DON'T DO IT (explanation inside)

With your premium account, you receive 10 GB bandwidth for what they call "Direct Download" which is more recently known as "Trafficshare."

If you upload 10 files at 100 MB each using "Trafficshare" aka "Direct Download" and I download all ten of them you will be reduced to 9 GB. When nine more people download the set, your 10 GB is gone.

At that time, the files revert to "Normal" unless you pay extra for more bandwidth. Currently, the rate is Eu18 for 100 GB bandwidth. That can be eaten up very quickly.

So, you must be asking, why would I want that at all? There must be some reason!

Well, yes, there is. But I caution you to use it wisely.

Suppose you have a friend or two you wish to send some large files and they are not Premium members of RS and they don't really know how to use RS. You think about explaining to them the Free column and put in the crazy code and wait 45 seconds or longer and so on. Then you decide you really don't have the energy to explain all that and spend all night answering their questions about it, etc.

So, you upload the files and set them to "Direct Download" (more about how to do that in a minute). You send the links to those two people (and you DO NOT post the links on a forum like hcmf). When they click the link, it will treat them just as though they were Premium members. The download will begin right away and they will not have to wait between files.

You watch your Premium account (which was easy to do until they fucked up the web page trying to make it look beautiful!) and when you see the files have been downloaded two times (you sent the links to two people) then you change the files back to "Normal" and then you can post the links on a forum and your bandwidth will not be charged with anything except the ones that were done while in "Direct Download" configuration.

HOW TO MAKE A FILE "TRAFFICSHARE" ("Direct Download")

1) IF THE FILE IS ALREADY UPLOADED AT RS:

Go to the Premium Zone of your RS account and find the file or files you wish to change. At the bottom of the section for each file is a group of hot-links:

Normal Download \| TrafficShare Download \| Secure TrafficShare Download \| LinkList \| Delete

Simply click on "TrafficShare Download" and the file will be set to "TrafficShare" ("Direct Download")

2) IF YOU ARE UPLOADING THE FILE WITH RAPIDSHARE MANAGER:

When you drag the file onto the Upload page of the RapidShare Manager, a box will open. On the left below the file information are several checkoffs. One of those id "Direct Download" and when you check that box and click on OK or Send or whatever it is, the file will automatically be set to "TrafficShare" ("Direct Download") as it is uploaded.

3) IF YOU ARE UPLOADING THE FILE WITH THE WEB INTERFACE:

These uploads are always "Normal" so when the upload is complete and the page is refreshed, the file will be at the top of your list and you can click the blue "TrafficShare Download" link for that file.

TO SET ANY FILE BACK TO "NORMAL"

Go to the Premium Zone of your RS account and find the file or files you wish to change. At the bottom of the section for each file is a group of hot-links:

Normal Download \| TrafficShare Download \| Secure TrafficShare Download \| LinkList \| Delete

Simply click on "Normal Download" and the file will be set back to "Normal."

One last thing: There is a 50 kB overhead assigned to each "TrafficShare" download. So, "If your file is 2.000 KB, we will deduct 2.050 KB of Traffic Volume."

The BOTTOM LINE is that "TrafficShare" allows you to treat a recipient as special without that recipient having to pay for a premium account. A very strong reason for using it might be to send several files to a colleague who does not have a Premium account. The colleague will not have to wait between files, so he will be able to get all the files quickly when that might be important to you both.

If you have Q about this or any RS issues (such as file deleting) send me an Email. I'd be happy to work with you.

I am "Penguin4 @ gmail . com" just take out the spaces and be sure to tell me who you are if it won't be obvious.

Best wishes