Bandwidth Usage. Can I hide it? - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

ChasingAmy · 02-19-2005, 03:41 PM

I read briefly on another forum that a Cable user had set up the following:

"Luckily my good buddy Ungood told me about setting up a light timer with the old Motorolla cable modems, and apparently it resets the counter because they use the internal counter on the modem, rather than tracking it on their end."

I am woundering if any of you are familiar with this kind of set up? And if there is a setup available for a DSL modem D-Link 300G?

I have been downloading quite a bit on my new provider (Telus) 40 Gigs last month and 50 already this month. Their acceptable Usage terms say 10 Gigs a month max, I haven't received a phone call from them yet... but I was thinking if I do in the near future I could sett up something like mentioned above.

I have searched the net but haven't found any work arounds yet, I will keep looking and post here if I find anything.

Anything would be greatly appreciated!

Kris.

heyal256 · 02-19-2005, 08:41 PM

You can't compare how cable montors bandwidth, and how DSL monitors bandwidth.

For cable, since the bandwidth is shared by a node (neighborhood), looking at an internal counter on a modem makes sense.
For DSL, the bandwidth is not shared at the neighborhood end, you have a dedicated "line" from the central office to your home, so they only need to check their equipment to see how much bandwidth you have used.

In your case, i don't think that you can hide your usage.

Slavakion · 02-19-2005, 08:52 PM

Ten gigs is pretty small. Over the summer, I think I hit 10 gigs a week. But then again, it's DSL, different than cable.

bendsley · 02-19-2005, 09:55 PM

Actually, the DOCSIS framework allows cable companies to monitor anything on the cable modem they want to. The are also able to monitor bandwidth from specific IP addresses via MAC address.

When a cable modem comes online, it talks to a Universal Broadband Router (UBR) and the UBR tells the modem to download a certain file from a server. The first process involves getting this information. The config file is stored on a TFTP Server. Once your modem downloads this config, it processes it and if the CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) is successful, your modem will become online.

Anyone who tells you that your ISP cannot track your bandwidth is lying.

As for DSL, this usually is detected right at the DSLAM, where the DSL lines come together before heading to the main CO.

DSLAM: A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) delivers exceptionally high-speed data transmission over existing copper telephone lines. A DSLAM separates the voice-frequency signals from the high-speed data traffic and controls and routes digital subscriber line (xDSL) traffic between the subscriber's end-user equipment (router, modem, or network interface card [NIC]) and the network service provider's network.

ChasingAmy · 02-20-2005, 01:14 AM

Thanks guys, guess I will wait for a phone call from Telus so they can bitch at me... until then I will download like a madman!

Then I will look for a new ISP! ;P

Cheers!

doubleaught · 02-20-2005, 01:22 AM

as bendsley notes, tracking bandwidth usage on cable networks quite easy. I myself have seen the interface used to do it... it was clear I was a heavy user, but not an abuser. Only one other house in my node was a heavy user, everyone else used almost nothing in comparison... But see, my isp really only cares about upstream bandwidth, so as long as I keep torrent file use low I'm good to go.

02-19-2005, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
ChasingAmy Psycho Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kimberley, British Columbia	Bandwidth Usage. Can I hide it? I read briefly on another forum that a Cable user had set up the following: "Luckily my good buddy Ungood told me about setting up a light timer with the old Motorolla cable modems, and apparently it resets the counter because they use the internal counter on the modem, rather than tracking it on their end." I am woundering if any of you are familiar with this kind of set up? And if there is a setup available for a DSL modem D-Link 300G? I have been downloading quite a bit on my new provider (Telus) 40 Gigs last month and 50 already this month. Their acceptable Usage terms say 10 Gigs a month max, I haven't received a phone call from them yet... but I was thinking if I do in the near future I could sett up something like mentioned above. I have searched the net but haven't found any work arounds yet, I will keep looking and post here if I find anything. Anything would be greatly appreciated! Kris. __________________ Fill the void in your life... and do something.

02-19-2005, 08:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Slavakion Mjollnir Incarnate Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lost in thought	Ten gigs is pretty small. Over the summer, I think I hit 10 gigs a week. But then again, it's DSL, different than cable. __________________ Homo homini deus est. Ludwig Feuerbach

02-19-2005, 09:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: texas	Actually, the DOCSIS framework allows cable companies to monitor anything on the cable modem they want to. The are also able to monitor bandwidth from specific IP addresses via MAC address. When a cable modem comes online, it talks to a Universal Broadband Router (UBR) and the UBR tells the modem to download a certain file from a server. The first process involves getting this information. The config file is stored on a TFTP Server. Once your modem downloads this config, it processes it and if the CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) is successful, your modem will become online. Anyone who tells you that your ISP cannot track your bandwidth is lying. As for DSL, this usually is detected right at the DSLAM, where the DSL lines come together before heading to the main CO. DSLAM: A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) delivers exceptionally high-speed data transmission over existing copper telephone lines. A DSLAM separates the voice-frequency signals from the high-speed data traffic and controls and routes digital subscriber line (xDSL) traffic between the subscriber's end-user equipment (router, modem, or network interface card [NIC]) and the network service provider's network. __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane." Last edited by bendsley; 02-21-2005 at 07:51 AM.

02-20-2005, 01:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
ChasingAmy Psycho Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kimberley, British Columbia	Thanks guys, guess I will wait for a phone call from Telus so they can bitch at me... until then I will download like a madman! Then I will look for a new ISP! ;P Cheers! __________________ Fill the void in your life... and do something.

02-19-2005, 08:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
heyal256 Not so great lurker Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NY	You can't compare how cable montors bandwidth, and how DSL monitors bandwidth. For cable, since the bandwidth is shared by a node (neighborhood), looking at an internal counter on a modem makes sense. For DSL, the bandwidth is not shared at the neighborhood end, you have a dedicated "line" from the central office to your home, so they only need to check their equipment to see how much bandwidth you have used. In your case, i don't think that you can hide your usage.

02-20-2005, 01:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
doubleaught Psycho Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: OMFG BRB	as bendsley notes, tracking bandwidth usage on cable networks quite easy. I myself have seen the interface used to do it... it was clear I was a heavy user, but not an abuser. Only one other house in my node was a heavy user, everyone else used almost nothing in comparison... But see, my isp really only cares about upstream bandwidth, so as long as I keep torrent file use low I'm good to go.