Hallnet Restrictions?

hi all, might be coming to lufbra next year was just wondering what the internet is like in the halls.. Speed, reliability etc..

Also is it possible to:
Stream Video
Download
Game Online (BF2 etc)

Also if it isn't possible are you allowed to pay for your own internet connection so you are able to?

Thanks in advance..

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Reply 1

Montrose

When it's runing fine it is one of the fastest connections going, although it has had some reliability problems. You can stream, download and online game, although things like P2P are banned. Go onto the computer services website (through the main Uni website) and look at their 'acceptable use' policy.

Reply 2

EarlFuzz

Yes, you can, but expect slow speeds for streamed media and low pings on games. You get a 10Mbps connection to your room. The only thing you can't do is P2P file sharing.

more info here: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/computing/hallnet/shsaup.html

Reply 3

Memphis

All those things are fine, with usually good speeds, although from time to time expect your latency ingame to increase from about 5-30 up to in the 100s. It's a pain but you learn to live with it.

And yes, BF2 does play.

Reply 4

thomasp

Anything illegal is out (obviously) - I've heard that someone in my hall got kicked off for downloading exceptional amounts of porn.

P2P/torrents are banned as they cause a denial of service to other users (due to the strain placed on the network) - if you even have a P2P/torrent program installed on your computer and never use it, you'll still be kicked off until it's removed. Also, load limiting (bandwidth restrictions) has been installed on torrents, P2P, usenet and other similar services.

Whodareswins89

might be coming to lufbra next year was just wondering what the internet is like in the halls.. Speed, reliability etc..

We have a 10Mbit up/down connection (most broadband is usually around 2Mb down and 256Kbit up). As long as people aren't abusing the network too much it runs at pretty much full whack. It is generally reliable, although there have been a couple of problems this year.

Whodareswins89

Also is it possible to:
Stream Video

If it's legal, then yes. Youtube does appear to have a bandwidth limit on it.

Whodareswins89

Download

Again, if it's legal and not through a "frowned-upon" program. And if you don't download to an extent that causes problems for other users.

Whodareswins89

Game Online (BF2 etc)

I believe you can, but certain firewall ports are blocked which may have an adverse effect on your gaming. There are also setup instructions for XBox/XBox 360 and Playstations to get them running on HallNet

Whodareswins89

Also if it isn't possible are you allowed to pay for your own internet connection so you are able to?

No, you have to use HallNet. There is no way around this, apart from being in your own house.

Basically, if you do something to an extent that it slows/cripples the network for everyone else you'll get moaned at!! And usually it's "two strikes and you're out" - get kicked off for a second time and you lose HallNet for the rest of the year and probably get fined as well.

Also, I see you've applied for Aero. engineering - great choice :biggrin:

Hard work, but worth it :smile:

Reply 5

EarlFuzz

thomasp

No, you have to use HallNet. There is no way around this, apart from being in your own house.

Not quite true - you can get a 56kbps connection through your room phone, but you'd have to be desperate and find an ISP that lets you have an 0870 number as your number.

Reply 6

thistle

EarlFuzz

Not quite true - you can get a 56kbps connection through your room phone, but you'd have to be desperate and find an ISP that lets you have an 0870 number as your number.

I always wondered if the hall phones lines were physically capable of 56k. I know Keycom who used to run the hall phone service advertised a 56k internet account to use with your room phone but I think hallnet was cheaper!

Although Keycom gave you an 0870 number, there was also an unadvertised 01509 number associated with each phone - 2 numbers then the extension number.

Reply 7

loopymeg

That 01509 number has been deactivated now, I think :frown:

Reply 8

EarlFuzz

if that's the case, it *should* be 01509 22xxxx - just tried that on my phone and it started ringing on the mobile but not in the room... so I hung up quickly :eek:

Reply 9

Mr Catbert

Hallnet is great.

I downloaded Ubuntu Linux (440MB) in 8 minutes
Solaris 8 / 9, totaling about 5GB in under an hour

Reply 10

Mr Catbert

All fully legal as Open Source under the GPL I must add :wink:

Reply 11

thistle

EarlFuzz

if that's the case, it *should* be 01509 22xxxx - just tried that on my phone and it started ringing on the mobile but not in the room... so I hung up quickly :eek:

22xxxx are the main university numbers, but halls were always something different (62xxxx or 82xxxx I think). As they were on a different circuit, you couldn't dial the extension for the medical centre (before they changed it) or computing services helpdesk for free from your room phone.

A couple of years ago we had an email in Elvyn telling us that the 01509 number would be going but it still worked at least until after I left halls. They might have finally got round to it now though.

Reply 12

thomasp

EarlFuzz

if that's the case, it *should* be 01509 22xxxx - just tried that on my phone and it started ringing on the mobile but not in the room... so I hung up quickly :eek:

22 is anywhere else on the uni bar halls of residence - like department offices, security, computing services, etc.

The old extension was 01509 82xxxx, but that has now been stopped.

Also, HallNet only costs around £1 - £2 per week (I think) - all included in your hall fees - and you'd be hard pushed to find an ISP that gives you 10Mbit up/down and virtually unlimited bandwidth.

Reply 13

prXXX344d

You know the phones in everyones rooms....how much do they cost to use?

Reply 14

thomasp

Free to receive calls (you have to register for free though to get the 0870 number - these are charged to the caller at national rates), and inter-room calls are free.

Outgoing calls are done on a pay-as-you-go basis (you top up with a voucher or credit card) and are around 3 - 5p per minute, depending on the time of day and where you're calling to (local/national)