Hi Folks,
What data rate should I expect on the router when my system is completely idle?
I've recently moved my internet connection from a BT Voyager 105 modem to a BT Voyager 210 Router.
The old modem was connected via USB but the router is connected via Ethernet.
However, I've just noticed that my DU Meter (Download and Upload data logger) says I've used 1Gb in the last 4 days.
My normal usage is less than 1GB per MONTH and I've not been doing anything unusual in the past few days.
BUT I'm currently using about 4kB/sec both up and down when neither e-mail nor internet is even connected. (The old modem used virtually nothing when idle)
I have no programs running in the background and no viruses or spyware problems.
Is this normal with an Ethernet connection?
Or is it the router?
Or is something faulty?
Any ideas welcome,Thanks.

There's always something running in the background. If nothing else, Windows does housekeeping when the system is "idle". Also, there is always some communication going on between your network and the Internet/ISP.

What version of Windows?

What did you scan for malware with?

Does anything show up in Task Manager that you are unfamiliar with?

Hi Dig,
Thanks very much for your response.
I'm on Win XP Pro, same as before.
I scanned for malware using "Trend Pc-cillin Internet Security 2007". It's fully up to date, virus, spyware, firewall.
Yes I know there are always things running in the background, in fact, I'm always amazed at how many.
However, there is nothing untoward running, just the usual rubbish looking for memory cards in usb slots etc. plus software updaters which check every Sunday etc.
Anyway, I've turned everything off except the system tasks and I've still got data flowing in and out at about 4kB/sec. each way.
Now I have a monthly allowance of 2GB, so:
4kB/sec each way = 8kB/sec in total
8x60 = 480kB/min
480x60=28800kB/hour, or 28.8MB/hour
28.8x24 = 691.2 MB per day
So I will run out of capacity with my ISP in about 3 days with my system IDLE!!!!!!
Surely the idle data rate for an ethernet router must be minimal, there's a post at the top of this forum saying just that, use ethernet not USB2 because it's much more efficient.
I'm just abouyt to uninstall my router and retry the old 105 modem to see what happens.
Any other help will be welcome, especially from anyone running a BT Voyager 210.
Best Regards.

Well, I am afraid I don't know what's going on. The router should not be causing this. You could disconnect from the router and leave the connection between the router and cable modem and see if this is still happening, or set your firewall on your computer(s) to stop all network traffic from your machine when you are not using it and see if you still have activity.

Process Explorer is an enhanced Task Manager may give you more insight.

I personnally don't like security suites - to me, having all your tools from one maker is like having all your eggs in one basket - too many single points of failure. You might want to check out Cleaning Out Malware for some supplemental tools for your arsenal.

Hi Dig,
Thanks for the further info.
I've just done a test, I've uninstalled the ethernet link and installed the router on usb2 instead.
It's just the same, so nothing to do with the type of connection.
Also, as you suggested I've tried using my firewall to "Halt all internet traffic".
If I do this, then it does as it says and all traffic is stopped, so my DU meter says 0kB/sec uploads and 0kB/sec downloads.
So, it seems to be actually something running on the PC which is actually talking to the internet, but this happens as soon as the router connects, i.e. I do not have Internet Explorer or e-mail loaded or running.
So how can I find out what is talking to the router?
Regards.
P.S. I'm off to see if I can find the old 105 modem to try.

I would guess it has something to do with DNS polling - I think you have already proven it is happening on your PC so I don't see what your old modem will change - unless that is a dial-up modem.

Hi Dig,
Yes, it has all the hallmarks of some kind of polling problem but I'm not sure where to start looking.
The old BT Voyager 105 is an ADSL direct modem rather than a router so if I can find it I might be able to eliminate something, not sure what.
Ive just taken a snapshot of Task Manager with the problem present, then I noticed that internet traffic was zero so took another snapshot. (two screens each).
I'll try and attach them , see what you make of them?
Regards.

I'm not used to adding attachments, it doesn't send the titles!!
First two screenshots are Task Mgr with the unknown internet activity, second two snapshots are for a period with no internet activity.
Hope this is of some use.

Assuming that your various software updaters are definitely not a factor, then I think that Digerati has the only viable suggestion. DNS polling would make sense in as much as your router is probably the DHCP and DNS server on your network. When you had the BT Voyager 105 USB modem plugged in, you didn't have a network and so the BT ADSL software was configured with a "dial-up" connection which used BT's DNS server on the Internet.

Do you know how to check whether you are using a static IP address on the PC or whether you are retrieving the settings automatically from the router? If they are set to automatic, it would be worth entering some fixed values to see if it improves matters. If setting the fixed values with the router as the DNS server doesn't help, try setting the DNS primary and secondary IP addresses to BT's servers.

Let us know if that didn't make sense!