Tips for Managing Internet Data Use

SmartHub

Mid-Rivers offers a free account management tool known as SmartHub. You can use SmartHub to track and manage your Mid-Rivers Communications accounts, track your data use for Mid-Rivers Internet and Cellular accounts, set up paperless billing and set-up automatic payments or pay your Mid-Rivers bill online. SmartHub also provides a variety of methods to easily contact Mid-Rivers with questions or to report problems.

Signing up for SmartHub is a quick and simple way to ensure that you are receiving an email notice about your Internet data usage. If you are not currently signed up for SmartHub, https://midrivers.smarthub.coop, or contact your local Mid-Rivers office to get signed up. SmartHub is FREE, and all it takes to get set up is a valid e-mail address! You can use your Mid-Rivers email address (yourusername@midrivers.com) or any other valid email that you prefer (such as a gmail or Hotmail account).

Access SmartHub today by going to https://midrivers.smarthub.coop/, or download the SmartHub app from the Google Play Store on your Android device or the App Store on your iPad or iPhone. Take control of your account with SmartHub today!

Change the Settings

One way to manage the amount of data you are using, is by checking the settings of video streaming websites or applications. Video streaming uses some of the highest amounts of data of any Online activity. Online gaming also uses a large amounts of data. Mid-Rivers recommends reviewing the video playback settings on any of your accounts that allow video streaming.

Netflix

Netflix uses up to 7 GB of data per hour if you are streaming content in Ultra HD. The good news is you can control how much data Netflix will use. To change the settings on your Netflix account and manage the amount of data used go to "My Account." Then find the "Playback Settings" located in the Profile section. You may then choose from a Low, Medium, High or Auto data setting. Go to Netflix to learn more.

YouTube

YouTube is another video streaming service that can quickly consume data. YouTube offers a couple of options for changing the video playback size. This first option will require you to be logged in to your YouTube account. Click on the account icon in the upper right corner of the screen and the select the gear icon to adjust your YouTube settings. Next click on "playback" in the menu on the right of the screen and adjust the settings.

If you don't have a YouTube account, or are not signed in, use the settings withing each video to adjust the size of the video. To do so simply begin the video you want to watch. Once the video has started over over the lower third of the video to make the control bar appear. Click on the gear icon and select quality. You should see an array of options for adjusting the size of the video where the larger the number the more data that video will use.

Facebook

You can reduce the amount of data that Facebook will use by disabling the video auto play feature or setting videos to play in SD only. To manage the video setting on your Facebook account start by logging to your Facebook account. Click on the drop-down arrow in the upper right side of the screen and select settings. Click on "Video" from the menu on the left of the page. You may now use the drop-down menus to set your video preferences.

Amazon

Amazon Instant video detects your networks capability and sets your video quality automatically. When purchasing a movie or TV series you may have the option of downloading the video in SD, HD, or UHD. Data use can be reduced by downloading videos in the Standard Definition format. Learn more about Amazon Video Quality.

Some devices will allow you to choose whether you stream content in HD or SD by changing the setting in your video player. For more information visit https://techboomers.com/t/amazon-prime-data-usage

Hulu

Hulu playback settings can be adjusted in the video player while you are streaming content. To adjust your playback setting, go to the gear icon in the bottom right of the screen (you will need to be able to see the playback progress bar to access this). Under quality, you may then select to have Hulu automatically detect the optimal quality for your connections speed, or for more control over your data use, you can select the playback quality of your choice. For more information visit the Hulu Help Center.

Xbox

Xbox gaming consoles are great entertainment devices, however they can use a large amount of data when the system, or a game you are playing, requires an update. To control when you allow your xbox to update, check out these directions for adjusting the automatic update setting. The amount data used by different games varies widely, however this chat can provide an estimate of the update sizes of many popular games. If you are curious to see how much data your Xbox is currently using, follow these instructions.

Windows 10

Windows 10 is known for using its fair share of data. Learn more about how to manage the amount of data your Windows 10 device is using with the 3 quick steps found at http://www.hellpc.net/3-quick-ways-to-stop-windows-10-from-using-so-much-data/.

Resources

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Some devices will allow you to choose whether you stream content in HD or SD by changing the setting in your video player. For more information visit

Xbox gaming consoles are great entertainment devices, however they can use a large amount of data when the system, or a game you are playing, requires an update. To control when you allow your xbox to update, check out these The amount data used by different games varies widely, however this chat can provide an If you are curious to see how much data your Xbox is currently using,

Windows 10 is known for using its fair share of data. Learn more about how to manage the amount of data your Windows 10 device is using with the 3 quick steps found at .