Mac Network Utility question: Relation between packets and bytes

I'm on an ADSL connection with limited bandwidth usage per month, and of late i've been noticing that the usage stats on my ISP's log page has been shooting off the charts.
I want to track my computer's internet usage. I've opened network utility, however, the transmitted and received data are in terms of "packets". Can anyone tell me what the conversion is between packets and bytes/ vice versa ...
for the record.. i'm using an airport extreme to connect to the internet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I dont know if there is a conversion, since not all packets will always be the same size.

What you might want to do is use iStat Pro widget.. its network option in it shows not only what is currently being used, but keeps a total going of total data amounts transmitted. I haven't checked closely, but I think it resets at reboot, but not entirely sure.

 

spot on you are! ... goody good .... it does reset upon reboot.. but that's fine... as long as during one session i get to figure out my usage... that's a decent ballpark.
thanks!

 

what kind of router do you have? Maybe installing DD-wrt or openwrt and tracking your bandwidth from their will be a better choice since it get's all network bandwidth.

*Edit* Oh wait, do you just want to track YOUR computer? then just use the istat widget. Their are other programs but I think they are paid. I don't see how just tracking your computer will help. :|

 

well... i'm primary user in the household ... hence i figured network activity arising due to my usage would prbbly be a ballpark figure to assess my usage. I use an airport extreme router , which is attached to the internet through an ADSL modem (antiquated nokia siemens modem.. which is one amongst a short list of low quality modems provided by the ISP) ..
the modem records data tx and rx'd in terms of packets as well ... :-( ...
what sort of third party apps can i use to monitor network usage?