Episode 49 - Avoid The Comcast Cap, SIP vs. Skype [Discussion]

[travislopes]

Veronica's back! Track monthly Internet usage across all your devices. Should you burn in a new Hard Drive?

Watch and download this Veronica-filled edition of Tekzilla here. (http://revision3.com/tekzilla/packets/)

[willmccoy]

Seems to be missing show notes??? And a complete large xvid??

[computoman]

Last I heard, the Feds have denied Comcassts usage cap. Comcasst is appealing this decision. Time to get a spare router in case tomato does not work. There is a problem with the download of the large xvid.

[whoisscott]

Comcat

what was patricks's hello kitty import site?

[-james-]

How long is this episode supposed to be as using Zencast I got 217mb and 14:27 mins and it cuts out midway though a viewer question.

I wonder how many people use Zencast as I have found it to be very error prone, I often find several copies of CNET podcasts have downloaded themselves over the days following their original release and zencast makes some files like last weeks Tekzilla 3.99GB.

[chuckles]

Seems to be missing show notes??? And a complete large xvid??

There was a problem with the large xvid encode. We'll get it replaced as soon as we can.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

-chuckles-

[chuckles]

How long is this episode supposed to be as using Zencast I got 217mb and 14:27 mins and it cuts out midway though a viewer question.

I wonder how many people use Zencast as I have found it to be very error prone, I often find several copies of CNET podcasts have downloaded themselves over the days following their original release and zencast makes some files like last weeks Tekzilla 3.99GB.

If zencast is grabbing the large.xvid.avi feed, then it is because of the error with this week's encode on our end. We're gonna get the file replaced as soon as we can on our servers.

-chuckles-

[chuckles]

The fixed large xvid (http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.avi/bitcast-a.bitgravity.com/revision3/web/tekzilla/0049/tekzilla--0049--packets--large.xvid.avi) is now available for download.

-chuckles-

[charliekwalker]

When the hell are you going to build one? That fake brick, I remember that from when Martha Quinn was a DJ on MTV, not to mention it's been seen in countless high school plays/musicals.

[zero456]

The fixed large xvid (http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.avi/bitcast-a.bitgravity.com/revision3/web/tekzilla/0049/tekzilla--0049--packets--large.xvid.avi) is now available for download.

-chuckles-
It seems that the server is still hosting the broken, 217 MB version.

[havasu]

Spinrite from grc.com will stress test a hard drive. It is rather expensive though.

[smeerkaas]

Veronica, what happened to your finger? Did you cut yourself?

[chuckles]

It seems that the server is still hosting the broken, 217 MB version.

Give it another try.. it should have propagated across the entire CDN by now.

-chuckles-

[kern802]

I'm glad Veronica is back. Thanks for another great show guys, it put a big smile on my face! :)

[snizzsnuzzlr]

Give it another try.. it should have propagated across the entire CDN by now.

-chuckles-

The file has not propogated.

Sometimes the best thing to do is upload another file with another filename and change the URL on Rev3 to point to the new file. Update the RSS feed too. Else everyone expecting to find a full version with any --no-clobber software will never get the full episode automatically. Trying to replace the file across the CDN can be sketchy at best. GL!

Edit: The small Xvid file is truncated at 144MB/26 minutes and needs fixed too pls.

[-james-]

Am glad it is not just zencast causing me problems, they are still advertising dl.tv on their main page with Patrick but according to wikipedia he left a long while ago.

[elisa]

Still a 217Mb large xvid file :(

[davmoo]

Last I heard, the Feds have denied Comcassts usage cap. Comcasst is appealing this decision.

You heard very wrong.

The FCC order and Comcast's appeal has absolutely nothing to do with Comcast's new capping policy. The FCC order was that Comcast was to stop interfering with bittorrent traffic, and that is the order Comcast is appealing.

To my knowledge, and I've been following closely simply because I expect federal intervention on one level or another or consumer legal action, the FCC has yet to comment in any fashion about Comcast's proposed bandwidth caps.

And on the subject of bandwidth monitoring, I switched from DD-WRT to Tomato on my WRT54G a few days ago. The bandwidth monitoring facilities of Tomato seem to work very well. When one has 4 or 5 PCs and a Mac going at any given time, along with two TiVos and various other hardware connected to the net, monitoring at the router is really the only option.

And even if Comcast does the best thing (aside from dropping the cap idea) and puts up a bandwidth monitor, a wise Comcast customer will still monitor their usage in another fashion too, just to avoid Comcast making "mistakes".

[fsugino]

Can't believe you didn't suggest Spinrite for burning in a hard drive (Windows only).

[computoman]

You heard very wrong.

The FCC order and Comcast's appeal has absolutely nothing to do with Comcast's new capping policy. The FCC order was that Comcast was to stop interfering with bittorrent traffic, and that is the order Comcast is appealing.

To my knowledge, and I've been following closely simply because I expect federal intervention on one level or another or consumer legal action, the FCC has yet to comment in any fashion about Comcast's proposed bandwidth caps.

And on the subject of bandwidth monitoring, I switched from DD-WRT to Tomato on my WRT54G a few days ago. The bandwidth monitoring facilities of Tomato seem to work very well. When one has 4 or 5 PCs and a Mac going at any given time, along with two TiVos and various other hardware connected to the net, monitoring at the router is really the only option.

And even if Comcast does the best thing (aside from dropping the cap idea) and puts up a bandwidth monitor, a wise Comcast customer will still monitor their usage in another fashion too, just to avoid Comcast making "mistakes".

I stand corrected. I let myself be misled. Not many times I am wrong. I have a wrt54gl, but I have not set it up yet. After the rhetoric I was dealt when contacting Comcast, Comcast is on my want to tar and feather list. Stupid Yankees. Comcast will surely win the Ebeneezer Scrooge award this year. Actually I have 2 isps for redundancy. I may be going back to one real quick. I only have two machines dling media, but I have several machines always doing linux net installs. I am about to set up a new repo. to avoid net installs. That will take about 40-50 gigs to start off. Time to write a letter to my congress persons, the city council, and the FCC. When I want to be I can be very convincing. I might be taking a trip to Philadelphia (headquarters of Comcasst. So much for the city of brotherly love.

[davmoo]

I am about to set up a new repo. to avoid net installs.

Even with that, I doubt you'll come close to 250GB through normal usage. 250GB is a *lot* of data, and 98 percent of users will never come close to that amount in a typical month. You'll have to average slightly over 8GB a *day* every day for 31 days to do it...roughly the equivalent of downloading Windows Vista two or three times a day, or a feature length movie a couple of times a day.

Now, if one is running a server, its much easier to bust that cap. I've seen a couple of my servers go through 150GB in one day. Of course, no one is going to get away with that on a Comcast hook up anyway.

My concern is the future. As we turn to the net for higher quality multimedia in the days and months to come, its going to get easier to bust that cap.

[duynguyenle]

How long is this episode supposed to be as using Zencast I got 217mb and 14:27 mins and it cuts out midway though a viewer question.

I wonder how many people use Zencast as I have found it to be very error prone, I often find several copies of CNET podcasts have downloaded themselves over the days following their original release and zencast makes some files like last weeks Tekzilla 3.99GB.


I am also using ZenCast, and the program does indeed suffer from random glitches and crashes, as well as being a RAM hogger with really bad leaks, leaving it on for a few days typically leave it consuming up to a gig of my total system RAM. It seems like Creative forgot to optimize their software properly, and they have not issued any software updates for ZenCast in ages... The only reason why I put up with it is because it actually integrates quite well with Creative's own Zen players (I own a 60G Zen:Vision M), and it is the only podcast aggregator I know that properly syncs with those players (Podcasts are put into their own category, seperate from Music and Videos, and audio podcasts are automatically converted into video files that displays shownotes... I wish Creative better optimizes their products. At the moment all their software are bloated and some are very buggy (that includes the driver for the X-Fi series of soundcards, as I own a Fatal1ty Extreme Gamer card.

While I'm ranting away at this, just wanted to ask what podcast aggregator do you guys use, does anyone here use the Creative line? If yes, what program do you use to sync podcasts to your Zens? Is there any good alternatives to ZenCast that retain the useful syncing features? I wouldn't mind shelling out some bucks if it works well. Gladly appreciated :D


Duy

[vst_kills]

I hit that easy. I download 2-3 720p movies a day and that puts me around 12GBs. I don't have comcast but I'm just saying 250GB is VERY reachable.

[davmoo]

I don't have comcast but I'm just saying 250GB is VERY reachable.

But I'd bet that you're still in that top 1 or 2 percent of users that Comcast is talking about. The vast majority of users simply don't do that. If you pull down 2 or 3 movies each and every day, 28/29/30/31 days a month, that's 60 to 90 movies a month...do you really have that much free time to sit and watch movies?

A buddy and I were talking about this earlier today, and we decided to do a bit of research. We tested several streaming internet radio stations, and the average bit rate was around 5 kilobytes a second. At that rate, you could listen 24/7 and it would only pull just shy of 13GB in a month. We also checked several streaming video sites. They averaged 65 kilobytes a second. At that rate, watching 24/7 still only racks up 166GB a month.

I'm certainly not defending Comcast here. In fact, I gave the people at the local Comcast office quite an ear full last week when I paid my bill (even though I know the local people have nothing to do with setting policy, and made sure to point out to them that I understood that). The paperwork for the plan I signed on to says "unlimited". This is not like how China apparently figures the ages of athletes...14 is not the same as 16, and 250GB is not "unlimited". And in the future, I think a 250GB limit will cause serious problems to many "just average" folk. But today, right now, I think that if a user is using 250GB a month, he already damn well *knows* he's doing it :)

[rmiddle]

Patrick,

Check out spinrite.com. Spinrite has been around since I bought my first 48M hard drive it boots off a CD and is the first place I go when I have a hard drive problem.

Thanks
Robert

[rmiddle]

I have several Grandstream phones. They work pretty well the are a name brand sip phone provider. The are consider the low prices leader in SIP phones they make a decent product for a really cheap price.

Thanks
Robert

[chuckles]

Still a 217Mb large xvid file :(

The xvids (small and large) should both be propagated across the entire CDN. Please let us know if you're still getting the truncated file.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

-chuckles-

[tnorm5828]

I'm still seeing a truncated version of the large XVID being served to me. About 217 MB. As a time reference, it is 12:54 am on Monday morning in Ohio.

[hippie459mn]

I'm still seeing a truncated version of the large XVID being served to me. About 217 MB. As a time reference, it is 12:54 am on Monday morning in Ohio.

Same here. Still getting the 217mb here also using Miro and from the web site as of 9:30am on monday. Is large xvid the only one having this problem?

[tuxotaku]

For all you silly, spoiled Comcast subscribers. I have one thing to say to you...bite me.

I'm in Canada, and subscribe to Rogers as my ISP. Rogers has tiered bandwidth caps dependent on the maximum bandwidth of the connection.

My plan is 7mbit/sec down 2mbit/sec up. It has a 60GB cap on it. Yes, I said 60 Gigabytes.

So for all you Comcast customers out there huffing and hawing over (OH NOES!) a 250GB cap....try being me you buncha spoiled SOBs (but I'm not bitter....:rolleyes:)

By the way, if you ARE looking to monitor traffic, I really do recommend PTRG (which Patrick mentioned on the show), it's quite easy to set up, and does some pretty slick stuff (like emailing you if you reach a certain amount...however this requires that you have MS Exchange Server set up on the monitoring machine).

[davmoo]

So for all you Comcast customers out there huffing and hawing over (OH NOES!) a 250GB cap....try being me you buncha spoiled SOBs (but I'm not bitter....:rolleyes:)

This is why I really do try not to get too worked up about it. Besides you folks north of the border, I have friends in Australia and several European countries who regularly remind me just how good I have it in the states, even with a 250GB cap.

It also amazes them that we get free drink refills at restaurants :)

[murphy1d]

....It also amazes them that we get free drink refills at restaurants :)

I was charged for a refill on Iced Tea recently and I felt like I was the one being ripped off. We do get spoiled here.

[silentspyder]

Patrick,

Check out spinrite.com. Spinrite has been around since I bought my first 48M hard drive it boots off a CD and is the first place I go when I have a hard drive problem.

Thanks
Robert

I think Patrick knows Spinrite, unless he forgot.

1_VGH3c5oYM

[c2s]

The Large XVID is stil cut short. So is episode 46 of intetnet superstar.




And the cap is 250gb now but they will keep lowering it or just say you are using more then you do. How will you prove you aren't?

[davmoo]

And the cap is 250gb now but they will keep lowering it or just say you are using more then you do. How will you prove you aren't?

By running a popular model of router with well-tested bandwidth monitoring software.

I know for a fact that since the beginning of the month I've used 23.04 GB. And if Comcast wants to argue with me, I can probably give them an hour by hour log of my usage, and make them look really stupid if they continue to argue with me.

[hollywoodbound]

Hey guys this is my first ep! Patrick! Used to see you on TSS !!! Heres what I have to say...

--Veronica is very very cute

--"Park city ooooo.... fancy ski town" Patrick you need to know how to talk to women haha

--Just because you have a case on ur iphone 3g it doesnt mean the accelerometer wont get messed up if you SMACK IT ON A TABLE!!!

--I agree, google IS going to dominate the world.

--Google Chrome "they can throw crap at the wall and see what sticks" Yes they did throw CRAP chrome is extremely buggy. I liked it at first but then flash video started acting weird and my facebook and pownce were crapping out... Not the end all and be all. Im sticking with FF3. And as far as isolated tabs go, I had a tab crash and couldnt switch to another one.

--OK when Veronica says Evil Coolaid I seriously got weak in the knees

--OK That Japanese TV commercial for tiger shoes is MAAAD creepy

--Ummm... the snowball is amazing, I want one NOW

--Sorry for the harassment Veronica but id love to buy your thing!

--Okay just to interject im feeling like a perv...

--Monoprice.com THANKS for the bookmark!

--SARAH LANE is director of production?! Cool! What exactly does that entail?

Thanks for a good ep guys! Keep it up I love to learn via rev3 shows!

[eugovector]

Come on folks, Raymond asks for an optical switch
(not an HDMI switch) and you tell him that $250 is an epic deal, when this can be had for under $20??:

http://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-SW100-Digital-Selector-Connections/dp/B000812QC6

Sure it's not as fancy, but it gets the job done for 1/10th the price.

Marshall
------
The Real HT Info Podcast

[onggie]

Just watched the episode, most of you guys in the US are using Linksys routers, but here in Aus it isn't the case. I can't find a good router bandwidth monitor for the Netgear routers. Reckon anyone could point me in the right direction?

By the way, you guys are complaining about a 250gb cap, well just to make you feel better. The biggest cable ISP in Australia has a wonderful plan, we pay $70 a month for an unlimited plan, but wait it gets better, it caps us at 12gb! Wonderful, not to mention the cap is slower than a 56k modem. Some times I can't even retrieve mail, my outlook just times out! They actually just introduced a 25gb unlimited plan, but that cost $90 a month.

Australia + technology = unhappiness!

[maxhdrm]

How long is this episode supposed to be as using Zencast I got 217mb and 14:27 mins and it cuts out midway though a viewer question.

I wonder how many people use Zencast as I have found it to be very error prone, I often find several copies of CNET podcasts have downloaded themselves over the days following their original release and zencast makes some files like last weeks Tekzilla 3.99GB.
I use to us Zencast but it IS error prown. Usually there is a link to the actual website. I used that then bookmarked. I do have a zen but I download to my desktop then save to my player.

I have had some downloads from both cnet and here then last as short as 2 mins. I chaulk it up to a bad download and redownload again.

[maxhdrm]

Just watched the episode, most of you guys in the US are using Linksys routers, but here in Aus it isn't the case. I can't find a good router bandwidth monitor for the Netgear routers. Reckon anyone could point me in the right direction?

By the way, you guys are complaining about a 250gb cap, well just to make you feel better. The biggest cable ISP in Australia has a wonderful plan, we pay $70 a month for an unlimited plan, but wait it gets better, it caps us at 12gb! Wonderful, not to mention the cap is slower than a 56k modem. Some times I can't even retrieve mail, my outlook just times out! They actually just introduced a 25gb unlimited plan, but that cost $90 a month.

Australia + technology = unhappiness!
agreed and I live in the US. Stop the complaining about the 250Gb cap. That actually is pretty reasonable and if you do business out of your house they have business plans.

If you are using more then that then perhaps you should think about "unpluging" the family. I have heard of families where all the kids have laptops and everyone is communicating through everything but their actual vocal cords. That is just sad.

[maxhdrm]

By running a popular model of router with well-tested bandwidth monitoring software.

I know for a fact that since the beginning of the month I've used 23.04 GB. And if Comcast wants to argue with me, I can probably give them an hour by hour log of my usage, and make them look really stupid if they continue to argue with me.
Google actually said in response to metering the bandwith that users will have to "go out there" and find the appropriate software. they are not going to provide anything, which is fine because could we really trust them anyway?

I have caught SMUD on several occassions lying about my usuage because I recieved the material (from them and yes you have the right to it) that teaches you how to read your meter. they tried to bill me for the same amount used at the same time the previous year not off of actual usuage.

[maxhdrm]

Come on folks, Raymond asks for an optical switch
(not an HDMI switch) and you tell him that $250 is an epic deal, when this can be had for under $20??:

http://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-SW100-Digital-Selector-Connections/dp/B000812QC6

Sure it's not as fancy, but it gets the job done for 1/10th the price.

Marshall
------
The Real HT Info Podcast
that is sweet and I'd say that their research ability is slipping.

[maxhdrm]

Last I heard, the Feds have denied Comcassts usage cap. Comcasst is appealing this decision. Time to get a spare router in case tomato does not work. There is a problem with the download of the large xvid.
Uh no the FCC actually told them no more throttling and THAT is what comcast is fighting in court. They have every right to cap.

[md2389]

About the Dell power supply question, am I the only one surprised that it wasn't mentioned that Dell still uses a proprietary power supply design for the non-XPS line machines? Sure, the ATX cable is wired right, but the AC input is on the opposite side which makes it impossible to install a standard ATX power supply into the case without the use of a rotary tool.

[-james-]

I am still unable to get the whole episode even when I download it from the site, has anyone got the full large Xvid, if they have can they post the link here to where they found it?

[mclovin50]

Why is Comcast not being sued by their customers?

If you go into an agreement stating "Unlimited Bandwidth", but now there is an actual cap on your bandwidth. How is this legal? Is this not bait and switch advertising?

[davmoo]

If you go into an agreement stating "Unlimited Bandwidth", but now there is an actual cap on your bandwidth. How is this legal? Is this not bait and switch advertising?

They probably will be sued. The problem winning is two-fold. First, the user agreement has the usual fine print that says words to the effect of "we can change our services at will provided we notify you". And second, Comcast maintains, and has for some time (as in the last few years), that "unlimited" means "the connection is always on and available", not "you can download as much as you like".

[piranio]

If you put enough pressure on the local government that gave Comcast the contract, I bet you would see some changes, Local government usually does not like to lose when there is a chance of not being re-elected.

[davmoo]

If you put enough pressure on the local government that gave Comcast the contract, I bet you would see some changes, Local government usually does not like to lose when there is a chance of not being re-elected.

This only works if there is a viable alternative for them to go to. And since most communities only have one cable carrier...

I'm sorry to sound so negative, but in most areas, at least here in the midwest, cable operates as a monopoly. One can't simply stomp their feet and say "If Comcast doesn't change [policy], then I'm going to Insight!"

[deviationer]

anyone else thinks it's funny that Becks is sponsoring the episode when the past couple eps were the anti-drinking and driving campaign?

[windowns]

Naw, get yourself a designated driver and head out to enjoy some Becks! :)

[mclovin50]

And second, Comcast maintains, and has for some time (as in the last few years), that "unlimited" means "the connection is always on and available", not "you can download as much as you like".

Does "Unlimited Bandwidth" in the agreement say exactly that? If it doesn't than Comcast has a problem....the meaning will be left in the hands of a Judge. In Comcast's eyes, how does "Unlimited Bandwidth" mean an always on connection. That is stupid. I have never ever seen that definition for the term Unlimited Bandwidth.

Bandwidth means "The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time".

[davmoo]

Does "Unlimited Bandwidth" in the agreement say exactly that? If it doesn't than Comcast has a problem....the meaning will be left in the hands of a Judge. In Comcast's eyes, how does "Unlimited Bandwidth" mean an always on connection. That is stupid. I have never ever seen that definition for the term Unlimited Bandwidth.

Bandwidth means "The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time".

Actually, in the copy of the agreement that I have when I signed on, the term "unlimited bandwidth" is never used anywhere in the agreement.

There is, however, a large paragraph that boils down to "we can do what is necessary to protect the integrity of network and its usefulness to our other users blah blah blah blah blah".

As you say, in the end it would be up to a judge to decide. But the way the agreement is written (and I will grant IANAL, nor do I play one on TV...but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express a few weeks ago), the only people who will probably have legal standing to file a suit would be those few who have actually been terminated for going over 250GB. If records are looked at and it is found that you've never gone over 250GB and Comcast has never threatened you with a disconnect, then in the eyes of the law you have not been "damaged".

Besides, when it comes down to it, the only people who gain anything in a lawsuit are the lawyers.

[brianegge]

I use the Skype RTX 3088, and it works great. I an expat in Australia and use the phone to make and receive all my calls to the States.

If you want to have multiple lines and plan to do telephony, go with your Grandstream and setup and Asterisk PBX. If you just want something that you can plugin and it will work, go with a Skype phone.

If you need E911, then you can't use Skype.

[_nash_]

Here in France, my ISP give SIP account for every user. (the only things we have to do is to setup a password)

As we can call up to 70 countrys in the world for free through VOIP, Skype is very useless. (with a real phone connected to the modem)

I've tried my SIP account when i went to montreal. I could receive and send calls through my computer with X-lite.

I've read that with a smartphone, and wifi connection, i could use my SIP account to do the same, but without computer.

The VOIP program for windows smartphone is removed by phone compagny, so we have to install it manually. I've never test it, but perhaps it's a better way than having a big normal phone.

[snapcom]

Okay, so apparently Tomato firmware doesn't work with the WRT54G version 5. Anyone know of any other firmware that will work on this version and offer bandwidth monitoring?

[veronicazilla]

anyone else thinks it's funny that Becks is sponsoring the episode when the past couple eps were the anti-drinking and driving campaign?

you can still drink responsibly :)

[thegremlin]

... so what was that website that Patrick was on in the bloopers that Veronica was offended by? Was she serious when she was like, "don't ever talk to me like that?"