BajaNomad

W-T-F ?

MrBillM - 1-14-2011 at 11:32 AM

FYI, That's "What The FAP" ?

After Six years, I've received my First FAP Slap from Hughes and it leaves more questions than answers.

Not being one who normally downloads much, I've never come close to the 200MB limit at the low end.

However, I needed to renew a McAfee subscription. File turned out to be 125MB. My usage prior to the download was under 10MB so "No Problema".

HAH !

Halfway through the download, it slowed to ZIP and checking the Stats, I found that the FAP had been invoked although MY Bandwidth meter said that a total of 94MB had been used.

Deciding to simply wait until reset ayer, I once again downloaded the file. As usual, I noticed that it started out at a respectable rate (80K+), but tapered off as time went on, finishing at around 25K. It did finish, however, and the MOST interesting thing was that MY Bandwidth meter read a total of 143MB usage since reset, but Hughes read 128 so theirs was less than mine. So much for the thought that they were reading higher.

I've been fielding questions from other Hughes Subscribers in the last few months regarding the FAP situation, but had no answers because I'd never experienced it. Now that I have, I still haven't got a clue and my experience has been that you don't ever really get a straight answer from the source.

motoged - 1-14-2011 at 11:51 AM

WTF are you talking about :?::?::lol:

As a Caribbe Garifuna guy in Costa Rica said to me one time when my Spanish was terrible...."Talk English to me, mon!":biggrin:

maspacifico - 1-14-2011 at 12:41 PM

FAP is fair access policy....when you are using satellite internet service and exceed the allowable bandwidth for a 24 hour period, you get slowed down to a crawl. If you have to download an update there is a time period where you are allowed to use as much as you want. If it never happened before I wouldn't worry about it. You can upgrade your subscription and get more bandwidth.

Woooosh - 1-14-2011 at 12:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by maspacifico
FAP is fair access policy....when you are using satellite internet service and exceed the allowable bandwidth for a 24 hour period, you get slowed down to a crawl. If you have to download an update there is a time period where you are allowed to use as much as you want. If it never happened before I wouldn't worry about it. You can upgrade your subscription and get more bandwidth.


I do wish there was a waiver for software downloads. I understand the provider not wanting people to watch movie streams all day- but download-only options for new and updated software packages are becoming the norm.

maspacifico - 1-14-2011 at 12:58 PM

You can set up your computer to ask you if you want to download something....I think its under Tools on your browser bar. But, don't bank on me! Seems I spend half my time on the computer saying no to updates! I only upgrade when I'm using DSL

Russ - 1-14-2011 at 01:12 PM

Also if you've been a good boy for a month or so there is a free chit you can use to get back up to speed. You just have to figure out where it is though. Or you can buy one for, I think, $10.
If you're using a wire less router someone may have used it also and put you over the limit. I have a bunch of folks using my Hughesnet and they're all very frugal with their usage. But sometimes upgrades are automatic and that'll cause the slow down. Sounds as though you don't have much to worry about in anyway. Enjoy

[Edited on 1-14-2011 by Russ]

Pescador - 1-14-2011 at 01:21 PM

You can also set your computer to download during offpeak hours which is something like 12to 5 Eastern Standard Time. If I have a large download, I just plug everything in and schedule it for the Non-FAP time. Since there is not much traffic that time of the night, the downloads usually come in faster also.

Bob and Susan - 1-14-2011 at 02:35 PM

it's really no BIG deal anymore since you canrestore your allowance

you need to know your ip number ex: http://192.166.1.7/
edit: this link wont work for you...

then system status

download allowance status

then on the bottom restore status

i'd secure your wireless as neighbors MAY be using your system
they tend not to tell you;D

[Edited on 1-14-2011 by Bob and Susan]

toneart - 1-14-2011 at 04:21 PM

There was a story on the six o'clock local Sacramento news about a service provider named "Frontier" (never heard of them) slapping a customer with an increase to $100/month for their internet connection. It was a new, tiered rate system, based on "excessive" bandwidth usage that they had just implemented without warning. The customer only exceeded 100 mgs. The story went on to say that this may be the coming trend for all the ISPs. :wow:

mackconsult - 1-14-2011 at 04:53 PM

Frontier just bought out Qwest in western portland area.
Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
There was a story on the six o'clock local Sacramento news about a service provider named "Frontier" (never heard of them) slapping a customer with an increase to $100/month for their internet connection. It was a new, tiered rate system, based on "excessive" bandwidth usage that they had just implemented without warning. The customer only exceeded 100 mgs. The story went on to say that this may be the coming trend for all the ISPs. :wow:

Loretana - 1-14-2011 at 06:10 PM

Frontier also bought Verizon in Oregon.

bajamedic - 1-14-2011 at 09:12 PM

MrBillM

When you exceed their Fair Access Policy, you can go to http://services.hughesnet.com/ , access the SERVICE TOOLS section, at the bottom of the page you can activate a restore token, I believe you can get two per month for free. You can purchase additional ones for $10.00. Also, I have found that the use meter is inaccurate 99.9% of the time. JH

Bob and Susan - 1-15-2011 at 07:05 AM

if the meter is inaccurate...what do you use to monitor your usage?

Bandwidth Inaccuracy

MrBillM - 1-15-2011 at 10:37 AM

Speaking of Medic's remedies, Been THERE. Note again what I had said. The reason for the post was simply to troll for any similar erratic experiences with Hughes Download Allowance settings.

I wasn't unaware of the "Tokens", Restoration and whatever.

MY curious concern was with the FACT that, in the initial instance, the Hughes Download Allowance "appeared" to be off from the Bandwidth Meter Usage by about FIFTY Percent i.e. 200MB disappeared with a meter usage indication of around 95MB.

AND, reading along in that same post, NOTE that a subsequent analysis indicated that the Hughes was reading at a LOWER rate than the Bandwidth meter leaving the question still unanswered except by assuming that Hughes has a problem.

After thinking about it for a few minutes, I realized that the Bandwidth meter differential in the second case would make sense IF the Bandwidth Meter is reading Upload AND Download usage which seems to be the case while the Hughes specifically addresses Downloads.

When I've tested it, the Meter App appears to be VERY Close to correct usage and whatever small difference I've seen is, no doubt, attributable to automatic activity. As an example, the McAfee download progress tracked VERY close to the Bandwidth meter readings as it progressed.

It is correct that I'll "probably" never see it again or, at least, for a year when I'll need to download the McAfee Bloat again. It's just one of those MANY nagging questions I like to obsess over until I find an answer or give up. Which is good, considering that scheduling a download for an off-hour (Late Night) Non-FAP period would be inconvenient since NONE of my computers are EVER operating unless I'm using them and, to whatever extent possible, I NEVER enable Downloads at the Vendor's option. Right now, I'm looking at an icon telling me that Microsoft is ready to download updates when I authorize.

BTW, although Motoged's Q has obviously been answered, the REASON for my original wording lies in something I was told years ago and often use as a guide.

"Never worry about being too technical when asking a question. If someone has no clue what you're talking about, they have nothing to contribute".

Try THIS ! A few minutes ago, the Hughes meter showed a total of 13MB download with the other showing 21.5. At a last check of the two figures a few seconds ago, the Hughes meter shows EIGHT MB versus 22.1. Gained BACK Five on the Hughes.

Velly Strange as Charlie would Say.


[Edited on 1-15-2011 by MrBillM]

turtleandtoad - 1-15-2011 at 11:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
There was a story on the six o'clock local Sacramento news about a service provider named "Frontier" (never heard of them) slapping a customer with an increase to $100/month for their internet connection. It was a new, tiered rate system, based on "excessive" bandwidth usage that they had just implemented without warning. The customer only exceeded 100 mgs. The story went on to say that this may be the coming trend for all the ISPs. :wow:


This really isn't about Mexico or Baja but affects all of us, including DK and this forum. So I'm going to add my comments anyway.

The story is correct! In fact, the FCC just passed a couple of new rules that were supposed to support Net Neutrality but are very weak and do not really give net neutrality the support we were hoping for. I believe that Frontier is using one of the many loopholes in the recent FCC rules concerning Net Neutrality.

Every one of you should be following this Net Neutrality fight. Basically, it's the users against the ISP's and Cell/Mobile Companies. The companies want to use a 'tier' system to compute rates, control upload/download speeds of select sites, and be able to block access to websites that may compete or disagree with them.

The users are fighting to keep the net open to everyone and to prevent any kind of 'tier' billing system. This is called Net Neutrality.

President Obama campaigned for Net Neutrality and even selected a person to run the FCC that agreed with him. However, the recent ruling doesn't support net neutrality. One of the bad things that it does do is allow the cable/phone companies to tier price access to the net by mobile devices. The good thing is that it does not allow the blocking of specific sites.

If you want to keep track of what's going on, you can just google Net Neutrality, you will find tons of info on it. But beware, some of the sites are fronts for the big corporations. Anyone that wants specific sites and info can PM me.

bajamedic - 1-15-2011 at 11:46 AM

Maybe I should have phrased my response to “the download meter is slow to respond to actual usage”, given enough time the download meter will eventually show your remaining allowance. JH:rolleyes:

toneart - 1-15-2011 at 02:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by turtleandtoad
Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
There was a story on the six o'clock local Sacramento news about a service provider named "Frontier" (never heard of them) slapping a customer with an increase to $100/month for their internet connection. It was a new, tiered rate system, based on "excessive" bandwidth usage that they had just implemented without warning. The customer only exceeded 100 mgs. The story went on to say that this may be the coming trend for all the ISPs. :wow:


This really isn't about Mexico or Baja but affects all of us, including DK and this forum. So I'm going to add my comments anyway.

The story is correct! In fact, the FCC just passed a couple of new rules that were supposed to support Net Neutrality but are very weak and do not really give net neutrality the support we were hoping for. I believe that Frontier is using one of the many loopholes in the recent FCC rules concerning Net Neutrality.

Every one of you should be following this Net Neutrality fight. Basically, it's the users against the ISP's and Cell/Mobile Companies. The companies want to use a 'tier' system to compute rates, control upload/download speeds of select sites, and be able to block access to websites that may compete or disagree with them.

The users are fighting to keep the net open to everyone and to prevent any kind of 'tier' billing system. This is called Net Neutrality.

President Obama campaigned for Net Neutrality and even selected a person to run the FCC that agreed with him. However, the recent ruling doesn't support net neutrality. One of the bad things that it does do is allow the cable/phone companies to tier price access to the net by mobile devices. The good thing is that it does not allow the blocking of specific sites.

If you want to keep track of what's going on, you can just google Net Neutrality, you will find tons of info on it. But beware, some of the sites are fronts for the big corporations. Anyone that wants specific sites and info can PM me.


My post was adding information to the whole topic which is not Baja related, although it could be if the downloads were originated in Baja.

I had written the Net Neutrality aspect too, but then deleted it so as to not make this political. Now it may get bounced to Off Topic to where it will die due to subjective vitriol and civil unrest. :rolleyes::yawn:

One Last Thought

MrBillM - 1-15-2011 at 02:48 PM

Paying more attention to the Hughes Download Allowance Meter as a result of this one FAP Attack, I've now noticed that it adjusts downward continually (minute-by-minute ?) as a result of disuse rather than having specific reset intervals.

Which makes sense and is worth knowing, I suppose.

HughesNut data meter going backwards...

BCSTech - 1-20-2011 at 09:09 PM

Think of the HughesNut daily data allowance like a water storage tank (AKA tinaco). The water trickles in replacing the water going out. But it doesn't trickle in as fast as it flow out.

If you use too much water/data too quickly, watering your lawn or doing too much laundry, you drain the tank and the water going out drops to the trickle of water going in. Eventually the tank refills (unless you keep draining it).

HughesNut users who want to check their use, go here:

http://customercare.myhughesnet.com/frm_usage.cfm

You'll need your Site ID. Click here: http://192.168.0.1 This should take you to the web pages that live inside your HughesNut modem (may not work on some systems if you have a router in the way). Click the System Info button and you'll find your Site ID.

CortezBlue - 1-20-2011 at 09:37 PM

Easy Fix

Download the FREE microsoft security software that includes virus protection. I have'nt ran Symantec, or McAfee since Microsoft came out with there service.

Now that being said, I am and IT specialist and I am very aware of how not to get infected.

Short thread hijack to follow...

BCSTech - 1-21-2011 at 07:45 AM

At a minimum, everyone should be running current AntiVirus software but so many people don't (long rant here).

I've been using Microsoft's Security Essentials on all my computers for the last year or so. But MSE failed to stop an infected web site that used a Java exploit to automatically install the Security Tool Virus.

First thing it did was to turn off MSE and change my desktop. I had a heck of a time getting it out. Would not let me into Windows Task Manager. Had to reboot into safe mode and do a system restore.

I then ran StopZilla and it found dozens of viruses missed by MSE, even after a couple of manual, full-system scans. Not saying MSE is bad, and I agree it can't hurt to install it.

Russ - 1-21-2011 at 08:59 AM

quote from turtleandtoad ,
"Every one of you should be following this Net Neutrality fight. Basically, it's the users against the ISP's and Cell/Mobile Companies. The companies want to use a 'tier' system to compute rates, control upload/download speeds of select sites, and be able to block access to websites that may compete or disagree with them."
Here's an article I read where the big hitters, Verizon, are sewing the FCC.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01...
Appears to me the ISP's want to control how much we use their services and the content allowed. Viva! Freedom of the air waves!

Who Want WHAT ?

MrBillM - 1-21-2011 at 10:20 AM

I Think what the ISPs want is to make a PROFIT.

And, I trust the profit motive a whole lot more than I do the Government's motives.

While I would agree that there should be no content discrimination, I also believe that the ISPs have a right to charge fairly for VOLUME of usage.

As someone who averages about 40 MB per day of usage, I resent the idea that I may have to pay for someone else who uses significantly more. There is NO reason for me (or anyone else) to subsidize the viewing choices of others.

I WELCOME Fair-Market Volume-based pricing.

Bajajorge - 1-21-2011 at 10:28 AM

Hughesnet works fine if all you do is Email and just look at web pages without any downloads. Start downloading and Hughesnet puts the brakes on you for 24 hours. I downloaded a large Garmin upgrade for my GPS, Hughesnet put the brakes on big time. Same thing with TurboTax or any YouTube. I live in a place where Hughesnet is the only service with any type speed, so I just gotta live with it.
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
FYI, That's "What The FAP" ?

After Six years, I've received my First FAP Slap from Hughes and it leaves more questions than answers.

Not being one who normally downloads much, I've never come close to the 200MB limit at the low end.

However, I needed to renew a McAfee subscription. File turned out to be 125MB. My usage prior to the download was under 10MB so "No Problema".

HAH !

Halfway through the download, it slowed to ZIP and checking the Stats, I found that the FAP had been invoked although MY Bandwidth meter said that a total of 94MB had been used.

Deciding to simply wait until reset ayer, I once again downloaded the file. As usual, I noticed that it started out at a respectable rate (80K+), but tapered off as time went on, finishing at around 25K. It did finish, however, and the MOST interesting thing was that MY Bandwidth meter read a total of 143MB usage since reset, but Hughes read 128 so theirs was less than mine. So much for the thought that they were reading higher.

I've been fielding questions from other Hughes Subscribers in the last few months regarding the FAP situation, but had no answers because I'd never experienced it. Now that I have, I still haven't got a clue and my experience has been that you don't ever really get a straight answer from the source.