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Downloading Versus Streaming

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seniorcit | 10:36 Thu 26th Sep 2013 | Technology
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Help please. My son in Germany streams many TV episodes from the UK and USA. I would like to do this too but have been told that it will eat up my WiFi data allowance. I understood that downloads would do this but that streaming would not. Would someone clarify me please. Many thanks in advance.


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Streaming uses up data just the same.
I hour of web browsing uses 10 to 25 MB of data allowance.
1 hour video streaming uses 250 MB per hour; 2GB if it is high definition
EVERYTHING you look at on your computer or smartphone or tablet is download first, no matter if you are downloading or streaming.

But you say "wi-fi data allowance" and I am not sure you understand the difference between "wi-fi" and "data allowance" (on say a smartphone or tablet)

WI-FI; If you are at HOME and using wi-fi on your own broadband then anything you download costs you no extra (unless you have a limit on your broadband usage). You can download as much as you like and pay no extra.

If you are in a pub or restaurant or hotel and using THEIR Wi-Fi this also costs you nothing to download or stream TV programs or films.

However if you are out and about and NOT connected to Wi-Fi then anything you download on your smartphone or tablet will eat into your "data allowance".

Every contract for a smartphone or tablet will have a limit on your data download. If you go over you may have to pay extra.

But if you are at home, using you own broadband, and your own Wi-Fi, and you pay for "unlimited broadband" then you can watch as many TV programs or films as you like and it will cost you no extra.

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