection.

[Buckrub]

Sunny, listen. read!

Here's what you said:

What I'm trying to say is if he has unlimited house phone connection, with internet access, he can hook his wifi to his house server.

He does NOT HAVE INTERNET CONNECTION through his home phone line. None. Zero. Nada. the ONLY internet connections he has are A) through his satellite provider and B) through his wireless phone.

[Big Muddy]

Hombre, the answers are no, no, and no....no uploading videos, no video games, no unsecure wifi connection....I can't figure it out, either.

[Big Muddy]

Sunny, what sorta cell booster are you referring to???....I need one at the lakehouse.

[Big Muddy]

Is it specifically designed for Att phones or will it work on other phones, as well???
What's the price???

[Niner]

Sunny, I am intrigued by that device!
IF Verizon has a dealie like that I would be VERY interested in getting one.

At The Farm, I have a couple of bars at the gate/road, but the property goes down hill and at the cabin we have No Service on the phone(s) display(s). I am wondering if something like this could take it from "No Service" to a bar or two?
Do you have to plug it into a land-line or have land-line access at all for it, or is it totally stand-alone and just uses the cell waves to work?

[Buckrub]

Ed, might boost your signal.

But it'll also increase your internet usage..............every time you use it.

[Thumper]

If you're simply trying to get cell service at the lake house ... this might work. (not sure what phone you have)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilson-815226-Phone-booster-for-C-Spire-Cspire-iphone-4-3GS-Verizon-cell-phone-/300676098448?pt=US_Cell_Phone_Signal_Boosters&hash=item4601b12990

[Buckrub]

Niner, it's called a FemtoCell. All carriers have a version of it.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/device/network-extender

[Niner]

Well, BLAST!!! I was hoping this would be a possible solution......but maybe not....


What type of Internet connection do I need for my Network Extender?
Your Network Extender will work with most broadband (http://support.verizonwireless.com/glossary/glossary.html#Broadband)or DSL connections (from Verizon or another Internet service provider). A minimum broadband speed of 1 Mbps is required.

We have ZERO internet connectivity at The Farm, and IF we did it would probably be dial-up.

What I was hoping to find, was something that I could connect an external antenna to. I could BUILD an antenna for the correct frequencies and put up on a power pole or pine tree or somesuch, and then run the coax to a box that would "rebroadcast" the cellular signal so that we could use the cellular phones down in "the valley".

As it is, I have two choices.
#1 Ride up to the gate and use the cellular service.
#2 Call out (most normally long distance....using a calling card) on the land-line at the cabin.

Being as I am also a Ham Radio operator, I have thought about installing a 2-meter radio in the buggy and seeing if I couldn't hit one of the "local" repeaters if I had an "incident" and needed help.

[Buckrub]

http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-and-smart/wi-ex-zboost-yx510/4540-6448_7-32156398-4.html

[Thumper]

Caution ... cover your eyes! Blind link above! ;)

[Buckrub]

Then YOU are blind. Anyone can read can see it is from CNET........

[Thumper]

Ain't that the Chinese Nude Entertainment Troupe? :lmao