[TelstraClear] Verifying TCL usage meter - getting detailed logs from TCL

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lchiu7

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Topic # 29776 19-Jan-2009 09:04

I am always surprised when I check my usage meter (inhome service) how much more TCL notes I have used over what I think I have used (but of course I don't have any hard data from my side on usage).

Just wondering if others feel the same way and has anybody ever asked TCL for detailed logs on their Internet usage? One would think, given we pay for usage, and has been noted many times on this forum before, dearly!, we should have a way to verify that the billing is correct. By that I mean, itemised logs showing where we have visited and the data for each site.

For example, we can check our own gas and electricity meters and if in doubt, ask for them to be calibrated. But we have no way to confirm that the TCL meter is correct or even close to correct.

If they are not able to provide this information, I wonder if it's grounds for some sort of consumer inquiry?

Just wondering.

Thanks

Larry

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Reply # 190476 19-Jan-2009 09:50

hmmmm

actually i do agree with you somewhat. I feel that i do use more than expected most months on Telstraclear.

However, im not exactly sure if i want someone poking around to see exactly where i spend my bandwidth.

I guess things to check are:

-anyone else in the house/flat using the net.

-wireless: is it secure?

-torrents/p2p programs: are you leaving it on 24/7 and inadvertantly seeding during this time?

The force is strong with this one!

BarTender

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Reply # 190533 19-Jan-2009 14:18

Or have some whaky content conversion app that also downloads daily video podcasts that you never watch

lchiu7

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Reply # 190565 19-Jan-2009 17:08

None of the above but I did have an incident a while back which Bartender kindly resolved that had an app downloading videos without my knowlege

I am sure I have no errant downloads, cracked wireless network or other things going on. It just seems that the usage exceeds what I think I have downloaded each month but it's really hard to check. I might ask TCL for logs (I have nothing to hide) but I suspect I won't be that lucky in getting anything useful

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BarTender

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Reply # 190669 19-Jan-2009 23:55

Depending upon what sort of router you have, it can syslog or log to file / SNMP all traffic over a month period (ie just the tcp flows, not the actual data) and that may assist you in finding out what is going on.... The truth will be in a LAN trace though.

Belsamber

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Reply # 190810 20-Jan-2009 15:11

No offence, but do you really expect TCL to keep logs of every single thing you and every other of their customers download? Not only would I consider it a breach of privacy (I wonder if it's legal actually), but it would also impart a significant processing/data storage/retrieval load...

Probably the best thing would be an old PC (~500MHz or better) with two NICs running ClarkConnect or a similar linux distro, which provides graphing and a transparent web proxy - this will show you exactly which websites are being accessed, and how much data you are using. Then you can compare it with the hourly readings you can download from the usagemeter. You might be able to do similar things with your router and/or third party firmware depending on your router model, but I don't have much experience there as I've been running a linux based router for the last 3 years. :-)

BarTender

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Reply # 190830 20-Jan-2009 16:46

Belsamber: No offence, but do you really expect TCL to keep logs of every single thing you and every other of their customers download? Not only would I consider it a breach of privacy (I wonder if it's legal actually), but it would also impart a significant processing/data storage/retrieval load...

They used to offer a site for customers in the old "paradise billing system" days that allowed customers to drill down on their activity. And erm, i doubt they track just in and out bytes through a particular interface in their billing system. As the SAN people say, disk is cheap, and we are a small country.
The only situation where it would be a breach of privacy is if they gave it out to third parties without a warrent or your agreement.

Remember phone companies need to keep all phone calls you made on record for at least 3 months in case the courts require it....

lchiu7

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Reply # 190880 20-Jan-2009 19:31

As bartender notes, of course the ISP maintain logs - doesn't necessarily mean they troll through them. I really don't care - I just want to make sure my billing is correct. After all another analogy is your cellphone - you get an itemised list of calls each month on the bill. How would you feel if all you got was one large bill saying 400 mins local, 30 minutes international - $300. I think you would want a bit more detail and if they told you each call you made, is that an invasion of privacy?

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Belsamber

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Reply # 190890 20-Jan-2009 19:59

lchiu7: As bartender notes, of course the ISP maintain logs

I'll have to disagree with you both. TelstraClear likely use the Juniper SRC for their volume billing (they own them at least - http://www.juniper.net/company/presscenter/pr/2008/pr_2008_07_31-10_14.html ) which give a level of info pretty much equivalent to RADIUS accounting - it measures bits up and bits down. They may have put in another device to do the monitoring of course, but why would they want to know what everyone's browsing? Lawful intercept covers that, but that kicks in when the ISP gets a court order, not before.

Also the internet is not a phone network, and it is actually easy and feasible to monitor your own traffic :-)

phindmarsh

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Reply # 190918 20-Jan-2009 21:50

... Probably the best thing would be an old PC (~500MHz or better) with two NICs running ClarkConnect or a similar linux distro, which provides graphing and a transparent web proxy - this will show you exactly which websites are being accessed, and how much data you are using. Then you can compare it with the hourly readings you can download from the usagemeter. You might be able to do similar things with your router and/or third party firmware depending on your router model, but I don't have much experience there as I've been running a linux based router for the last 3 years. :-)

I was about to suggest the same thing, I used to have a windows server running some logging software when I was with WorldxChange, and I have just bought a mac mini to replace it and in the process of setting up ntop to log internet traffic. Its good to have a 'second opinion' for traffic, then you can be alered if you are using too much a bit easier than logging into a website all the time.

Zigg

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Reply # 191007 21-Jan-2009 11:33

Whatever they use, it's messed up. I used 19.33 GB last month, but was charged for 3 "10 GB packs".
This month I'm currently at 5.52 GB but I downloaded something that was 3.8 GB and 2/3 of that didn't register on the meter! And 1 day has almost nothing used and the day after has nothing at all, which is not true as I've been using it daily

rossmnz

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Reply # 195909 15-Feb-2009 14:40

im finding that TC useage meters are stuffed.

Apparently i have used 8gb+ this month, but from my records its not much more than 4gb.

I dont seed torrents or whatever either......mystifying.

Did you try to ask re: accuracy of data anyone?

The force is strong with this one!

Ragnor

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Reply # 195916 15-Feb-2009 16:08

Seems about right to me...

Screeb

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Reply # 195917 15-Feb-2009 16:23

Does Tomato log the bandwidth from the start of the month, or have you set it to log from the 9th?

Ragnor

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Reply # 195975 16-Feb-2009 01:35

I set it to the same as my billing period

Nety

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Reply # 195985 16-Feb-2009 08:29

rossmnz: im finding that TC useage meters are stuffed.

Apparently i have used 8gb+ this month, but from my records its not much more than 4gb.

I dont seed torrents or whatever either......mystifying.

Did you try to ask re: accuracy of data anyone?

You do realise that torrent software has a very nasty amount of overhead traffic? This is not included in the download or upload amount but it does add a lot to the total traffic used.

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