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I have visitors coming who do not observe boundaries. I am unwilling to tell them not to watch streaming content, as they do it anyway and then get angry at me when we run out of usage. Can I block all streaming content from all computers on our wifi?
Posted 4 years ago
david, Champion
Wil Cavanaugh
Old Labs (VS1-329-L12FZ)
Post your router brand as well as the model # and someone might be able to offer some advice to at least slow the bleeding but each brand/model is different - not really an Exede issue but a router/firewall issue.
Regardless do password protect changing both the administrative password as well as the access password giving out the access password on a need basis.
My guests only receive the password after a short course on satellite internet usage and the reality of data caps.
Wil Cavanaugh
david, Champion
Depending on how long they're there, that sorry Exede could just be down again wink wink knudge knudge.
Brad, Viasat Employee
As suggested being able to block this sort of content is mostly done via parental controls on devices, router password changes, guest networks and such. More than likely your guests are probably used to DSL or Cable internet connection where data can be pumped in via fiber optic cables and are probably unaware of Satellite internet having a data cap. Like Old Labs said above, educating on the situation can probably lead to a peaceful resolution.
On our end if needed we do offer the Buy More option where additional data can be purchased. I would also maybe recommend they try holding the streaming during the Late Night Free Zone so their usage won't count against you.
Wil Cavanaugh
Knight Rider
Kentuckienne
Do you think they won't get just as mad if you block the streaming content, and make just as much trouble? What good will it do to figure out how to block streaming if it just makes you the bad guy again? I'd let the data run out, and don't refill it. Just explain that it all got used up by the streaming, how could that happen when everyone promised not to do videos, you tube, netflix, etc? Must be something wrong with the router, you'll check it out when you have a chance after they leave, in the meantime they can use the service during LNFZ.
Old Labs (VS1-329-L12FZ)
I do find flipping the circuit breaker on the well pump encourages them to leave however.
Wil Cavanaugh
Jacqueline Tierney
Wil Cavanaugh
J&J
Kentuckienne
There are a couple of good points in your post that I hope others notice. One, you explained about the data use, and your guests ignored that. I expect that this is a not insignificant factor in the households whose data is vanishing. Maybe it's easier to blame the internet provider than to consider that one's perfect child might be at fault, but many posters insist that their family/friends/guests would NEVER do any of those prohibited things because they know better.
And speaking of blaming the internet company - Exede does seem to have some way to throttle customers. Isn't that how the Evolution plan works? When you use up your data, you lose access to streaming and high bandwidth activities but can still access web pages and email. In theory there should be a way to put your account, temporarily, into such a restricted state. Anybody here know anything about that?
Not to mention, Exede, a simple bandwidth application has been promised for years. How hard can it be when the modem itself keeps track of data uploaded and downloaded? Don't need to integrate anything on the back end. Just have the modem write to a file, collecting the total amounts, and reset them each billing cycle. The users can already see the modem from the browser, and all you have to do is add one more icon. In addition to displaying data uploaded/downloaded since reset, display total data since billing cycle start. So simple ...
Old Labs (VS1-329-L12FZ)
First, I suspect throttling (or QOS if wanting to think of it that way) is a function of the Accelenet Server (sometime referred to as your core node) your assigned to and it's probably not so much throttling but rather traffic prioritization based on your plan and applicable DAP. When dapped you're likely placed at the bottom of the prioritization queue naturally resulting in slower speeds. It's also possible the the Accelenet client (embedded in the modem) plays a role in this.
As far as the data usage meter and after poking around the javascipt on the modem status page guessing at what mangled/cryptic variable names and looking at the script portions we don't see, I'm not really convinced there's an actual meter embedded in the modem. More like a counter that's queried every 15 minutes (under normal circumstances) and a delta is performed on the server to determine usage during that interval (much like the electrical meter reading process).
Similarly, I'm not really convinced that there's a clock in the modem (a timer yes but a clock I just don't see one) and that the LNFZ/EBFZ is determined on the server side along with some magic reset on the modem for those that are dapped.
As noted all guesses (some educated some not), and we'll never really know.
P.S. As far as the delay in a new usage meter goes, I suspect ViaSat uses third party software for customer facing sites (like this one) and it may simply be a matter of getting that to play nicely with the actual ViaSat infrastructure - most third party software wasn't designed with satellite internet in mind and it's common for companies to outsource administrative functionality that isn't necessarily in their wheelhouse.
Wil Cavanaugh