Am I being 'tight' not wanting to share my broadband with a mate?

panyan · 20 Dec 2011 at 10:57

Moogman said:
He should do something even if its a few beers every now and then.

+1

if he contributes to the house, then yes, give him the code

nydryl · 20 Dec 2011 at 10:58

If he's just browsing I'd let him use it for free, short term at least. If it's heavier usage I'd expect him to chip in.

Sin_Chase · 20 Dec 2011 at 10:58

panyan said:
+1

if he contributes to the house, then yes, give him the code

Someone did not read the OP.

lgevans · 20 Dec 2011 at 10:59

Ask for a contribution imo!

Limenote · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:01

nydryl said:
If he's just browsing I'd let him use it for free, short term at least. If it's heavier usage I'd expect him to chip in.

I agree, internet sharing with just a casual browser is never really a problem until they install a bittorrent client or constantly stream HD video.

but is it worth the risk?

Deluxe1 · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:02

Charge him £10 a month and still use QOS.

If he does have access tho and he downloads anything dodgy then it may come back to haunt you, you need to think if its worth the hassle.

Frenzy · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:03

First off I would ask him to pay half installation and half the monthly fee. Seeing as he is not working if I felt any kind of friendship with him then I would offer him a 100kbps network limitation over wifi. If he wants more he would have to pay for it.

I am in a similar situation with my brother but as he is my brother I give him half my connection when I'm online and all of it when I'm out...

RomanNose · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:05

Let him use it, but redirect him through a proxy that turns images upside down.

Showboat · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:05

You haven't said what he will be using it for.
If it's browsing the net / checking emails or even casual gaming quit being a tightarse. You won't even know he is using it.
If he wants to download hi-def movies then that's a different story!

Things change I've changed · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:06

Right, thanks guys, I think I'm going to go for a QoS router and prioritise traffic on my ip if that's how it works, and if possible ban the addresses of all known torrent sites and ask for £10 a month, I think that's fair, I'll tell him it's on a trial basis and see how it goes.

Showboat said:
You haven't said what he will be using it for.
If it's browsing the net / checking emails or even casual gaming quit being a tightarse. You won't even know he is using it.
If he wants to download hi-def movies then that's a different story!

He wants to use it to surf the net, facebook, watch sky online using he's mums membership number, and down the "odd movie".

RickST · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:07

given his circumstances I would give him access, if you have a QoS router great if not just ask him not to be a knob

elmarko · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:07

If it was a close friend & was in need (if he is spending most of his time looking after sick people), I'd offer to give him £30 for him to get his OWN connection.

That way, you help a friend, don't have to share your connection & have no worries about what he's downloading (as it's nothing to do with you).

If he's not worth giving £30 a month to (not that much really) - then just say no.

Bunka · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:10

lowrider007 said:
Right, thanks guys, I think I'm going to go for a QoS router and prioritise traffic on my ip if that's how it works, and if possible ban the addresses of all known torrent sites and ask for £10 a month, I think that's fair, I'll tell him it's on a trial basis and see how it goes.

He wants to use it to surf the net, facebook, watch sky online using he's mums membership number, and down the "odd movie".

I'd let the dude download as much as he wants to if he wants, but if possible, cap his connection to 200kb/s, leaving you with 800kb/s for instance. I'd be ****ed to be paying for something and have torrents blocked. At least let the guy do what he wants but with a limit imposed so that your usage isn't affected.

TommyV · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:10

Offer halves.

yes his circumstances suck, but nothing is free in this world.

edit: just seen your response. Get him to chip in for the router, why should you purchase at your expense for QoS to accomodate for his connection?

Duff-Man · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:11

Letting him use the connection, but with capped bandwidth, seems like the best bet.

He's a friend, and he's going through a rough time. You can help him out without inconveniencing yourself too much, so why not. If your internet does start to slow, you can just throttle back his bandwidth temporarily.

Things change I've changed · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:12

Bunka said:
I'd let the dude download as much as he wants to if he wants, but if possible, cap his connection to 200kb/s, leaving you with 800kb/s for instance. I'd be ****ed to be paying for something and have torrents blocked. At least let the guy do what he wants but with a limit imposed so that your usage isn't affected.

Can you limit peoples speed in such a way on QoS routers then?, I've never seen these types of options in routers before, is there a particular model you can recommend?

MeEsH BaKkA · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:12

Pretty damn tight if you ask me. Then again I will pretty much share anything I have with my mates, I know not everyone is the same.

The way I see it who knows when the boot will be on the other foot.

Frenzy · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:12

Out of interest how fast is the connection you are going to be getting?

Deluxe1 · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:13

Do you have a monthly limit on what you can download? I wouldnt want someone else using up all my bandwidth and constantly getting throttled because of it.

Squark · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:13

Could you not agree a 'trial period' to see if his internet usage affects yours at all?