We all love scrolling through our online news, social media, pausing and browsing at posts that interest us, or watching video that captures our attention. But what about when your internet data is a precious commodity and the last thing you want is video’s auto-playing and eating into your metered data as you scroll past?

If you have nbn™ Sky Muster™ or the new Sky Muster™ Plus, then you know that metered data is very limited, and the last thing you want is background video stealing that from you.

In today’s techno-savvy world, the auto play video is a business strategy to suck you in and help you buy or try, and it’s proven to work, so video ads aren’t going away anytime soon. It’s clearly on just about every app, social media platform and some news channels have video embedded onto their sites to keep playing without you even knowing.

What does data actually cost you?

Depending on the quality of video your personal computer or smartphone is set to, will depend on how much data is used when any video plays.

The amount used comes down to the quality of data you are watching. There are varying degrees from 1080p HD (high definition) quality down to 240p SD (standard definition). The ‘p’ stands for ‘pixels’, and shows how many pixels per frame of video. So this means that the more pixels the clearer and more defined the picture or video will be.

Now if you don’t care too much about quality, you can set your video playback settings to a real low definition like SD, which may lower your data usage, but if you like your HD quality then there’s some things to consider. If you’re not sure how much difference there really is, check out this video that shows the different pixel quality – pixel quality.

To paint a picture of how much data you actually use for an hour of streaming video:

VIDEOTIME PLAYEDAPPROXIMATE USAGE
Low streaming video – 240p1 hour300MB
SD quality – 480p1 hour700MB
HD quality – 720p-1080p1 hour1-3GB

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Watching a 2 hour movie in HD quality is going to use up approximately 6GB of your monthly available data, and if you do this every night that could be all of your monthly data used on video, depending on your individual plan.

This gives you an idea of how much video auto-playing on your device or computer will use up in data. Below are a few ways to turn off those annoying auto-play videos, and get back your life, or at least your data!

How to turn off Auto-Play

Facebook

Just about everyone has a Facebook account, and most people spend at least a few minutes everyday scrolling through news feed. You don’t want every ‘friend’s’ video playing every time you scroll, so here’s how to disarm the data bomb!

Go to the little drop down arrow at the top of your page and click on ‘Settings’ and then ‘Videos’. Facebook gives you the option of HD or SD for video settings, so when you actually want to watch a video you can choose what quality. Here you have the option to change the video quality and also turn off the ‘Auto-play’. This should also change the settings for all your devices logged in to Facebook, but check just in case it hasn’t.

To check the settings on your smartphone and with the updates Facebook has made, you have to dive deep into the settings to find video. Try the 3 bars at the bottom of your screen – settings & Privacy – Settings – (scroll way down) Videos & photos – Auto-play.

With so many apps and programs available to use and many that have video, the smartest way to deal with auto-play is to go to the settings of every regular app or website you regularly use and switch off auto-play.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn, the popular business app, that mimics the look of Facebook and has become a valuable recruiting and networking tool for business, also auto plays a lot of video.

Here’s how to turn that off.
– Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
– Select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown.
– Under the Site preferences section of the Account tab, click Change next to Autoplay videos.
– Click the toggle to change the setting to No.
– Click Close.

YouTube

For YouTube you can just quickly click the Autoplay button at the top right hand corner of the page. This will stop autoplay after watching a video.

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Windows and Mac settings

If you want to stop all auto-play in its tracks, you can go to your computer’s settings and change the overall settings. But this may become annoying when you do want to watch a quick video, so changing individual apps and sites may be a better option.

Mac Settings

If you have a Mac, you can go to ‘Safari Preferences’ under Safari menu. Click on ‘Websites’ and ‘Auto-Play. Mac will let you change individual or frequently visited sites in the preferences options.

screenshot screenshot-wide

Windows Settings

If you are a Windows user, go to your menu, click settings, then devices and switch AutoPlay to off.

screenshot screenshot-wide

Google and News Channels

If you want to stop auto-play on a site you don’t regularly visit or a news site, this is how you can disable from the menu.

  • Right click in the menu bar
  • Click ‘Settings for This Website
  • Go down to ‘Auto-Play’ and click ‘Never Auto-Play’

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Beware of News Sites

Be careful of news sites who embed videos to automatically keep playing, even after you’ve scrolled away from the video.

You could be busy reading a whole article only to scroll back up and find the video was playing the whole time.

Sky Muster™ Plus

With the new announcement of Sky Muster™ Plus about to be launched, being able to plan your data usage in a better way is now going to be possible. But be aware that auto-play can still chew through your data even on the new Sky Muster™ Plus.

With two great improvements to the existing Sky Muster™, more unmetered data is a welcome relief for rural Australia:

  • More unmetered & unshaped data for essential services like email and software updates
  • Faster download speeds that can burst above 25/5mbps if application and network conditions allow

At Clear, we are excited about the improvements for rural and remote Australians, and want to help you manage your data in the best possible way.

If you would like to know more about Sky Muster™ Plus and the new plans available, visit our Sky Muster™ Plus page. – Sky Muster Plus.

NBN Co has today announced new Skymuster™ Plus for it’s satellite service due for release in 2019.

The big update for our customers is for “essential” services offered by NBN Co which includes email, internet banking, web browsing and critical software updates. NBN Co have indicated they will not be shaped if the household’s data quota is exceeded.

Importantly, these essential services will not count towards the monthly data allowances.

Streaming video and online gaming are two activities NBN Co have said would continue to be shaped if a household’s data quota is exceeded.

NBN Co has also said that it will allow speed bursts higher than 25/5 mbps.

Clear welcomes the impending update to the NBN Skymuster™ for the essential services. Many of our customers have no other alternative internet options and their NBN Skymuster™ is their only connection for these essential services.

NBN Co is now entering into a period of consulting with RSPs before new plans are announced in 2019.

Sign up below to our mailing list now to be the first to know when the new plans are released.

Find Out More About Skymuster™ Plus

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Clear customers on month to month standard Skymuster™ plans have now been upgraded with more data.

In August 2018, we have increased both peak and off peak data on our month to month Skymuster™ satellite standard plans.

What does this mean for Clear customers?

Our data upgrade has increased over all of our plans. Customers on month-month contracts will be automatically upgraded to the new Skymuster™ plan with more peak and off-peak data than their current plan. Customers on contracts can upgrade their plan for just an extra $10 per month.

Clear’s new Skymuster™ plans

Standard plans 25/5

Monthly CostOld Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
New Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
% Increase
$39.9510GB/50GB15GB/70GB41%
$44.9520GB/60GB25GB/75GB25%
$49.9545GB/70GB50GB/80GB13%
$64.9560GB/80GB65GB/90GB10%
$74.9570GB/80GB75GB/90GB10%
$84.9575GB/85GB80GB/100GB12.5%
$99.9580GB/85GB85GB/120GB24%
$124.9590GB/90GB95GB/130GB25%
$144.95100GB/100GB105GB/140GB22.5%
$174.95120GB/120GB125GB/140GB10%
$204.95140GB/140GB145GB/140GB2%

*% increase has been calculated as an average including both peak an off peak data

Standard plans 12/1

Monthly CostOld Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
New Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
% Increase
$34.9510GB/50GB15GB/70GB41%
$39.9520GB/60GB25GB/75GB25%
$44.9545GB/70GB50GB/80GB13%
$59.9560GB/80GB65GB/90GB10%
$69.9570GB/80GB75GB/95GB13%
$79.9575GB/85GB80GB/100GB12.5%
$94.9580GB/85GB95GB/120GB30%
$119.9590GB/90GB100GB/130GB28%
$139.95100GB/100GB105GB/140GB22.5%
$169.95120GB/120GB120GB/150GB12.5%
$199.95140GB/140GB145GB/160GB9%

*% increase has been calculated as an average including both peak an off peak data

Upgrades for current Clear customers

All those on current Clear month-month standard plans will be upgraded to the larger plans for FREE. Customers on contract can update or request a plan change by calling our customer service team on 1300 855 215. From August 2018, month-month customers will be automatically updated to the new plan.

Education Plans

Currently there are no changes to the Education/Student Plans we offer.

FAQs

When do customers get the extra data?

The data upgrades for all standard plans will be automatically upgraded in August 2018.

How much extra data will customers get?

The data increase varies across the plans. If you know your current data allowance refer to the table above to see the increase.

Will all clients be automatically upgraded?

All those on current Clear month-month standard plans will be upgraded. Customers on contracts are able to pay an extra $10 per month for the upgraded plan.

Can clients downgrade?

The same policy applies to customers as is currently the case: they may downgrade once a month.

What happens to Matched Plan customers?

Nothing – they will continue on their current plan and may request to move to our new plans.

What happens to customers that just signed an old plan?

We will automatically upgrade them to the new plan.

Will we continue to match plans from other providers?

Of course. We will match plans from any other provider within the nbn Fair Use Policy.

Does increased data mean cheaper prices?

Although Clear can offer plans with larger data allowances, the pricing of our plans have not changed as they are driven by nbnco’s Fair Use Policy.

Interested in nbn™ Skymuster™?

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All Clear standard Sky Muster™ plans have now been upgraded with over 50% more data.

In June 2017, nbnco announced that it would increase peak downloads by up to 50% and double the maximum plan limits on the Sky Muster™ satellite service.

What does this mean for Clear customers?

Our data upgrade has increased over 50% across all of our plans. Customers will be automatically upgraded to the new Sky Muster™ plan with more peak and off-peak data than their current plan.

Clear’s new Sky Muster™ plans

Standard Plans

Monthly CostOld Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
New Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
% Increase
$34.9510GB/10GB10GB/50GB200%
$39.9520GB/20GB20GB/60GB100%
$44.9535GB/45GB45GB/70GB43%
$59.9540GB/60GB60GB/80GB40%
$69.9570GB/80GB
$79.9575GB/85GB
$94.9550GB/75GB80GB/85GB32%
$119.9590GB/90GB
$139.9560GB/90GB100GB/100GB33%
$169.9565GB/95GB120GB/120GB50%
$199.9570GB/80GB140GB/140GB86%

Nite Plans

Monthly CostOld Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
New Data Allowance
Peak/Off-Peak
% Increase
$34.952GB/50GB4GB/100GB100%
$39.954GB/60GB6GB/120GB96%
$49.956GB/100GB8GB/150GB49%
$54.958GB/130GB10GB/200GB52%

Upgrades for current Clear customers

All those on current Clear standard plans will be upgraded to the larger plans for FREE. There is no need to update your plan or to request a plan change. From October 1 2017, you will be automatically updated to the new plan.

Education Plans

Currently there are no changes to the Education/Student Plans we offer, however nbnco has stated, “We will continue to optimise the pricing model and data plans of the Sky Muster™ service with further offerings on business and education services expected to be available in the next 12-18 months.”

nbnco’s Policy

On June 27 2017, nbnco announced that it “will be doubling the maximum monthly wholesale data limits and increasing average peak downloads plans by up to 50% on the Sky Muster™ platform.” Customers and businesses “are expected to receive large peak and off-peak plans at a similar cost to what they are paying today.”

For Clear customers, this means we can offer larger peak data allowances and larger total data allowances.

FAQs

When do customers get the extra data?

The data upgrades for all standard and nite plans will be automatically upgraded in early October 2017

How much extra data will customers get?

The data increase varies across the plans. If you know your current data allowance refer to the table above to see the increase.

Will all clients be automatically upgraded?

All those on current Clear standard plans will be upgraded regardless of whether they are in contract or not.

Can clients downgrade?

The same policy applies to customers as is currently the case: they may downgrade once a month.

What happens to Matched Plan customers?

Nothing – they will continue on their current plan and may request to move to our new plans.

What happens to customers that just signed on old plan?

We will automatically upgrade them to the new plan.

Will we continue to match plans from other providers?

Of course. We will match plans from any other provider within the nbn™ Fair Use Policy.

Does increased data mean cheaper prices?

Although Clear can offer plans with larger data allowances, the pricing of our plans have not changed as they are driven by nbnco’s Fair Use Policy.

Rain fade should never be an issue on satellite: Clear Networks

To help users with issues, satellite RSPs have told the joint NBN committee that they would like greater visibility and diagnostics on Sky Muster connections.

By Chris Duckett | April 19, 2017 ZDNet

While retail service providers (RSPs) are not pleased at being unable to access consumer National Broadband Network (NBN) satellite hardware by design, the network should be able to handle weather conditions that lead to so-called rain fade, the Joint Standing Committee on the NBN has been told.

Speaking to the committee in Melbourne on Wednesday, Clear Networks CEO Rob van der End said that while the NBN’s Sky Muster satellite service still has “lots of gremlins”, the weather should not be one of them.

“People that all of a sudden find their modem starts blinking and doesn’t connect, and I know I’ve heard people say ‘Oh, it’s raining’, but reality is, as satellite operators, we’ve dealt with rain in Far North Queensland without any issue,” he said.

“The design of the network is such that it can cope with things like rain — it’s just possibly incidental that something like that comes up, and yes, Ka-band is more prone to issues to do with rain — but if they have done their job right, got the right antenna size, rain should never really be an issue, or clouds, or any of that.”

When issues do crop up with the network, the satellite RSPs feel like message passers between NBN and customers, the committee was told.

“Under the Australian Broadband Guarantee, we had a direct relationship through to the installer,” van der End said. “So we knew when they were arriving, or cancelling, or whatever. Now, we’ve got zero visibility, and when someone doesn’t show or cancel, all we are is a messenger service; we can’t determine what went wrong, or hold them accountable.”

Chief executive officer of Activ8me, Tony Bundrock, said he would prefer to deal directly with the companies NBN has outsourced its managed network and installation services to — Ericsson and Skybridge, respectively.

“With all respect to NBN, they have outsourced this sort of function to both those companies,” Bundrock said. “So to streamline everything, I’d like more direct access into those companies.”

Activ8me said last year the NBN installation process was an absolute bugbear, and had tripled the size of its call centres in response.

“The issues are so far removed from things that we can control as an RSP, because the NBN do all of the installs, and they sub-contract that to Ericsson, who then sub-contract that to Skybridge, and that communication about that installation process is done by those third parties,” Activ8me general manager Ian Roberts said in September.

“[But] the first point of call for the customer when the install fails or the installer doesn’t turn up, or things don’t work, is to come back to us, and they might be things that we can’t resolve.”

Under previous Australian Broadband Guarantee arrangements, van der End said providers had access to a much higher level of diagnostic information than is available under the NBN regime.

“We had access to that modem, we could actually see signal levels, we could see a whole lot of information — so for a customer call, we were able to log into that modem, see that information, and determine ‘Oh, you’ve got an issue there, your dish has come out of alignment’,” he said.

“That information is no longer available. As an RSP, you have to refer to NBN. Therefore, there is an extra step involved, NBN have maybe a 10-day turnaround — so we are talking a very long time before they will come back to us with ‘This is the issue’.”

To help determine whether the matter needs to be escalated to NBN, the Clear Networks CEO said having read-only access to the customer’s modem, which is handled by NBN, would be helpful.

“I think it would deal with a huge percentage of those more difficult cases, because they’re the ones that take time to resolve,” he said.

In a submission to the NBN committee, the Northern Territory government said NBN should remove its data cap on satellite services, move users onto fixed-wireless connections, and said satellite was not suited for the weather in the Top End.

“The nature of extreme weather conditions common within the Northern Territory, especially in the coastal regions, makes satellite unreliable due to rain fade and loss of signal,” the submission said.

“In a natural disaster, satellite communications are likely to fail precisely at the time a community needs them the most.”

nbn Sky Muster™ services are being installed now with Clear, on flexible plans, no lock-in contracts and free installation.

There is high demand for installs, so order early.

Apply now…

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