Unusually high data usage megathread

We have our own modem, so we don't use the Xfinity modem and always had our own routers. We pay for TV/Internet combo (and the X1 box "DVR rental" for the TV), but haven't paid rent for their modem in years.

we just found some app that can monitor network activity both on the router as well as individual computers.  so hopefully we can see what is going on.   if this resumes again, hopefully we can see it happening (instead of getting after-the-fact useless 24hr delayed info) we can locate the offending equipment and shut it off.

It would not surprise me at all if an X1 box could pull streams and blow your data cap.  Others have reported high usage watching the peacock network for example.

Most, but not all apps on other devices like RoKu or Amazon allow you to set a 'soft' bandwidth limit, but commercials tend to ignore the control.  Major updates will reset your bandwidth settings though.  With a pfSense firewall, you can also throttle traffic to a max throughput on devices as a group, or individual devices.

Added benefit?  The stream doesn't buffer as much trying to test delivering content at the next higher bandwidth so overall playback is smoother.

For the last year my internet data usage has been around 500-600gb a month. This month my usage has skyrocketed to almost 2TB!? Nothing has changed at home and I dont understand where this extra data is coming from? Ive changed my wifi password, turned off my hot spot, and tracked all connected devices and nothing seems out of the ordinary? Now I am being charged a massive data overage fee with no explaination!? Has this happened to anybody else before?

Hi @Cody111, I would be happy to help and look into your usage concern. send me a private message with your full name (and the account holder's name if different from you) and the numbers associated with your service address. To send me a private message, click on my name, "ComcastAshley," and then click send a message

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@flatlander3 wrote:

It would not surprise me at all if an X1 box could pull streams and blow your data cap.  Others have reported high usage watching the peacock network for example.

 

It is my understanding that the cableTV is separate from the ISP bandwidth limit.  On the accounts page, the BW only shows up on internet portion while not when you go snoopong around the TV portion of account info?

do people with TV-only subscription also have BW limitation? I kind of think that is not true... TV has its own price structure and BW use is more self-limiting... you oay per Cable box (how many TV/DVR) and TV resolution (std vs HD 1080p, in our case)., and i would think the cost structure would keep BW measurements separate between internet and TV accounts, since you can subscribe to the separately (TV only, internet onlu, etc).  So im very skeptical of TV using up the "metered" internet BW claim...

Some apps will count as internet data.

Here's the list from Xfinity:

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/x1-internet-data-usage-details

I might also add that if you look at the manuals for some of the approved gateways, they have frightening default settings.  I have little confidence in the security of anything I can't see or control directly.

No..  we don't use any apps through the X1 (didn't even know it had apps).  We just watch the DVR recorded shows, plus any we watch through the guide/on-demand/PPV stuff...  we are very boring DVR users.

all other stuff (prime video, etc) does not go through the Comcast box.. so no stealth BW use that bypasses the modem...

we started monitoring what is actually going through the router to the modem...  and installed network activity logging apps on all mobile and computers.  so if we start seeing a spike, at least (hopefully) we will be able to find out what is eating up the bandwidth...

According to Xfinity, my data usage was 1230 Gb.  That's 1 Gb over the current data cap limit of 1229 Gb.  I'm fine with going over for the free month in a 12 month period, if I really go over.  However, my modem shows a different number than Xfinity.  One of the main reasons I prefer to use my own equipment.  I've attached a pic showing my actual usage which is the data listed next to Last Month aka February (total of 1187 Gb).  

Customer service will be a hassle to deal with.  If there's a comcast employee able to rectify this situation through this forum please let me know!

@xsandos Over the years, I've seen multiple complaints (here and on router support forums) about the meters in various modem/routers reading either lower or higher than their ISP's.  Your modem looks very close!  So close in fact, that I suspect that the fact that Xfinty's data is not fully real-time makes it hard to precisely compare. Bottom line though is that whether your device is different by 50% or just a few percent, I think Xfinity continues to bill based on theirs.

Since I bought this new modem and upgraded to gig speed, all months up until now match perfectly between my modem usage and what comcast shows, which leads me to think something on their end was messed up this past month.  I keep a pretty good eye on it. 

Also earlier yesterday prior to writing my previous post, comcast app showed I had used 6 Gb already but I hadn't been online at home, I was at work in a different city. 

I had this issue before in the past as well which was corrected on Comcast's side but they never told me what happened.  I wasn't really concerned about not getting my courtesy month back but based on what you said, even if I set my modem's data cap at any number to cut off, comcast may still show something different.  What's the point of them capping it if its so inaccurate?

Well you could set the modem cap to some slightly lower value and see if that works out.  My own router seems to track PCs well doing everyday internet stuff but when streaming via a Roku, the router numbers go crazy.  So there appears to be some bug in the router's meter (like it's adding an unintialized variable) in certain conditions.

There has also been some discussion that Comcast probably tracks all data including packets dropped by your router, whereas your router is probably not counting those. (I know, two "probably"s.)

My data usage is normally less then 200 GB each month with four Arlo Cameras, one iPhone and watching TV using ROKU TV.  No streaming service like Netflex or Amazon Prime.  I've been working with Comcast since last week on Tuesday and no progress.  They suggested I upgrade to the unlimited Internet data plan to avoid charges since I'm using more now.  I explained to them that there aren't many devices on the Internet and there's no way we could use 500GB in 24 hours.  They wanted me to change the password because someone could get in.  Not an easy thing to do since I'm 50 miles away and due to COVID, don't want to enter my mom's house.  The current password is 20 characters with alpha numeric, upper and lower case letters.  Don't think changing the password will fix the problem and WI-FI isn't that strong.  If I need to make the trip, I will replace the modem and router with one that I can remotely manage.  My only option is to call every day, only to hear each time, "it's being worked on and I will get a call back within 24 hours".  Meanwhile the usage is now at 1294GB for March and the additional data charges keep climbing.  Yes, I understand charges will be reversed since it's the first occurance of overages but does this use up my one time waiver?  If this turns out not to be my fault, will I be compensated for many many hours on CHAT, phone calls and monitoring the data usage all hours of the day and night?

@icbigfootwhat's "it"?  ie: what do they say they are "working on"? As far as I am aware, there was an incident about year and a half ago, where Comcast did have a meter issue in one area.  Even we/I could tell something was different because the number of people with sudden mysterious overages was ~50 times the usual.  Comcast found and fixed whatever that was.  Right now, we seem to be back at the "normal background level" where there are a few people each week who have gone over for the first time.  As such, I wouldn't count on Comcast finding something wrong on their end.

As far as I can tell, when it comes to these "normal background level" cases, most people who get results do so by figuring it themselves.  Whether by adding their own monitoring or just doing a process of elimination until they find the data-crazy device.  Of course, Comcast could come up with something too, but I wouldn’t wait.

@strega7 "it" would be looking at the data usage meter to see if it's working correctly and I just got a call today after two weeks to say it is working correctly.  I asked how can usage go up over 500GB in 24 hours and Comcast said it's possible with my download speed.  I have 500Mbps with three Arlo basic cameras, ROKU TV with no paid streaming service and an older iPhone.  Comcast suggested I run anti-virus software on my devices.  I told him that those devices do not have anti-virus software to run. 

Today with the help of my brother, we tried to log into the cable modem/router to change the WI-FI password, but it forced us to reset the admin password before we could login.  Was this Comcast's doing?  After resetting the cable modem/router password, was able to log in and change the SSID and password.  As of March 16, 2021, data usage is at 1404GB.  If it continues to go up, I am to call Comcast back and they will "look into it further".  He would not give me the next steps.

@ComcastAshley I couldn’t figure out how to send you a private message (maybe I can’t yet since this is a new account?) but I’m having the same issue as the poster you replied to on the previous page. Could you please contact me so I can get some assistance?

Thanks.