Very very poor data speeds since July when I joined. The seller rep lied to me.

[GabeU]

jthill3,

I didn't ask you the questions I did for the heck of it.  I asked you those questions because I/we need to know what you use with the service in order to be able to help you with cutting down on the data usage.  Computers and other devices can use data that you don't know they are using, but until we are aware of what devices you use, it makes it difficult in helping you to cut down on that usage.  

I'll ask again...Mac or PC?  If PC, what version of Windows?  What other devices, if any, do you use with Hughesnet?  Do you have a DirecTV receiver connected to the service?  

For my part, I am only trying to help you with your data usage issues, not your speed issues. 

[GabeU]

jthill3,

I didn't ask you the questions I did for the heck of it.  I asked you those questions because I/we need to know what you use with the service in order to be able to help you with cutting down on the data usage.  Computers and other devices can use data that you don't know they are using, but until we are aware of what devices you use, it makes it difficult in helping you to cut down on that usage.  

I'll ask again...Mac or PC?  If PC, what version of Windows?  What other devices, if any, do you use with Hughesnet?  Do you have a DirecTV receiver connected to the service?  

For my part, I am only trying to help you with your data usage issues, not your speed issues. 

[jthill3]

The installer did not hard wire any locations in my house - he set the whole house up as WiFi.

My wife has a laptop running Windows 10 and Google Chrome in the room next to the modem and router,,,,,My desk top is running windows 10 and google chrome at the other end of the house (upstairs) using a WiFi extender.

My wife gets better data speed than I do but the system is so slow and not reliable enough for her to work from home.

There have been times times I will run the speed test of her lap top (on WiFi) in the middle of the day and it has recorded download speeds in the mid-20's only to drop under 5 a few hours later.

There are only the two of us living here and she is gone all day to work.

Maybe between 8:00 PM est and 10:00 pm est we MAY have a Kindle and a Ipad on the WiFi (playing games or using Facebook) but not at the same time as the laptop and Desk Top are using the WiFi.

We do not have any TV service at this house at all.

Data Usage is something I will have to learn to control as a NEW SATELITTE user. But the data speed is a killer.

[GabeU]

A few things on Windows 10 to check.  First, make sure syncing is turned off, especially if both computers are under the same Microsoft account.  

Click on Windows, then Settings, then Accounts, then click on "Sync Your Settings" on the bottom left.  Turn all of the lower, individual options off, then turn "Sync settings" off.  

Then there is "Updates from more than one place."  

Click on Windows, then Settings, then Updates & security.  Then click on "Advanced Options", which is in the middle of the page.  Then click "Choose how updates are delivered."  Then turn OFF "Updates from more than one place."  

The cloud (OneDrive) is also a bad thing to use with a capped service.  If you haven't set it up, then it's probably not doing anything.  If you have, I would shut it off and close it from ever starting again.  You can do that by right clicking on the cloud icon in your taskbar (it might be hidden under the up arrow).  Click on settings, then choose the settings page.  Uncheck "Start OneDrive automatically when I sign into Windows."  Then click Okay.   Right click on the cloud icon in the taskbar again, then click Exit, then "Close OneDrive" in the box that pops up.  Now, it will never automatically start again.  

If you use Facebook, you should set it so it does not play videos automatically.  You can change that in the settings for Facebook.  

You should also download an ad blocker.  The most often used one is AdBlock Plus.  There are versions for IE, Chrome and Firefox.  It's here.... https://adblockplus.org/.  After installation, make sure that a filter list is enabled (it usually self installs "easylist") and uncheck "allow some non intrusive ads".  You can do both of those things, after it is installed, by clicking on its icon in your broswer and going to options.

One last thing.  A program that a lot of people use for knowing what data their computer is using is called Glasswire.  It can be downloaded here.....   https://www.glasswire.com/.  Glasswire monitors all of the traffic your computer uses, so you can see what is using a lot of data.  It's completely non intrusive and uses very little data on it's own.  It says it's a firewall, but it just uses your Windows Firewall,  so you don't have to mess with the firewall settings.  It has to be installed on each Windows computer as it only monitors the computer it's installed on.  

These are some things that should help you with not only conserving data, but also, with regard to the last thing, seeing just what, on your computer, is using data.  
 

[jthill3]

Thanks for the info but here is what i meant by "Not a computer guy"
I tried to go to settings to look at the Sync entries but its asking me for a Microsoft login.....if I had one, I never knew it......these things are simple for you but they are Greek to me.....I'll keep trying

[GabeU]

Ah.  You are most likely using a local account.  Syncing only works when you use Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, and since you never set one up, syncing isn't even on.  So,  that one can just be ignored.  Try the updates from more than one place.  That you should still be able to adjust.    

[jthill3]

Thanks for your help today. But now I am very tired - being disabled sucks.

I'll have to pick up on this tomorrow.

Thank you so much!

[GabeU]

You're welcome.  And yes, it does suck.  I'm in the same boat, though a bit younger than you. 

BTW, I missed that you had said you use an iPad.  Apple products are one of the most egregious types when it comes to data conservation.  I'm not familiar with an iPad, so I hope there is someone else on here that is and can tell you what you need to do, if anything, to reduce its data usage.   

With the exception of not being able to stream or watch other videos nearly as much, once you get things set to be data conservative you won't really notice much difference between this and a non capped service.  I've got a desktop computer with Windows 10, which is my main computer, a laptop with Windows 10 and a notebook with Windows 8.1.  All are kept up to date, including the non Windows programs, and I shop, use Facebook, watch occasional YouTube videos, pay bills and generally browse and I normally use less than 5GB of data per month, combined.  Right now I'm 22 days through the month and I've used 3.1GB so far.  This isn't to say that yours will be the same, but only to demonstrate what's possible with this service.  And with the exception of not being able to stream films and TV shows (I could conservatively, but I don't), I don't feel deprived of anything.

I hope you get the speed issue resolved. 

[jthill3]

This what I got done - (also iPad is used only to download new games - very minimal use - Kindle use is the same.....

A few things on Windows 10 to check.  First, make sure syncing is turned off, especially if both computers are under the same Microsoft account.  

Click on Windows, then Settings, then Accounts, then click on "Sync Your Settings" on the bottom left.  Turn all of the lower, individual options off, then turn "Sync settings" off.   SKIPPED

Then there is "Updates from more than one place."  

Click on Windows, then Settings, then Updates & security.  Then click on "Advanced Options", which is in the middle of the page.  Then click "Choose how updates are delivered."  Then turn OFF "Updates from more than one place."  BEST I COULD DO WAS “PC ON MY LOCAL NETWORK AND PC FROM INTERNET”

The cloud (OneDrive) is also a bad thing to use with a capped service.  If you haven't set it up, then it's probably not doing anything.  If you have, I would shut it off and close it from ever starting again.  You can do that by right clicking on the cloud icon in your taskbar (it might be hidden under the up arrow).  Click on settings, then choose the settings page.  Uncheck "Start OneDrive automatically when I sign into Windows."  Then click Okay.   Right click on the cloud icon in the taskbar again, then click Exit, then "Close OneDrive" in the box that pops up.  Now, it will never automatically start again.  DON”T KNOW WHAT CLOUD IS – BUT COULD NOT FIND IT ANYWHERE UNDER SETTINGS AS “ONEDRIVE” OR “CLOUD” - EVERYTHING IS SAVED TO MY PC LOCAL

If you use Facebook, you should set it so it does not play videos automatically.  You can change that in the settings for Facebook.  DID THAT A LONG TIME AGO BEFORE HUGHESNET

You should also download an ad blocker.  The most often used one is AdBlock Plus.  There are versions for IE, Chrome and Firefox.  It's here.... https://adblockplus.org/.  After installation, make sure that a filter list is enabled (it usually self installs "easylist") and uncheck "al low some non intrusive ads".  You can do both of those things by clicking on the icon and going to options. DID THAT A LONG TIME AGO BEFORE HUGHESNET

One last thing.  A program that a lot of people use for knowing what data their computer is using is called Glasswire.  It can be downloaded here..... .  Glasswire monitors all of the traffic your computer uses, so you can see what is using a lot of data.  It's completely non intrusive and uses very little data on it's own.  It says it's a firewall, but it just uses your Windows Firewall,  so you don't have to mess with the firewall settings.  It has to be installed on each computer as it only monitors the computer it's installed on.  INSTALLED IT AN HOUR AGO

These are some things that should help you with not only conserving data, but also, with regard to the last thing, seeing just what, on your computer, is using data.   

[Gwalk900]

jthills3,

Glasswire is really going to help ID the programs and processes on the Windows machine. It will also need to be installed on the other Windows computer as the program only monitors the usage on the machine it its installed upon.

Here are some suggested settings to exclude local LAN traffic and give you a peek as to what the Glasswire "output" looks like:

(click on pictures for larger image)

Having Glasswire installed on both computers will help in where to put effort into plugging the leaks in the Win10 machines.

I see where you have AdBlock Plus installed and that is good but ..... websites are always in a constant state of change and so must your "defenses". At the least you should have a FlashBlock extension to block flash objects but also Flash Control to stop the "prefetch" of videos that are found all over (msn.com. cnn.com)

The real issue is going to be your Router, extenders and wireless network and devices.

What is the brand and model of your router?

Do you know how to get to and enter the routers internal main page?

Example, mine resides at 192.168.1.1 and looks like this:

Access to that page should be protected by a username and password that has been changed from the manufacturers default values.

Can you verify that was done?

After that we need to verify that all of your wireless channels are "encrypted". Some routers only have a single wireless frequency, 2.4 GHZ others have one or more 5.0 GHZ channels available.

It is very important that all wireless channels be scrambled with a wireless encryption standard to prevent every device that comes within range from being able to connect to your network and thereby have free rein to your data .

You will see in the picture above my wireless is encrypted with the WPA2-Personal standard

Can you verify that your wireless channels are encrypted?

That brings us to wireless devices .. iPads in particular.

Several months ago I changed routers. The wife seldom uses her iPad and I did not install the new network passkey in it after getting the new router. One day recently I charged the iPad and entered the wireless network key and let the iPad shut down into hibernation.

The router I got allows it to track usage by date, by device name, by IP address. I want you to see what the wifes iPad does ... cover closed, dark screen, undisturbed:

If you look at the blue graph across the top, you will see that it (the iPad) never really disconnects from the network on its own, not totally. It is always taking a little "sip" plus an occasional spike.

The list in bottom window details where it connect to and how much data it used.

The only way to prevent this is to engage Airplane Mode or a 100% power off condition. Both of those are difficulty to remember to do.

After Win10, the wireless side your network represents the greatest risk to your data allowance.

Check to see if your present router has any traffic management functions.

If it does not I would encourage you to replace your router with one that does.

Mine is an Asus RT-AC3100. There are other less expensive Asus models that have the Traffic Analyzer function.