One common complaint that we see here in the community is that of missing data and there are a LOT of ways that data can go "POOF".
Besides a computer connected directly to the modem many users use a router to allow multiple connections with other devices.
One often overlooked "consumer" of data is the router itself. Recently I upgraded my router to a Asus RT-AC3100:
https://community.myhughesnet.com/hughesnet/topics/birddog-wish-me-luck
All routers come out of the box with a number of default values set in a confusing number of setting options. In many cases the router manufacturer assumes a true broadband connection and bases its settings more on convenience than the realities of a data capped service where every byte counts.
There were three areas available:
I enabled Network Protection and DNS filtering.
Within a short period those two services used about 1/2 GB in a short period of time.
I thought that was a lot of data for someone on a capped service so I trimmed it down to DNS filtering only. How much could that use? It sounds innocent enough right ?
The router can list usage per "client" including itself (192.168.1.0 in this case):
The DNS filtering function used 476.28 MB in only three days.
There are so many places that data can be consumed that are not readily apparent........ and we have yet to look at the connected devices themselves.
"Does that have the same issues"
Its not so much of an "issue" as it is an option. If on a limitless service ... not an issue. If on a data capped service users have to have a better understanding of all of the devices that comprise their Networks.
Everything has to be carefully reviewed so as to plug undesired sources of data use.
You should be able to review your routers settings by entering this address into your browser:
Hopefully your installer changed the default username and password and supplied that information to you.
I would not recommend that you make changes to any settings without obtaining advice.
"Has anyone ever tried to use their phone this way? And did it work?"
I can't say from personal experience because I live in cellular dead zone. I have to go outside stand on one foot with a moistened forefinger pointed skyward and maybe I can get a broken signal.
Much is going to depend on your cellular data plan and if it allows being used as a hotspot to begin with. Then there are the costs to consider.
With a capped service like Hughes a user wants to be very stingy with what devices are allowed to access the Hughes connection and Cell phones and Directv/Dish receivers are at the top of that list.
Cell Phones just LOVE to do their heavy duty updates when they smell a wifi connection.
It is essential that a user review all the routers settings and delete all Guest Accounts and enable encryption on all wireless frequencies to prevent "drive-by" connections by unintended devices.
We had one user recently that discovered that her husbands laptop (after being booted from the list of authorized users) did an end-around and connected thru the wireless network printer that was also acting as a wireless access point.
I would wait on enabling the Dlink account. I only have the quick setup guide for that router but I THINK that what it is referring too is setting up a Remote Access account and I would avoid that.
Lets wait on that one until Monday when Amanda (Hughes employee) pops in or Alan from El Dorado Networks stops by.
Also .... for Gen4 HT1100 modem ... your Bonus Bytes period is 2am to 8am local
(click on picture for larger image)
Your THREE data buckets are as follows:
Has anyone ever tried to use their phone this way? And did it work?Yes, if you have a decent cell phone signal, it works. However, Byte Per Byte, cell phone data tends to be more expensive that HughesNet data.
Speaking of data usage ....
I wish I had a dime for every time I have read a user stating that a given piece of software was set up to only allow updates or access at a certain time.
You just can't trust software to do as its told.
Case in point this morning .. My Garmin GPS updating software.
It have been set not to start automatically but only if the GPS is plugged into my laptop.
It has be set to limit it update time to between 2am and 8am .... Bonus Byte time.
The laptop was "hard off" until just after 9am.
I pull up GlassWire and what do I see ? Garmin updater had ran in the background, despite settings to the contrary and used 47.3 MB.
Its not so much the data used as it is that according to all the settings it shouldn't have happened at all.
dwalker262,
That mydlink account is nothing more than a cloud based application for remote access for things like security cameras and the router itself. It's a waste of time. I have the exact same router (DIR-619L). Setting up the mydlink account is wholly unnecessary and can actually use and waste data for something that most of us don't use, and for something (remote access and the cameras) that sometimes doesn't even work well with satellite based internet due to not having a static IP (or so I've read).