When it comes to satellite TV receivers, they're never really off unless they're completely unplugged, which we don't do, of course. When you turn them off they actually go into standby, and are still connected and able to use internet data for whatever they might normally use it for. I don't know exactly how Dish Network receivers do their thing, but I do know that DirecTV receivers can use the customer internet rather than their own dish for things like guide updates, including program descriptions, cast lists, etc. They can also use the customer internet to pre-download the "instant watch" movies that are sometimes available to watch. I'm not sure about actual receiver updates themselves, like software/firmware, but it wouldn't surprise me if they use the customer internet for that, too. This is all when that internet is available of course, as all of these things are normally done through their own service, downloading it through their dish.
With regard to the Data Tokens Liz mentioned, you should see the data added to your Token Data bank. Depending on how/where you look at your data levels, it will be in the spot that says something like "Data Tokens Available" or "Token Bytes Availalbe". As an example of my own HughesNet Usage Meter, you'll see my token data in the red box...
Regarding monitoring your data levels, the Glasswire Liz mentioned is great for Windows based computers. They also have an Android based version, and though I've not used it, I imagine it works as well as the Windows based version, which I've used for a few years now. Glasswire only monitors the data usage of the computer it's installed on, so if you have more than one Windows based computer you'd want to install it on all of them. Glasswire is also free. They do have a paid version, but the free version is good enough for our needs.
When it comes to monitoring data on your entire system, as in being able to see how much data is being used by each individual device, the best way is by using a 3rd party router that has that capability.
In the end, the best way to ensure that you're not using any more data than you have to is to lock down each device on your system, and the apps and programs on those devices, to using no more data than they have to on their own. Avoiding "the cloud" (like OneDrive) can save a good bit of data, as transferring files to and from the cloud, including automatically saving things to it, can use a LOT of data. Installing an ad blocker on your browser(s) can also save a good little bit of data. I use and recommend AdBlock Plus, but there are many good ad blockers out there. I also use "Reader View" with my Chrome browser, which allows me to read things like news articles without having to play the accompanying video, which chews through even more data, and unnecessary.
The following two pages are from a few years ago, but much of the info in them still applies, and it can help to save you a good chunk of data.
