- USR-TC - mailman.xmission.com

RE: (usr-tc) billing software
by Stainforth, Matthew 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

ok, next question....how do those of you who DON'T do unlimited compete with AOL and their unlimited package? Do you try to beat them on price, service, or availability (ie they're not in your area yet)? Matthew Stainforth || Technical Services Manager || BrunNet Inc. > -----Original Message----- > From: Lon R. Stockton, Jr. [mailto:lon@moonstar.com] > Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 2:09 PM > To: usr-tc(a)lists.xmission.com > Subject: Re: (usr-tc) billing software > > > > On Tue, 25 Jan 2000, Stainforth, Matthew wrote: > > > I'm half following this discussion about unlimited access > offerings and > > wondering what billing software those who don't do > "unlimited" actually use. > > Radius stop records get stuck in PostgreSQL database on a linux box. > Monthly queries done and imported into *cough* Quicken accounting > software. Statements exported into email. > > Warning: do not try this at home. Using Quicken was a 'quick > and dirty' > thing I did at the very beginning to get it done when I wasn't really > expecting to get this large....and boy, is it dirty now. It officially > can't handle all of the accounts, so we've gotta do some > mighty strange > things to make it work. I can't complain at the hair-pulling and tons > of extra work it causes, since it's rather like running a furniture > moving company and the only vehicle you have is a '86 Chevette. > > Anyway, all the billing/accounts stuff is being moved into the same > PostgreSQL database that currently holds the call details, with a > few perl scripts to work the magic. Customers will access the data > directly as well with their web browsers. Not only their accounting > statements, but they'll be able to get their usage summaries as well > as being able to drill down to individual call levels and see all the > details. "It'll be cool", sez the guy who's writing the perl (me). > > > since normal people wouldn't typically use more than > 150-200 hours a month. > > Over 3 years, the average of all users (including the dedicated ones > which, when they occasionally drop and show connect times of 45 days > and such...but excluding the calls under 3 minutes) is about 32 hours > per month. 32. That's something I point out to people when they're > balking at my 150 hour limit. > > Oh yeah, that reminds me....when I calculate people's monthly usage, > I exclude any call that is under three minutes in duration. As far > as line usage goes, the in-and-out-to-check-email calls don't matter > much. And it excludes ones where the connection was > problematic as well. > > > I've looked at a few packages but most of them seem to be > based on radius > > accounting which doesn't seem to be completely reliable. > On the other hand, > > if you guys are using radius accounting for billing data, > do you also use it > > to limit concurrent logons? > > I don't limit concurrent, but there is the issue about the reliability > of radius. My solution to that is to overengineer the radius server so > it can handle the load without dropping stuff, and then to simply eat > the few that get dropped. I record accounting-stops only, so if I drop > one, I've got no idea that the call ever happened. Occasional > spot checks > don't reveal the few that get away to amount to much. Well below what > I'd call 'negligable'. (: > > > > - > To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" > with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. > For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send > "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. > - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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RE: (usr-tc) billing software
by Chris Pappe 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

At 02:03 PM 1/25/00 -0500, you wrote: >On Tue, 25 Jan 2000, Stainforth, Matthew wrote: > > > A company tried to pitch a package to us that used telnet to check > > periodically. *gag* > >This reminds me of something I forgot to mention in my previous >message. > >There's a radius server called Radiator which maintains a current- >calls database for concurrency checking; it updates it with the >accounting-start & stop records. To alleviate problems with lost >packets causing it to get out of sync, it periodically checks the >hub via SNMP and compares who's really on with who it thinks is >logged on. Vircom (www.vircom.com) makes a proxy radius sever that does the same thing. It allows us to use multiple unix radius servers that all get queried by the proxy radius server. Also a list of users currently online can be viewed from a browser as can all login errors such as simultaneous logins or bad passwords. As with Radiator, SNMP is used to maintain an up to date list of users. This product has worked very well for us. Happy New Year! You may have survived the Y2K crisis... But what about the Y5B crisis? www.y5b.com Chris Pappe chris(a)acronet.net www.acronet.net AcroNet Professional Internet Services Inc 7850 30th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53142-4610 Tel: (414) 697-2220 Fax: (414) 697-2223 - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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Re: (usr-tc) What Modem Ratio do you use?
by Greg owens 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

>I have a session limit at 6 hours. It's gets the lazy people and the >kiddies who just like to have a connection up. Some do complian.. but >they quickly quiet down when I point out the service agreement they signed >(and read.. hahahahha) Paul Farber Farber Technology farber(a)admin.f-tech.net Ph 570-628-5303 Fax 570-628-5545 Same here...We have a 30 min idle out and 6 hour session limit. In 2 1/2 years I think we have had 2 or 3 complaints. We also say unlimited and usually limit it to 400 hrs. I think maybe after reading some of these post we might consider changeing our wording to flatrate...might avoid a big arguement somwhere down the line. Greg Owens Magnolia Internet Services http://www.magnolia-net.com

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(usr-tc) billing software
by Stainforth, Matthew 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

I'm half following this discussion about unlimited access offerings and wondering what billing software those who don't do "unlimited" actually use. I'd love to move us from unlimited to something like what Jeff is doing since normal people wouldn't typically use more than 150-200 hours a month. I've looked at a few packages but most of them seem to be based on radius accounting which doesn't seem to be completely reliable. On the other hand, if you guys are using radius accounting for billing data, do you also use it to limit concurrent logons? I see a lot of people on the list saying radius accounting isn't reliable enough to be used to control concurrency. Just wondering what the general concensus is... Matthew Stainforth || Technical Services Manager || BrunNet Inc. - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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Re: (usr-tc) HiPerDSP stops at 21
by david＠carolnet.com 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

At 11:50 AM 1/25/2000 -0500, you wrote: >Have telco check the hunting. If it's a 'fast' busy its thier end. If >it's a 'normal' busy check the timeslot mapping and that the modems are >'on hook' and ready to take a call. > >Paul Farber Paul, >From my home last night, it sounded like a normal busy signal. Where do I check the 'timeslot mapping'? David __________________________________________________ David Swearingin (david(a)carolnet.com) CARROLLTON INTERNET SERVICE (www.carolnet.com) First Financial Group, Inc. 11 N. Folger, Carrollton, MO 64633 660-542-3002 Fax 660-542-3003 - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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(usr-tc) More on connect times
by Paul Farber 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

Hello all, I've got some more info on the connect/disonnect issue with TC. Right now I'm running a mix of 2.0.19 and 2.0.80 (70/30 mix) and going back to 2.0.19 seems to have helped. There is a significant drop in the number or 00:00, 00:01 and 00:02 length calls (1243 for pure .80 and 870 for the .19/.80 mix -- 373 difference) while the total volume of calls is only different by 200. Here's a list of login times with pure 2.0.80 code: Date Tue Jan 18 Time calls %of total 00:00 466 13.0 00:01 262 7.3 00:02 515 14.4 00:03 89 2.5 00:04 75 2.1 00:05 97 2.7 00:06 60 1.7 00:07 78 2.2 00:08 40 1.1 00:09 50 1.4 00:10 48 1.3 00:11 49 1.4 00:12 41 1.1 00:13 40 1.1 00:14 43 1.2 00:15 39 1.1 00:16 24 0.7 00:17 25 0.7 00:18 43 1.2 00:19 25 0.7 00:20 67 1.9 00:21 37 1.0 00:22 30 0.8 00:23 35 1.0 00:24 29 0.8 00:25 32 0.9 00:26 27 0.8 00:27 26 0.7 00:28 24 0.7 00:29 22 0.6 00:30 25 0.7 00:31 24 0.7 00:32 26 0.7 00:33 17 0.5 00:34 22 0.6 00:35 17 0.5 00:36 15 0.4 00:37 24 0.7 00:38 22 0.6 00:39 15 0.4 00:40 25 0.7 00:41 22 0.6 00:42 13 0.4 00:43 12 0.3 00:44 21 0.6 00:45 11 0.3 00:46 14 0.4 00:47 21 0.6 00:48 19 0.5 00:49 9 0.3 00:50 27 0.8 00:51 9 0.3 00:52 12 0.3 00:53 15 0.4 00:54 11 0.3 00:55 14 0.4 00:56 11 0.3 00:57 14 0.4 00:58 5 0.1 00:59 18 0.5 01:00 16 0.4 01:01 10 0.3 01:02 7 0.2 01:03 9 0.3 01:04 6 0.2 01:05 9 0.3 01:06 10 0.3 01:07 9 0.3 01:08 9 0.3 01:09 6 0.2 01:10 9 0.3 01:11 9 0.3 01:12 8 0.2 01:13 9 0.3 01:14 7 0.2 01:15 7 0.2 01:16 8 0.2 01:17 8 0.2 01:18 4 0.1 01:19 11 0.3 01:20 8 0.2 01:21 7 0.2 01:22 11 0.3 01:23 7 0.2 01:24 6 0.2 01:25 7 0.2 01:26 5 0.1 01:27 5 0.1 01:28 3 0.1 01:29 7 0.2 01:30 3 0.1 01:31 2 0.1 01:32 1 0.0 01:33 2 0.1 01:34 9 0.3 01:35 6 0.2 01:36 1 0.0 01:37 6 0.2 01:38 2 0.1 01:39 7 0.2 01:40 1 0.0 01:41 5 0.1 01:42 3 0.1 01:43 3 0.1 01:44 3 0.1 01:45 5 0.1 01:46 7 0.2 01:47 3 0.1 01:48 4 0.1 01:49 1 0.0 01:50 4 0.1 01:52 3 0.1 01:53 5 0.1 01:54 1 0.0 01:55 4 0.1 01:56 1 0.0 01:57 3 0.1 01:58 4 0.1 01:59 3 0.1 02:00 2 0.1 02:01 6 0.2 02:02 1 0.0 02:03 4 0.1 02:04 1 0.0 02:05 1 0.0 02:06 3 0.1 02:07 5 0.1 02:08 1 0.0 02:09 1 0.0 02:10 1 0.0 02:11 6 0.2 02:12 3 0.1 02:13 2 0.1 02:14 1 0.0 02:16 4 0.1 02:17 3 0.1 02:18 2 0.1 02:19 2 0.1 02:20 1 0.0 02:21 2 0.1 02:22 3 0.1 02:23 2 0.1 02:24 3 0.1 02:25 4 0.1 02:26 6 0.2 02:27 1 0.0 02:28 2 0.1 02:29 4 0.1 02:30 2 0.1 02:31 2 0.1 02:32 1 0.0 02:33 1 0.0 02:34 1 0.0 02:35 2 0.1 02:36 1 0.0 02:37 2 0.1 02:38 4 0.1 02:42 2 0.1 02:43 1 0.0 02:44 2 0.1 02:45 1 0.0 02:47 5 0.1 02:49 1 0.0 02:51 1 0.0 02:52 1 0.0 02:53 2 0.1 02:54 1 0.0 02:55 2 0.1 02:56 1 0.0 02:58 2 0.1 03:02 1 0.0 03:03 2 0.1 03:08 3 0.1 03:11 2 0.1 03:16 2 0.1 03:17 3 0.1 03:19 1 0.0 03:20 1 0.0 03:21 1 0.0 03:23 3 0.1 03:24 2 0.1 03:27 1 0.0 03:28 1 0.0 03:30 1 0.0 03:31 2 0.1 03:32 2 0.1 03:33 3 0.1 03:34 2 0.1 03:37 1 0.0 03:41 1 0.0 03:43 2 0.1 03:44 2 0.1 03:46 1 0.0 03:47 1 0.0 03:51 1 0.0 03:52 1 0.0 03:53 1 0.0 03:54 2 0.1 03:55 1 0.0 03:56 1 0.0 03:57 1 0.0 04:03 1 0.0 04:04 1 0.0 04:07 1 0.0 04:08 1 0.0 04:11 1 0.0 04:12 2 0.1 04:14 1 0.0 04:16 1 0.0 04:18 1 0.0 04:19 1 0.0 04:20 1 0.0 04:25 1 0.0 04:29 1 0.0 04:30 1 0.0 04:31 2 0.1 04:33 1 0.0 04:37 2 0.1 04:39 1 0.0 04:40 1 0.0 04:44 1 0.0 04:45 1 0.0 04:49 1 0.0 04:52 2 0.1 04:53 1 0.0 05:07 1 0.0 05:08 1 0.0 05:10 1 0.0 05:16 1 0.0 05:20 1 0.0 05:23 1 0.0 05:28 1 0.0 05:29 2 0.1 05:32 1 0.0 05:38 1 0.0 05:44 2 0.1 05:47 1 0.0 05:49 1 0.0 05:50 1 0.0 05:52 1 0.0 05:57 1 0.0 06:00 69 1.9 06:01 3 0.1 09:21 1 0.0 10:44 1 0.0 Total calls: 3571 Here's the same list with a mix of 2.0.19 and 2.0.80 Date Mon Jan 24 Time calls %of calls 00:00 188 5.6 00:01 219 6.5 00:02 463 13.8 00:03 115 3.4 00:04 89 2.7 00:05 108 3.2 00:06 64 1.9 00:07 66 2.0 00:08 44 1.3 00:09 59 1.8 00:10 39 1.2 00:11 45 1.3 00:12 48 1.4 00:13 38 1.1 00:14 43 1.3 00:15 45 1.3 00:16 32 1.0 00:17 29 0.9 00:18 26 0.8 00:19 29 0.9 00:20 62 1.8 00:21 52 1.5 00:22 40 1.2 00:23 40 1.2 00:24 27 0.8 00:25 27 0.8 00:26 29 0.9 00:27 30 0.9 00:28 17 0.5 00:29 29 0.9 00:30 21 0.6 00:31 29 0.9 00:32 25 0.7 00:33 20 0.6 00:34 31 0.9 00:35 29 0.9 00:36 18 0.5 00:37 23 0.7 00:38 25 0.7 00:39 20 0.6 00:40 18 0.5 00:41 13 0.4 00:42 11 0.3 00:43 13 0.4 00:44 21 0.6 00:45 20 0.6 00:46 24 0.7 00:47 15 0.4 00:48 19 0.6 00:49 17 0.5 00:50 17 0.5 00:51 20 0.6 00:52 10 0.3 00:53 15 0.4 00:54 13 0.4 00:55 22 0.7 00:56 15 0.4 00:57 16 0.5 00:58 14 0.4 00:59 15 0.4 01:00 14 0.4 01:01 13 0.4 01:02 12 0.4 01:03 13 0.4 01:04 11 0.3 01:05 11 0.3 01:06 14 0.4 01:07 11 0.3 01:08 9 0.3 01:09 13 0.4 01:10 8 0.2 01:11 13 0.4 01:12 2 0.1 01:13 8 0.2 01:14 5 0.1 01:15 10 0.3 01:16 9 0.3 01:17 5 0.1 01:18 7 0.2 01:19 4 0.1 01:20 2 0.1 01:21 12 0.4 01:22 5 0.1 01:23 6 0.2 01:24 5 0.1 01:25 6 0.2 01:26 2 0.1 01:27 3 0.1 01:28 4 0.1 01:29 6 0.2 01:30 6 0.2 01:31 11 0.3 01:32 8 0.2 01:33 4 0.1 01:34 7 0.2 01:35 5 0.1 01:36 2 0.1 01:37 3 0.1 01:38 4 0.1 01:39 5 0.1 01:40 8 0.2 01:41 5 0.1 01:42 4 0.1 01:43 2 0.1 01:44 4 0.1 01:45 4 0.1 01:46 2 0.1 01:47 3 0.1 01:48 5 0.1 01:49 4 0.1 01:50 4 0.1 01:51 3 0.1 01:52 2 0.1 01:53 5 0.1 01:54 1 0.0 01:55 2 0.1 01:56 2 0.1 01:57 1 0.0 01:58 1 0.0 01:59 4 0.1 02:01 3 0.1 02:02 4 0.1 02:03 1 0.0 02:04 4 0.1 02:05 4 0.1 02:06 2 0.1 02:07 3 0.1 02:08 3 0.1 02:09 5 0.1 02:10 3 0.1 02:11 1 0.0 02:12 1 0.0 02:13 1 0.0 02:14 5 0.1 02:16 1 0.0 02:17 3 0.1 02:18 1 0.0 02:19 3 0.1 02:20 6 0.2 02:21 4 0.1 02:22 1 0.0 02:23 1 0.0 02:24 1 0.0 02:25 1 0.0 02:26 2 0.1 02:27 4 0.1 02:29 2 0.1 02:30 5 0.1 02:31 4 0.1 02:32 1 0.0 02:33 1 0.0 02:34 4 0.1 02:36 2 0.1 02:37 1 0.0 02:38 3 0.1 02:39 6 0.2 02:40 3 0.1 02:42 1 0.0 02:43 4 0.1 02:46 2 0.1 02:47 1 0.0 02:48 1 0.0 02:49 4 0.1 02:51 1 0.0 02:52 1 0.0 02:53 2 0.1 02:54 1 0.0 02:56 1 0.0 02:57 2 0.1 03:01 1 0.0 03:02 2 0.1 03:03 2 0.1 03:04 1 0.0 03:05 3 0.1 03:06 2 0.1 03:07 1 0.0 03:08 5 0.1 03:09 1 0.0 03:11 1 0.0 03:14 1 0.0 03:15 2 0.1 03:20 1 0.0 03:21 1 0.0 03:22 1 0.0 03:24 2 0.1 03:25 1 0.0 03:27 1 0.0 03:29 1 0.0 03:30 1 0.0 03:31 1 0.0 03:32 1 0.0 03:33 1 0.0 03:35 1 0.0 03:36 1 0.0 03:38 2 0.1 03:39 2 0.1 03:40 1 0.0 03:41 1 0.0 03:44 1 0.0 03:45 1 0.0 03:48 4 0.1 03:49 1 0.0 03:50 3 0.1 03:51 2 0.1 03:52 1 0.0 03:53 2 0.1 03:56 2 0.1 03:57 1 0.0 03:58 1 0.0 04:04 2 0.1 04:06 2 0.1 04:08 1 0.0 04:09 1 0.0 04:10 2 0.1 04:11 1 0.0 04:14 1 0.0 04:15 1 0.0 04:16 1 0.0 04:19 1 0.0 04:21 1 0.0 04:22 1 0.0 04:27 1 0.0 04:29 1 0.0 04:32 2 0.1 04:40 1 0.0 04:41 1 0.0 04:42 1 0.0 04:44 1 0.0 04:45 1 0.0 04:47 1 0.0 04:51 2 0.1 04:55 1 0.0 04:56 2 0.1 04:59 1 0.0 05:00 1 0.0 05:03 3 0.1 05:05 1 0.0 05:06 1 0.0 05:07 1 0.0 05:09 1 0.0 05:12 2 0.1 05:17 1 0.0 05:18 1 0.0 05:21 1 0.0 05:23 1 0.0 05:27 1 0.0 05:48 1 0.0 05:59 1 0.0 06:00 50 1.5 06:01 2 0.1 08:26 1 0.0 Total calls: 3358 Paul Farber Farber Technology farber(a)admin.f-tech.net Ph 570-628-5303 Fax 570-628-5545 - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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Re: (usr-tc) HiPerDSP stops at 21
by Paul Farber 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

Have telco check the hunting. If it's a 'fast' busy its thier end. If it's a 'normal' busy check the timeslot mapping and that the modems are 'on hook' and ready to take a call. Paul Farber Farber Technology farber(a)admin.f-tech.net Ph 570-628-5303 Fax 570-628-5545 On Mon, 24 Jan 2000, David Swearingin wrote: > I have one HiPER DSP that has 21 active calls and then returns a busy signal, > even though there should be three more modems available. Any suggestions as > to why this is happening? > > David > > - > To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" > with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. > For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send > "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. > - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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(usr-tc) snmp management question
by Chris Hanes 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

What kind of approaches are people taking to managing their total control units? I know MRTG is popular and that there are many perl scripts out there to analyze syslogs. What tools beyond this do administrators typically use? Also, what are the usual variables, people are using MRTG to track? Currently, I just track bandwidth usage, modem line states, total modem utilization, ping times. I'm wondering what things I'm missing that I should be tracking. Thanks, Chris Hanes Network Admin Internet Connections - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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(usr-tc) Quad ana/dig modem not taking calls (another case of)
by Dan Borlovan 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

Hello, I have a totalcontrol chassis with the following cards: - 1 dual e1/cas - 8 digital quad modems - 6 analog/digital quad modems - 1 hiper arc - 1 hiper nmc (p5nmc) All cards have at least tcs3.5 software Modem signal source is pritdm. The dual/e1 card recognizes the modem cards. I have 2 E1 (30 channels) active. The problem is that the ana/dig modems do not take calls. All modems (both dig and ana/dig) have the same configuration. What seems to happen: - a call arives; the dual/e1 tries to communicate with the modem (status is 'dialling-in'); after about 10s failes and the caller gets a busy signal from the telco. Meantime modem shows no reaction (doesn't go off-hook) What was tried: - software reset, hardware reset, chassis powerdown/powerup - reinserting modem cards - chaging modem cards - changing modem source from pritdm to nic, inserting an analog line and making a call works - so the modem and the harc are fine - swapping slot positions for dig and ana/dig modems - the dig modems take calls, the ana/dig don't The same configuration seems to work in other places using same hardware. If you have any suggestion, I'll be glad to try. If needed I can provide debug from the dual/e1 card (the ctrl/d menu), just tell me which debug options to enable. Thanks, Dan -- Dan Borlovan <danb(a)dnttm.ro> System Administrator, Network Operation Center Dynamic Network Technologies - Timisoara, Romania Telefon: +40-56-204967 FAX: +40-56-220201 - To unsubscribe to usr-tc, send an email to "majordomo(a)xmission.com" with "unsubscribe usr-tc" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.

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(usr-tc) Modem ratio
by Greg owens 25 Jan '00

25 Jan '00

We have found that here in L.A. (Lower Arkansas) about the best we can run is a 6.2/1 and not have busys. This seems to be the norm for Sept thru May. During the summer months our usage drops dramatically due to people being outdoors later, involved with summer activities etc. During these months our ratio can go as high as 7.5/1 When we first went in business other ISP's kept telling us as you get more and more customers that ratio will increase. Well it really hasn't changed much since getting our first couple hundred users. If anything it may have droped Greg Owens Magnolia Internet Services http://www.magnolia-net.com

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