Comcast's d/l Cap

Wag

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
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I'm going to be doing some videoconferencing on a regular basis and was wondering what their cap was?

I know they have an unstated one.
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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I have had comcast cable internet for years and I have no idea wtf you're talking about. consider it non-issue
 

nsafreak

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2001
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Don't know, haven't hit it personally. I know I have downloaded about 5 ISO images of various Linux distributions in a one month timespan (that's about 3 gigabytes of downstream on just those images) and I didn't hear so much as a peep from them. I don't think videoconferencing really uses all that much bandwidth, at least if you're using an efficient protocol it doesn't.
 

Wag

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: KLin
call them up and ask.
They won't say, that's why I said it was unstated.

And I'm going to be doing it for medical purposes so it needs to be very HQ. That means it will suck up alot of bandwidth.

 

nsafreak

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2001
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Well from what I've heard from other folks that were using lots of bandwidth for questionable uses they'll typically warn you before cuttting off your service. You can always either call in advance to let them know about the videoconferencing or wait till they warn you.
 

intogamer

Lifer
Dec 5, 2004
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yeah you will recieve a letter saying something about abuse of comcast's service. Lot of people are pissed off because it is unlimited use.
 

Wag

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Jul 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: nsafreak
Well from what I've heard from other folks that were using lots of bandwidth for questionable uses they'll typically warn you before cuttting off your service. You can always either call in advance to let them know about the videoconferencing or wait till they warn you.
I'm not sure how what I'll be doing is "questionable". Even downloading Hi-def video for medical study for me would be an every day use.

Downloading hi-def video could easily get into the hundreds of GBs a month range.
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Wag
Originally posted by: nsafreak
Well from what I've heard from other folks that were using lots of bandwidth for questionable uses they'll typically warn you before cuttting off your service. You can always either call in advance to let them know about the videoconferencing or wait till they warn you.
I'm not sure how what I'll be doing is "questionable". Even downloading Hi-def video for medical study for me would be an every day use.

Downloading hi-def video could easily get into the hundreds of GBs a month range.
Comcast doesn't care what you're using their bandwidth for, anything you do is questionable to them.:p My advice is to stick with their normal service right now, and if they do cut you off, you're going to have to spend extra on the business class service.
 

TheInvincibleMustard

Senior member
Jun 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: pulse8
Originally posted by: Jassi
Originally posted by: pulse8
Fvck Comcast.

Whats the alternative?

DSL?

Satellite? WiFi? Dial-Up?

There's lots of alternatives, there's just restrictions on which ones "appeal" to you ...

Personally, I'm just a touch to far out of range to sync 384/384 on SBC DSL, and there's no WiFi in the area, so it's either Comcrap or Satellite (or Notre Dame dial-up at a whopping 28.8k) ... I went with Comcrap.

Hopefully SBC sees my case as pointing towards wanting to install an RT like a block from my house or something :D

RE: OP -- There's lots of talk/discussion about this over on broadbandreports.com if you haven't checked there already. The letter basically say that less than 1/10th of 1% of their users are contacted due to overuse -- though there is no mention anywhere of what their actual "cap" is. If you're doing something medical-based, is there some reason that whoever you're working for can't/won't/whatever install a fractional or some other sort of dedicated line directly to where you're at? If you're looking at transferring 1/2-TB of data a month or something, it might be something you want to look into.
 

Wag

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: ViRGE
Comcast doesn't care what you're using their bandwidth for, anything you do is questionable to them.:p My advice is to stick with their normal service right now, and if they do cut you off, you're going to have to spend extra on the business class service.
Here's the thing, Comcast's business class has the same unstated bandwidth restrictions as their consumer class.

I can't get DSL because I'm too far away from the switch and as for FIOS, I live in an apartment complex so Verizon will be last to get to me. I won't be doing 1/2-TB a month, but over 100GB seems a possibility.
 

pulse8

Lifer
May 3, 2000
20,860
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That's why I say that Comcast can go to hell.

How can they offer unlimited service and then turn around and have an unstated cap?
 

Malak

Lifer
Dec 4, 2004
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There are no bandwidth restrictions, it's unlimited. If it had restrictions, they would have to tell you.
 

kami333

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
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I used to download about 90GB/month (recorded tv shows from Japan and such) and I never heard anything from them. I did this for about 6months.
 

Wag

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
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I am at 4Mbps now.

I am d/l some HD video as we speak.

I guess if I get the call I'll try and put them on the spot and ask them to specify how much they want me to cut back. If not I'll ask them if I can do my d/l mainly at night. I doubt they'll care, but it's worth a shot.

Why offer that type of bandwidth if they don't think we'll use it?

FIOS will be no better from what I'm reading. More bandwidth with unspecified caps.
 

Malak

Lifer
Dec 4, 2004
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If they say unlimited and never mention any caps, then they can't enforce it. It would be false advertising.
 

TheInvincibleMustard

Senior member
Jun 14, 2003
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If you're looking at only 100GB per month, you shouldn't have too much of a problem with Comcrap unless you're in a whacked neighborhood with lots of concurrent users (which you might be, as you say you're in an apartment). I'd predict you're not going to have a problem. Do your downloads at non-peak times, and I bet you won't even hear a peep out of them.

Now, if you're talking 500GB+ per month, as what seemed to be implied, then they might care.

RE: offering that type of bandwidth if they don't think we'll use it?
They KNOW people won't use it. Average Comcrap subscriber = Ma & Pa Jones who want to look at the pictures of their new baby granddaughter = 10GB/month, maybe? (and that might be pushing it, too). Comcrap (and other cable companies, I don't discriminate) oversell their network based off of the idea that not everyone is going to be using the full 3/4/80bajillion mbps 24/7 ... if they sold you your connection based off of the idea that everyone was going to be maxing it out 24/7, I bet you'd not find it much higher than 50K per household, or thereabouts. They get by with it because most people are not using it to the full extent.

Oh, and FWIW, Comcrap (and other broadband companies) sell a "speed" not overall transfer, that's how they can get by with these "hidden caps".
 

Wag

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
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Well, here's the only thing I could find on their website about bandwidth use:
Network, Bandwidth, Data Storage and Other Limitations
You must comply with all current bandwidth, data storage, and other limitations on the Service established by Comcast and its suppliers. In addition, you may only access and use the Service with a dynamic Internet Protocol ("IP") address that adheres to the dynamic host configuration protocol ("DHCP"). You may not access or use the Service with a static IP address or using any protocol other than DHCP unless you are subject to a Service plan that expressly permits otherwise.

You must ensure that your activity (including, but not limited to, use made by you or others of any Personal Web Features) does not improperly restrict, inhibit, or degrade any other user's use of the Service, nor represent (in the sole judgment of Comcast) an unusually large burden on the network. In addition, you must ensure that your activities do not improperly restrict, inhibit, disrupt, degrade or impede Comcast's ability to deliver the Service and monitor the Service, backbone, network nodes, and/or other network Services.
How do I "comply" with an unspecified policy?
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Wag
Well, here's the only thing I could find on their website about bandwidth use:
Network, Bandwidth, Data Storage and Other Limitations
You must comply with all current bandwidth, data storage, and other limitations on the Service established by Comcast and its suppliers. In addition, you may only access and use the Service with a dynamic Internet Protocol ("IP") address that adheres to the dynamic host configuration protocol ("DHCP"). You may not access or use the Service with a static IP address or using any protocol other than DHCP unless you are subject to a Service plan that expressly permits otherwise.

You must ensure that your activity (including, but not limited to, use made by you or others of any Personal Web Features) does not improperly restrict, inhibit, or degrade any other user's use of the Service, nor represent (in the sole judgment of Comcast) an unusually large burden on the network. In addition, you must ensure that your activities do not improperly restrict, inhibit, disrupt, degrade or impede Comcast's ability to deliver the Service and monitor the Service, backbone, network nodes, and/or other network Services.
How do I "comply" with an unspecified policy?
You stop downloading when they tell you to. Other than that, even without a stated cap for their business service, they won't bug you since you're paying out the wazoo anyhow.