is there any info on if we are getting a new ISP or a better package with are current one?
As in unlimited, and faster (if that’s needed)?
Ild offer to sort it out if that’s helpful.
I think the one we have is some kind of deal?
What do you want to do that you currently can’t?
Having a service with no monthly data cap would be nice. Currently, streaming data is not allowed on the Makerspace network. That can be a bit of a nuisance. For example, so much instructional content online these days is in the form of streaming video, and it would be useful if we could access it easily in the Space without danger of going over the monthly usage limit.
Yeah it’s free. But it’s capped data usage.
It’s okay for people to stream videos for that I guess, but it’s about conserving what we have, spaces like ours tend to have lots of people demanding a lot of internet bandwidth.
Our current internet connection is provided free by Andrews and Arnold, they also pay for a phone line.
The connection rate at time of writing is 39.8M (40M basically).
We’re connected to the BT Tulse Hill exchange via the TalkTalk network not BT.
Our line is actually capped out at 40M because the package we’ve been given, although when I last spoke with them they were up for trying a higher package once our line settled in. We might get 63-80M based on the figures from AA’s (68.3M) website and Sam Knows.
Our bandwidth allocation is 20.0 units per month, I don’t really understand what this means: Units
The utilisation figures indicate we’re not normally using anything near that, always less than 50%:
You can see in April and September someone went mad and there are random months on there that go up and down.
Interestingly the high utilisation of bandwidth is happening between 9am and 6pm weekdays which is their cheapest byte per unit time, so someone is presumably using the space’s broadband heavily during those times, who knows…
Rules
The rules were set out some time ago, so they are a bit dated:
I think given the utilisation we can try relaxing the rules and see how things go, if we find the connection is getting slow because too much streaming is taking place or the bandwidth is being eaten up I think we just need to review our use.
New, relaxed internet rules:
Other options
Wi-max/4G and over the air
These options are slower than we have and cost money and aren’t available in our area.
BT FTTC
This is what we have now, maxes out at a theoretical 80M
BT FTTP
This isn’t available in our area and would probably cost a lot given the distance to the exchange they’d have to lay fiber, 500> meters is apparently £500 basic fee + £1000 distance fee. Line length is over 1900 meters
Cable / Virgin Media
Not available.
Summary
We could get an unlimited package with someone, but Business Broadband is expensive, and normally not unlimited, and when it is it is often not very good. AA works well for us and it doesn’t cost us anything.
I will raise a ticket asking if they would regrade us to 80/20 from 40/10 and see how fast we go, but really I am surprised anyone even knew there were rules frankly, we don’t push them, people seem to be just being sensible, there is no monitoring, it’s just self regulated and we’ve had no issues so far.
The other option would be line bonding, we could pay for another telephone line and broadband ~£40-50pcm and bond the lines to double the speed.
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That sounds cool
I can’t think of any reason why you would need to increase the speed of the connection from what it currently is. Certainly not to go looking at other options like FTTP.
I’ve not had any problems working from there with latency sensitive apps like Lync/Skype and the line speed is unlikely to be the problem when it comes to poor downloads.
It would be nice to understand what the allowance of ‘20’ means and perhaps there is an uncapped option just so that you don’t have to worry about what people use. Broadband prices change so there may actually be a cheaper unlimited option now or the cap may not mean disconnection or charges if you go over. Free is a very nice price though.
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Was that April usage spike due to Arduino Day? If so, that suggests caution in holding more than one such event in a single month.
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Was there a lot of downloading then?
I think it’s the other way round.
You get 2.5GB per unit during office hours and 50GB per unit evenings and weekends. So we’re getting poor value for our units, if peak usage is 9-6.
Thinking of fair usage, I think we should be relaxed about the occasional YouTube video that isn’t instructional: when you see a WiFi code on a wall there’s an expectation that you can watch the odd cat video…
Streaming of movies, music and box sets, and downloading operating systems should be discouraged? How much does Spotify use for example?
Spotify runs at 160kb/s so 20kB/s so 70MB/hour.
In terms of A&A units, that’s .03 daytime units or .001 evening/weekend units per hour. Basically irrelevant.
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Good to know.
So: Spotify is in!
Potentially.
Spotify would account for 8.1 units if used 9 to 6 constantly this month.
Seems ok for now then.
I would say it needs keeping an eye on though.
Once we start to go over 50/60% regularly it would be good to start looking at upgrading.
These services take time to install (as im sure everyone has experienced when moving) and i would suggest upgrading well before we start maxing the cap to maintain a good service.
It would be interesting to see stats for arduino day and the restart night and ex mechina night.
I think that having A limit on what you can download (barring illegal stuff and massive downloads) isn’t great though as a general rule. It’s a place for creativity and with so much content on YouTube etc it would be nice to think we can do that as much as possible without feeling like we are being “naughty”.
And if it’s £50pm that’s just 50p per head.
Well, right now it’s free thanks to A&A’s generosity.
Some research into the cost of alternatives would be good.