Computer Related > idle broadband usage	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Focusless	Replies: 49

Mon 22 Nov 10 11:00   idle broadband usage - Focusless

Having to use a PAYG broadband dongle until BT line reconnected at new house (this afternoon hopefully), so I'm keeping an eye on broadband usage on my laptop. And there's what appears to be a constant drip of approx. 30k bytes per second. Not a massive amount, but I can see my 3GB allowance gradually being eroded without doing anything. Any ideas what's causing it and if it can be stopped? It happens even with the browser closed (it's the Vodafone broadband app that's displaying the usage) and nothing else obvious (eg. no email client or skype) in the task bar. Is it just Windows XP connection maintenance or suchlike? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 11:02   idle broadband usage - Focusless

...and I did start downloading Wireshark but it was very slow and I didn't like the way my usage was going up. So if anyone has any ideas that don't involve downloading it... Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 11:07   idle broadband usage - spamcan61

I would imagine these dongles set up a continuous PDP context whilst 'on air' so I would expect some data usage even when idle, maybe a burst every few minutes. A continuous 30k does sound a bit odd though. I do recall reading some usage stats. for dongles on a 4G blog site somewhere so I'll see if I can dig it out. EDIT: Ooh Wireshark, looks like I might have to get to grips with that again:-/ Last edited by: spamcan61 on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 11:08 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 11:14   idle broadband usage - Iffy

Iffy treads carefully into computer waters.... I think my Orange dongle shows a similar trickle of constant data use when there's no browser open. The program is called Internet Everywhere and the on-screen box has live links to my account, messages, cumulative usage and so on. Presumably some data use is required to keep that ticking over. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 11:21   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> Presumably some data use is required to keep that ticking over. I think it only needs to talk to the USB dongle to monitor the usage, and the other things would only require at most intermittent polling (EDIT) unless you actually clicked on them and used them. Last edited by: Focus on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 11:22 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 11:52   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

It's the same with a standard modem router - you have uploading as well as downloading, such as requests to download a web page. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 12:02   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> It's the same with a standard modem router - you have uploading as well as >> downloading, such as requests to download a web page. Not if there's no browser open! Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 13:22   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>>Not if there's no browser open!>> Er no.... It can be programs or utilities checking for updates - for example my AV - Avast! - updates itself first thing when I switch on the system and quite often there's a WindowsUpdate arrival. These are obviously only done after an initial update check. Last edited by: Stuartli on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 13:22 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 13:25   idle broadband usage - VxFan

Can you not just pull the dongle out of the USB socket when you're not using it? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 13:31   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> Can you not just pull the dongle out of the USB socket when you're not >> using it? Even easier, just click on 'disconnect' on the Vodafone app. Yes, I could, but I'm working from home today, so should really be in contact pretty much all the time. Probably ok to take a bit of time to respond to an email, but I don't really want to miss a skype call. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 16:26   idle broadband usage - devonite

>>Not if there's no browser open!<< even when my computer (connected to router by lan cable) is turned off, the "lan" and "internet" lights often flash as if something is trying to access the router or the router is doing something. i`d like to know whats going on too! Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 13:57   idle broadband usage - Focusless

Hopefully the question is now academic - nice Mr BT Openreach is fitting new socket as I type this... Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 15:21   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> nice Mr BT Openreach is fitting new socket as I type this... 14.4kbps! After the 2kbps we used to get at the old place, that's a result :) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 15:38   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>>14.4kbps! After the 2kbps we used to get at the old place, that's a result :)>> I do hope it's somewhat better than that - vastly better.....:-)) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:10   idle broadband usage - Tooslow

2kbps? You'd never see the Google home screen at 2k. I've got my doubts about 14.4. You sure? Have you tried speedtest.net or similar? John Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:19   idle broadband usage - Focusless

Ahem - just checking you were paying attention. Obviously I mean 14.4Mbps :) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:20   idle broadband usage - Focusless

BTW chap moving into old place wasn't bothered about the 2Mbps limit on the BT line - he's a Virgin project manager and is getting a Virgin 100Mbps connection! Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:22   idle broadband usage - Tooslow

I wished I hadn't asked now :-( Still, it must be nice for you, living in the exchange? :-) John Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:26   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> Still, it must be nice for you, living in the exchange? :-) :) It's strange - we were only ~3 miles from the exchange previously. We haven't moved far (~1 mile?), but presumably we're on a different one, and yes you'd assume it's pretty close. But I don't know where it is. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:29   idle broadband usage - Tooslow

samknows.com will tell you, though I suspect you're not bothered since it's working nicely. John Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:39   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> samknows.com will tell you, though I suspect you're not bothered since it's working nicely. Thanks - I'm curious so had a look, and it is quite close - less than 0.8 miles according to google maps. That would explain it. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:42   idle broadband usage - Zero

Mine has now negotiated itself up to 10gb, and I am getting 8.9gb not bad for an "upto" 8gb service. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:47   idle broadband usage - John H

>> Mine has now negotiated itself up to 10gb, and I am getting 8.9gb >> >> not bad for an "upto" 8gb service. >> all taltalk/tiscali/opal customers are supposedly getting automatic upgrades to "up to 24Meg". As Stuartli has said in the past, go to the talktalk user forum and they will tweak your exchange settings for you tog ive you the best possible speed, etc. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 17:03   idle broadband usage - Zero

That is my "tweek" Its gone up again, now negotiated at 11.5mb, downloading at 10.25.mb Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 16:48   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> not bad for an "upto" 8gb service. 8gb? Glad I'm not the only one :) Last edited by: Focus on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 16:48 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 18:14   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>>not bad for an "upto" 8Mb service. >> More likely that you are on an "Up to 24Mb" service now (ASDL2+). Could be worth changing your router's configuration to ADSL2+.... I went from around 6.5Mb on average to 14Mb average when TalkTalk switched to "Up to 24Mb" a while back, delivered by a new Dell system; ironically the "old" system (networked) still tops that by 1.5Mb to 2Mb..:-) Have you tried TCPOptimiser and also the Tweak Test? www.dslreports.com/tweaks (it will give guidance on the RWIN settings range to try; TCPOptimser can be used to change them). Last edited by: Stuartli on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 18:15 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 18:21   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>>Hopefully the question is now academic - nice Mr BT Openreach is fitting new socket as I type this... >> I had a Master Socket ADSL faceplate fitted by an OpenReach engineer at the time he was sorting out a noisy phone line - means you can throw away all your ADSL splitters/filters...:-) Dispensing with these filters, which tend to deteriorate over time and thus affect download speeds, is a welcome bonus. You also cut out the varying quality of such filters, which again can cut speeds quite markedly. Last edited by: Stuartli on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 18:23 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 18:47   idle broadband usage - Tooslow

Don't you have to plug your router into the master socket though? John Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 19:31   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

Yes. I'm talking about a Master Socket Faceplate, which filters the phone and broadband from the start, rather than via an ADSL splitter/filter. See: solwise.co.uk/adsl_splitters-faceplates.htm Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 20:17   idle broadband usage - spamcan61

>> Don't you have to plug your router into the master socket though? >> >> John >> It would seem to be a disadvantage of that split faceplate that if your ADSL modem is a long way from the master socket you'll need extra wiring from the master socket, rather than using one combined phone/ADSL extension cable then splitting the two close to the modem. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 21:21   idle broadband usage - rtj70

If anyone goes for BT Infinity you also get a new face plate. And from this runs a CAT5 cable to the VDSL modem. This can be elsewhere and BT Openreach will run this cable for you (even via outside cable run) through the wall. Mine is upstairs and the CAT5 runs a short distance up from the hall to a phone socket (but it's not a phone socket as such) to my home office where the VDSL modem and BT Homehub resides. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 22 Nov 10 23:14   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>..if your ADSL modem is a long way from the master socket >> About 10 feet...:-) Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 24 Dec 10 13:26   idle broadband usage - John H

>> Dispensing with these filters, which tend to deteriorate over time and thus affect download speeds, >> is a welcome bonus. You also cut out the varying quality of such filters, which >> again can cut speeds quite markedly. >> How do these filters affect your broadband signal? Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 09:00   idle broadband usage - Focusless

Well after initial jubilation at getting 14Mbps (which is what the BT Openreach installer said I could get), I'm now a bit worried that speedtests yesterday and early this morning (6am) showed a download speed of 4.5Mbps. It looked pretty stable at that speed, but then it looked quite stable at 14Mbps a couple of days ago. Nothing has changed in the setup since then. Is this part of the initial 'negotiation', or should I contact O2? Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 09:15   idle broadband usage - spamcan61

If this is rate adaptive ADSL I'd wait a week for it to settle down. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 09:27   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> If this is rate adaptive ADSL I hope so :) Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 10:04   idle broadband usage - Zero

most are, - you need to wait. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 15:48   idle broadband usage - Focusless

>> most are, - you need to wait. O2 have confirmed that there's 5-10 days of 'line training', after which they send a text to indicate they've finished. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 18:31   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

Try turning the modem router off for a while; usually overnight and switching on first thing in the morning gives the best result. This often improves the bandwidth figures, which you can check via the router's configuration before and after the switch off. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 18:42   idle broadband usage - spamcan61

I did that when I changed to rate adaptive ADSL, my download speed then dropped to 100K, upload was still 300K so my ADSL was actually asymmetric the wrong way round :-/ Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 18:46   idle broadband usage - John H

>> Try turning the modem router off for a while; usually overnight and switching on first >> thing in the morning gives the best result. >> I thought that the usual technical advice was to leave the router on continuously to allow it to negotiate up to the best possible speed. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 19:07   idle broadband usage - spamcan61

>> >> Try turning the modem router off for a while; usually overnight and switching on >> first >> >> thing in the morning gives the best result. >> >> >> >> I thought that the usual technical advice was to leave the router on continuously to >> allow it to negotiate up to the best possible speed. >> Correct, if you turn the router off then the rate adaption algorithm thinks ' whoops, no response from router, must try again at a lower speed'; and then continues in a downward spiral. That's how I ended up at 100K down 300K up. Maybe some DSLAMs have smarter algorithms these days. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 19:10   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>>I thought that the usual technical advice was to leave the router on continuously to allow it to negotiate up to the best possible speed.>> That is the usual adaptive rate advice, but I've found that I can often improve the Up and Downstream bandwidth figures by about five to 10 per cent if I switch off the modem router for a while and then on again about once a month or so. As I have at least four different routers in the past six months (upgrades and TT trials) I've had a bit of experience in this field...:-) Also, as I've mentioned before, requesting the OCEs at the TT Members' Forums to establish your fastest, most stable profile brings the biggest benefits in outright speed returns. I'm on the fastest possible profile at present, 24SNR6i. Last edited by: Stuartli on Fri 26 Nov 10 at 19:11 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 26 Nov 10 19:40   idle broadband usage - John H

>> As I have at least four different routers in the past six months (upgrades and TT trials) I've had a bit of experience in this field...:-) The expert rules. :-) >> the fastest possible profile at present, 24SNR6i. >> You've mentioned something like that a few weeks ago. No mention of "24SNR6i" on talktalk forums, though. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 27 Nov 10 13:08   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

Oh yes there are - here are two examples of many: talktalkmembers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=15531 www.talktalkmembers.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-35756.html Also: www.paulwills.talktalk.net/Profiles.htm Last edited by: Stuartli on Sat 27 Nov 10 at 13:09 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 27 Nov 10 14:28   idle broadband usage - John H

>> Oh yes there are - here are two examples of many: >> Oh no, there isn't. No mention of "24SNR6i" in any of those links. Note the quotation marks. Last edited by: John H on Sat 27 Nov 10 at 14:28 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 27 Nov 10 14:49   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>>No mention of "24SNR6i" in any of those links. Note the quotation marks>> The "i" is for interleaved (more stable) and an "f" for fastpath - the latter is often preferred by gamers. Both variants are listed in the columns of the first link, I'd transposed the "i" to the end rather than after the 24. Normally interleaved is the default. Last edited by: Stuartli on Sat 27 Nov 10 at 14:53 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 27 Nov 10 14:48   idle broadband usage - Zero

>> >>I thought that the usual technical advice was to leave the router on continuously to >> allow it to negotiate up to the best possible speed.>> >> >> That is the usual adaptive rate advice, but I've found that I can often improve >> the Up and Downstream bandwidth figures by about five to 10 per cent if I >> switch off the modem router for a while and then on again about once a >> month or so. If you turn it off then on once a week that fine, leave it off for a while tho. Its if you turn off and on a lot in a short period of time, the error counts raises an alert and tries to resolve the issue by kicking your speed downhill. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 27 Nov 10 14:50   idle broadband usage - Stuartli

>>Its if you turn off and on a lot in a short period of time, the error counts raises an alert and tries to resolve the issue by kicking your speed downhill. >> I did state about once a month, which is OK. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 24 Dec 10 16:13   idle broadband usage - Roger.

Skype uses peer to peer, so if it's open you might be helping other users to talk to their mates. Reply to this message | Report message