So how do I really check my usage?

From time to time users query the amount of credit used up during a session. This is only natural when logging on to check email and seeing usage that does not fit earlier patterns. In this post, which is generally applicable whether using RedButton or not, we discuss what may cause usage spikes, how to keep them in check and how you can monitor usage in fine grained detail.

In terms of your exact usage you may verify it yourself by logging into your RedButton account ("Buy Credits" from the portal page) and clicking on "Internet Usage History" on the left. It will show you when you logged in, for how long and especially what your uploads/downloads and credit usage was per session. This aggregate information is useful but does not provide fine grained detail in terms of which programs ended up using the connection.

When it comes to usage specifics, unfortunately there are many programs in the background that use bandwidth without your explicit instruction. Examples are Windows or Mac automatic security related system updates, automatic anti-virus/firewall updates, java updates, VoIP programs using bandwidth behind your back to route other people's phone calls, iTunes downloading movies and many more. Such usage is sporadic in nature, one day there will be zero available updates (though anti-virus programs tend to update itself daily) and the next your Windows Update will try to download the next service pack which may take up tons of MB's (Windows XP SP3 is 48MB for instance).

In order to prevent this from happening you may temporarily turn off these services though we do not recommend turning off security related service upgrades (operating system, anti-virus/firewall upgrades etc.). If you do it will expose your computer to a whole bunch of security vulnerabilities and problems which could ultimately cause more damage than the additional bandwidth expense is worth. For example we have had confirmed cases in the past where virus checkers were not updated, customers' laptops got infected with viruses that then proceeded to upload heavy amounts of data resulting in their credits disappearing quicker than they could look.

One thing you can do is download Netlimiter Monitor (http://www.netlimiter.com/download.php), a freeware third party tool that let's you monitor which program uses up what bandwidth and how much. It is only 2.3MB large and will help you greatly in tracking down what's using up all your credits. A word of caution, this tool will give you slightly lower total upload/download figures than our system (especially uploads) because it counts the data on a different network layer than we do.

We hope we have clarified why sometimes our system, or any other, shows more usage than you yourself have explicitly initiated. If you have any questions or feedback please let us know.

Cape Town's New Free WiFi Super Circuit @ Beleza

A picture says a thousand words and so this post consists of the picture below recently taken @ Beleza - a popular restaurant that forms a part of Cape Town's Free WiFi Super Circuit as mentioned in our previous post. Thank you to Ronald from Beleza for the picture.

Cape Town's New Free WiFi Super Circuit

We launched the RedButton Free WiFi product a few weeks ago and are pleased to report that you can now get the potent combination of free wifi and great food at a number of prime establishments in Cape Town's new Free Wifi Super Circuit. Read on to see where you can experience culinary nirvana whilst doing your business online.

Beleza - 20MB free daily

Beleza is a trendy Portuguese & Italian restaurant on the corner of Kloof Nek and Burnside roads in Tamboerskloof. They lay claim to the best deals in town and back that up with a creative list of specials, such as their famous breakfast, and a wide array of menu options. 'The proof of the pudding is in the eating' and that's exactly what we recently did, the Peri burger is out of this world.

With their RedButton Free Wifi hotspot service users get 20MB free daily, this serves as a further example of Beleza's commitment of providing fantastic deals, the following comment by an end user pretty much sums it up "I am sitting at Beleza eating the tenderest Prego steak ever, using their free wi fi, it's fantastic."

Depasco - 20MB free daily

Depasco is a cafe bakery on the corner of Kloof and Buitensingel. Not only do they have an array of freshly baked breads and other treats but also a selection of wraps that are out of this world. Try their breakfast wrap whilst checking your email using the free wifi, you'll love it.

Andiamo - 20MB free daily

Andiamo, situated in the Cape Quarter, 72 Waterkant street, is well known for the wide variety offered by its deli with over 2000 local and important delicacies on offer. We have fallen for their Parma Ham filled tramezzinis, they are irresistible. Visit Andiamo.co.za for a comprehensive coverage of what this prime establishment has to offer.

Long Street Cafe - 20MB free daily

Long Street Cafe is a Cape Town icon that has been operating for over 12 years. If you haven't been here you are missing out! We launched our Free WiFi product at Long Street Cafe and it was the perfect choice. They have since built up a loyal base of free wifi costumers who soak up the unique long street cafe ambiance. Long Street Cafe had a plain wifi router prior to using RedButton Free WiFi and now benefit from a branded and automated solution.

Kauai Shortmarket - 20MB free daily

Kauai's menu is unparalleled in terms of the nutritious smoothies, burgers, wraps and soup & sandwich combos on offer. You can not only eat healthy but also surf for free at Kauai Shortmarket, located just off Greenmarket Square.


Wimpy Rondebosch - 50MB free daily

Wimpy Rondebosch was one of the very first establishments to use RedButton Free WiFi. Wimpy is well known for their burgers and are particularly popular at breakfast times when queues are not uncommon. Wimpy Rondebosch management initially chose to give end users a 50MB free allowance but only after 3 p.m, this was later extended to 50MB free all day long. With this the RedButton's Free WiFi product is used exactly as intended, as a product that is flexible and able to meet the venue's changing requirements.

Café Sofia Kloof & Sea Point - free 20MB voucher with your order

Café Sofia is a rapidly growing and group of Meze and Tapas bars that bring together exquisite decor and their trademark menu that includes various tapas, fine wine cocktails and various specials. They have coupled the launch of their Free WiFi service at their Kloof street & Sea Point branches with a selection of fantastic breakfast specials.

Cafe Chameleon, Plattekloof - 10MB free daily

Cafe Chameleon is another Cape Town icon nestled just below the Tygerberg Hills in Plattekloof. It has been in business for over a decade, step inside and you'll see that the reasons for this impressive stint are self evident. Great food, ambience, specials (such as their current "R1 a cup" special before 9 a.m.), a fantastic view over the mother city and of course Free WiFi.

Final word - maps coming soon

In addition to our existing list of hotspot locations, we'll be releasing a national Free WiFi map in the next couple of weeks so you can see exactly where to go. With this you'll be able to either map out your route in Cape Town's Free WiFi Super Circuit or just find the nearest spot where you can get your fix. Happy surfing!

New Default Prepaid WiFi and Free WiFi Portal Pages

The current default RedButton portal page, a stalwart that put in a good 16 months worth of service, is due for a face lift and so from coming Friday you'll see the new default RedButton Prepaid WiFi and RedButton Free WiFi portal pages go live at relevant hotspots.

If you have any feedback or suggestions we'd greatly appreciate it, in fact we'll send each of the first 10 users to comment a free R50 voucher as a token of appreciation for your time. Please click on the images to enlarge them before your review, some of the changes are subtle but we'd rather not point them out.

NEW Portal Page @ RedButton Prepaid WiFi Hotspots


OLD Portal Page @ RedButton Prepaid WiFi Hotspots


NEW Portal Page @ RedButton Free WiFi Hotspots



OLD Portal Page @ RedButton Prepaid WiFi Hotspots

RedButton's Cutting Edge Network - Fully Upgraded

We're proud to announce that the upgrade of each and every router in our network has now been completed. Each router in our network now sports the production release of version 0.9.12 of our hotspot firmware bringing a multitude of improvements in service levels to our customers.

We completed the beta testing phase of version 0.9.12 of the RedButton Hotspot Firmware, mentioned in an earlier post, a few weeks a go and subsequently started the roll-out of the production release.

A primary benefit to our customers has been that RedButton is now able to pro-actively attend to network health issues, rather than an inadequate reactive approach. That's valid even for repeaters deployed at hotspots to increase signal coverage. So if there is an issue at any one of the more than 200 routers in our network we know which one is affected, where it is located and when it last reported in. With this our network has truly reached the cutting edge.

Prepaid WiFi Rate Announcement

We have some good news for our end-users, we are in the process of standardising our RedButton Prepaid WiFi hotspot rates into three rate classes - promotion, standard and premium.

Regardless of the rate class at any particular hotspot users also enjoy the following benefits:

• Free 12 month carry-over on credit purchased
• No monthly contract required
• Only pay for the megabytes needed
  
• Convenient prepaid payment by credit card or voucher
• Convenient wireless Internet
• Use standard, inexpensive WiFi equipment
  

RedButton Prepaid WiFi rate classes, as of July 2008 onwards, are:

1. Promotion rate: 12c/MB bulk to 15c/MB default
2. Standard rate: 24c/MB bulk to 30c/MB default
3. Premium rate: 48c/MB bulk to 60c/MB default

The default rates are displayed on the portal pages and users benefit from bulk rates with discounted credit purchases.

Please note that even the premium rate is significantly lower than those offered by our major WiFi competitors, the best prepaid wifi rate you'll get from from one in particular is 72c/MB and your credit expires after 30 days to boot.

Please note that there are exceptions to these rates at selected hotspots:

• legacy locations with existing agreements with stakeholders
  
• locations that use the Free WiFi product - highly variable since the venue owner can change the rate at will

Enterprise grade, high quality hardware

At RedButton we run a network of hundreds of routers with our hardware platform of choice predominantly being the Linksys WRT54GL and also MikroTik Routerboards. In both cases the devices run RedButton firmware resulting in a fully integrated, managed and monitored network. Both devices are used by a plethora of local and international hotspot and wireless Internet service providers (WISPs).




Why do we point this out?

Well, we've recently had an amusing report of a competitor claiming that the we do not use enterprise grade, high quality hardware. While this claim in itself is laughable, as most hotspot and WISP companies would point out, it also misses the point in terms of what consumers want, and that is good service. Hardware in itself, regardless of technical merits, will never equate to good service. One company that just about anybody would bow down to when it comes to service is Google - who incidentally use off the shelf hardware, weaved together in ingenious ways.