Tonight I had cause to use my mobile as a modem with my laptop to do some work
on the 'net.
Now, I rarely use the phone as a modem so I run with a $5/mth data plan which is
around 5 megs.
During the session I had a few apps open. One of them was minimised but unknown
to me it was downloading an update. I discovered this when I ALT-Tab'ed to it.
It was nearly complete so I let it finish.
About 2 hrs later I got an SMS that said that I'd used 430% of my data allowance
and I was encouraged to switch to a higher plan.
Oh, ****, I thought.
I logged into telstra.com and logged into my account. I searched for and
eventually located the data usage section. The updated usage wasn't up yet.
I tried again a few hours later. This time it was.
I've used around 20 megs of data for a cost of $16.
Now, we've all read about unsuspecting Telstra (and other telcos) customers
copping data bills that range in the $1,000s of dollars. But as it's never
happened to me I've never really taken much notice.
But tonight it did, albeit for under $20.
Despite what Telstra may tell you it has no system in place that stops you
exceeding your monthly allowance. The account pages tell you that they do not
update for at least 6hrs after the usage or phone calls have occured. So, in
that time god only knows how much debt you could incur.
When these unfortunate sods started copping these huge data bills and it made
the media Telstra's response was to send out an SMS warning customers that they
are using more data. However, what Telstra doesn't tell you that it's after the
fact. And worse, you need to set up an account online and to link your phone to
it. It's not an automatic procedure.
My daughter is with 3. Her phone has an icon or whatever that launches an app
that updates her phone bill data and it appears to be fairly current. I don't
know if it has any warnings that she is to exceed her cap, for example, or the
allowed data. But it's an automatic process that she didn't have to configure
herself.
Why don't they introduce shaping, or simply when your data limit is reached, to
terminate the connection?
--
"Solutions are not the answer." - Richard Nixon
Marts wrote:
> Tonight I had cause to use my mobile as a modem with my laptop to do
> some work on the 'net.
>
> Now, I rarely use the phone as a modem so I run with a $5/mth data
> plan which is around 5 megs.
>
> During the session I had a few apps open. One of them was minimised
> but unknown to me it was downloading an update. I discovered this
> when I ALT-Tab'ed to it. It was nearly complete so I let it finish.
>
> About 2 hrs later I got an SMS that said that I'd used 430% of my
> data allowance and I was encouraged to switch to a higher plan.
>
> Oh, ****, I thought.
>
> I logged into telstra.com and logged into my account. I searched for
> and eventually located the data usage section. The updated usage
> wasn't up yet.
>
> I tried again a few hours later. This time it was.
>
> I've used around 20 megs of data for a cost of $16.
>
> Now, we've all read about unsuspecting Telstra (and other telcos)
> customers copping data bills that range in the $1,000s of dollars.
> But as it's never happened to me I've never really taken much notice.
>
> But tonight it did, albeit for under $20.
>
> Despite what Telstra may tell you it has no system in place that
> stops you exceeding your monthly allowance. The account pages tell
> you that they do not update for at least 6hrs after the usage or
> phone calls have occured. So, in that time god only knows how much
> debt you could incur.
>
> When these unfortunate sods started copping these huge data bills and
> it made the media Telstra's response was to send out an SMS warning
> customers that they are using more data. However, what Telstra
> doesn't tell you that it's after the fact. And worse, you need to set
> up an account online and to link your phone to it. It's not an
> automatic procedure.
>
> My daughter is with 3. Her phone has an icon or whatever that
> launches an app that updates her phone bill data and it appears to be
> fairly current. I don't know if it has any warnings that she is to
> exceed her cap, for example, or the allowed data. But it's an
> automatic process that she didn't have to configure herself.
>
> Why don't they introduce shaping, or simply when your data limit is
> reached, to terminate the connection?
Because using mobiles that way is mostly done by business
and they basically prefer to pay for the data they use instead.
In article <6arek59ddpvvk34r4mvo9aeaqu4bmc05iq@ymail.com>,
Marts <marts@ymail.com> wrote:
> Tonight I had cause to use my mobile as a modem with my laptop to do some
> work
> on the 'net.
Dicing with death (of your bank balance)
>
> Now, I rarely use the phone as a modem so I run with a $5/mth data plan which
> is
> around 5 megs.
>
> During the session I had a few apps open. One of them was minimised but
> unknown
> to me it was downloading an update. I discovered this when I ALT-Tab'ed to
> it.
> It was nearly complete so I let it finish.
>
> About 2 hrs later I got an SMS that said that I'd used 430% of my data
> allowance
> I've used around 20 megs of data for a cost of $16.
I think you were a rather lucky it wasn't a bigger download - eg HP
Printer updates of 150megs or so
....
>Telstra's response was to send out an SMS warning customers that
> they are using more data. However, what Telstra doesn't tell you that it's after
> the fact.
I dont suppose they could know in advance what you are going to do
>
> Why don't they introduce shaping, or simply when your data limit is reached,
> terminate the connection?
Because the mongrels want your $$$
Look at a how many plans there are (from Telstra and others) that do not
have shaping - bloody traps for the unwary
I have to pay big $$ for a plan that does have shaping as a big bill
would be a disaster for me
The trouble is of course that for many of us Telstra/Bigpond is the only
game in town (or more accurately, in the bush)
Marts <marts@ymail.com> wrote:
> Tonight I had cause to use my mobile as a modem with my laptop to do
> some work on the 'net.
>
> Now, I rarely use the phone as a modem so I run with a $5/mth data
> plan which is around 5 megs.
>
> During the session I had a few apps open. One of them was minimised
> but unknown to me it was downloading an update. I discovered this when
> I ALT-Tab'ed to it. It was nearly complete so I let it finish.
>
> About 2 hrs later I got an SMS that said that I'd used 430% of my data
> allowance and I was encouraged to switch to a higher plan.
>
> Oh, ****, I thought.
You can save your *own* bacon by installing a network monitoring tool.
I use NetWorx [1]. NetWorx has a Quota mechanism which can give a
warning popup *before* your allowance has been used up. I set it to 80%.
If you only need to monitor one provider/connection, then NetWorx will
probably give you exactly what you need.
If you need to alternate between different providers/connection, then
it can still be done with NetWorx, but you'll need multiple copies of
the 'portable' version, because NetWorx does not (yet) have multiple
'profiles'.
[...]
> When these unfortunate sods started copping these huge data bills and
> it made the media Telstra's response was to send out an SMS warning
> customers that they are using more data. However, what Telstra doesn't
> tell you that it's after the fact. And worse, you need to set up an
> account online and to link your phone to it. It's not an automatic
> procedure.
If this is really documented as you say, then I think you should log a
formal complaint with the right authority, because they *could* send an
SMS warning *during* a connection.
[...]
> Why don't they introduce shaping, or simply when your data limit is
> reached, to terminate the connection?
Terminating the connection is not a one-size-fits-all solution,
because you probably don't want to terminate at 90% of a big download/
upload. So termination should be optional and configurable (datasize
wise).
> >Telstra's response was to send out an SMS warning customers that
> > they are using more data. However, what Telstra doesn't tell you that it's after
> > the fact.
>
> I dont suppose they could know in advance what you are going to do
Yes, I know. But a normal ISP (DSL, etc) can track your usage in real time and
send out warning emails, as mine does, when you hit a certain threshold.
Since I raised this issue, Telstra has released new NextG data plans which
involve shaping or similar. But it's only for wireless broadband customers. For
those who connect to the 'net using their phone either "tethered" to a computer
or browsing via the phone the plans are still pricey and the excess megs are
still somewhat exhorbitant ($2 a meg for my $5 plan). If I used it more I'd go
for the $10 plan with gives me $150 megs. Thing is, I rarely use the data I have
now.
So, the technology has been there all along I'd say.
> > Why don't they introduce shaping, or simply when your data limit is reached,
> > terminate the connection?
> The trouble is of course that for many of us Telstra/Bigpond is the only
> game in town (or more accurately, in the bush)
That shouldn't be. There are a few regional wireless providers now. Aussie
Broadband offers it and it is expanding to more regional areas. I don't know of
any others. But surely Telstra can't be the only one where you live?
> You can save your *own* bacon by installing a network monitoring tool.
I'll have a look at NetWorx. I used to use a product called DU Meter but as the
laptop is also used on the home network it's difficult to configure for dial,
connection via mobile phone and via ethernet or via wireless network.
If NetWorx can handle all of these scenarios I'll give it a shot.
I use a Motorola V9 phone and Motorola Phone Tools as the conduit. MPT is OK,
but it's one of those programs that you'd never buy as a stand alone product.
Rather, it's an OEM one. But it's lacking in features. Data usage is one of
them, unfortunately.
> I use NetWorx [1]. NetWorx has a Quota mechanism which can give a
> warning popup *before* your allowance has been used up. I set it to 80%.
That would've been handy in my case, given that the download was happening in
the background and I wasn't aware of it.
"Marts" <marts@ymail.com> wrote in message
news:6k20l55ua9uqj6bgj5jlprv0ctu0tfgqas@ymail.com. ..
> David wrote...
>
>> >Telstra's response was to send out an SMS warning customers that
>> > they are using more data. However, what Telstra doesn't tell you that
>> > it's after
>> > the fact.
>>
>> I dont suppose they could know in advance what you are going to do
>
> Yes, I know. But a normal ISP (DSL, etc) can track your usage in real time
> and
> send out warning emails, as mine does, when you hit a certain threshold.
>
> Since I raised this issue, Telstra has released new NextG data plans which
> involve shaping or similar. But it's only for wireless broadband
> customers. For
> those who connect to the 'net using their phone either "tethered" to a
> computer
> or browsing via the phone the plans are still pricey and the excess megs
> are
> still somewhat exhorbitant ($2 a meg for my $5 plan). If I used it more
> I'd go
> for the $10 plan with gives me $150 megs. Thing is, I rarely use the data
> I have
> now.
>
> So, the technology has been there all along I'd say.
>
>> > Why don't they introduce shaping, or simply when your data limit is
>> > reached,
>> > terminate the connection?
>
>> The trouble is of course that for many of us Telstra/Bigpond is the only
>> game in town (or more accurately, in the bush)
>
> That shouldn't be. There are a few regional wireless providers now. Aussie
> Broadband offers it and it is expanding to more regional areas. I don't
> know of
> any others. But surely Telstra can't be the only one where you live?
FYI Aussie Broadband resell Optus 3G whose wireless coverage is expanding,
but still lags Telstra's.
On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:16:55 Acacia may have written:
> FYI Aussie Broadband resell Optus 3G whose wireless coverage is expanding,
> but still lags Telstra's.
I've been using Exetel's product. They reesell Optus 3G for $0/month +
1.5c/MB (both directions counted) and it comes with a free SIP account
with PSTN no. in the city of your choice and average call chargers.
> FYI Aussie Broadband resell Optus 3G whose wireless coverage is expanding,
> but still lags Telstra's.
That's correct. However, I should have been more specific. It sells wireless
broadband that uses towers and line of sight transmission on something like the
3 ghz band.
And there are a number of other providers which do the same (either resold
mobile services or wireless internet).
> I've been using Exetel's product. They reesell Optus 3G for $0/month +
> 1.5c/MB (both directions counted) and it comes with a free SIP account
> with PSTN no. in the city of your choice and average call chargers.
> Not too bad for me the casual user.
$15 a gig. Not too shabby at all if you're talking casual use.
Its modems work on the 900/2100 3G network of Optus's. I was wondering - get one
of their modems and an appropriate plan. Buy a 900/2100 3G smartphone, install
Skype on it, use the SIM out of the modem in the phone. Use it purely for Skype
calls.
The plan that I looked at costs around $20 or so a month for 1 gig. You'd get a
few minutes on VOIP for a gig, wouldn't you?
Of course, it all relies on the SIM card being able to be used in a phone...
Marts wrote:
> Paul Day wrote...
>
>> I've been using Exetel's product. They reesell Optus 3G for $0/month
>> + 1.5c/MB (both directions counted) and it comes with a free SIP
>> account with PSTN no. in the city of your choice and average call
>> chargers.
>
>> Not too bad for me the casual user.
>
> $15 a gig. Not too shabby at all if you're talking casual use.
>
> I was looking at Aussie Broadband's 3G service.
>
> http://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/wi...s-and-pricing/
>
> Its modems work on the 900/2100 3G network of Optus's. I was
> wondering - get one of their modems and an appropriate plan. Buy a
> 900/2100 3G smartphone, install Skype on it, use the SIM out of the
> modem in the phone. Use it purely for Skype calls.
>
> The plan that I looked at costs around $20 or so a month for 1 gig.
> You'd get a few minutes on VOIP for a gig, wouldn't you?
>
> Of course, it all relies on the SIM card being able to be used in a phone...
On Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:57:17 Marts may have written:
> > Not too bad for me the casual user.
>
> $15 a gig. Not too shabby at all if you're talking casual use.
Yep, I just bought a cheap second hand Nokia 6121 classic off eBay (does
900MHz as well as 2100MHz 3G, with HSDPA) and popped the Exetel-supplied
Optus SIM in and off we go. Generally get 500-600kb/s from my laptop via
Bluetooth and HSDPA.
"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com>
> Because using mobiles that way is mostly done by business
> and they basically prefer to pay for the data they use instead.
Why do I have to keep killfiling you for writing braindead comments?
Please keep your same address
pandama wrote:
> "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com>
>> Because using mobiles that way is mostly done by business
>> and they basically prefer to pay for the data they use instead.
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:47:03 pandama may have written:
> Why do I have to keep killfiling you for writing braindead comments?
> Please keep your same address
Because you don't know how to put wild-card kill statements in?
Paul Day <pauls@enigma.id.au> wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:47:03 pandama may have written:
> > Why do I have to keep killfiling you for writing braindead comments?
> > Please keep your same address
>
> Because you don't know how to put wild-card kill statements in?
Well, Outlook Express has no wild-card functionality for its
'killfile', but it *can* kill on Mr. Speed's *name* (instead of on his
(net-abusing) 'address').
Telstra NextG and Data Allowance Exceedence 
Linear Mode
