Data caps are a real issue for cord cutters; however, they are one that you can easily avoid. We already gave a few tips to stay under your data cap but what if you just want to keep an eye on your data usage?
Most Internet service providers now offer ways to track data on their website, but it is often delayed in giving accurate data usage details. The good news is there is a better way to track your data usage and even set up alerts to let you know when you are about to go over.
Most Wi-Fi routers brands like Linksys currently in use allow the ability to track the amount of data you have used. Some routers, such as those from Netgear, will even let you set up alerts when you get close to your monthly data cap.
Here is a quick guide on how to track your data usage on your Wi-Fi router.
Linksys Owners: http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=136118
Netgear Owners: http://kb.netgear.com/24225/How-do-I-monitor-Internet-traffic-on-my-Nighthawk-router?cid=wmt_netgear_organic
I suggest you take a few minutes on the Netgear and set up alerts. That way when you get to 50% or 75% you know to keep a closer watch on your data usage.
As always if you want to stay under a data cap my number one tip is to turn off Auto Play Next on services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video. This eats up more data than you think as people often turn off the TV and forget to stop the stream.
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