Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

I rarely visit White Gate, and I never go to Jueno, that's what my mule is there for.

I don't stay logged in and I could probably play for 2 odd hours and never, a day. Maybe 12 on weekends. Unlikely, depends on work schedules. Then use MSN Messenger and check the odd e-mail now and then.

Updates wise, it'll be ok, I only need to download the previous patch and 50 odd MB won't hurt.

If people can run their monitors and give me some stats, it would be very helpful!

If 24 hours is 162mb, (about), then that'll give me 110+ odd hours a month, more then plenty I'd say. I did work out originally it would be 70 odd hours a month, and according to Jarre's stats, it seems about right.

[Jarre]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

Ok did 2 hours solo today heres my bandwith spent.

Activities:-
Log in - moghouse, leave mog house to Bastok mines (during festival+fireworks) (GMT time = 9:30pm) Check various bazars, buy and sell items on AH. Go to Markets to music shop buy instruments and set macros, head to South Gustaberg kill things for 1.5 hours and get from lvl 7-9 brd, lots of monsters and quite a few people fighting / farming as well cast Minne & Peaon everytime they run out and Foe requiem on each mob I fight, so quite a bit of activity. Head back to Bastok markets, AH some stuff head to MH. Log and Log in with littlebrick check dbox, put some items up in AH in windywoods (also lots of festival items to generate), Shut down FFXI.

Total Upload = 2.43mb
Total Download = 6.4mb
Grand total 8.83mb

Plus I updated from August 1st & 2nd updates total for these = 4mb.

Grand total 1 day (solo play+ minor updates) 13mb (rounded up)

[Macht]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

Ok did 2 hours solo today heres my bandwith spent.

Activities:-
Log in - moghouse, leave mog house to Bastok mines (during festival+fireworks) (GMT time = 9:30pm) Check various bazars, buy and sell items on AH. Go to Markets to music shop buy instruments and set macros, head to South Gustaberg kill things for 1.5 hours and get from lvl 7-9 brd, lots of monsters and quite a few people fighting / farming as well cast Minne & Peaon everytime they run out and Foe requiem on each mob I fight, so quite a bit of activity. Head back to Bastok markets, AH some stuff head to MH. Log and Log in with littlebrick check dbox, put some items up in AH in windywoods (also lots of festival items to generate), Shut down FFXI.

Total Upload = 2.43mb
Total Download = 6.4mb
Grand total 8.83mb

Plus I updated from August 1st & 2nd updates total for these = 4mb.

Grand total 1 day (solo play+ minor updates) 13mb (rounded up)

how long did the update take? Is that 1.5 hours including the update?

If so the average transfer speed was 19.2Kbps.

With the exception of downloads I would be surprised if FFXI ever reaches 56Kbps, especially since SE has previously said it's hard set to that limit.

[Jarre]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

how long did the update take? Is that 1.5 hours including the update?

Playonline Update took 4 minutes to check / download and install (I have a 2mb broadband connection)
FFXI update took 3 mintues to check/download/install.

No the update was not included in my total game play last night.

[Zamphire]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

[QUOTE=LadyKiKi]Only 1gb per monthQUOTE]

You really need to call and complain about this. 1 GB per MONTH is a really small amount of data, how much are you paying for this? That's a little over 32 megs a day... I download well over 100 megs on one of my slow days. You really should call to make sure it's per month and not per week. Per week is understandable, but per month is pushing it.

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

I've asked a few friends. Thanks for your concern, but the reason of the 1GB limit is because I'm working away from home for 1 year and I'll be moving throughout various places. Due to this, it will be awkward to get a broadband connection since most of the ones here in the UK require a 12 month contract or some other stuff attached to it.

I'll tell you what I am getting though, is one of those cards which you plugin to your laptop where you can use internet -anywhere- depending on coverage. If it's "3G" covered, I'll reach anywhere from 384kbs to 1.4mbs, whereas if I'm outside the coverage, it will be only 58kbs, more or less dial up, but it'll still work. This is why there's the 1GB limit, I'm paying basically what a business person would pay for services, but if you think I'm only doing it to play FFXI, then you're quite wrong. Being able to play FFXI would be the luxury, but also to check e-mails and such and chat to family/friends on MSN. And due to my schedules, 2 odd hours a day would be what I would be able to play, and maybe up to 6 on a weekend day.

I'm asking for stats from people for this reason so I can get a rough idea of what's to be expected. That way I can assess whether this card would be useful. I won't surf forums unless at work since the ads and pictures/avatars/sigs can soak up my connection.

Since the card isn't restricted to where I'm physically living, adds to the expense of this card. The 1GB limit is more for business people who check their e-mails and do all their business applications, I'm getting it for social purposes (although limited). I'm actually planning to buy this card tommorow at the time of writing, to give it a go. If it doesn't seem good (I keep getting cut off, or it's WAY too slow, or drains up more bandwidth then it should) then I'll go get my money back and NOT play FFXI.

I'm aware that this is typically very expensive, but this is personal and I don't mind, since I'm only going to be away for a year, I'm happy to "be happy" and pay a bit of money for it rather then "be bored" and unhappy only to save that bit of money. It seems desperate, but there's no other form of broadband available. For example, sometimes it takes up to 6 days to setup just land broadband. Although reliable and cheaper, it's more hassle since I can't keep it. I hope you understand my situation.

Jarre:

I appreciated your data very much. On my server forum, it is quoted:

Ladykiki,

I use Verizon's BroadbandAccess service, and have played FFXI on it. One of the nice things that they have in their client is a log of data usage broken out by session (then sorted by date). So it makes it easy to keep track of how much data you've transferred. A nice feature if you're keeping track.

Looking at the logs that I've generated over several moths, I see that my usage is quite varied. Over a 2-2.5 hour timeframe, i'll use anywhere between 7 and 12 MB of total data transfer (up and down). I can say for sure that the high end of this number what me partying with my Bard, and the low end was me leveling (read: solo) my BST. So I'd use that as a gague, I hope it's helpful.

So if you played 2 hours a day on average using 10 MB of data transer (for the sake of round numbers) you'll only be using 300MB of usage over 30 days. Not too bad if you're on a 1 GB plan. I'd day the other consideration is that you'll not be on ultra-fast connections, so updating will be a little slow. And holy shit, if you ever had to do a reinstall, you're screwed for the whole month.

I hope I gave you some information you're looking for.

That person said 10mb, you gave me 13mb for 2 hours. More or less, it matches and that's enough "proof" for me to go try it.

Zamphire: 33mb a day sounds plenty. I can control my usage of the internet down to FFXI, MSN and some e-mail. And I don't really download incase I get any copyright cops after me lol. So it seems sufficient.

Thanks for making this topic enjoyable to discuss about. I learnt some new things afterall.

Oh, by the way, it will cost me £55 a month I think, roughly $105 a month in US Dollars. As I said, not practical, but hey, I rather live happy then rich. Sorry if I upset anyone for my choices, but I'm not "rich", but am just happy to pay a premium because of the lack of anything else.

Currently if I need the internet I gotta make my way to the library ... and if I don't go I'm stuck in my flat/home/room either reading/studying or just being idle, or chatting to residents which live nearby. I played FFXI before I went to work, thinking I would be OK, but it's really getting to me after 5 weeks. No I'm not addicted so this isn't "withdrawal" effect, but rather I lack stuff to do

[Zamphire]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

In your case i can see why you'd want to do this.

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

An UK TV with 4 channels doesn't provide much entertainment. Especially if 1 channel is addicted to Big Brother, and another channel is addicted to something similar to Big Brother, that kinda leaves 2 channels. Yep, the accomodation sucks (until I move, don't know when yet). Sorry if I typed too much for people to read, I tend to go on and on lol ...

[Zamphire]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

So why are you moving so much?

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

Part of my degree in University (Business) I work with a company doing various things. Potentially I can transfer to other offices (in the UK) in various "counties" (states, but MUCH smaller compared to USA). I need to work with them for 12 months to get the feel of the business world (you know, like work experience/placements. I get paid, and potentially can be offered a job after I finish the degree).

I wish to keep the company I work for secret. I'm nor proud or ashamed of it, I just want to it to remain unknown.

EDIT: Before anyone asks, I get involved in like meetings and such, and help marketing, give presentations, maybe manage a branch. Etc. You know, typical business like things. It's more or less a 9am to 5pm job, but not a boring one. And I'm learning everyday so ...

[Zamphire]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

Part of my degree in University (Business) I work with a company doing various things. Potentially I can transfer to other offices (in the UK) in various "counties" (states, but MUCH smaller compared to USA). I need to work with them for 12 months to get the feel of the business world (you know, like work experience/placements. I get paid, and potentially can be offered a job after I finish the degree).

I wish to keep the company I work for secret. I'm nor proud or ashamed of it, I just want to it to remain unknown.

Completly understandable. Wouldn't happen to be the porn industry would it?

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

Completly understandable. Wouldn't happen to be the porn industry would it?

LOL. No.

I figured you or someone will say that.

Still, I'll reply to this topic tommorow now when I get the card to let people know how it goes. If I get dropped off frequently, to the point where it's not really possible to play, I'll refund the service.

[Zamphire]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

What a shame... porn sounds so much fun.

I'd imagine it honestly will frustrate you quite a bit. I moved two weekends ago, and where we are we can't get anything but satilite so we got DSL internet. There's about a 1/2 second delay from when the signel goes from their sats to space, then back down, most of the time you don't notice it, but when you're trying play a real time game you notice it BIG time. I'd imagine it'd be the same with your card. It takes about 1-2 seconds from when I hit my macro till it actually does anything, I have a really hard time checking my delivery box, because i get the "Delivery congested" because it looses signel while connecting, the AH load slow as can be, and doors, god I hate doors, it takes forever to open them, click on them 20-30 times and nothing.

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

Satellite is more for beaming down then up, whereas a mobile(cell) phone network works better both ways. I should imagine there'll be a slight delay, but I don't anticipate it to be anything like satellite, I don't think my uncle mentioned anything like that either.

But we'll see. I'll get back with a report in less then 24 hours. Logging out now to go home for dinner.

[Jarre]

Re: Does FFXI consume much bandwidth?

An UK TV with 4 channels doesn't provide much entertainment. Especially if 1 channel is addicted to Big Brother, and another channel is addicted to something similar to Big Brother, that kinda leaves 2 channels. Yep, the accomodation sucks (until I move, don't know when yet). Sorry if I typed too much for people to read, I tend to go on and on lol ...

4 channels? Lady where have you been, We have 5 now 1-5 plus if you buy a freeview box and aerial you get digital tv, thats an extra 30 channels (10 good the rest crap!!!)

Me being in the Uk lady which mobile (cellphone to you US) provider are you going with?