[TelstraClear] Internet usage alert email from TelstraClear

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shry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#569483 16-Jan-2012 14:59

jaymz: For those complaining that their steam download was on the metered connection, i suggest you read this:
http://www.telstraclear.co.nz/sub-sites/gaming-steam/steam-faqs.cfm

Particularly the point that says:
"While TelstraClear have aimed to mirror all of the available Steam content, due to the extensive games catalogue Steam offers which is regularly being added to, neither TelstraClear or Valve can guarantee that any content downloaded through the Steam client will be sourced from the unmetered TelstraClear Steam Content Server. We do expect the majority of users content to come from our server none the less."

And on their faq it links to third party applications that get past this limitation... its kind of a mixed message dont you think? "hey you may get charged for it, but use these applications"

And anyway surely blocking any outgoing/incoming connections from steam except the KNOWN tc server would also help

Ropata

318 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#569486 16-Jan-2012 15:02

jaymz: For those complaining that their steam download was on the metered connection, i suggest you read this:
http://www.telstraclear.co.nz/sub-sites/gaming-steam/steam-faqs.cfm

Particularly the point that says:
"While TelstraClear have aimed to mirror all of the available Steam content, due to the extensive games catalogue Steam offers which is regularly being added to, neither TelstraClear or Valve can guarantee that any content downloaded through the Steam client will be sourced from the unmetered TelstraClear Steam Content Server. We do expect the majority of users content to come from our server none the less."

As for the emails regarding the usage, mine seem to arrive mainly on/around time, but i have seen a few arrive hours late. It doesn't worry me as my Sonicwall monitors all my download and upload traffic and alerts me when i get close to my cap anyway :)

I think everyone knows this is the case. But why advertise it like it's almost guaranteed. A bit over hyped if you ask me.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#569489 16-Jan-2012 15:19

jaymz: For those complaining that their steam download was on the metered connection, i suggest you read this: [snip]

Ok, so I created the topic, and I can see how this has gone off topic - a lot.

My OP was about the usage notification not being on time. It had nothing to do with downloading Steam games. Someone pointed out they were getting notifications while downloading the games and people started discussing the Steam access - which is completely out of topic and in my case irrelevant.

jaymz

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#569494 16-Jan-2012 15:24

shry:

And anyway surely blocking any outgoing/incoming connections from steam except the KNOWN tc server would also help

Unless Telstra's content servers act as a proxy when the content is not located on the Telstra content server. You could block all the other locations in the world, but it won't make a difference if the content server acts as a proxy.

If their servers are not acting as proxies, and you are still being charged, i would confirm that your system is not connecting to another content server then work from there.

shry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#569503 16-Jan-2012 15:38

jaymz:

Unless Telstra's content servers act as a proxy when the content is not located on the Telstra content server. You could block all the other locations in the world, but it won't make a difference if the content server acts as a proxy.

The tc guy i spoke to said it would just fail if it wasnt on their servers, in my experiance the download gets suspended... but surely them forwarding me to an outside address isnt right?

jaymz:

If their servers are not acting as proxies, and you are still being charged, i would confirm that your system is not connecting to another content server then work from there.

I did that, but they didnt seem to care... their so called "investigation" that i asked for was an email 2 days later from the guy i talked to cutting and pasting that faq page... niccce

Anyways i've decided to cancel my account... and wouldnt you know it, they are either 2 busy and will call me back, or no one is there (really??) 6 days on and im still waiting for a call back

Ropata

318 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#569515 16-Jan-2012 16:07

Sorry Freitasm, my fault.

Skolink

1081 posts

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#569636 16-Jan-2012 20:50

In response to the OP, I have always received the notifications at varying delays after actually reaching 80% or 100%. I seem to recall getting notification of my second block being used, not having been notified of the first.
I can't quantify it, so didn't respond to the OP originally.

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freitasm

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#569687 16-Jan-2012 22:27

Back on topic...

I didn't receive any notification, and just checked my usage now: 125GB of 120GB in my plan. No 80% notification, no 100% notification. Four days to go.

Skolink

1081 posts

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#573499 26-Jan-2012 11:10

What about bill notifications? I always get the email a whole week after the bill was issued.

For example I got the email notification today 26 January, and the bill is dated 19 January. It is due 8 Feb, so 13 days to pay is ok, however I can't remember how much grace Telstra give before charging a penalty. The bill really should say. When I was with Telecom a couple of years ago it was only 1 week before they charged $7 penalty.

freitasm

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#573500 26-Jan-2012 11:11

I still get the paper bill, can't complain about that one.

simcore

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#573545 26-Jan-2012 12:44

To those who want to discuss issues with Unmetered access to Steam, please post in a relevant thread on the ON3 Network forums which I check regularly. If you are being metered for usage then there are three reasons.

1). The content you are attempting to download is not available on the content server

2). You are downloading from the TelstraClear Content Server but also other servers at the same time (which is how Steam will work in most cases without any intervention, like a torrent has multiple seeders/sources)

3). The content you are trying to get is actually being delivered via http, port 80, which at the current time applies to a select number of Steam titles, and are unavailable for delivery from any non Valve hosted content server (i.e. TelstraClear's)

Steam/Valve have said they are looking at providing http delivery from third party content servers, as well as providing advanced options for content downloading from within the Steam application/client. Such as limiting/restricting access to a specific content server that the user may receive unmetered access from.

Anyway, I'll be more than happy to assist anyone who's upset with it, and only ask that you have taken reasonable steps to minimise the usage risk to yourself, this is the most specific thread to post in.

Sorry for hijacking, Mauricio.

Ragnor

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#573614 26-Jan-2012 14:14

freitasm: Back on topic...

I didn't receive any notification, and just checked my usage now: 125GB of 120GB in my plan. No 80% notification, no 100% notification. Four days to go.

Telstraclear and Telecom both have shockingly slow and unreliable usage meters. Personally I blame the bean counters.

ISP's like Slingshot, Snap and Xnet seem to have done a much better job. I believe Xnet develop their inhouse, I remember some posts by Frio about it eg:
http://www.gpforums.co.nz/showthread.php?s=&postid=7638054#post7638054

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