Forum Discussion

  • maratsade's avatar
    maratsade
    Distinguished Professor IV

    Something on your side is using the data. It could be downloads, smart devices, updates, etc.  Only you can figure this out. You may want to check what all is connected to the modem, and you can also install the free Glassware app to see what's using the data. 

  • Your response helped and I disconnected both of our televisions and my phone from Hughesnet and it has helped with the issue.  I would think that the 100 GB plan would let me run more than 2 laptops that we use for web browsing.  No streaming, no music, no gaming.  If Xfinity would come to my neighborhood I would switch in a heartbeat.  I only have Hughesnet because it is the only option.  It is ridiculously expensive for what we get!

    • maratsade's avatar
      maratsade
      Distinguished Professor IV

      The TVs may use the web even if you're not using the TVs, so it's best to do what you did, disconnect them from the internet.

       

      You should not have a problem with just browsing, but if you don't have an ad blocker, you may want to get one. Ads can eat a lot of data. Also, you may want to change your settings so videos don't play automatically, as that eats data too, and many sites have videos that start playing as soon as you land on the page.

       

      Yes, satellite internet is expensive because the technology is super expensive. Terrestrial internet is much cheaper because the technology is cheaper than sending a satellite into orbit and maintaining it, and also because terrestrial internet exists in places where there are many users, so they charge less but have many more uses, so they make a profit that way.

       

      Contact your representatives at the local and national level, and tell them you want terrestrial internet brought to your area. These companies don't come because they don't make a good profit in rural (or other less populated areas) but if the local and/or federal government offer them incentives, sometimes they do open up shop in these areas, as the incentives make it worthwhile for them.

    • GabeU's avatar
      GabeU
      Distinguished Professor IV

      If you have satellite TV, and the receiver had been connected to HughesNet, you may want to consider severing that connection as well, especially if it's DirecTV. Their receivers will sometimes use your internet to update various aspects of the system, including the Guide and pre-downloaded films, as if it's available, they'd rather use your bandwidth than their own.