FYI Internet Providers with Data Caps

[mickss]

Just so you will know.
https://broadbandnow.com/internet-pr...with-data-caps

Edit; I`m editing this thread because the above link was included in this article from PC Gamer, you should really read some of the comments to get a broad view of why they brought this to the attention of gamers.
http://www.pcgamer.com/broadband-ana...ose-data-caps/

[DvKillar]

Cox customer here. I stream everything on multiple devices. never hit my cap. not a problem!

[DGthe3]

Doesn't work for Canadians ... oh well, didn't expect it to.

I've been meaning to switch providers for a while now. Cap is around 100 GB and its enough, but I monitor my data and often adjust my usage mid-month so that I'm not in danger of going over by at the end.

[DenverTaco07]

in principle, i find it a bit....disgusting.

if we look at the cell phone model, they charge by the data amount used per month, 1gb, 2gb, etc.

Cable and DSL traditionally charged based on speed, 7mbps, 10mbps etc. now they want the best of both worlds. hypothetical...you go out and find a cox plan that boasts 1gbps, but a cap of 1Terabyte, you could in theory use your monthly plan in about 2 hours, or i could state that in fact, you will have used your limit after 2.22 hours at max speed, which you paid a premium for.

now the reality is that most will never reach 1TB a month.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by DenverTaco07

in principle, i find it a bit....disgusting.

if we look at the cell phone model, they charge by the data amount used per month, 1gb, 2gb, etc.

Cable and DSL traditionally charged based on speed, 7mbps, 10mbps etc. now they want the best of both worlds. hypothetical...you go out and find a cox plan that boasts 1gbps, but a cap of 1Terabyte, you could in theory use your monthly plan in about 2 hours, or i could state that in fact, you will have used your limit after 2.22 hours at max speed, which you paid a premium for.

now the reality is that most will never reach 1TB a month.

What bothers me more is that cable TV doesn't have any caps. 100 hours per month of high def video isn't unusual (~3 hours per weekday, and a total of about 10 on the weekend). I'm not sure what the raw video rate is for high def cable TV, but I think it exceeds 10 GB/hour. That puts things at ~1TB of TV in a month for a fairly typical use case. But if you wanted to, you could run your TV 24/7 and your cable bill would be just as much.

Meanwhile, the same company that will sell you as much TV as you want to watch will also sell you internet access -over the very same cables, now decides that with a more bandwidth efficient delivery method, you need to be limited in how much data you can consume in a month. WTF?

[DenverTaco07]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

What bothers me more is that cable TV doesn't have any caps. 100 hours per month of high def video isn't unusual (~3 hours per weekday, and a total of about 10 on the weekend). I'm not sure what the raw video rate is for high def cable TV, but I think it exceeds 10 GB/hour. That puts things at ~1TB of TV in a month for a fairly typical use case. But if you wanted to, you could run your TV 24/7 and your cable bill would be just as much.

Meanwhile, the same company that will sell you as much TV as you want to watch will also sell you internet access -over the very same cables, now decides that with a more bandwidth efficient delivery method, you need to be limited in how much data you can consume in a month. WTF?

It is a digital signal now, so I think they should know in fact how many bits they are pushing to provide you your HBO GOT and all that jazz, so yes, i haven't thought of that, but yeah, another reason to question the purpose of this tactic.

Earlier this year I built a new computer, after downloading the OS, and programs and one game (Rainbow six siege), i got a notice from Comcast saying I had gone over my limit, which didn't exist when I first signed up. Now, it was a warning that said I'd not be charged extra "this time"...but I was so freakin pissed about the principle violation as i see it, I cancelled them and went to DSL. Unfortunately my experience is way worse now

we need more than two options!!

IMO, Internet infrastructure (fiber optics and I suppose coax - although i think it might be going obsolete) needs to be a shared infrastructure where multiple companies can come in to a "central office" install gear to provide service...if they choose.

sort of like a DAS (Distributed Antenna System for cellular service) infrastructure, where the head end is available for use by multiple carriers, if they choose. Till then, we will continue to pay much higher prices for ISP.

a city in Colorado, Longmont I believe, is providing 1Gbps internet service to its residents for like $50 a month. Can you imagine...$50 a month for speeds 10 times faster than what I pay $70 a month for.