realistically its gonna take a few days/nights to sort it out

Thanks guys for your suggestions.  Appreciate you took time to look at this.  I was also looking for any router settings that can help me track usage data on device basis in detail and any high level networking software that can watch traffic and track upload/download.

mtinwala:

 

Thanks guys for your suggestions.  Appreciate you took time to look at this.  I was also looking for any router settings that can help me track usage data on device basis in detail and any high level networking software that can watch traffic and track upload/download.

 

That totally depends on your kit.

So the question is, what routing hardware (i suspect its just a hg659) do you run?

Monitoring usage at the router is the only way to really properly do it these days, Mobile devices, Consoles, Computers, tvs even.. who knows, maybe you have a wifi capable toaster?  You would have to aggregate data from each source otherwise. And even still, that comes back to the question of do you have a rouge device on the network.

Im yet to see any mention of you checking DHCP logs, ARP tables etc to ensure you actually dont have a rouge device causing your havoc.

I am not sure how I can check DHCP logs or ARP tables.  In fact, that is what I would be interested in if that helps.  It is just a simple home network with two phones and a laptop.  There is no WiFi enabled toaster.  It is not that complicated. 

mtinwala:

 

I am not sure how I can check DHCP logs or ARP tables.  In fact, that is what I would be interested in if that helps.  It is just a simple home network with two phones and a laptop.  There is no WiFi enabled toaster.  It is not that complicated. 

 

You missed the question itself.

'So the question is, what routing hardware (i suspect its just a hg659) do you run?'

What Modem/Router do you have. we cant tell you anything until we have some idea what device your using.

No point in me saying well my arp table is in the diagnostics -> ARP table menu, or providing a link. Every Modem is different, some of us have massively complicated networks other have a simple AIO router/modem provided by some ISP (overtime the device isps put out change.)

im glad your interested in it, you obviously want to try to all options :) we just need that little key bit of information to help you along the way.

Modem is the standard Vodafone one - SHG1500.

http://www.howtogeek.com/222740/how-to-the-monitor-the-bandwidth-and-data-usage-of-individual-devices-on-your-network/

Looking at this post, I suspect it has hardly any capability to provide good usage data!!:(

The Vodafone station is only one of vodafones standard modems, as mentioned before the HG659 is also a common device.

I dont have one of those handy to pull up and let you know where to find the options though sadly. If i recall correctly those are like a brickwall to get ANY information out.

The howtogeek link your looking at is covering aftermarket firmwares for devices, Generally these do not handle the binarys for making a dsl connection at all requiring another device to terminate the DSL.

Suspect @Jaxar might be able to point you in the right direction with that router though to atleast tell if theres any rouge devices connected.

At times like this, can the ISP not work with the customer to solve the problem.

Can the ISP "watch" the customers traffic to see where the data is going or coming from?

kiwifidget:

 

At times like this, can the ISP not work with the customer to solve the problem.

 

Can the ISP "watch" the customers traffic to see where the data is going or coming from?

 

but think of the privacy concerns!

i do agree though, sounds like the CSR could have worked a little better with the OP to help come to a conclusion on a few simple tests.

hio77:

 

kiwifidget:

 

At times like this, can the ISP not work with the customer to solve the problem.

 

Can the ISP "watch" the customers traffic to see where the data is going or coming from?

 

 

but think of the privacy concerns!

 

 

 

Perhaps the GCSB would be worth a call!

kiwifidget:

 

 

 

Perhaps the GCSB would be worth a call!

 

careful now, even my tinfoil hat might come out ;)

I miss the old Paradise data tracking on cable circa early 2000's. On a company website you could see an amazing amount of detail, drill down by time period and see what IP's the data was going to.

Every ISP should offer that :-)

Lias:

 

I miss the old Paradise data tracking on cable circa early 2000's. On a company website you could see an amazing amount of detail, drill down by time period and see what IP's the data was going to.

 

Every ISP should offer that :-)

 

At the very least, splitting it up between upstream and downstream would help to pinpoint the vector of the usage a lot more quickly - If its a lot of downloaded data, Your not really talking about a seeding torrrent or openresolver for example.

The OP is a minimal amount of usage really. very well a single large update could make sense, although not consistently.

kiwifidget:

 

At times like this, can the ISP not work with the customer to solve the problem.

 

Can the ISP "watch" the customers traffic to see where the data is going or coming from?

 

look at who the isp is though, they dont exactally have a stellar customer service record going off all the threads on here