Wifi Television and data usage when abroad

[Hugoman]

£24 p/m for 250Gb. EU use extra £2 per day or choose extra £8.75 per month. Only once used more than half my allowance and that was because of a gamer on board.

So £32.75 per month ! And that’s if they don’t play silly buggers and throttle it. Local Simm far better and far cheaper. Remember that EE and the rest promised that there would be no extra roaming charges after Br*x*it. They all lied. Don’t give them any more money…go Local Simm. There are EU sims that you can get that allow you the whole of EU coverage plus UK for far less…no one needs EE or VODAFONE any more. And if more people knew that and went for an EU or local sim then the UK ISP’s would change back to no data roaming charges at all.

 

[Hugoman]

When I looked at t and c’s I’m sure it stated fair use policy max of 50gb even if you paid the extra per month for roaming abroad….?

Exactly ….so £32.75pm for 50GB ….rubbish !

 

[Hugoman]

I think Minxy and her Kayak expertise should be sought…and her advice as a final adjudicator honoured ….

 

[JockandRita]

Just watched 1 hour of BBC on Avtex TV with Firestick…Used 640mb on Standard Definition. No idea what 720 at 50 cycles is all about . Maybe knitting would suit you and Bessy765 better

If you knew the difference between 720p 50Hz and 480p 60Hz, maybe you wouldn't be so eager to disregard other's efforts to contribute to the subject.

I have just watched 2 hours of BBC via Firestick and it has used 1.5 GB ….I would write to Steve Borthwick and demand a 7GB refund…as well as an apology for result

Whoopy doo for you, and as a Scot, I have no need to write to Steve Borthwick, demanding either a refund, nor an apology.

I suggest you read Rule No1 matey, cos you are close to breaking it.

Regards,

Jock.

 

[dash300]

Exactly ….so £32.75pm for 50GB ….rubbish !

I think you are a bit edgy so will leave you to you own conclusions.

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[TONCAZ]

We just want to be able to access films from Netflix and Amazon Video, not terrestrial channels. Are you able to do that with Popit, without a VPN? Tha

We just want to be able to access films from Netflix and Amazon Video, not terrestrial channels. Are you able to do that with Popit, without a VPN? Thank you.

Just an idea, have you thought about buying a large mem stick and downloading movies you want to watch before you leave, done this a few times and works well.

 

[Hugoman]

If you knew the difference between 720p 50Hz and 480p 60Hz, maybe you wouldn't be so eager to disregard other's efforts to contribute to the subject.


Whoopy doo for you, and as a Scot, I have no need to write to Steve Borthwick, demanding either a refund, nor an apology.

I suggest you read Rule No1 matey, cos you are close to breaking it.

Regards,

Jock.

Oh sorry about that…didn’t mean to offend …

 

[Hugoman]

I think you are a bit edgy so will leave you to you own conclusions.

Nope not edgy…just think Local sim is best way to go….and cheapest.

 

[JockandRita]

Oh sorry about that…didn’t mean to offend …

Accepted.

Jock.

 

[Hugoman]

Accepted.

Jock.

It was just me trying to be humorous….things get lost in translation. Hey Ho. Will post less.

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[Bolti]

Just looked at EE and there is still a 15GB fair use policy for data in the EU, even after you paid the extra, as far as I can see?

Don't forget contracts taken out before the changes are not subject to the roaming restrictions. Just used my Tesco unlimited in EU for 4 months with no problems.

 

[JockandRita]

It was just me trying to be humorous….things get lost in translation. Hey Ho. Will post less.

No need to post less, but just appreciate that someone might have gone to a bit of bother to find out some facts and figures, which if not any use to you, may well be of use to others.

Having made the above checks/changes, I am currently monitoring data usage whilst catching up on UK News.

As an example, 3.5 x hours of live TV tonight whilst abroad, has used up 3.5Gb of data, so the trick of adjusting the Firestick resolution down to 480p (as described previously), has certainly worked. That 480p (SD) option just wasn't available through the normal display settings.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[AllesP]

Russell is my Carthago. I'll ask, but his English ain't great!!!

That's a great name

 

[Bessy765]

Just watched 1 hour of BBC on Avtex TV with Firestick…Used 640mb on Standard Definition. No idea what 720 at 50 cycles is all about . Maybe knitting would suit you and Bessy765 better

Normally if I did not understand a post I would politely ask for more information. Amazon Fire stick in the display menu has five options, Auto, 1040p at 60 HZ, 1040p at 50 HZ, 720p at 60 720p at 50. As the Fire stick is sold world wide it has these options. For UK its auto or 1040 @ 50 or 720 @ 50
the latter giving a lower quality picture but at a lower data use. Going even further the BBC having no adverts allows you to watch programs using less data wasted on adverts. If there are two programs at the same time watching the commercial one via our sat system, then catching up the BBC is better use of the available data. We are away in EU for 90 days. So I could explain what to do with the knitting needles but being polite will refrain from doing so. That is the sort of comment that discourages people to post.

 

[Minxy]

I think Minxy and her Kayak expertise should be sought…and her advice as a final adjudicator honoured ….

Eh? Wrong thread perchance?

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[jongood]

It was just me trying to be humorous….things get lost in translation. Hey Ho. Will post less.

No need to post less, its creating some good discussion, just maybe allow some other posters an opinion?

 

[jongood]

£24 per month, 12 month contract. You can cancel the extra £8.75 per month EU roaming on return to UK.

Is this available now or is it a deal from before the change?

 

[Russell's Dad]

That's a great name

Off the track of the thread, but he's named in honour of an uncle, who had a wanderlust and great love of adventure, who passed away a few years ago. We keep his widow updated on Russell's travels.

 

[Russell's Dad]

Yes, but you are still viewing in HD, (High Definition), rather than the lowere data consuming 480p SD, (Standard Definition).

Ven, and Hugoman. A bit of research online guided me to advice re altering the resolution on a Firestick below the limited choices in the display settings.
Pressing the up button, and the rewind button simultaneously for a few seconds, brings up a menu which changes every 10 x seconds. When the resolution required appears on the screen, press OK to lock in your choice. In my case, I chose 480p 60Hz.

I also went into my iPlayer setings again, and sure enough, my choice of SD hadn't changed since adjusting the settings before leaving home, so I have to assume that it was the Firestick 720p resolution causing the extra data used, when viewing terestrial TV on Catchup.
Having made the above checks/changes, I am currently monitoring data usage whilst catching up on UK News. Initial data useage figures over the past hour and a quarter, are looking promising.

Cheers,

Jock.

Jock. Thanks for this. I researched but did not find this gem.
My firestick is now at 480p. I'll not be watching ITVX again as it munched 5gb in just over 2 hours!

 

[JockandRita]

Jock. Thanks for this. I researched but did not find this gem.
My firestick is now at 480p. I'll not be watching ITVX again as it munched 5gb in just over 2 hours!

No problem. I was just lucky to have found the guidance.

Re your 5Gb usage in just over 2 x hours, that was our problem with watching the Rugby last weekend, ie, it was on ITVX hence the data gobbled up.

Unlike my BBC iPlayer account, my ITVX account won't allow me to change the resolution, to one that suits our viewing/data usage requirements.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Hugoman]

Normally if I did not understand a post I would politely ask for more information. Amazon Fire stick in the display menu has five options, Auto, 1040p at 60 HZ, 1040p at 50 HZ, 720p at 60 720p at 50. As the Fire stick is sold world wide it has these options. For UK its auto or 1040 @ 50 or 720 @ 50
the latter giving a lower quality picture but at a lower data use. Going even further the BBC having no adverts allows you to watch programs using less data wasted on adverts. If there are two programs at the same time watching the commercial one via our sat system, then catching up the BBC is better use of the available data. We are away in EU for 90 days. So I could explain what to do with the knitting needles but being polite will refrain from doing so. That is the sort of comment that discourages people to post.

jongood JockandRita @ everyone ! OK OK I’ve apologised, I am ashamed don’t make me feel worse….Donnez Moi une break !

Anyway I do see the cycle bit now and mine is at the top resolution but still only use about 640MB per hour on BBC. Don’t know about ITVX as rarely watch it. In fact I couldn’t seem to get it going without it keep going back to beginning after the advert. I was forced to try again on Saturday because England were playing France and then I wished I hadn’t. Sorry once again for my forum etiquette.

Please feel free to shout and holler at me should I transgress again

 

[Bessy765]

 

[Manic]

Firestick below the limited choices in the display settings.
Pressing the up button, and the rewind button simultaneously for a few seconds, brings up a menu which changes every 10 x seconds. When the resolution required appears on the screen, press OK to lock in your choice. In my case, I chose 480p 60Hz.

Thanks for that, just checked it out and didn’t think it was going to work but then the choices suddenly came on screen, something I will changing when I’m touring eu and not getting my unlimited data.

 

[AllesP]

So £32.75 per month ! And that’s if they don’t play silly buggers and throttle it. Local Simm far better and far cheaper. Remember that EE and the rest promised that there would be no extra roaming charges after Br*x*it. They all lied. Don’t give them any more money…go Local Simm. There are EU sims that you can get that allow you the whole of EU coverage plus UK for far less…no one needs EE or VODAFONE any more. And if more people knew that and went for an EU or local sim then the UK ISP’s would change back to no data roaming charges at all.

I like the idea of buying a local sim but I'm a but worried about having to set up a VPN on my Avtex motorhome wifi and how much extra that will cost in addition to the mobile data.

 

[Manic]

I like the idea of buying a local sim but I'm a but worried about having to set up a VPN on my Avtex motorhome wifi and how much extra that will cost in addition to the mobile data.

I’ve been looking at Surfshark and you can get that for around £1.90 a month if paying for 2 years ( some give an extra 3or 4 month)

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[JockandRita]

I’ve been looking at Surfshark and you can get that for around £1.90 a month if paying for 2 years ( some give an extra 3or 4 month)

I was using Surfshark successfully at one time, whilst able to watch BBC programmes via their iPlayer, but they eventually blocked it.

I am now using Windscribe (paid for version) for much the same price as Surfshark, and have been able to access all UK TV Channels successfully when using foreign WiFi.

HTH,

Jock.

 

[dash300]

Is this available now or is it a deal from before the change?

That I am not sure I've had it for over 3yrs now so out of contract but happy to continue with it.

Edit. Just done a check on EE and the Roam Abroad monthly extra is now showing £10 per month as and alternative to the £2 daily charge. States it gives you the same Data usage as if in UK and cancel anytime you dont need it. Longest I have done on the waterways was just under 3 months and was never restricted to 50Gb and not penalised for going over, so assume my 250Gb was being honoured.

 

[Hugoman]

I like the idea of buying a local sim but I'm a but worried about having to set up a VPN on my Avtex motorhome wifi and how much extra that will cost in addition to the mobile data.

I think it all depends how long you are travelling for…if it’s just a couple of months a year then I suppose it’s not worth going down the road of local sim and vpn but if it’s longer then it is. I am travelling longer and longer as time goes by so definitely worth it for me. I get a Sim which works Europe wide but can be “parked” for when I go back to UK. With regards to setting up a VPN…very easy…and about a tenner a month….but again can be “parked” on return to UK.

 

[Bolti]

I think it all depends how long you are travelling for…if it’s just a couple of months a year then I suppose it’s not worth going down the road of local sim and vpn but if it’s longer then it is. I am travelling longer and longer as time goes by so definitely worth it for me. I get a Sim which works Europe wide but can be “parked” for when I go back to UK. With regards to setting up a VPN…very easy…and about a tenner a month….but again can be “parked” on return to UK.

Who is your SIM with that can be used Europe wide?

 

[jongood]

I like the idea of buying a local sim but I'm a but worried about having to set up a VPN on my Avtex motorhome wifi and how much extra that will cost in addition to the mobile data.

VPN was like anything else these days, download the app from the playstore, tick the box to say that you agree to anything and everything and let it sort itself out. Pretty easy.
But it really does depend how much internet you get through, if you're not going out of Europe, wouldnt the Popit sim be a logical next step for you

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