Tag: Data usage

How Much Data Do You Need to Stream this Winter Season?

Data Usage can add up quickly, especially streaming all those videos around the holidays.  Monitoring data usage and tracking it can be done in a couple ways, but you can also get a general idea of usage before you even start. This can be important for ensuring you don’t go over any usage limits or reach your allotted high speed data before the month is over. 

We only covered some of the most popular streaming services. If you don’t see yours listed, we also offer a handy data usage calculator you can use at our website. 

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon has no public information for streaming data usage at this time. However, based on user reports:

  • SD videos use about 0.45 GB per hour
  • HD uses about 2.25 GB per hour
  • Ultra HD/ 4K uses about 6GB per hour 

Apple TV+

  • SD (480p) uses about 0.7 GB per hour
  • HD (720p) uses up to 2.5 GB per hour
  • HD (1080p) uses up to 3 GB per hour
  • UHD (4K) uses about 8 GB per hour

Disney+

Disney+ automatically detects your system’s capabilities and internet connection speed and delivers the highest quality experience possible as a default setting. They also give you the choice to change your data usage settings on all devices. With the Auto option, you can stream in the highest quality, up to what your device supports. 

For example: 

  • SD uses about 0.7GB per hour
  • HD uses up to 2GB per hour 
  • 4K uses around 7.7GB per hour

Hulu

HD video streaming will use about 1.35 GB per hour while 4K runs up to 7.2 GB per hour. Data usage controls are NOT available, nor is an official data chart, but this data is based on user forums and Hulu’s recommendations. Hulu also has quality control settings, which can help with data usage. 

Max

There’s no specific data on this, but the application automatically adjusts the video quality based on your network bandwidth and connection speed. They suggest having a minimum of 5 Mbps for HD content and 50 Mbps for 4K! Thankfully, most shows and movies are available in HD. With these recommendations you’d use around 2.25 GB per hour for HD and 22.5 GB per hour for 4K. 

Netflix

Netflix offers video settings, which can help with usage. While using auto might be best for most users, those concerned with usage may consider lowering the quality to accommodate.  

  • Standard-definition (SD) video streaming on Netflix uses 1 GB of data each hour.
  • High-definition streaming will consume 3 GB of bandwidth per hour.
  • 4K videos use 7 GB of data every hour.

Paramount+

Per their Help guide – When not on a Wi-Fi network, mobile data use will fluctuate based on the quality of your Internet connection and varies from 1GB per hour for standard definition, and up to 11GB per hour for the highest quality video stream.

Peacock

The service recommends a minimum download speed of 2.5 Mbps for streaming in HD. Based on this, you would use approximately 1.1 GB per hour.

YouTube

  • 720p: 1.1 GB per hour
  • 1080p: 2.25 GB per hour
  • 4K: up to 9 GB per hour

Happy Streaming!

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Minimizing Data Usage with Sierra Wireless AirLink Management Service

Optimizing data usage can be extremely important for businesses, especially those with multiple data plans. Today, we’re focusing on usage with Sierra Wireless devices and their cloud management service, ALMS (AirLink Management Service). With default configurations, Sierra Wireless devices can consume a significant amount of data daily. Understanding how to fine-tune these settings is crucial for those aiming to streamline their operations and reduce data costs.

Sierra Wireless devices utilizing ALMS consume approximately 2.7 MB per day without telemetry and 3.3 MB per day with telemetry enabled. However, an insightful revelation is that by disabling both telemetry and the Network Watchdog, data usage can be dramatically reduced to a mere 400 KB per day. This presents a compelling opportunity for businesses to optimize their data consumption without compromising the efficiency and functionality of their Sierra Wireless devices.

Let’s take a look at how these settings are adjusted on ALEOS devices first. 

Disable Telemetry on ALEOS 

Thankfully, this setting is disabled by default. If you’ve enabled yours in the past and now need to disable it, connect to your Sierra Wireless AirLink device and log in. From there, navigate to the “Services” tab and refer to the “General” section. This is where you’ll find “Direct Vehicle Bus (CAN) Data Collection.” Set it to “Disabled,” then click the “Apply” button at the top right and reboot your device.

Disable Network Watchdog on ALEOS 

Note that the Cellular Network Watchdog monitors your cellular connection. When this Watchdog is enabled, the router reboots after several failed attempts to attach to the mobile network. This will be enabled by default. To disable, log into the device again and navigate to the “WAN/ Cellular” tab. Refer to the “Cellular” -> “General” section from the left. You’ll find the “Cellular Watchdog” section at the bottom of the page. Change this to “Disable” then click “Apply” at the top right and reboot your device.

Disable Telemetry on AirLink OS

For AirLink OS devices (XR80, XR90, and RX55), this process will differ slightly as the user interface is set up differently. Go to “Services” -> “Telemetry” and refer to the “General” section. From here, simply disable the service.

Disable Network Watchdog on AirLink OS

Go to “Networking” -> “Network Watchdog” and select “Monitoring Rules.” If you see any rules here, find the “Enable” setting and toggle it off.

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How to Lower Data Usage Through Peplink InControl 2

Cloud management services can be quite helpful in saving time and money, especially when you have several devices to manage. However, something you may not immediately consider is the amount of data usage it takes to maintain the connection between your devices and the management service. 

If you’re using Peplink hardware with InControl 2, enabling “Low Data Usage Mode” will significantly lower the amount of data generated. On average, InControl 2 can use about 339.7 MB with GPS data and 172.3 MB without GPS data. Once you enable low usage settings, you can lower that average to 6.9 MB with GPS data or 1.3 MB without GPS data. 

Note that enabling this setting will forcefully disable the health check settings on your devices. You will need to manually re-enable these settings at the web admin if needed. When selected, you will see that the “Device Reporting” gets disabled along with live status queries. At this time, you may also adjust the frequency at which the GPS location is collected and enter a minimum communication interval. 

In order to access these settings, log into InControl 2 and go to the group you want to address. Find the “Settings” tab at the top of the group “Dashboard” and select “InControl Options.” You’ll then be presented with the settings shown below. Simply check the box to enable “Low Data Usage Mode” and confirm the change. You may then adjust the other settings as needed. When ready, click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page. 

Are you interested in learning more about Peplink and InControl 2 management? Contact the 5Gstore team with any questions!

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Optimizing Cloud Management Services: How to Minimize Data Usage

Cloud management services have become integral to businesses, providing seamless connectivity and streamlined operations. However, with data usage being a precious commodity, understanding how different services consume data is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of the average data usage of various cloud management services and how you can minimize it.

Digi Remote Manager (Digi RM)

Digi RM’s data usage varies significantly based on configurations. Without updates and default settings, it uses approximately 4.68MB on cellular and 18.1MB on non-cellular connections monthly. However, if all features are enabled, it can go up to 263MB monthly. To minimize data usage, users can disable non-essential features like event logging and adjust keep-alive intervals.

Inseego Connect

Inseego Connect consumes a minimum of 100MB monthly, but this can increase depending on usage. While this service doesn’t offer extensive customization options, being mindful of data-intensive activities can help minimize usage.

Peplink InControl 2

Peplink InControl 2’s monthly data usage averages 339.7 MB with GPS data and 172.3 MB without GPS data. Users can optimize data consumption by adjusting reporting metrics. Enabling Low Data Usage Mode and disabling device reporting and live status queries significantly reduces data usage, ensuring efficient utilization of bandwidth.

Cradlepoint Netcloud

Cradlepoint Netcloud’s data usage ranges from 5–10 MB per router per month in typical scenarios. Settings like connection pulse intervals significantly impact usage. Faster pulses increase data usage, while slower pulses risk connection issues but save data. Finding the right balance is crucial to minimize data consumption.

Sierra Wireless AirLink Management Service

Sierra Wireless, with default configurations, uses around 2.7 MB/day without telemetry and 3.3 MB/day with telemetry. Disabling both telemetry and the Network Watchdog reduces usage to approximately 400 KB/day. 

Tips to Minimize Data Usage

  1. Regular Monitoring: Keep an eye on data usage patterns. Regularly monitoring usage helps identify trends and allows adjustments accordingly. Several cellular routers offer automatic usage monitoring and this also allows for alerts to be set when a certain amount of data has been reached. 
  2. Customized Configurations: Tailor settings to your specific needs. Disable non-essential features and set intervals carefully, striking a balance between functionality and data conservation.
  3. Firmware Updates: Ensure all devices are updated to the latest firmware. Manufacturers often release updates that optimize performance.
  4. Data Compression: Use services or tools that offer data compression. Compression techniques can significantly reduce the amount of data transmitted.
  5. Scheduled Updates: Schedule updates during non-peak hours. This ensures that any data-intensive processes don’t affect your regular operations.
  6. Regular Audits: Periodically audit your cloud management services. Are all enabled features necessary? Could some processes be made more efficient, thereby reducing data consumption?
  7. Education and Training: Ensure that your team understands the impact of their actions on data usage. Educate them about best practices and data-efficient workflows.

By understanding the data usage nuances of various cloud management services and implementing smart strategies, businesses can enjoy the benefits of seamless cloud connectivity without overshooting their data budgets. Stay informed, stay optimized, and make the most out of your cloud services.

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What Device is Using All My Data: Troubleshooting High or Unexpected Data Usage

Going over on your monthly data usage. Incurring even more fees for the month. This is one of the worst things these days. For those fortunate enough to have an unlimited amount of data with their Internet service, you may not understand. Even if you’re getting close to your limit, there’s stress and anxiety about staying under that limit. You might sacrifice certain activities for fear of going over. What if you could find out the device that is using all your data and then limit just that device?

Viewing Data Usage

On Peplink routers, for example, you can view your data usage in real time, or by hour, day and month. This is all done right from the router’s administration pages. When viewing the hourly, daily or monthly options you can see a breakdown of the connected client devices and how much data they used. To check this out on your own Peplink, log into the web administration and go to the Status tab. Look to the left and you’ll see the Usage Reports options.

Cradlepoint also has the ability to view client data usage. You can either view this from the router’s local administration page, or through the NetCloud Manager (NCM) account. Client Data usage information is initially tracked within the router, and then it’s sent to NCM at specified intervals. This is generated by a report that you must schedule to run. Note that a NetCloud Essentials+Advanced plan is necessary for this feature. Also, viewing usage through NCM is going to provide you with analytics for all clients connected to the devices in an account or group. For viewing just a single router’s network, view this from the local administration pages.

Digi has a similar feature to Cradlepoint’s NetCloud. It is available through their cloud manager service, Digi Remote Manager. The feature, called Intelliflow, simply needs to be enabled for a group of devices and then it starts tracking usage. IntelliFlow is also available to view on the local router for device-specific usage information. To use intelliFlow on the local device, you must have access to the local administration page. Once you enable intelliFlow (find this on the Monitoring page), the Status -> intelliFlow option is available in the main menu. On the local device, intelliFlow provides charts on the following information: System utilization, Top data usage by host, Top data usage by server, Top data usage by service, and Host data usage over time. 

Remembering Devices

If you identify devices you want to remember, you may also go to the client list. For Peplink and Cradlepoint, this is found at the Status tab. For Digi see “Static Leases” under LAN settings. Saving a “reservation” on the router ensures that your computer or other device will always connect with the same address. You can even give the device a name to make it easier to identify.  

Tracking All Usage

Even if your 4G or 5G router does not support client data usage tracking, there may be another option. Chances are that just like with Peplink and Cradlepoint, the router will at least allow you to create alerts and/ or data usage rules. These would either alert you when a certain data amount was reached, or tell the router to shut the connection down at a certain limit. This is also possible on Sierra Wireless, Digi, and Inseego routers.

Finding Your Solution

You can start leveraging these capabilities and taking advantage of the data usage monitoring and control features provided by router manufacturers today. Users can effectively manage their data consumption, avoid exceeding their limits, and mitigate the stress and financial burden associated with overages. With greater control over their data usage, individuals can confidently enjoy their online activities without compromising their budgets or sacrificing their peace of mind. So don’t wait any longer, reach out to the experts at 5Gstore.com for assistance finding your perfect solution.

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