Simplifydigital's guide to measuring your broadband usage.

Measuring your broadband usage could save you a lot of hassle and most importantly - a lot of money!

One of the main problems consumers find when they sign up to a broadband ISP is that they are subject to the dreaded download limits.

Download limits are effectively the limit on how much you can download in a given time period. If you go over these limits you may incur a horrible penalty fee.

Most broadband providers clearly state their broadband download limits, others offer unlimited downloads but these are subject to a fair usage policy. A fair usage policy is put in place when broadband ISPs offer unlimited downloads. The policy makes sure that you don't affect other broadband users by downloading way over the policy's limits.

If you are a heavy broadband user then you need to make sure the broadband package or broadband deal you choose has a download limit that is realistic for your needs. So if you are always downloading movies and watching on-demand TV on the BBC iPlayer then you need to take that into account.

There's no need to fear the broadband download limits though, you can keep control of how much you download quite easily. Some broadband providers allow you access to a special secure website to view your account details and see how much you have been downloading.

Also worth considering are the downloadable broadband monitors from broadband information websites. These monitors are normally free to use and track your broadband usage collecting information such as daily, weekly and monthly broadband usage.

Broadband monitors can also be set to sound an audible alarm on your PC when you go over your set download limits. This could prove invaluable to broadband consumers who use their broadband connection for long periods and are heavy broadband users.

Broadband performance can be monitored as well. A broadband monitor can run a broadband speed test by analysing your broadband connection. This can tell you if you are really getting your money's worth from your broadband provider. Remember though, if your broadband speed is slow after you complete a broadband speed test, it may not be your providers fault! Broadband speed depends on many factors such as your distance from the BT telephone exchange and broadband coverage in your area.

At the end of the day if you actively measure your broadband usage you ensure that you are saving yourself money and avoiding those nasty fees that broadband providers will charge you if you go over your limits. In most cases your broadband provider will talk to you about your broadband usage and if your broadband provider decides you are exceeding your limits on a regular basis, they will try and sort out a more suitable broadband package for you.