[jt1990]

I figured this was the best forum to post this topic in...

Does anyone know how much internet bandwidth an IM program take for just chatting? At my dad's store we've been on WildBlue satellite for internet and have been extremely unhappy with it. Now we're looking at getting satellite through HughesNet, but they only allow 1250MB download per day, so I was wondering if anyone knew how much of that IM would take up (specifically Windows Live Messenger, but I could use Yahoo if it was going to take less.)

I guess basically what I'm wondering is this: Can I run WLM for 8 hours a day (text chatting only) and NOT max out my download limit?

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Not sure exactly but just testing I sent a chat message using XAMP across my network at it took 243bits. Doesn't sound like it uses hardly any bandwidth at all (assuming other chat protocols are similar).

If my math is correct you could send approx 40,000,000 chat messages per today.

Edited by Titan8990, 01 October 2008 - 09:27 AM.

[Titan8990]

Not sure exactly but just testing I sent a chat message using XAMP across my network at it took 243bits. Doesn't sound like it uses hardly any bandwidth at all (assuming other chat protocols are similar).

If my math is correct you could send approx 40,000,000 chat messages per today.

Edited by Titan8990, 01 October 2008 - 09:27 AM.

[jt1990]

Nice, but doesn't just staying connected to the internet take up some of that download/upload usage? (sorry to be pestering if you don't know, but I'd really like to know)

[Troy]

There are tools out there that allow you to monitor your usage. One of these may come in handy for you.

I can't seem to find any right now, if I remember them I'll post again.

Troy

EDIT: NetMeter

Edited by Troy, 05 October 2008 - 05:35 AM.

[jt1990]

Ah, fantastic...thanks.