I have limited bandwidth.

[cilla4progress]

I'm one of those rural Americans left out in the cold to pay hundreds every month for satellite internet, that comes with monthly caps.

I am repeatedly resetting my devices OFF autoplay. Only to have it start up again on its own. So annoying and transparently app developers competing for eyes.

Any tips or tricks for a universal setting for this, or do I have to go into each app and scrounge for the setting??

I know.. 1st world problem...

[we can do it]

1. Check out T-Mobile internet.

[cayugafalls]

2. No universal setting. Need specific apps.

A lot of times it is due to the apps running on startup and checking for updates or other settings. If you are talking about websites that should not be resetting.

Any specifics you can give will help me troubleshoot issue. Thanks.

[cilla4progress]

3. Thanks!

Yes, Twitter, Instagram, FB, even here!

As I say, I'm constantly changing the setting back- only to have it autoplay again eventually. Does sometimes seem to coincide with system updates.

Thanks!

[cayugafalls]

4. Which browser are you using?

[cilla4progress]

13. Sorry...stepped out.

Mobile devices are Android. Desktop is Windows, and I mostly use Chrome.

Thanks!

[cayugafalls]

6. Ok, without browser info here are some things that you may have already tried.

1. Twitter. Go to https://twitter.com/settings/account click on Data Usage and then click on Autoplay and select Never.

2. Instagram, does not allow turning off videos as far as I know. Browser hack below, might work. Might...

3. Facebook. Go to the drop down menu at top of page. Select Setting and Privacy > Settings. Look for Videos in that option and there should be a toggle to turn of Autoplay.

4. To turn off Autoplay for all websites with ads, news features, etc. (CNN, etc...)

Create a new browser shortcut on your desktop to start Google Chrome.

1. Create a new shortcut

Right-click your desktop and choose “New > Shortcut”.

2. Browse to Chrome’s .exe-file

In the next screen, click the “Browse…” button and find Chrome’s exe. It should be in C rogram Files (x86)GoogleChromeApplicationchrome.exe. Select it and press “OK”. Do not press Next yet.

3. Add the “disable autoplay”-argument

Next to the file location under “Type the location of the item”, add --autoplay-policy=user-required. Make sure it’s after the quotes and press “Next”.

4. Name the shortcut

Call the shortcut whatever works for you, but make sure you can differentiate it from the normal Chrome. Call it, Chrome (no autoplay), but you could also name it ‘Chrome disable autoplay’, ‘video blocker Chrome’, or anything else. Once you’re done, press “Finish”.

5. Launch Chrome using the new shortcut. Go to a website that has autoplay to check it out and verify that it works.

[OxQQme]

15. Apps running on startup can be disabled.

If you're not on a Windows machine this is moot.

In Windows, right click the task bar, choose task managers startup tab.
The upper part of the list (apps) shows what is engaged at startup.
If you leave your computer 'on' all the time those apps are active in the background with some having 'check for update' built in.
Right click each for context. From the dropdown you can disable. Or you can check online for whether you really need that app running all the time.
Disabling it doesn't mean you can't still use that app. It just puts it into a sleep state.

The lower part of the list is mostly win related and if you're not a 'win nerd' I'd suggest you leave those alone.

If you are feeling a little nerdy. Or have friend who is, there is a web site:
--> http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-10-service-configurations/

[Clearly fogged in]

5. If you have a google account

Until doing this I continually had the same problem:

Go to Google Play Store
and touch the pull-down menu on the upper left (those three horizontal lines)

Choose Settings
You should see:
Auto-update Apps and
Auto-play videos
and select Don't

I hope this helps

[SamKnause]

7. I live in rural Ohio.

There is no cable where I live.

Cell phone service is spotty.

I have a land line phone.

Long distance calls are unlimited in the U.S. (Some foreign countries as well)

I have a desktop computer.

I get my internet through my land line phone and modem. (DSL)

There are no monthly caps.

I use a Fire Stick to watch TV. (Total one time cost $49.00)

It also works off my land line phone and modem.

I can stream live events on my desktop and Fire Stick TV.

Fire Stick has an endless supply of movies and TV shows.

There is no monthly fee for Fire Stick.

I can watch YouTube on my TV with the Fire Stick.

I have my TV or desktop on 24/7. (Not exaggerating)

My total monthly bill is $104.00.

Maybe a land line phone could help with your situation.

[CloudWatcher]

8. "There is no monthly fee for Fire Stick"

To be clear, there's no monthly fee for the hardware and watching free content is free. But premium content subscription charges are still there (Netflix, etc., etc.).

Unless I'm greatly mistaken ... it's happened before

[SamKnause]

9. I get Netflix, Hulu, many HBO shows for free.

An example: I can't watch Real Time with Bill Maher live, but it is available hours later.

I watched all the Game of Thrones episodes. HBO

I watched all the Grace and Frankie episodes. Netflix

After having the Fire Stick I would never pay for premium channels again.

Hope that helps.

[CloudWatcher]

11. Good to know, thanks! n/t

[SamKnause]

12. You are very welcome.

Have a great day and a great weekend.

When I canceled Direct TV 4 years ago the price was $125.00 per month.

That included 1 premium channel, HBO.

I had a satellite to receive Direct TV.

That did not include my landline or internet.

I have binge watched too many shows to name.

I get all the new movies about 2 months after they are released.

I love my Fire Stick !!!

Now instead of paying $125.00 plus $104.00 per month, I pay a total of $104.00 per month and

have many more options.

I live stream MSNBC and CNN on my desktop.

I can also live stream them on my Fire Stick but I can't use AdBlock and they buffer sometimes.

That is the only issue I have came across so far.

I really love being able to watch YouTube on my Fire Stick.

[CentralMass]

10. Elon Musks Starlink is starting to get closer to reality. I posted the link below.

https://www.starlink.com/

[cilla4progress]

14. You guys

are the BEST!

Thank you!

I will forward to my husband...in-house tech support!

Thanks!

[hunter]

16. My parents and my wife's parents live in rural areas with limited bandwidth.

My wife's parents discovered by an accident of geography they could connect to a distant AT&T cell phone tower, so that's what they use. Most of their neighbors, those who have internet service at all, use satellite. AT&T wireless is still an expensive internet service on their retirement income so they don't regularly use it for streaming video, and they don't use their cell phone for much more than calls and texts.

My parents have a community internet / computer guru who keeps everyone connected. Every rural community needs people like that.

The U.S.A. managed to bring roads, telephones, and electricity to most rural areas a long time ago. There's no reason we can't do the same with high speed internet.

My wife and I enjoy an unlimited DSL internet connection that's fast enough for "standard" definition Netflix.

Our children moved to big cities and enjoy ultra high speed fiber optic internet connections direct to their homes.

Other than throwing a lot of money at the problem I haven't discovered any easy answers for rural internet users.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

17. 4G LTE internet service

Last edited Sun Sep 27, 2020, 08:48 AM - Edit history (1)

I use a TUOSHI Unlocked 4G LTE Router with SIM Card Slot:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JJ5V2SJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have that connected to the Ethernet WAN port on my regular router.

Over the last 18 months speedtest by Ookla shows an average of 5.39 Mbps.
It's 530 PM local here the NJ Philly suburbs and the current DL is 11.74 Mbps with UL = 1.35 Mbps.

I buy the SIM and service from OTR Mobile: https://otrmobile.com/
The cost is $90/month. I don't know the initial price of a SIM or the startup fee.