Speeds and Data Plans
I'm researching data plans and noticed Cox updated and reformatted their Speeds and Data Plans page. A couple notes:
Gigablast Package & Maximum Limit. Cox defines an area with "periods of sustai...
Forum Discussion
>> 3. Monthly data plan. How does 1.25 TB equal 1,280 GB?
Yes. 1.25 terabytes = 1,280 gigabytes... when 1024 is the base multiplier... it's a computer science thing. You are charged $10 for each 50 GB block of data over your data plan.
when 1024 is the base multiplier
1024 what? Where'd you get 1024?
In decimal (base 10), 1 Kilobyte = 1000 bytes
In binary (base 2), 1 Kilobyte = 210 = 1024 bytes (1000 * 1.024)
1.25 TB (base 2) = 1250 GB (base 2)
1.25 TB (base 10) = 1250 billion bytes = 1250 GB (base 10)
1.25 TB (base 2) = 1250 billion * 1.024 = 1280 billion bytes = 1280 GB (base 10)
1.25 TB (base 2) = 1280 GB (base 10) because Cox is mixing two, different bases.
The individual who drafted verbiage for the Cox webpage might have only been told monthly data plans are to have a 1.25 TB data limit. If so, assuming it was a binary amount may or may not have been correct. Either way, the "1,280 GB" was probably included to provide a more relatable decimal GB amount, but base mixing made it confusing. The monthly data limit is most likely 1.25 TB binary (1280 GB decimal), but clarification from Cox would be needed to confirm that .
base mixing made it confusing
It can be confusing...but an erroneous $10 penalty would quickly clarify.
2^10 does equal 1024. 1024 what? 1024 bits. One thousand & twenty-four 1's and 0's. 1024 is an expression of the binary numbering system: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, etc.
However, as soon as you started notating as "bytes," you departed the binary numbering system by dividing the binary expression with 8. Whenever we notate as kB, MB, GB, TB, PB, EB, ZB, YB, etc...it's base-10.
However, as a side note, if you want to remain within the binary numbering system to express big numbers, you must use binary prefixes: KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB, ZiB, YiB, etc.
This is where you went wrong: 1.25 TB (base 2) = 1250 billion * 1.024 = 1280 billion bytes = 1280 GB (base 10)
• Because of the "B," 1.25 TB is not a binary expression (base-2)
• 1.25 TB does = 1250 billion in the decimal numbering system
• However, you multiplied the base-10 expression (1250) by a kilobit'd base-2 expression (1.024) to get an erroneous hybrid value (1280).Why multiply...just use 1 system.
I understand this is highly trivial, maybe even nonsensical, to some readers. For example, if we're comparing kilobits to kilobytes, the numerical difference is a paltry 2.4%. Who cares, right? However, when we venture into the "tera" territory (sorry), the differences get significantly greater.
At which point would Cox start "automatically" charging $10: 1.25 TB or 1280 GB? If Cox penalized you at 1.25 TB, you'd have a legitimate gripe because you hadn't reached 1280 GB. Maybe the $10 is trivial.
