With the current policy of data caps I decided to track my usage at the router level. I just checked my cox account and from start of my billing cycle to yesterday (6-26-17 thru 7-11-17) states I have used 205 GB. When I check my router Netgear r7000 that I started tracking a day before my billing cycle to today (6-25-17 thru 7-12-17) states I used only 187GB. That is a discrepancy of 18GB! I would not care normally but since it is now policy to charge if and when we go over 1TB, this phantom data can be a means to charge overages. I highly disagree with any data caps in principle and function but if you choose to institute a cap then I expect it to be accurate. I want to know what Cox's stance on the accuracy on the data meter and discrepancies when I track my own. I would attach screen captures but your forum is too lackluster to properly insert. This is just a personal comment, data caps and penalties was a terrible idea and is the first time I am truly unhappy with my service and will be reviewing other service options.

Sorry, removed reply and started new post. Not sure how to delete this post.

so I have contacted support and gave all my info. I got a few responses back to verify my info again but no communication back. The finally tally amounts for my billing cycle came out to Cox Meter=482GB and my router meter=438GB. This is easily a difference of 44GB you say I used when my personal hardware states otherwise. Again, my router accounted for one extra day so it is actually even less. Seriously, this is no small amount. Is large enough for you to bill extra for if I had gone over 1TB. I do expect a response this time.

@MrGillen One difference between how the router monitors traffic vs how we monitor it would be that we monitor at the WAN interface of the modem. With that being said there is going to be some extra overhead traffic which we took into consideration when determining the data allowances in place. Considering that your numbers are pretty close to our I suspect that is where the difference lies.

@ChrisL, Thank you for a quick response. Do you have any documentation on the WAN interference that you are taking into account? I would like to educate myself on what your are explaining to be an 11% or 44 GB difference in what I monitor and yours, or explaining the additional metrics used that you are saying I am not accounting for. Thanks.

@MrGillen I'd be referring to the cable interface on the modem. This is not accessible from the customer side of the connection.

Data Usage Discrepancy | Cox Community

44 Replies

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Bowl
New Contributor

Sorry, removed reply and started new post. Not sure how to delete this post.
Mr_Gillen
New Contributor II
so I have contacted support and gave all my info. I got a few responses back to verify my info again but no communication back. The finally tally amounts for my billing cycle came out to Cox Meter=482GB and my router meter=438GB. This is easily a difference of 44GB you say I used when my personal hardware states otherwise. Again, my router accounted for one extra day so it is actually even less. Seriously, this is no small amount. Is large enough for you to bill extra for if I had gone over 1TB. I do expect a response this time.
ChrisL
Former Moderator
@MrGillen

One difference between how the router monitors traffic vs how we monitor it would be that we monitor at the WAN interface of the modem. With that being said there is going to be some extra overhead traffic which we took into consideration when determining the data allowances in place. Considering that your numbers are pretty close to our I suspect that is where the difference lies.
Mr_Gillen
New Contributor II
@ChrisL,

Thank you for a quick response. Do you have any documentation on the WAN interference that you are taking into account? I would like to educate myself on what your are explaining to be an 11% or 44 GB difference in what I monitor and yours, or explaining the additional metrics used that you are saying I am not accounting for. Thanks.
ChrisL
Former Moderator
@MrGillen

I'd be referring to the cable interface on the modem. This is not accessible from the customer side of the connection.
Mr_Gillen
New Contributor II
@ChrisL,

So would that be something out of control of user usage and more as a result of the service connection?
WillShoe
New Contributor
I'm not sure how many devices you have using the router wifi and lan but I use an app called Data Usage in the windows App store which is free. There are plenty others out there to choose from as well. It has an export feature to save data with charts as well. I have traffic meter turned on in my router (Netgear R8000) since the data cap ** was initiated (dropped from 2tb to 1tb on my Ultimate package which is why I got that package in the first place not just the speed and now getting rid of cloud storage too and pushing us to drop box which I prefer Onedrive instead as a replacement, but I digress...)

Keep in mind that I have calculated less than 100meg difference between the App and my router so this is actual data usage between devices. Remember to keep copies of this data as evidence should you go over your data. There have been many reports of inaccuracy's of data usage by Cox customers by as much as a 500g difference already. I have never had to monitor my data usage before until now so may as well get started to make sure Big Corp monopoly does not try to stick it to us again and again even more.

Option1: Synology has a router that lets you bridge you Cell phone to act as an additional Wan and failover. Some people have dropped Cox all together and used this router with their Cell phones unlimited data plans that have good signal of course. Just another option.

Option 2: If you can afford a second account with another cox modem then get a bridge multi-wan router that will combine both modems to act as one doubling your up and down speeds and giving you 2Tb of data.

I have also done this in order to monitor my contour flex streaming service which is suppose to not count towards my data usage and since Cox is pushing DropBox I believe that Data Usage should not count either but that's a different issue. So in theory I should show more usage on my end vs Cox usage report we will see after the first month since I got Flex 2 days ago.

Also note that If you have a Cox modem that has built in wifi and your not using it be sure to disable it because it will use data even if you not using it depending on model.

I will be moving on to ATT Fiber Next year when its suppose to be available in my area to get away from this disloyal Company called Cox... I have even tried to get gigablast from them but won't be here for another 5 years or more or never so they got the monopoly on us here but not for long. Been with them since 2005 and apparently loyal customers don't mean ** to them while giving 20% to 40% discounts to new customers they keep screwing with their current customers. (Apparently Loyalty only works one way with Cox) Already 3 friends of mine and 2 relatives have moved to ATT Uverse with the 1G plan unlimited data NO CAP and is now offering no data caps to people who already have other services from ATT like Cell Phones, DirectV, etc. They are sure capitalizing on Cox data cap screw up for sure.
stinkfoot63
Contributor II
This discussion answers one question but evokes another:

It confirms that for some customers there is some level of function with the data meter but raises concerns that, if it is "fixed" for those of us who cannot currently keep an eye on our usage, will it be reliable.
notbychoice
New Contributor
Oh come on. a 10% difference between what is reported by my router vs what is reported by Cox and trying to explain it away as normal? Give me a break, pulling poop out of their bums. That should not be normal.
Becky
Moderator
Hi Notbychoice,

We have a process in place to investigate Data Usage Meter discrepancy issues. Please email the data usage per your router to Cox.Help@cox.com so we can take a look at any discrepancies. Thanks!