From what I've read, it appears a good part has to do with how congested your node is. It also tends to be a case of how often you go over your limit.

There isn't really a set rule

 

How can non-Shaw customers check how congested their area is?

 

See also:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=225089

 

I was over by 170 GB one month, heard nothing (on 400 GB plan). I do seem to have a very fast node/link - usually max out on my download speeds.

 

They can't. Neither can Shaw customers. Ask your neighbors who have Shaw if they're having speed issues, that's about as reliable of an answer as you'll get.

If there are congestion issues in the area, they are often resolved internally by performing a "node split" (i.e. deploying additional ISP hardware to handle the extra traffic). This is usually considered routine maintenance, and details of their network maintenance/upgrades is rarely if ever announced to customers.

 

I typically go more than double over my alotment and have never heard a peep from shaw. I suppose that's something in their favor for all the bitching we do

 

My stats are still back in December on my account, so I have no clue and either do they.

 

I myself have never been contacted by Shaw for internet usage. I have 125 GB on my HS10, and typically use at least double that due to Netflix.

I have heard that Shaw typically doesn't investigate data usage unless it's over 1 TB. Below that, they can try to sell you a higher plan, but it's not worth their time for small overages, they don't have an over-limit $/GB fee, and their "bump-up" program never worked. There's also the fact that, here in MB at least, the competition's plans are unlimited for the same price, and if Shaw tried to enforce usage limits people would just switch.

 

How can non-Shaw customers check how congested their area is?

You can't, but I'd have to differ with tux when he said that Shaw customers can't check. Shaw customers absolutely can check how congested the network is. I know this because that's exactly what I did a little over a year ago.

I even compared my situation on Shaw transitioning to Telus. I have numbers that showed how bandwidth-constrained I was at "peak" times, and how much latency I had between my router and the network gateway.

 

So as a new customer, and a customer new to "data limits" for home internet - has Shaw's policy changed in the last 6 months regarding bandwidth overages? Right now my limit is 300GB/month, but projecting over the next two weeks I can easily see reaching 450GB - should I be concerned?

 

As far as I know it's still the same. They do not charge for the overages but they will want to bump you up to the next package if you repeatedly go over. I think they'll give a bit of grace with minimal overages, but 150GB is a lot.

I was over this month but not by much at all. It's not the first time and I've never been asked to bump up my plan or had any "are you aware" kinda notices.

P.S.

Just checked, 333 on a 300 plan last month.

Also, they did find their usage meter was broken at one point. Since been fixed as far as I can tell. Unfortunately I had to reset my router and lost my monthly log but going off what it said with a week left I wouldn't contest 333GB.

 

333 on a 300 is negligable i think. like most people here i routinely go way over and have never heard a peep from shaw. I am a "shaw friends" from a long time ago if that even matters at all. i believe it offered lifetime warranty on hardware and double the data. I think unless you go a couple hundred over its not an issue. they shouldnt want to risk a customer over a data allotment.

 

^ Shaw friends used to offer an extra 50 GB/month. It doesn't anymore. And nobody at Shaw will notice your usage unless you're way over limit.

 

50 was for all three products. 25 was for 2 products.