It can sometimes be helpful to schedule downloads, for instance if you need the bandwidth for other work related tasks at the moment to avoid bottlenecks during that time. It is not really possible to schedule downloads in Firefox, at least not without the help of extensions or external programs.
Firefox users have basically two options to schedule downloads: They can make use of a download manager that intercepts download requests. This only works if the download manager has a scheduling option.
The second option are extensions that will execute downloads on schedule, and Download Scheduler is one of them
The Download Scheduler add-on for Firefox is a lightweight basic add-on. It does not come with a lot of bells and whistles, which is what some users may prefer and others criticize.
You can use the add-on to set a time period in which downloads are enabled, and a period in which they will be added to a download queue that gets executed once the download period begins.
For that you need to open the options of the extension. Firefox 4 users enter about:addons in the Firefox address bar and then on the Options button next to Download Scheduler. Firefox 3 users click on Tools > Add-Ons first and then on Options once the installed add-ons are displayed.
I see two main applications for Download Scheduler. First for users who need the bandwidth during work hours and second users whose ISP is limiting the bandwidth during certain times of the day.
Both user groups can configure the download scheduler to start downloads at a specific time of each day to avoid those limitations or restrictions.
It should be clear that the extension is not for everyone. Users who need more flexibility will have their problems with the extension as the scheduler is just not flexible enough. It is for instance not possible to configure different downloading periods for weekdays and weekends.
Users who need more customization options should take a closer look at third party solutions like Orbit Download Manager or Free Download Manager for the Windows operating system.
Download Scheduler is available for all Firefox versions from 3.5 on. It can be directly installed at the official Mozilla Firefox add-on repository.
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