Tips for Managing Internet Data Use

SmartHub

Mid-Rivers offers a free account management tool known as SmartHub. You can use SmartHub to view your Internet data usage on all your Mid-Rivers Internet accounts by month, day, or hour.  The Detail Usage feature even shows you which applications and devices are using the most data.SmartHub Logo SmartHub also provides a variety of methods to easily contact Mid-Rivers with questions or to report problems.

 

If you are not currently signed up for SmartHub, visit
https://midrivers.smarthub.coop, or contact your local Mid-Rivers office. 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 MyMid-Rivers 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!

 

See all the great things you can do with ONE GB of data!

 

Data Usage Detail Glossary

 

Change Your Settings

One way to manage the amount of data you are using is by checking the quality settings of video streaming websites or applications. Video streaming uses some of the highest amounts of data of any online activity. Downloading and updating online games (XBOX, Playstation) can also use large amounts of data. Mid-Rivers recommends reviewing the video playback settings on any of your accounts that allow video streaming.

Netflix

Netflix can use up to 7 GB of data per hour at the highest quality settings. 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 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 within 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, mouse 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.

Chart of Data Use for Video Streaming

Disney +

Playback settings for Disney+ can be managed through the Disney+ App using the following steps.

  • Download the Disney+ App
  • Login to your account
  • Go to Profile
  • Choose Video Playback Settings

 

Roku is a supported device for the app, Xbox One and PS4 are both supported devices, as well as some smart tv’s.

 

If your TV is compatible with the app, you can access the video playback settings by:

  • Selecting the profile icon
  • Choose App Settings
  • Use controls for video playback settings

 

Facebook

You can reduce the amount of data that Facebook uses 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.

 

If you watching Amazon Prime Video with the Prime Video App on your mobile device, you may adjust the video quality settings within the App by:

  • Go to “My Stuff”
  • Click Gear Icon for Settings
  • Click Stream & Download
  • Click Streaming 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

Amazon FireStick Data Management

If you are using the Amazon FireStick to stream, there are a few ways that you can control the amount of data used.

 

Control the Video Quality for Amazon Video

 

1.) Open Settings, then navigate to Preferences

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2.) Select Data Monitoring

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3.) Select Set Video Quality

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4.) You may Choose one of the three video quality settings to stream your Amazon Videos in.

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Set-Up a Data Alert

 

1.) Navigate to the Data Monitor Settings Options (steps 1 & 2 above)

 

2.) Select Change Data Alert

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3.) Enter the amount of Data you what to be alerted for and select next

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4.) Enter 17 as the start of your usage cycle (This is the start of a new data period for Mid-Rivers Customers) and select next.

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5.) You will then receive a message notifying you that you will receive an on screen alert with your Fire TV Stick has used the selected about of data. Select Confirm to set the alert.

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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, but they can use a large amount of data when the system or a game you are playing needs an update. To control when you allow your xbox to update, check out these directions for adjusting the automatic update setting. Though the amount of data used by different games varies widely, this chart can provide an estimate of the update sizes of many popular games. Additionaly, Xbox allows you to control the display resolution to best match your TV. If you are curious to see how much data your Xbox is currently using, follow these instructions.  Once your Xbox begins downloading an update, make sure to leave it connected and let it finish, or it will start over again next time you connect.

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 these three quick steps at http://www.hellpc.net/3-quick-ways-to-stop-windows-10-from-using-so-much-data/.

Zoom

 

Zoom currently consumes very little data, but for new Zoom users concerned about data usage there is a Settings option to Enable or Disable HD.  Leaving "Enable HD" unchecked will help reduce data usage.

 

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It is also important to know how to use Zoom securely to protect the privacy of everyone on the call and avoid unwanted guests.  Visit the Zoom blog for safety & privacy tips.

Google Hangouts Meet

 

Google Hangouts Meet is commonly used in schools and small business to host virtual meetings. Learn how you can adjust the settings for a Hangout Meet to match your preferences.

Google Duo

 

Turn on "Data Saving Mode" to limit usage.  In our lab tests, Duo sessions without Data Saving mode use less than 1GB per hour.

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Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative

Looking for Help?

1-800-452-2288

If you are not currently signed up for SmartHub, visit
https://midrivers.smarthub.coop, or contact your local Mid-Rivers office. 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 MyMid-Rivers 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!

Netflix can use up to 7 GB of data per hour at the highest quality settings. 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.

Chart of Data Use for Video Streaming

You can reduce the amount of data that Facebook uses 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 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.

 

If you watching Amazon Prime Video with the Prime Video App on your mobile device, you may adjust the video quality settings within the App by:

  • Go to “My Stuff”
  • Click Gear Icon for Settings
  • Click Stream & Download
  • Click Streaming 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 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 gaming consoles are great entertainment devices, but they can use a large amount of data when the system or a game you are playing needs an update. To control when you allow your xbox to update, check out these directions for adjusting the automatic update setting. Though the amount of data used by different games varies widely, this chart can provide an estimate of the update sizes of many popular games. Additionaly, Xbox allows you to control the display resolution to best match your TV. If you are curious to see how much data your Xbox is currently using, follow these instructions.  Once your Xbox begins downloading an update, make sure to leave it connected and let it finish, or it will start over again next time you connect.

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Chart of Data Use for Video Streaming

If you watching Amazon Prime Video with the Prime Video App on your mobile device, you may adjust the video quality settings within the App by:

  • Click Streaming 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

Xbox gaming consoles are great entertainment devices, but they can use a large amount of data when the system or a game you are playing needs an update. To control when you allow your xbox to update, check out these Though the amount of data used by different games varies widely, this chart can provide an Additionaly, If you are curious to see how much data your Xbox is currently using,   Once your Xbox begins downloading an update, make sure to leave it connected and let it finish, or it will start over again next time you connect.

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 these three quick steps at .

If you are using the Amazon FireStick to stream, there are a few ways that you can control the amount of data used.

Control the Video Quality for Amazon Video

1.) Open Settings, then navigate to Preferences

2.) Select Data Monitoring

3.) Select Set Video Quality

4.) You may Choose one of the three video quality settings to stream your Amazon Videos in.

Set-Up a Data Alert

1.) Navigate to the Data Monitor Settings Options (steps 1 & 2 above)

2.) Select Change Data Alert

3.) Enter the amount of Data you what to be alerted for and select next

4.) Enter 17 as the start of your usage cycle (This is the start of a new data period for Mid-Rivers Customers) and select next.

5.) You will then receive a message notifying you that you will receive an on screen alert with your Fire TV Stick has used the selected about of data. Select Confirm to set the alert.

