Managing Data Usage
Most of ABC's Internet plans come with a data limit. Here are some tips to control your usage to keep it within your data limits.
Managing Data Usage
The four most common sources of unaccounted for monthly data usage are:
1) Updates – link each of these to lower sections
2) Streaming Services
3) Cloud Services
4) Insecure Wifi Network
Each is discussed below.
While it isn’t advisable to stop updates, on some smaller packages it may help to disable features and settings that automatically download new updates.
Updates help keep your devices running smoothly, however if on a very limited data package, a single update may be larger than the entire monthly data allotment.
It is helpful to be aware of this fact and adjust your personal update procedure accordingly
1) Disable automatic download of updates
2) Manually download updates when connected to a network with higher data allowances
3) Manually enable ‘set to metered connection’ in Windows 10 devices – a guide on how to accomplish this can be found here
Streaming Services:
Many people are now utilizing online streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, or Crave amongst many others in lieu of cable and satellite TV. Our service is perfectly compatible with these applications on the wireless Ultra Package and above as well as any of our Urban Netlink offerings.
However, unmanaged online streaming services can result in very high overage bills, which no one is a huge fan of. The best course of action is to know the limitations of your current internet package and adjust your viewing habits accordingly.
For example, watching movies and shows in HD or Ultra HD will use up as much as 25 times more data than streaming in medium or low quality. Either way, being aware of the properties of the data you are streaming is key.
To change these settings in Netflix follow these steps.
1) To access the video quality options, perform the following steps:
2) 1. Log into your Netflix account via browser
3) 2. Click on “Your Account”
4) 3. Scroll down to “My Profile” and click on “Playback Settings”
5) You will see some options for viewing your videos as shown in the screen below:
6) These options enable you to select your desired video quality, which also controls the amount of data usage for your internet account. We suggest medium for most users.
7) 4. Select the video quality, and click "Save"
Many devices come with a cloud app already enabled when you purchase them. Cloud backup services will backup files on your computer at regular intervals without any input from you as the user.
turn this feature off if you are not actively interested in backing up files on your device frequently and instead to backup files as needed.
2) Disable cloud applications on some or all devices
Last and certainly not least on the shortlist of the usual suspects in unaccounted for data usage is having an insecure home wifi network.
There could be a variety of reasons that your home wifi network could be insecure. The network could be set up as an open network, that is, one without a wifi password (default on many older brands of routers), it could have out of date security (again an issue with older routers) making it easier to bypass and logon without permission, the wifi password may have been obtained by neighbours when previously at your residence (a case in which their device may have simply ‘grabbed’ your network from its list of available networks, or the wifi password may have been shared with someone in the past who is now using your network without your permission.
2) Ensure your router is running up to date security – this may involve a firmware update (available through the router vendor) or a newer updated router model.