Kitz Forum
Internet => General Internet => Topic started by: jelv on November 16, 2015, 04:59:24 PM
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When you go it enable this option it suggests it uses around 13GB per month. If you are on fibre this is way out - it's pushing 5GB per day!
Three of us are seeing similar usage - see http://community.plus.net/forum/index.php/topic,144647.msg1283978.html#msg1283978
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When you go it enable this option it suggests it uses around 13GB per month. If you are on fibre this is way out - it's pushing 5GB per day!
Three of us are seeing similar usage - see http://community.plus.net/forum/index.php/topic,144647.msg1283978.html#msg1283978
I personally never enabled this feature - seems to be a waste of bandwidth - 13GB was a lot, but 5gb a day is huge! I would email them inquiring what is the correct figure?
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Ouch. That seems a lot. ???
I stopped using my sambox a couple of years ago when I went back to Plusnet as I had one of the really old and first issue boxes that was well past it and had seen better days. :(
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I've sent them a message querying it.
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SamKnows have got back to me and confirmed that the whitebox is consuming in excess of 2GB per day although the reply I've received is a little ambiguous.
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Wow! I've now had a reply to a follow up question:
We have put all users who are not affected by data caps on the full Ofcom testing schedule which includes video testing. This used to be an optional field as the increased testing schedule would previously of made users go over their data caps however this is no longer the case as these are no longer in place. Un-ticking the box within the dashboatd will not remove the video-testing in your case as any data caps have been removed. Everyone who is not affected by data caps will be put on the full Ofcom testing schedule.
I can confirm that Plusnet are giving you unlimited data, so you will not be charged for any additional data usage that the tests from the Whitebox will consume with preparation for the increased testing schedule.
We are looking to update the dashboard to make it clear to users that everyone with no data caps will be put on the full testing schedule. The tick-box will be for users who would like to opt-in who do have data caps but still would like to be on the full schedule.
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The Video beta tests option has disappeared from the dashboard today. If you are on unlimited video tests are automatically enabled.
I'm just waiting to see the first complaint from someone who has had it automatically enabled and is on an account with fixed usage!
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Mine is going to get disconnected if they don't switch the video testing off. I was away at the weekend, yet have used 7Gb every day since Sunday!
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Hi
We have Sam knows and I read this thread with interest as Sam knows lifted our fixed data to unlimited.
Also, I think for everyone considering leaving Sam knows, there would be a high list of people wanting to join, who currently cannot join.
Many thanks
John
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I'm wondering if the ISPs are aware just how much usage the SamKnows testing is clocking up!
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Hi
I would certainly consider they would, as fixed data limits are been set to unlimited.
The issue I am not keen on is Sam knows are highlighting the testers to the ISP and therefore there is the possibility of fudging the tests by ensuring the testers broadband has higher priority over others, to ensure good results.
It's more likely me been to suspicious, but given VW antics, you never know and hence why I prefer as a tester to be not known by ISP
Many thanks
John
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Updated FAQ on SamKnows:
What is the Test Schedule?
Test Schedule for those on a limited broadband product / data cap in place:
Download and Upload MT: Once every 6 hours until 6pm, then hourly thereafter
Jitter: Every 2 hours
Web browsing: Every hour
DNS: Every hour
Latency/loss: Every hour
Video streaming (YouTube, Netflix, iPlayer): Once every 6 hours until 6pm, then hourly thereafter
Test Schedule for those with an unlimited broadband product/ no data cap in place:
Download and Upload MT: Once every 3 hours until 6pm, then hourly thereafter
Jitter: Every 2 hours
Web browsing: Every hour
DNS: Every hour
Latency/loss: Every hour
Video streaming (YouTube, Netflix and iPlayer): Once every 3 hours until 6pm, then hourly after.
How much data does the Test Schedule consume?
If you are on an unlimited broadband product or we are aware that any data cap has been removed, you will be put on our full testing schedule. The data consumption will vary depending on your package. Maximum daily usage approximately is:
8Mbps: 820MB
20Mbps: 2.06GB
40Mbps: 3.95GB
80Mbps: 8.17GB
Please note, as there is no data cap in place, the increased data consumption from testing will not be charged by your provider as provision is unlimited.
Those users with data caps in place are put on a reduced testing schedule. Maximum daily usage approximately is:
8Mbps: 54MB
20Mbps: 54MB
40Mbps: 108MB
80Mbps: 1.17GB
During you participation, if you do move to an ISP with a limited broadband product and exceeding your data cap is a concern, please contact the support team at community@samknows.com so we can ensure you are placed on a reduced testing schedule.
So for someone on 80/20 FTTC on unlimited the usage is up to 250GB per month!
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Hi
I hope you don't mind, but I'm struggling to see what your actual issue is
I have 80/20 FTTC and am a Sam knows tester.
Fttc is on permanently as is the Sam knows router, and our limits have been set by Sam knows with BT to unlimited.
I would not blink if Sam knows used 1Tb per month, as it is not costing anything on unlimited but is helping with statistics etc
As I said, I do not understand what your issue is
Many thanks
John
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It might not immediately cost end users anything, but some ISPs have to pay BTWholesale for bandwidth, if ISPs have to pay for more bandwidth, it'll eventually put prices up.
Or we might eventually get to the point where all the endless testing uses up so much bandwidth that the testing itself affects what it's trying to measure!
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Or a number of testers all on the same cabinet/exchange affecting speeds for other users.
I cannot believe it is necessary to transfer such a huge volume of data to get the results they require.
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Hi
Many thanks, but Sam knows are I believe restrictive to which testers they use, and I would think part of the process to determine a tester would be at which cabinet/exchange is used.
Also, if limits cannot be set to unlimited, then as posted, the tester does not use the full data of unlimited, so should not impact the users limit too much
I think myself Sam knows is trying to get a real picture of proper usage, not calculated rates as speedtesters do, and if your cabinets full, with a high number of users streaming etc, that's going to affect everyone even if Sam knows not running.
Lastly, and I'm not sure if this has changed, but if the tester is using their broadband, the tests do not take place. It used to be set that way but as I said, not sure if this has changed
Many thanks
John
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Or a number of testers all on the same cabinet/exchange affecting speeds for other users.
I cannot believe it is necessary to transfer such a huge volume of data to get the results they require.
it probably is as they need to test consistency.
The isp's are probably aware of bandwidth usage from samknows and they might be able to whitelist samknows traffic, ask your isp and see what they say.
e.g. EE have a speedtest app and it doesnt eat into the allowance on the mobile package.
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My box has been disconnected and I will be returning it.
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I'm also of the opinion that some of those figures are very high - even those who are on capped accounts and there are several ISPs who do still have capped accounts.
Take for eg you could be with AAISP and the Samknows box would consume >35GB of your 100GB allowance. :-\
Are they also able to identify those who are on legacy capped accounts as they cant assume just because say you are with Plusnet that you are on unlimited.
I'm with ejs & jelv on this in that it may not cost the EU, but ultimately it could affect the BTw based ISPs who are billed for bandwidth.
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As an aside are SamKnows needing more testers... in which case why should Plusnet be sending out this to my recently deceased dad. (They aren't to know as its about the only thing I havent yet transferred over to mum - Im intentionally waiting a bit before swapping over the phone).
We always want to make sure we're delivering a great broadband service for our customers. Part of this involves regularly getting independent views on the broadband we provide.
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has partnered with SamKnows to research broadband performance in the UK. They're looking for customers of various broadband providers, including Plusnet, and we'd like to ask you to take part.
The research involves connecting your internet router to a device, provided by SamKnows that monitors the performance of your broadband connection. It's very simple to do, won't affect your internet connection and it will only monitor the speed of your connection, not what you do online.
If you volunteer you'll get access to your own data so you can track the performance of your broadband connection.
If you'd like to take part, please sign up here.
PS the sign up 'here' link contains a tracking referral link that starts http://bt-plusnet.trclient.com/id=
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Hi
I can confirm Sam knows correctly identified our broadband line as been on a capped data usage, contacted us to confirm the line details and had the cap removed. This before this thread started.
I would also consider that prior to undertaking these new tests, most if not all, and probably some questions which have yet to be raised were already considered, and actions taken to overcome them, so as not to disadvantage anyone, tester or ISP, with ultimately where it is not possible, the tester is on a reduced data test.
I also think that either the ISP are been given an allowance based on the number of testers or have had additional bandwidth allocated FOC to their account, again based on the total number of testers.
Therefore if the above is correct, and I am not stating it is, then it becomes in the interest of the ISP to increase the testers for Sam knows and the ISP can state they are helping their customers
As I said though, I could be wrong as these are just my opinions, so my Sam knows box remains on and connected.
Many thanks
John
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Kitz, I also had one of those emails recently which I responded to and have not heard anything back. I would presume that if PN are sending out these emails then they are happy with the data usage.
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Hi
I looked at Sam knows website and there are a lot of ISP who are part of this, bt, pn, kcom, virgin talk talk etc, and all have agreed to unlimited data usage if provided with the tester details.
Many thanks
John
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I wonder what the ISPs were told the usage would be? Right up to the end they were telling me it was 2.1GB per day when it was way more than that.