Connections traffic controller

[Basan]

Gee, I really don't know how to start with this. Havin' with a few hassles of mine with Net connections with my laptop's modem, my ol' man arrived home yesterday with a solution pack and a good one in his PoV.
Tiny note (as an eventual laughter relief): That coming from the man who not far ago asked me to brush him up upon some Net browsing... :D

Since I came home late (around midnight) due to fetching my degree diploma at my university haven't really checked it with much detail but it seems that now I need a connection controller app that tells me how much I've dl'ed (if possible that can tell apart national dl's from international ones ;)), P2P progs, time spent and related jazz. Anyone here can point out some good options and preferably freebies, since I ain't very fond of spending a reasonable amount of money in things that can eventually be done as good as paying one for it. :)

Yeah Neox, ain't quite out of the 'bubble' now. I was usually concerned with Net connections, especially since didn't wanna spend any extra bandwidth in my 56 Kbds modem and will have to see the improvements over with this connection service after a couple gripes with viruses and/or spyware. (Plus I didn't wanna hog the work server when postin' from there.)
And if the difference pays up financially speaking, I'll start using ADSL over my modem in house (Net) surfing. :angel:

[Neo]

You've completely lost me - what do you need?

And something you do when you get broadband is you start downloading more -- and browsing more and more, since there is less waiting around.

Especially if you can get SBC DSL go for it -- isnt it still $15 a month for a year? Lol, I heard SBC Shareholders werent to happy with that XD

If your looking for a network traffic monitor type thing, I wouldn't know where to point you -- I think there a net monitor @ www.analogx.com, and some other freebies I've come across, but I really don't totally understand what you mean O_o

-Neo

[Basan]

Well to be fully honest, in my country the modem rates were lower than the ADSL ones when only comparing to downloads, especially when compared to rates all over the rest of Europe (read our ADSL is around 35% more expensive). And with a tendency that some folks here are switching into ADSL discarding modem connections due to eventual more broadband at ADSL, I tought that those service lines were less clogged easing my 'Net life' (and believe to have had a few dl's faster since that - from 2001 'till now). Is that a correct assumption!?! :confused:

Keeping on the straight record, 'till I graduated most of my heavier dl's (uncluding UT 2004 demo) were made when connected my laptop at the college network. And that's over now... or so I expect it to. *Sorta weaps* ;)

All I really want is a connection prog that allows me to keep a log of the consecutive time and a total space dl'ed from the Net (in GB's) option with maybe a more accurate control over P2P sharing just for me to have an eased control over my connection times and related fees.
My main intention is to compare both connections (modem n' ADSL) uses and to more easily associate with the related fees I'll pay. That's is mostly to keep track of money spent to advise my pops with the best connection to keep around, wich won't be an easy task for him to grasp anyhow. :concern:
But now that I've explained it more clearly (hopefully) just have realized that it probably won't be that easy to find/pull and that's why I politely asked for fellow WB'ders C&C such as you in the 1st place. :)

[Neo]

I've always considered the Broadband or No BB to be more like this;

Do you need BB?

To answer this question you must make sure to remember every online activity you do -- specifically the next few things are really important:

Gaming. BB improves gaming infinitely -- especially since many games nowadays release bigger and bigger patches.

P2P Sharing: Especially if you use Torrents, BB is very helpful, since dial up access usually limits your upload to such a measly amount :/

General Browsing experience: Well, this is hard to really explain -- if you find yourself browsing high-bandwidth sites, or sites with a lot of content, often, and your often waiting for the pages to load, or images, or whatever, then BB will definetly help you.

Meh... dont know if I did that right...

Dial up;

Some services for dial up access arent laggy at all -- in fact in the past I used to play War3 on a dial up account and didnt lag at all (Even when hosting games). But you really get bit in the ass while doing anything else. Downloading OS Updates, Downloading ANYTHING cuts into your online time, and experience, even if its only a couple of megabytes in size.

If you really want to log your Online... activity, then simply keep a log. If your using a dialup connection it shows you how much youve uploaded/downloaded.

Anyways. What it really comes down to is this:

BB is usually pay per month at a flat rate. Its on 24/7 and its fast.

Dialup, depending on the service, can either be a flat rate, or pay per hour.

If your paying a flat rate for Dial up, and really don't see the advantage/use in BB except for downloading stuff, then stay with dial up.

On the other hand, if your paying for Dial up by the hour -- or paying for extra hours after your limit for the month -- get broadband.

Meh... You should start with google :P

-Neo

[Basan]

Thanks for all the info, Neox. You covered n' detailed further most aspects that I've pondered before posting. After checking better the pack yesterday night, realized that afterall it's an ADSL modem to plug into my phone line, instead of a cable one to plug along my house's T.V. system. Modem it will have to be, anyways... even if it's an external one. :rolleyes:

And I know that dial up only shows or logs (not sure if both) the connection timing. I just don't know where it logs/keeps records of it too, if that even happens. :concern:
Plus my previous dial up deal was that I pay what consumed (read time connected) and get billed for that in my phone description mothly fee. So as ya see it was kinda simple to keep track of what used by merely watching the time my connections lasted and logging those times in a simple *.xls file that made me the calculus for the fee to be payed. What I'm trying to find is an app that can make me those calculus, with the dl'ing parts on the side, preferably by days to keep track of any Net consumptions either those be on P2P, surfing or dl'ing. Am just tryin' to get a organized system before my ol'man even comes messing / fussing with it. And I'm sure ya can't blame me for that... :smirk:

Since ain't that much a fanatic for Net gamin' (only did it with older games that didn't require much bandwidth), nor my father for that matter or so that's what think it to be, I guess that won't resort much to it. Will have to see that with more detail, perhaps.

Meh... You should start with google :P

*Shows tongue as well* I know, I know (that should done that in the 1st place and ask later)... but generally at Tuesdays, Wednesdays afternoon n' Thurdays aren't really such good days for me to post / search around *Cough*Chief around*Cough*, hence my yesterday request. Will try to pull it this wkend, though. :)

[Basan]

Well, haven't done it at the wkend but managed to do a small search in Google (http://www.google.pt/search?hl=pt-PT&q=connection+traffic+controller+program) and have come across this option; BandWidth Metter (free version) (http://www.itlocation.com/en/software/prd40973,,.htm). Will install it and if am lucky, test it tonight as well.
And by the by, Neox I still plan to check Analogx for similar apps but just am short on time right now (still have to read a legislation to rate if appliable at a situation here at work, since ended the search with positive results now). ;)