About BirdDog

Only thing that I can think of that might explain it is HughesNet and the router/Glasswire counting things differently when it comes to certain ports. As in counting something that isn't being counted by the others.   I dunno but is all that comes to mind why there could be such a big difference especially in the first case you posted. Would be nice if they published more in depth technical data on the HT2000W but doubt that will happen.   Who knows how compression is affecting things also. Would think the result being HughesNet reporting less use than router/Glasswire but could be the reverse in certain situations.   The whole data counting thing on the user end seems to be less than 100% accurate when throwing in all the different configuration possible. Good old smoke and mirrors at work. Only reason we even look at it so closely is because we're on capped data. Most folks not on satellite internet have no clue how much data they use. ... View more

@GabeUwrote: @BirdDog   I didn't know Greg nearly as well as you and others here, but I wish I had.  I can say, though, that anyone who gives of themselves their time and effort to help complete strangers, not only on this site but others, has to be a good person.       I really wish I had met him sooner.  😞       Weird how even us older folks can get close on media like this. Really do feel like have lost a very good friend, it just sucks. I wish his family the best, he was a very good person and extremely intelligent from what I know of him. Kinda hard to express.   Pretty sure Liz and Amanda will be hit hard once they see this.   ... View more

Here's to you Greg. Really sad, friends here for many years. This has hit my heart.   ... View more

@GabeUwrote: @BirdDogwrote:  Guess I'm a wuss and anti-gun even though I have at least 3. No doubt.  When I say that I support intelligent firearm regulation, like universal background checks, so many assume I'm anti gun.  They can't fathom that one who supports such things, nor one who's liberal, could actually own firearms.  It boggles their little minds.  They can only fathom one extreme or the other.     I'm a raging old liberal, funny used to be a raging young conservative, but would not hesitate to shoot anyone dead who invaded my home. I don't take it lightly though and don't have the old west attitude where everyone should be armed. Many folks these days should not even be allowed to drive let alone own a weapon.   My old geezer attitude is showing. ... View more

@maratsadewrote:   Spammers should be taken out back and shot. I don't use shooting people in jest anymore. Guess I'm a wuss and anti-gun even though I have at least 3. ... View more

**bleep**, this really sucks.    The bleep starts with a "D" and ends with an "N". Definitely warrants an expletive. ... View more

Hi Sheila, there a few things prohibitive about your suggestions:   1. There are third party uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) that can provide power to the modem when main power is out. To add such capability to the modem would be expensive and increase the cost of the service significantly just to provide and maintain it. Also, power is still only going to be available for a relatively short period with such devices. A generator, wind or solar power is the only way to get long term backup power for the modem. They can then be used to also charge RV batteries for backup.   2. They don't build satellites at the location being served, they launch them into space. To have total coverage of Alaska would take multiple satellites orbiting overhead instead of a geostationary satellite due to the extreme northern location of Alaska. This is very cost prohibitive due to the relatively low number of customers they would serve.   There is something in the works called Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites which may someday help you folks in extreme northern locations. ... View more

@GabeUwrote: Wow.  Rarely do I see a test result so "untouched" by any congestion, even in the middle of the night.  A nearly perfect, straight line.         I'll see that result and raise you a line.     ... View more

@Jeff_Twrote: I realize you guys are on the track of different devices but here is another note about the Roku for anyone else reading that might be interested (and no I don't get royalties from Roku hahaha). Roku needs your WiFi lan and internet to be set up, once that is done then the internet can be removed and the wireless lan side will still operate. As an example I configured an old router I have with the same settings ssid etc. as the router I used to to access the internet, I removed the router with the internet connection and powered up the older router, Roku gave me a warning there was no internet but other than that I could cast just as normal. The purpose was that if my router ever malfunctioned I could at least set up a spare to watch my recordings on the "big set" The Roku does actually appear to be a better device and if I were needing it to actually stream I might consider it. But my devices, including TVs, already have the apps I need to stream sites like Netflix. Only thing I need my Chromecast for is to cast locally on my older TV, not for online streaming.   Again, does appear to be a better device overall without all the baggage. ... View more

@maratsadewrote: "You really should read that link I posted awhile back and/or do a search about it."   If this is the link you mean, I did read it.  I use Option 1, the USB connection. I have yet to try Option 2, but plan to.  That's the one.   When I first set it up it used 200+ MB over about a 2-3 hour period when I wasn't even doing anything. Knew it couldn't be simply a firmware update so that is when I shut it down and left it for a couple weeks. Came back to it and started doing some searching and discovered the Backdrop and other default active feeds thing.   Now, using my custom images and turning off the feeds it still can use 1+ MB per hour which is at least tolerable. That is with my images only being 58 bytes in size which is as small as you can get I believe.   Also, like I found also, it can use 20-30 MB each time it is powered up. ... View more

@maratsadewrote: Right, but if it's casting, it's not using Backdrop, right? Nope, it refreshes them in the background no matter what you're doing/seeing on the screen. Have verified with my Asus router that monitors per device use. It is one MAJOR dislike for me. I hate things that won't allow total shutdown of background use, especially something like Backdrop that can add up to 10-15 GB per month if left on 24/7.   You really should read that link I posted awhile back and/or do a search about it. ... View more

@maratsadewrote: I'm not sure if that works, actually.  I was reading the Google forums and an employee says that Chromecast doesn't support that and that it doesn't always work.  And yes, it would use your mobile data..... I doubt it would work for me anyway because my mobile connection is laughable at home.     I will have to measure whether the Chromecast uses data when I'm casting a DVD from the laptop.  I don't think it does, I think it's just using the wifi as a conduit, but I'll check.  It uses data through Backdrop for sure unless tamed as mentioned before, those images are being refreshed every 30 seconds. Also from what I've observed, it can use 30-40 MB when first turned on just syncing up, checking for updates, and lord knows what else. ... View more

This also concerns me in the first link, does it mean it will use the mobile data instead?   Do you have 4G Data in your mobile hand set? Then there is absolutely no need to worry as you can stream your favourite content on 4G on your device and mirror it to your Chromecast without any hassles. This will save you from hard efforts that we put in struggling around with hot spots. ... View more

@maratsadewrote: Using Chromecast without an internet connection:   http://www.uniquetechy.com/use-chromecast-without-wifi/   http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/28299/how-to-use-chromecast-without-wi-fi   I'll be trying these myself. I've seen the guest mode mentioned on the second site, but didn't know how it might work.   (Not trying to get you to get a Chromecast, Gabe, honest! I would like to be able to cast without wifi or even the internet, so I thought I'd see if there was a way).    Yea, looks like another bunch of hoops to jump through to me. Just not as user friendly as I'd like, so just trying to let Gabe know about the quirks and hoops.   So, how much is Google paying you?  ... View more

@maratsadewrote: "Simply, what's on your laptop screen and coming through your laptop speakers is what shows on your TV and comes through its speakers. "   That's what it does, though.  You have to tell it to do it using the Chrome browser, but that's exactly what it does. I think what Gabe was talking is the need to having to be connected to the internet and the using Chrome thing being a turn off. I understand that, doesn't thrill me either.   Even casting locally the Chromecast needs an internet connection for some stupid reason. If I kill the connection using my router parental controls the local casting will eventually crash and I get a Chromecast error saying it has lost the internet connection. Very stupid it requires internet all the time even for local casting.   There is the using Chrome thing all the time, again stupid IMO. Luckily there is VLC media player which I have installed on my laptop and my phone and casts videos directly to the Chromecast without using Chrome or the Home app.   Then there is the whole Backdrop thing which I won't even go into again.   While I enjoy what the Chromecast does it has some quirks which I do not like at all.   ... View more

@GabeUwrote: @maratsadewrote: I revert to the HDMI cable and using a wireless mouse to control the laptop. (I use a short HDMI cable) Ya know, sometimes things are right in front of you and you feel like a moron for not seeing them.  I have a wireless mouse, but it never dawned on me to just use the mouse as a remote and have the laptop out of the way so I don't have to trip over the cable.  SMH.  Just unbelievable.  That's a HUGE DERP moment.  😛   Lol, I used to do that. Just got tired of lugging the laptop out to the TV to connect the HDMI. ... View more

Option 2 in that link is what really saves the data when the Chromecast is powered up. I made my own 1x1 pixel .bmp images instead of the author's. Mine are only 58 bytes in size compared to his 600+ kb size. Even that difference saves a lot when the images are being refreshed every 30 seconds. ... View more

@maratsadewrote: I do have it set up to turn off when the TV is off.  I just noticed that when it was in use, it didn't seem to use a lot of data for the backdrops.  I have the 2nd generation Chromecast. Would that make a difference? Nope, I have 2nd generation also. You should read this if you haven't already: https://www.howtogeek.com/337719/how-to-tame-your-chromecasts-background-data-usage/   My guess is like I said, you haven't left it on long enough to notice a big difference. Either that or what is being used by Backdrop you are thinking is being consumed by whatever online streaming you are doing. ... View more

@maratsadewrote: Yes, you need a smartphone with the Home app for the settings.   I haven't noticed a big data drain from the backdrops.  @GabeU, if the broaband speed is low, Chromecast will be slow and pixelate a bit -- when that happens to me, I revert to the HDMI cable and using a wireless mouse to control the laptop. (I use a short HDMI cable) That is very strange as it can use GB's per month depending how long it is left on with the default Backdrop settings. I noticed the heavy use right off with my Asus router that monitors use per device. I didn't use the Chromecast for several weeks until I found the fixes in the article I linked to in the other threads.   You must be turning it off when not used and possibly not noticing the 10's or 100's of MB consumed in the background, especially if not on for hours at a time. Trust me though, Backdrop is eating data. ... View more

No charge to use it, just for subscription services like you already mentioned. You just sign in through Chrome like normal.   Just be sure to tame the Backdrop thing as described in the other threads and turn off the free feeds using an Android phone. That is another negative, need a smart phone with the Home app to get to some of the settings. ... View more

So sad to hear this Greg. Hoping for the best possible outcome.    Sure makes the problems here seem quite small and insignificant really. ... View more