I have a net meter installed which indicates any traffic while I'm logged onto the web.
I've noticed UL and DL traffic being indicated while I've got LimeWire up and running but there aren't any uploads or downloads shown on the LimeWire indicator at the bottom of the LimeWire window.
Is this normal?
I know that with any website you get a reading while the page is loading but once loaded it drops down to zero.
Of course as soon as you navigate through the site the meter starts indicating again.
This isn't the case with LimeWire it continues to show a reading even when there's no navigation going on.
Can anyone enlighten me please?
Cheers
Felix

It may well be searches going on. Check your Library window & shared files & look at the Hits column to the right of the files. This means such shared files have been found in searches.

Other than that, there will probably be some communication going on between your LW & the ultrapeer its connected to. Check your connections window to see what I mean.

If you're concerned about security, then make sure your firewall is up & running (but configured to allow LW) & also you might want to look at this Peerguardian (FREE)

I like to keep LimeWire open as often as possible (for sharing).
Won't all this traffic, specifically the downloads, (excepting actual downloads I've requested) chew up my ISP's monthly download allowance? I've no way of monitoring or controlling it if I leave LimeWire open all the time.

Another option I forgot to mention is you may in fact be operating in Ultrapeer mode. If you open the Connections window, see how many people you are connected to. If it's more than 5 then you are in ultrapeer mode which is why you're receiving extra traffic. This can be disabled under Tools>Options>Speed. I believe UP mode can add anywhere up to 20% load.

Yes you may need to keep a check on your usage over a day or week to see if it will potentially go over your monthly allowance. If yes, then reduce upload slots or bandwidth.

felix--you're right that the network prefers those with high uptimes, rather than those who just jump on and off the network.

Your ISP should have a "usage" page for your account, so check with the help desk on getting access to it. Mine usually updates a day later, but it's still better than relying on LW's options->statistics->bandwidth.

The ISP data is the best way to monitor your bandwidth, since that's what they would use to decide if you are exceeding their monthly 'limits.'

Once you can see the patterns, you'll be able to adjust your shares/upload slots accordingly

I don't know what the ISPs are like anywhere else but here in Australia they're too expensive especially when it comes to broadband connections.
They charge too much and their download limits are too low, some as low as 400mb per month so we simply cannot stay connected to LimeWire indefinitely otherwise we either get choked back to lower than dialup speeds or are charged extra fees in excess of 15cents per mb.
Believe me, we entertain the belief that information should be free to pass on to others but the greed of some corporations puts a price on it whether we like it or not.

I wouldn't use one that charges for extra downlds. Mine (iinet) allows me 256 kbps with unlimited downlds. I'm not sure you can still get that since I got in early. But I'm certainly not upgrading to the Mbps until they start offering unlimited.

I'm on 2gb per month and it costs me $54.95 but at least they just reduce the bandwidth when I use up my quota.
My friend downstairs, in spite of my advice, opted for a 400mb account with BigPond who charge him 0.15c per mb when he reaches his limit. What a rip!

I'm on $49 for unlimited for 256 kbps. But if I didn't use their phone for long distance I'd pay $10 more. I average 15-20 GB/month so I'd go thru any limit on high speed in less than a week.