Data Capping from ISP’s started and in my case beginning in NOV 1st 2016 in many states - I am not technically savvy but I have managed to setup plex somehow through rokus and fire sticks but I am fearful that I will be using to much DATA and I will need to retire PLEX. I cannot afford anything else.
Please explain in detail the best way to setup to avoid using DATA. How does plex use the data? can I run locally and how do I setup to insure it is local? What do I need to shut off? How do I access this stuff.
I was setting up plex to shut cable down due to the high expense and run just cable internet with OTA only then stream though out then add hulu or amazon. Currently I use HD home run, windows media center to record then I convert to mp4. I have at least 4 rokus and 2 fire sticks that helps stream content to all the tv’s. I have step kids that stay during the summer and breaks so it is important i am able to provide tv and movies options. We are struggling already. Cost is a factor for sure.
Any and all ideas, solutions, alternatives are welcome as well. Unfortunately, like I said I am not a guru and basic setup so details are nice.
If your ISP has a usage cap, as many cable providers do, probably the most viable alternative if you wish to continue streaming your movies in your home and on-demand elsewhere, is by having your own storage for Plex to use. This way, whatever you OTA capture or have for your other content, it will always be available and, as a Plex Pass holder, you can sync to your devices. I know you stated in your OP you wished to not have that expense but given they (the cable companies are scrambling for revenue) PMS is probably your best option in the short and longer term.
I personally do not have a usage cap but at my DSL data rates I might as well. I elected to go with a NAS and run PMS on it directly. It streams to everything in the house. When the internet goes out (which it does here in this rural region) I am not impeded from watching what I want. Depending on how you implement your local storage / PMS server (unused computer / laptop with extra drives or a NAS) your initial setup cost plus expansion cost over time is controllable. I found, given the initial setup cost, even with the $1500 I invested for my NAS initially, I’ve more than recovered that cost in the 2 years I’ve owned it. With HD typical lifespan of 5 viable years (depending on what you purchase), again you have good control over when and how you manage your replacements & upgrades (more capacity if desired).
I stream to my Rokus, TVs, and laptops concurrently on the house wifi and lan. All good. If I were to unplug the internet, no big deal. My video quality is such that it’s like playing the BR itself (i insisted on keeping as much quality as I could). My PMS is effectively a ‘Jukebox’ of my Library. It saves wear and tear on the media and players.
I recently received an email from Comcast informing me of this. The email included information about my typical usage, and explained that my typical usage is far below the cap. I expect everyone will receive a similar notification. You should watch for that. It should give you an idea whether you have anything to worry about.
Yeah, data caps are BS, just pay the extra $30 for unlimited or switch to a business account are the easiest options. If I still had data limits, I would be 10 to 20 times over that every month, easy.
They always say, well 95% of customers are well below the data cap limit. Then I say they should have enough bandwidth to not bother with a data cap because they can’t say its a bandwidth issue. Even though it’s simply another way to make more money, they also can’t come out and say that is really the reason they are doing it, even though we all know that is the case.
It’s like speed limits and fines on roads. Everyone pretty much drives the way they are going to drive regardless of speed limits so they are pretty pointless with the exception of extreme cases like extreme data users. Of course, they say they are there for public safety when in reality the overwhelming reason they are there is to make money. If it were just for safety then everyone would be doing community service instead of paying fines.
Comcast set a 1T cap in August. for every 250G over, it is a $10 charge. Or I can pay $50 more a month and get Unlimited. My average use (house with teens) is 1.3T to 1.9T. Comcast gave 2 months overage grace. Thanks for reminding me to call Comcast and get on the Unlimited plan. Donations accepted.
@SweetAndLow said:
When using Plex on your local network with your own storage there is no data from your ISP used.
You would think that would be Common Sense. It’s probably inaccurate to say it uses no data as it still has to grab all the meta data and communicate with Plex.tv, but it uses an insignificant amount of data I suppose. : )
@preciousk2011@live.com Plex uses your internet connection for the following:
Authentication (Negligable)
Metadata for Media (Negligable)
Streaming to remote users (Possibly Significant)
If you disable remote access completely through the Server Settings page, Plex will not use enough data to push you over any “reasonable” cap. This won’t affect the playing of media on your local network using Rokus etc.
@sGarver said:
Comcast set a 1T cap in August. for every 250G over, it is a $10 charge. Or I can pay $50 more a month and get Unlimited. My average use (house with teens) is 1.3T to 1.9T. Comcast gave 2 months overage grace. Thanks for reminding me to call Comcast and get on the Unlimited plan. Donations accepted.
Not that I condone caps at all, but $10 for 250 is much better than what other ISPs are doing. I have Cox as well and am keeping an eye on this whole Cleveland test. They are charging $10 for every 50GB over with no option for Unlimited that I’m aware of. Now that would be painful. Hopefully they ditch the pilot, or mimic Comcast (never thought I would say that) and offer an Unlimited option.
@rrbailey89 said:
I have cox. According to there website I’m 400% over my cap… no email yetc and I’m not in Cleveland… so I don’t get billed for overages
What tier of service are you on? Their cap changes based on what level of plan you pay for. I’ve been going over my 1TB soft cap for a while now (it was 2TB and they quietly changed it to 1TB with no notification) , and haven’t gotten an email yet. I’m nowhere near 400% over though.
Darn, must learn to type while not asleep. It is $10 per 50G over. So at +250G over, that is the same cost as the Unlimited in my area (+$50). I apologize for confusion I may have caused.
Oh ok, well Unlimited it is. I wonder how “Unlimited” Unlimited is in this case. I’m sure there is a fair use policy somewhere that makes it anything but truly unlimited.
In my area it is similar, $10 per 50GB over the limit, maximum of $50 overage charges. Still cheaper and faster than paying for Business class internet from the same provider.
@sGarver said:
Comcast set a 1T cap in August. for every 250G over, it is a $10 charge. Or I can pay $50 more a month and get Unlimited. My average use (house with teens) is 1.3T to 1.9T. Comcast gave 2 months overage grace. Thanks for reminding me to call Comcast and get on the Unlimited plan. Donations accepted.
Not that I condone caps at all, but $10 for 250 is much better than what other ISPs are doing. I have Cox as well and am keeping an eye on this whole Cleveland test. They are charging $10 for every 50GB over with no option for Unlimited that I’m aware of. Now that would be painful. Hopefully they ditch the pilot, or mimic Comcast (never thought I would say that) and offer an Unlimited option.
@rrbailey89 said:
I have cox. According to there website I’m 400% over my cap… no email yetc and I’m not in Cleveland… so I don’t get billed for overages
What tier of service are you on? Their cap changes based on what level of plan you pay for. I’ve been going over my 1TB soft cap for a while now (it was 2TB and they quietly changed it to 1TB with no notification) , and haven’t gotten an email yet. I’m nowhere near 400% over though.
