It's probably the most common question when it comes to satellite internet. What about the data cap? It's a valid concern, especially considering the popularity of Facebook, YouTube, and Netflix, and if you aren't sure how much data you're going to use, it's hard to say if you'll use 10GB in a month or 30GB in an hour.

This guide will provide you with information on how data is used, and I'll even provide hard numbers for calculating how much data you're going to need. When you live in a rural area, satellite internet may be the only option, so understanding your data should be a priority. If you are worried about not having enough data for your needs, don't worry! This guide will also show you a few tips and tricks for minimizing your usage without making any major sacrifices.

So, let's dive in.

Anything you do online is going to use data. Even looking at a news article on the Washington Post. But it's important to understand that data is not the same thing as minutes. Everything on the internet takes up space, and when you view it, your computer has to download it in order to show it to you. How much data  that's going to use depends on the size of the item. If that sounds confusing, it isn't. If you look at a small picture on Google Images, it's going to use a little bit of data. If you look at a BIG picture on Google Images, it's going to use a lot of data.

In other words, if a website mainly has news articles and only a few pictures, you won't use up a lot of data when your computer shows that website to you. Text uses so little data that it's almost impossible to calculate.

On the other hand, if you go to a website that has a LOT of BIG pictures, looking at that website is going to use quite a bit of data. Pictures and videos are the biggest users of your data, so those are the things to cut back if you're nearing your data limit.

And just in case you're wondering: if you are seeing it on your screen, it's been downloaded through the internet and has already used your data. Your computer can't show you something without downloading it first. So if you open up a website and see that it has a lot of pictures, closing the website is not going to save any data at that point. If it's on the screen, it's already used your data. However, this is not true for videos. When you stream a video, it downloads as you go. If you accidentally click on a YouTube video and it starts playing, you will absolutely save a lot of data by quickly closing it out.

This is where things get tricky. It's impossible to estimate your data accurately because it's impossible to know what exactly is downloaded when you click on certain things. As an example, let's say a friend on Facebook shares a recipe. When you click on the recipe, it takes you to another website where that recipe is listed. Little did you know, this website has four videos that start playing automatically as soon as you look at the recipe! You can close out of that website, but the videos still used some of your data. Unfortunately, there isn't a way to prevent this.

However, if you are planning to watch a video, it's certainly possible to estimate how much data that particular video will use. Here are some statistics from Netflix:

SD Video uses approximately 0.3GB/hr.
HD Video uses approximately 3GB/hr.

Those numbers hold true to any video service, whether it's Netflix, YouTube, or Hulu. Let's say you have a 12GB internet package.​ If you put the math to it, that's approximately 4 hours of HD Video before you hit your data cap, or 40 hours of SD Video. Remember these are approximate, but hopefully it puts video streaming into perspective. Those numbers are also assuming you are only watching videos. If you use your internet for other things like Facebook and email in the meantime, that's going to affect how much data you have left to spend.

You may see words like 'Megabytes' or 'Gigabytes' from time to time. Here is a breakdown of what those mean:

Megabyte (MB) = 1000 Kilobytes (KB)
Gigabyte (GB) = 1000 Megabytes (MB)

3GB = 3000MB, and so on.

Now that we have a general understanding of how data works, it'll be worlds easier to adjust your habits to accommodate the data cap. Here are a few advanced tips to help you get the most of your satellite internet:

Turn down the video quality. Netflix and YouTube both have a setting for the quality of video that is being displayed. By default, they are both automatic, which means they will detect your high-speed internet and download HD Video as a result. If you are trying to conserve data, you don't want this, because you're going to hit your data limit very quickly. Instead, manually drop the settings down to Standard Definition or 480p. The quality won't be as clear, but you'll get around 36 extra hours of viewing time.

Schedule your updates. Every time your phone, computer, tablet, or gaming device updates, that is going to use your data. Some updates can be considerably large, so being prepared for a 4-5GB update is going to be important. Most devices will allow you to schedule when they can update. Some satellite providers give you a free zone in the middle of the night, while others don't. If you have the Liberty Pass with Exede, schedule your updates for the end of your billing cycle so even if an update uses all of your data, you'll reset soon after.

Keep an eye on downloaded files. Not only can you look at a plethora of websites, you can also download files from the internet, such as pictures, videos, templates, music, etc. Most downloads give you an indication as to their size, so it's a good idea to double check a file's details before downloading it. Modern photos are quite large in size, so while hitting the 'download' button on your friend's Facebook photo may seem harmless, the file may actually use a lot more data than it seems.

Turn off the Autoplay Video feature on Facebook. Facebook has a feature that autoplays videos when you scroll past them. If you go to your account settings, then click on 'Video', there is a option to disable autoplay. This will save you a huge amount of data in the longrun, especially for a Facebook enthusiast.

If you already have satellite internet, or are thinking about getting it, hopefully this guide clears a few things up. Never hesitate to ask your service provider questions about your data. Most companies provide an in-depth look into your usage so they can tell you what's eating it up the most, and can provide recommendations on how to minimize that usage in the future.

If you have questions for us here at AirWave, feel free to comment or shoot me an email at ben@airwaveonline.com. Thanks for reading!

The list of reasons to sign up for DISH is constantly growing, especially with the recent 3-Year Pricelock promotion available to new customers. Add the Hopper 3 and 4k to that already-enticing list, and you have the recipe for a phenomenal TV experience.

With the Hopper 3, you get 16 tuners and can connect up to 6 Joeys. That means you can have 7 TVs watching DISH, and still be able to record 9 other shows simultaneously. Or, watch 1 TV, and record 15 shows at once. Sitcoms, games, and movies - record it all at the same time with no interference. There's a lot of flexibility here, and even the most avid TV-watchers are going to struggle to hit that 16 tuner limit.

Not only does the Hopper 3 support 4k, but you can use the Mosaic feature to customize and watch 6 channels at once. Can't decide which News Network to watch? Now you can watch them all simultaneously.

The Hopper 3's user interface has been completely revamped in an effort to improve usability. The handy 'Menu' button takes you to a dashboard where you can select your favorite channels, TV shows, apps, or even search things like 'Critically Acclaimed Movies' or 'Movies with Leonardo DiCaprio.'

In addition, the Hopper 3 has an upgraded processor, making it extremely responsive and quick. Parental Controls have also been modified  to make TV management easier for parents.

You simply won't find a better DVR on the market, and it won't hurt your wallet too much, either. There's not an extra monthly fee for having the Hopper 3 if you already have the Hopper DVR Service, and each additional TV is only $7/mo.  Pricelock for 3 years and DISH will throw in some Premium Movie Packages for 3 months, free, and give you a code to get Netflix free for a year. DISH has announced the release of a voice-command remote with a touch screen, so you'll finally be able to watch TV hands-free in the near future.

Got questions? Contact me at 417-667-9700 to talk about DISH, DirecTV, Satellite Internet, or Security Systems.

Over 500 hours of HD recording. Record up to 6 things at once. The device is regularly updated with new features, as if the multitude of current features weren't enough! The Hopper is unmatched by any other TV provider anywhere.

These small form factor devices hook up to your Hopper and deliver the full experience anywhere in your home. You can even get Wireless Joeys for no additional monthly cost. Want to hook up a TV outside for a BBQ? Just plug the Wireless Joey into your TV and start watching the football game. It's that easy.

With DISH Anywhere, you can watch recorded or live TV from a computer, tablet, laptop, or phone. You can watch DISH in the bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, or even the closet. We don't really know why you'd watch DISH in your closet, but that's none of our business. You can even use DISH anywhere when you're away from home - the only requirement is an internet connection.

RF Remotes don't require a line of sight. Change the channel from the other room or from under the blankets. If you lose your remote, Hopper has a built-in remote finder that turns your remote into a noise-maker until you can find it. If your dog starts beeping, you might have a problem.

Get Netflix, Pandora, ESPN, and more on your Hopper or Joey. Watch 1,000s of TV shows and movies with Netflix, listen to online music radio with Pandora, or keep yourself updated with scores and notifications from ESPN's app. There's plenty more to discover with Hopper's apps and features - just tune in to channel 100.

Those are our Top 5 reasons to get the DISH Hopper. Give us a call at 417-667-9700 to see what packages are right for you.

Don't miss the History Channel's critically acclaimed TV show. Take a peek at our TV packages to see which one is right for you.

Watch the Vikings Season 4 trailer here:

Aterlo Networks is providing a service that allows you to preload Netflix movies so you can watch them later without using your precious data. You can pick your movies or TV shows, schedule the time for download (use your Free Zone to avoid using up your data), and let the NightShift service do it's thing.  Even if your connection is slow, this service allows the movies to download and then be stored for HD viewing at a later time.

Check out the GoNightShift website for more details.