Windows 10: Metered Broadband Thoughts

This does not apply to myself or I suspect many others of this forum having unlimited usage -
but what would be the effect on Windows 10 Home users the bulk of whom have a standard
low cost package. These often have quite limited monthly download allowances.
Forced updates, apps running online with advertising thrown in as as a free extra, starting automatically in the start screen. Then there is one drive which will appeal for automatic backup etc.
Those I am aware of send probably 10 emails a month, buy a couple of items on Amazon and check friends on Facebook. Little or no streaming services are used.
MS seem to have a mental block about the volume of high speed unlimited connections that truly exist.

Is this worth further discussion.

:)

 

Can't Set USB Mobile Broadband Adapter As Metered

Sorry, that's no help because there is no place to set the connection as a metered connection.

To quote from the Microsoft article on Metered Internet connections: FAQ :

Note

• 
  Ethernet network connections can't be set to metered.
  

Therefore, because the USB Mobile Broadband adapters are installed as Ethernet adapters, it is not possible to set them as metered connections.

This true even with a USB Mobile Broadband adapter that uses the generic Microsoft "Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device" driver.

 

Windows 10 mobile broadband unmetered does not permit updates

I have mobile broadband. I have it set to 'not-metered'

Despite this, the Windows 10 updated do not download do to 'metered limits'

Please assist?

 

this also applies to people with slow BB

I have unlimited, but due to the speed of it, the things you mention are a pain in the wotsit

 

The users of Smart Phones on the cell services in my area and those using the cell service hot spots for their computer do have a monthly data download limit, could be 1GB [my wife's], 3GB or 10GB. It's real easy to exceed the limit using online storage sites, especially when backing up a computer to the cloud.

 

That's why Microsoft put a switch in devices for MBB and also in network for metered connections. If you explore a little in settings app you'll find them in both 8 & 10.

 

Microsoft has had suggestions for years to give an Ethernet connection the ability to be considered as Metered. If you think about it, if you are running an ISP which does charge you for extra usage, whether your computer is running a Wireless or Wired connection, that usage will still be counted.

I certainly understand the reason for metering a 3G or 4G connection, but why not at least have the ability to meter all of them.

By the way, I just noticed the Data Usage listing which does show WiFi and LAN usage. The Storage Settings on that same page may be useful to some folks.

 

I use for my Vodafone MBB. One just needs to remember to reset it.

 

Hi there

Sometimes even on Metered connections you might get FREE unlimited between say 23.00 and 07.00 or something similar. I haven't had a metered connection for years so I'm not sure -- but in the days of HD and soon 4000K multi-media and all sorts of streaming services metered connections should really go "The way of the Dodo". A 4000K movie would eat up your 1GB allowance with only a SMALL FRACTION of it being downloaded.

While some rural areas might have trouble in providing fast cabled broadband there really is NO excuse these days NOT to provide unlimited broadband. It's part of 21st century like electricity etc.

As for updates etc on slow broadband connections -- if Ms used say something like Bittorrent to supply updates a lot of people would certainly benefit. There's nothing wrong in using torrent delivery for LEGAL software and this can run nicely at night etc for those with slow broadband without killing the rest of the time they might want to use the internet while downloading.

Consumer power can work wonders -- if your provider doesn't give unlimited broadband then switch and if not possible get involved in some of those consumer action groups. Even HUGE companies react once the "Dollar power" is felt.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Jimbo, in larger countries where the Conglomerates actually run things and not the government, two words: No chance!

 

....and that's the truth!

 

Nit pick. It's 4K Ultra, not 4000K (which would be 4M).

Are you suggesting that Wireless boardband has no excuse not to be unlimited? If so, you really don't understand the realities of the broadband spectrum. They are limited in by physics in how much data they can send across a particular frequency spectrum, and they have to support X number of customers. They can't just add more bandwidth because the frequencies are controlled by the government, and are often EXTREMELY expensive to buy when they come up for auction every few years.

We can always count on you Jimbo to self-righteously demand that Microsoft do something they're already doing *Wink Go into your Windows 10 settings for Windows updates, and notice there is a setting to download directly from Microsoft, or to download from Microsoft and other PC's on the internet. ie, essentially bit torrent.

Microsoft has also had technology built into Windows since Windows XP called BITS, or Background Intelligent Transfer Service, which watches your bandwidth and only downloads updates when your network is not being used.

It's pretty rare that people have more than one choice of broadband provider that isn't metered. For instance, here I have cable which isn't metered, and DSL which also isn't.. but DSL is much slower than cable. Wireless is metered in all forms.

 

For ages, less developed countries have envied those large or modern, rich countries for but for internet it may be different. Around here, only metered internet services are for some 3G and prepaid phone ISPs. In average, internet is not too fast, 10 - 15 Mbps down with much faster services only downtown in larger cities. 4G is only coming in now and is not metered in terms of data limits.

 

Hi there
Most of the NON cabled DOMESTIC broadband comes in via phone lines rather than Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi element is the piece INSIDE your house when you use a router so the availability of Wi-Fi frequencies is a non issue here.

Public Wi-Fi or broadband that is 100% supplied by Wi-Fi I'd agree but slow broadband via the PHONE has really no problems for unlimited or un-metered access --- the slow rate in any case is self limiting if too many subscribers are trying to use it at the same time -. There's Satellite technology too these days to provide signals to the EXCHANGE from which wired connections (standard telephone) can be used to connect subscribers.


I don't buy into the theory that lack of Wi-Fi frequencies is the reason companies can't provide un-metered connections. It's something else entirely -- Corporate Dollar earning / shareholder power etc. However Consumers DO have a role to play in this in a lot of places.


I'm not sure about the USA but the EU is quite active in removing the monopoly of a lot of the older Telecomms companies and I n most countries within the EU / EEA - especially in urban areas you get a reasonable choice of both mobile phone providers and broadband. I believe in the UK for example there are at least 3 or 4 BIG players with a lot of smaller operators -- the 4 big ones are Sky, Talk-Talk, Virgin media, Plusnet who all provide reasonably cheap unlimited broadband (in cabled areas).

For example --Talk-talk TalkTalk The others are all similar. I'm just quoting suppliers -- I don't know anything about their customer service etc -- my point was to say that unmetered broadband is at least in the EU /EEA is becoming more the norm than the exception.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Which Country has the Fastest Internet in the World It has nothing to do with how large or economically powerful or industrialize a country is. This list surprised me.