Telecom usage meter inacurate?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom usage meter inacurate?

5uperTed

33 posts

Geek

#76112 28-Jan-2011 18:45

Hi
We have a reasonable network here… 6 people shareing the net and the usual arguments when the speed drops after the cap is reached… Nobody has used all the data allowance.

So I started monitoring things.

I found a program CommTraffic and setup a spare PC, connected to an old Hub between the LAN switch and the router and attached the monitoring pc. Then I noticed that the setup seemed to be only catching about ½ the traffic. I raised a ticket with the software people and had excellent service from them in checking my setup. As they were working on my case I thought I’d check the Monitoring Data with the router stats… I was surprised to find that the Router stats were around 2% less than the Commtraffic data and again about ½ the Telecom Usage meter.

It did start at over 100% extra then dropped back to round the 30% mark on the 13th.
I called Telecom and gave them my figures. They asked me to turn off the router over a set period which I did and they recorded no usage so they said it was not a problem with their usage meter. I insisted they still had a problem as I was being overcharged significant amounts of data.

I was told I must have applications running on the PCs (we have about 6 connected to the network). Even after insisting that I was monitoring ALL network traffic. I was also told that because the usage had been high for the last few months I was a high usage user, Ummm Isn't that the reason i started monitoring the usage? but I persevered and got put thru to their Complex internet team.

They suggested changing the router. which I have done with no change to the usage figures. The roadside cabinet is across the street and there are very few packet losses in the router stats For over a week now. The difference between our usage and Telecoms Usage Meter is about 30% average on average. the difference between CommTraffic and the router stats is about 2%. The Commtraffic program picks up some multicast traffic not passed thru the router. If it was only a couple of % I wouldn’t worry but 1/3 extra is a worry.

This means that I get to use about 40G of my 60G plan before they cut it back.

I've raised it with their helpdesk. Anyone else having issues like this?

Any one have any suggestions where the xtra data goes?

Many thanks

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2074 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#432369 28-Jan-2011 19:05

Yeah I seem to be using a lot more of my data than I would expect. I am getting warnings that my 10GB of data is almost all used up, half way through my billing month, yet I have only downloaded maybe 2GB (max) of media, and the rest has just been surfing etc.

I can't see how I have used over 8GB of data, but that is what Telecom is telling me. I haven't set up any of the monitoring gear that you have tried but it is interesting to hear your results - as I thought I was just bleeding packets somewhere.

Perhaps not.

kiwigeek1

637 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#432388 28-Jan-2011 19:47

best to install bmextreme on all pcs on lan using the web acccess and tally up the usage .. however I find often its more in my favour.. the band width monitor on pc says used more then telecom reports.. make sure to tick the right options in the soft if do install it.. like ignore lan traffic

you can get it free from www.lp23.com

but for $20 its worth upgrading.. it can alert you when you used a certain amount and count down whats left.. espc if one pc is used

Ragnor

8218 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#432492 29-Jan-2011 00:15

There's another thread at the moment about Telecom usage meter problems
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=75815

5uperTed

33 posts

Geek

#432512 29-Jan-2011 08:00

Hi just some more info
all the excess usage seems to be Down the up looks to be agreeing with my captured stats
here is an example of the data I am getting from the Router
-----------------------------
Sat 29/01/2011
12:00 a.m.
NetComm ADSL2+ Router NB6_REV2_16M_NZ
Software Version: 3.65p
Login name: admin
admin
Password: admin

> ifconfig ppp_0_100_1
ifconfig ppp_0_100_1
ppp_0_100_1 Link encap:Point-Point Protocol
inet addr:125.239.246.156 P-t-P:125.239.240.1 Mask:255.255.255.255
UP POINTOPOINT RUNNING NOARP MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:4863348 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:3519783 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:3
RX bytes:765385107 (729.9 MiB) TX bytes:788372526 (751.8 MiB)

> adsl info --stats
adsl info --stats
adsl: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: ShowtimeRetrain Reason: 0
Channel: INTR, Upstream rate = 945 Kbps, Downstream rate = 18792 Kbps
Link Power State: L0
Mode: ADSL2+
Channel: Interleave
Trellis: U:ON /D:ON
Line Status: No Defect
Training Status: Showtime
Down Up
SNR (dB): 12.8 15.5
Attn(dB): 3.0 0.9
Pwr(dBm): 17.3 12.4
Max(Kbps): 24796 945
Rate (Kbps): 18792 945
G.dmt framing
K: 45(0) 14
R: 10 16
S: 1 16
D: 32 8
ADSL2 framing
MSGc: 59 14
B: 44 13
M: 1 16
T: 13 7
R: 10 16
S: 0.0764 7.5000
L: 5752 256
D: 288 8
Counters
SF: 13375115 13508714
SFErr: 0 0
RS: 2712037610 3533166
RSCorr: 71771 24
RSUnCorr: 0 0

HEC: 0 340
OCD: 0 0
LCD: 0 0
Total Cells: 989676669 2083386142
Data Cells: 107843296 318785745
Drop Cells: 21365
Bit Errors: 0 89038

ES: 0 2
SES: 0 0
UAS: 17 45191
AS: 216141

INP: 2.00 2.00
PER: 16.15 16.40
delay: 5.50 15.00
OR: 32.17 9.75

Bitswap: 4205 1

Total time = 1 days 12 hours 2 min 52 sec
SF = 13375115
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
Latest 1 day time = 12 hours 2 min 52 sec
SF = 2683899
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
Latest 15 minutes time = 2 min 52 sec
SF = 10614
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
Previous 15 minutes time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55738
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
Previous 1 day time = 24 hours 0 sec
SF = 5346633
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
15 minutes interval [-30 min to -15 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55675
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
15 minutes interval [-45 min to -30 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55675
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
15 minutes interval [-60 min to -45 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55738
CRC = 0
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 0
Showtime Drop Reason: 0
Last Retrain Reason: 0
> logout
logout

Bye bye. Have a nice day!!!

5uperTed

33 posts

Geek

#432781 30-Jan-2011 11:16

Hi again just some more info. Here is an abrieviated version of my usage tracking data
monitor-Telecom difference router-Telecom Difference Router-monitor difference
%overage %overage %overage

down up total down up total down up total
10/01 682.26 -19.2 657.05 100% not started monitoring router stats as yet
11/01 370.31 -0.56 369.75 121% not started monitoring router stats as yet
12/01 443.79 -18.14 425.65 125% 448.68 0.11 448.79 142% 4.89 18.25 23.14 7%
13/01 422.82 -12.37 410.45 56% 432.39 3.26 435.65 62% 9.57 15.63 25.20 4%
14/01 297.2 -12.05 285.14 30% 303.22 1.22 304.44 33% 6.02 13.27 19.30 2%
15/01 305.92 -8.36 297.57 36% 310.88 2.26 313.14 39% 4.96 10.62 15.57 2%
16/01 417.15 -18.44 398.71 26% 445.43 -0.34 445.09 30% 28.28 18.10 46.38 3%
17/01 501.07 -19.99 481.08 118% 513.31 3.07 516.39 139% 12.25 23.06 35.31 9%
18/01 374.91 -13.98 360.93 37% Router turned off overnight per Telecom request... lost stats:-(
19/01 194.67 -9.77 184.9 21% 200.26 -0.55 199.71 23% 5.59 9.22 14.81 2%
20/01 441.99 -16.98 425.14 36% 453.68 1.71 455.39 39% 11.69 18.69 30.25 3%
21/01 364.13 -12.27 351.86 40% 377.07 3.6 380.67 45% 12.94 15.87 28.81 3%
Change router/modem
22/01 1072.38 -37.29 1037.85 29% 1089.16 -0.35 1088.81 31% 16.78 36.94 50.96 1%
23/01 -47.85 -74.54 -116.88 -4% -4.73 -28.38 -33.11 -1% 43.12 46.16 83.77 3%
24/01 1455.21 11.94 1457.61 46% 1516.88 38.86 1555.74 51% 61.67 26.92 98.13 3%
25/01 480.75 -24.76 457.16 22% 495.37 -0.73 494.64 25% 14.62 24.03 37.48 2%
26/01 1199.53 -30.96 1172.27 26% 1245.18 6.06 1251.24 28% 45.65 37.02 78.97 2%
27/01 End of month cycle so couldn't read xtra usage for this day 0.82 5.35 6.17 2%
28/01 286.6 -9.69 276.91 28% 292.83 1.23 294.06 30% 6.23 10.92 17.15 2%
29/01 61.43 -1.13 60.3 26% 60.09 0.29 60.38 26% -1.34 1.42 0.08 0%

Thanks for your interest and any suggestion welcome

5uperTed

33 posts

Geek

#432784 30-Jan-2011 11:21

BTW huge change on the 13th ... maybe telecom fixed one of their network faults... anyone else tracking theit usage notice the same drop?

JustAnotherJohn

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#433459 31-Jan-2011 22:33

Yep looks like I'm having the same issues you are. For the last couple of months the usage has been unusually high. This month however it has just been ridiculous, 35 gig in 2 weeks. The only difference in my internet usage this month is that i have been gaming more than usual. (Black ops on 360 if it matters)
Initially I thought someone had hacked the wireless connection so I changed passwords. High usage continued so I reset the modem, turned off wireless and only had the Xbox connected via cable. There was nothing else connected to the modem at this time, only normal gaming. In a three hour gaming session the meter said i went through 407.34MB for the first hour, 591.67MB second hour, 523.45MB for the third. (stats from BB HD) This is dl ul combined. Information off the net show this is massively over the actual usage. (correct me if I'm Wrong)For the periods I'm not playing, the usage calculator says there is no usage.

I've called the HD, logged a fault with them and talked to the advanced bb hd who suggested I run some tests for 5 days to compare usage. If you need my case # just flick me a PM. Was a bit annoying when the bb hd staff kept saying this was normal usage for gaming.

http://mygaming.co.za/news/pc/8661-Black-Ops-data-usage-tested.html
https://www.telecom.co.nz/bbcalculator

Cheers

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jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#433466 31-Jan-2011 23:00

Yeah just tried to log in and came up with 500 server error, but kept hitting refesh and after about 10 refeshes everything poped up as usual. This is also happening with Net Usage meter add on for firefox, i have to tell it to update at least 5 or 6 times - sometimes more before it can find the usage.

5uperTed

33 posts

Geek

#433811 1-Feb-2011 17:48

Hmmm Interesting... what tests did they want you to run?
Another thing maybe its geographical... I am in New Plymouth

cheers all

steve98

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#433862 1-Feb-2011 19:13

I'm glad I saw this thread... I am experiencing this issue too. I am on the 20GB plan which used to be plenty, but the last couple of months have seen me run out at about week three with the usage meter showing around a gig of usage per day which seems to be way off. We even spent a few days in hospital recently with nobody at home and the usage meter still measured hundreds of megabytes per day.

Yesterday I tried disabling lots of third party apps such as Dropbox etc in case one of them had gone rogue and was using my bandwidth but even with all of those off and only normal web browsing it still registered around a gig.

I don't really know how to monitor the usage from my end -- I run a Mac and have found it hard to find any bandwidth monitoring apps that don't also see LAN traffic as bandwidth usage. Anybody know any? Guess I better log a fault with the Helpdesk tomorrow.

Steve

kiwigeek1

637 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#433867 1-Feb-2011 19:25

for me it seems about right each day.. you should install the bmextreme from lp23.com and its free and gives pro options free for month for adv tuning.

that way you can click tray icon to see how much using in real time tcp and udp packets while ignore lan peer to peer traffic.. also put it the day your datacap ends and set to 20gv and it will count you down and even can set an alert when 5% is left..

adding my pc usage with the results on other pcs also using the web.. its pretty much spot on..

perhaps there is a problem with them tracking the usage on gaming networks.. maybe they found something they didnt add on and now doing so your usage is more correct LOL

NealR

426 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#433870 1-Feb-2011 19:30

If you think you're being charged incorrectly you need to give us a call on 123.

The comments I write on this forum do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer and as such cannot be taken as official statements of my employer.

steve98

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#433878 1-Feb-2011 19:40

kiwigeek1: you should install the bmextreme from lp23.com

Looks like it's PC only.

kiwigeek1

637 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#433881 1-Feb-2011 19:46

yep windows actually.. Im using XP but should work with win7

gives hourly, daily, monthly and yearly data usage reports

havent come across a low resource and useful similar package..

but no doubt there some mac and unix copycat programs...

JustAnotherJohn

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#434030 2-Feb-2011 00:35

NealR: If you think you're being charged incorrectly you need to give us a call on 123.

I've logged a fault with 120 regarding this but they advise to get a software monitor up and log the results then compare against the usage meter. The issue I'm having is that the high usage is from an xbox live game, no software I've found will track this usage. So its my word against the hd and they are insisting that this is normal xbox live usage and all users have this amount of data.

I've found data on line (links posted above) that supports the view that this usage is too high. Telecom's own usage calculator states this is too high (0.1GB estimate for two hours of gaming a month) But they still will not investigate. Until i provide data that is impossible to capture they wont even look at it.

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