It's official: Comcast starts 250GB bandwidth caps October 1 - Page 3

Jerkinder · 08-29-2008, 01:25 AM

You have to realize that the 250GB hardcap isn't forever. The cap will be increased over time. Why are you guys talking about the when HD streaming becomes mainstream in the future? When HD streaming becomes mainstream I can guarantee fiber will be widespread with large hard caps.

Chanur, don't think you know how much 250GB worth of data is a month. You've listed MMO and tube as your major use of bandwidth. If MMO takes too much bandwidth from your 250GB you gotta get out more. If you play 20 hours a week on two computers, it will only take about 5GB and 10GB for 40 hours a month. What are you doing with your other 240+GB worth of bandwidth? Youtube videos are such crappy quality it won't even dent your bandwidth. Unless you're Ham and Cheese and download FLACs all day long, you're fine.

Chanur · 08-29-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerkinder

You have to realize that the 250GB hardcap isn't forever. The cap will be increased over time. Why are you guys talking about the when HD streaming becomes mainstream in the future? When HD streaming becomes mainstream I can guarantee fiber will be widespread with large hard caps.

Chanur, don't think you know how much 250GB worth of data is a month. You've listed MMO and tube as your major use of bandwidth. If MMO takes too much bandwidth from your 250GB you gotta get out more. If you play 20 hours a week on two computers, it will only take about 5GB and 10GB for 40 hours a month. What are you doing with your other 240+GB worth of bandwidth? Youtube videos are such crappy quality it won't even dent your bandwidth. Unless you're Ham and Cheese and download FLACs all day long, you're fine.

I also watch streaming movies online via netflix as well as download via torrents. I can at times not use much but others i can use large amounts of bandwidth in a month.

Kaio · 08-29-2008, 01:59 AM

They should allow you to buy more bandwidth though, like $50 bucks for an additional 250 gigs. Running a dedicated server at a datacenter like the planet charges you about 25 per additional 250 but theres a lot more bandwidth limitations going to the home.

More companies need to follow verizon's footsteps and do fiber to the premises.

Phelps McManus · 08-29-2008, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinge

Until Streaming HD and regular movies straight to your computer and/or game console become more main stream, along with youtube type sites that will gain in quality and probably length.

You act like when streaming movies (Netflix 360) becomes more mainstream, a lack of a cap would make everything OK. It doesn't work like that. Everyone will get shitty service as the infrastructure can't support so many simultaneous users capping their bandwidth.

At this point, expect multiple tiers of caps that force heavy users to pay the lion's share of upgrading the network. You are welcome to leave comcast in favor of an ISP who, for now, doesn't have a cap. But these people are running a business, and eventually that reality will lead to increased prices, caps, cost-saving measures (poor customer service), or any combination of those options to combat increased demand on a limited resource.

Aegdaien · 08-29-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaio

They should allow you to buy more bandwidth though, like $50 bucks for an additional 250 gigs.

Definitely agree with this. Time Warner is charging absurd amounts for extra bandwidth past the (retarded) 40gb limit. Basically what the contract now says is you get an allotment of 250gb per month. You should be able to purchase as many of that allotment as you want per month since it's not costing Comcast anything extra. Not that I can imagine anyone needing > 250gb a month, but I digress.

As far as Comcast lowering the threshold - I'll go out on a limb here and say as long as McCain doesn't get elected, it won't ever be lowered. Even if he does get elected it's still dubious.

Quineloe · 08-29-2008, 06:07 AM

I'm getting a 10mbit up / 50mbit down VDSL on Monday with no cap and including TV in HD as well :-)

Phelps McManus · 08-29-2008, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aegdaien

As far as Comcast lowering the threshold - I'll go out on a limb here and say as long as McCain doesn't get elected, it won't ever be lowered. Even if he does get elected it's still dubious.

Come on, that is fucking absurd. Everyone knows that if Obama gets elected, prices will sky rocket as we subsidize black people downloading Lil Wayne for free.

Agraza · 08-29-2008, 06:16 AM

I live with 4 other people. 250gb/m would be an issue, but I'm not on comcast.

I probably use 100gb/m all by myself downloading HD programming.

Tyen · 08-29-2008, 08:03 AM

Sprint's WiMax (2009), Verizon's LTE (2010) and AT&T's LTE (2010) will dominate Comcast back to the cave it came from.

Soygen · 08-29-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyen

Sprint's WiMax (2009), Verizon's LTE (2010) and AT&T's LTE (2010) will dominate Comcast back to the cave it came from.

Can't come soon enough.

Really, the cap isn't the issue with me. I've never been warned and even with two people on my connection, we probably don't approach it(if it's always been at that cap?) It's Comcast's terrible fucking service down here. The cap is just another slap in the face.

PS: Sweet avatar, Ty. <3

Lenardo · 08-29-2008, 09:14 AM

250gb cap

4 standard definition movies a Day..every day for a month.
probably 1.5 to 2 HD movies a Day Every Day for a month

Cox- is testing 20-75gb a month cap
time warner has a 40gb cap in testing

the 250GB a month cap has been in place for atl east the past 6 months to a year, they just never TOLD you what your cap was, if you got an email- you broke the cap, if you haven't, you haven't.

i MIGHT break 20gig a month.

Sealody · 08-29-2008, 09:14 AM

Previously. Their cap was '90 Gigs' a month before warnings go out for disconnection.

This is personal experience. My brother lives in the DC area and have comcast. When him and his roommate broke 90 gigs that 2nd month they moved in. Guess 1st month they were still too busy setting up and moving in.

They called and said they used 120 gigs that month and they would be disconnected if they use heavy p2p. Techs said to keep it under 'unofficially' 90 gigs a month.

They haven't gotten another warning since. But I do know they try to limit their massive indiscriminate downloads now. I still do just mass download stuff regardless but I'm on FIOS and waste such bandwidth.

From what I can see. 250 is plenty if you coming from the old caps and BS. People coming from lower bandwidth connections (DSL/ASDL/...) would probably not give a crap either. But people coming from FIOS would be the ones to make the most noise. The average user will most likely not hit that cap. I honestly doubt no more then 5% of their users will have any issue with 250gigs. And that's being generious. They have their top 1% of users even coming close to that number.

But it really doesn't matter. Not saying if the policy is right or not. It does seem like it's the opening shots for them to offer and raise prices in the future tho. From a business standpoint it's smart I guess. If I were them, I would love to disconnect the top 1%~5% of heavy users. Chances are they were the ones I'm losing money on. But if they do that, then next month the old 5~10% would be the new 1~5% and do they cut them off next?

Sealody · 08-29-2008, 09:42 AM

The old cap was over a year ago tho. He moved there late '06 I think. So it's very possible that it was raised to 200gigs this past 6m-1y. I haven't asked him if it's been changed recently. I only know they haven't hit the cap since that 2nd month notice.

Eomer · 08-29-2008, 10:13 AM

Personally I think 250gb is actually pretty good. They should also spell out what the extra cost for bandwidth is, if they don't. 250gb a month is a constant download rate of 100kb/sec the entire month. That's a lot of data for a single user. I could see it being a problem in a house with a couple heavy users, but for most families etc that should also be quite a lot.

One thing I'm not clear on though, is that cap for up/down combined or just down or what?

Hatorade · 08-29-2008, 10:19 AM

Can anyone explain why bandwidth costs money? Feel free to explain it like I am slow because I just may be. If a company owns the cables you use to get your internet then what are there costs? The electric bill?

I understand you are paying for a service but are they being charged for useage?

08-29-2008, 01:25 AM	#31 (permalink)
Jerkinder Flaccid Steel Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 419	You have to realize that the 250GB hardcap isn't forever. The cap will be increased over time. Why are you guys talking about the when HD streaming becomes mainstream in the future? When HD streaming becomes mainstream I can guarantee fiber will be widespread with large hard caps. Chanur, don't think you know how much 250GB worth of data is a month. You've listed MMO and tube as your major use of bandwidth. If MMO takes too much bandwidth from your 250GB you gotta get out more. If you play 20 hours a week on two computers, it will only take about 5GB and 10GB for 40 hours a month. What are you doing with your other 240+GB worth of bandwidth? Youtube videos are such crappy quality it won't even dent your bandwidth. Unless you're Ham and Cheese and download FLACs all day long, you're fine. __________________ If life gives you lemon, you should sell it and buy a car.

08-29-2008, 06:16 AM	#38 (permalink)
Agraza Issh good, no? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,999	I live with 4 other people. 250gb/m would be an issue, but I'm not on comcast. I probably use 100gb/m all by myself downloading HD programming. __________________ Theel Maas, eJapan::Join us

08-29-2008, 08:03 AM	#39 (permalink)
Tyen The future, I came from it Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,647 +3 Internets	Sprint's WiMax (2009), Verizon's LTE (2010) and AT&T's LTE (2010) will dominate Comcast back to the cave it came from. __________________ http://www.imvox.com/ "Salty's Funhouse" public & free voice server.

08-29-2008, 10:19 AM	#45 (permalink)
Hatorade Cause it's better than water Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,152 +76 Internets	Can anyone explain why bandwidth costs money? Feel free to explain it like I am slow because I just may be. If a company owns the cables you use to get your internet then what are there costs? The electric bill? I understand you are paying for a service but are they being charged for useage? __________________ Wii Friend Code 1729 2890 3780 7210 AION group

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08-29-2008, 01:59 AM	#33 (permalink)
Kaio Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,291 +4 Internets	They should allow you to buy more bandwidth though, like $50 bucks for an additional 250 gigs. Running a dedicated server at a datacenter like the planet charges you about 25 per additional 250 but theres a lot more bandwidth limitations going to the home. More companies need to follow verizon's footsteps and do fiber to the premises.

08-29-2008, 06:07 AM	#36 (permalink)
Quineloe Hard Rock Hallelujah Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,512	I'm getting a 10mbit up / 50mbit down VDSL on Monday with no cap and including TV in HD as well :-)

08-29-2008, 09:14 AM	#41 (permalink)
Lenardo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,634 -23 Internets	250gb cap 4 standard definition movies a Day..every day for a month. probably 1.5 to 2 HD movies a Day Every Day for a month Cox- is testing 20-75gb a month cap time warner has a 40gb cap in testing the 250GB a month cap has been in place for atl east the past 6 months to a year, they just never TOLD you what your cap was, if you got an email- you broke the cap, if you haven't, you haven't. i MIGHT break 20gig a month.

08-29-2008, 09:14 AM	#42 (permalink)
Sealody Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 534 +3 Internets	Previously. Their cap was '90 Gigs' a month before warnings go out for disconnection. This is personal experience. My brother lives in the DC area and have comcast. When him and his roommate broke 90 gigs that 2nd month they moved in. Guess 1st month they were still too busy setting up and moving in. They called and said they used 120 gigs that month and they would be disconnected if they use heavy p2p. Techs said to keep it under 'unofficially' 90 gigs a month. They haven't gotten another warning since. But I do know they try to limit their massive indiscriminate downloads now. I still do just mass download stuff regardless but I'm on FIOS and waste such bandwidth. From what I can see. 250 is plenty if you coming from the old caps and BS. People coming from lower bandwidth connections (DSL/ASDL/...) would probably not give a crap either. But people coming from FIOS would be the ones to make the most noise. The average user will most likely not hit that cap. I honestly doubt no more then 5% of their users will have any issue with 250gigs. And that's being generious. They have their top 1% of users even coming close to that number. But it really doesn't matter. Not saying if the policy is right or not. It does seem like it's the opening shots for them to offer and raise prices in the future tho. From a business standpoint it's smart I guess. If I were them, I would love to disconnect the top 1%~5% of heavy users. Chances are they were the ones I'm losing money on. But if they do that, then next month the old 5~10% would be the new 1~5% and do they cut them off next?

08-29-2008, 09:42 AM	#43 (permalink)
Sealody Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 534 +3 Internets	The old cap was over a year ago tho. He moved there late '06 I think. So it's very possible that it was raised to 200gigs this past 6m-1y. I haven't asked him if it's been changed recently. I only know they haven't hit the cap since that 2nd month notice.

08-29-2008, 10:13 AM	#44 (permalink)
Eomer You mean I can change this? Neat! Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,884 +65 Internets	Personally I think 250gb is actually pretty good. They should also spell out what the extra cost for bandwidth is, if they don't. 250gb a month is a constant download rate of 100kb/sec the entire month. That's a lot of data for a single user. I could see it being a problem in a house with a couple heavy users, but for most families etc that should also be quite a lot. One thing I'm not clear on though, is that cap for up/down combined or just down or what?