© 2019-2021, KVH Industries, Inc., All rights reserved.
The configurations of operating systems, web browsers, and applications generally assume the unlimited, always-on broadband connection that is a reality on land. As such, they will often try to connect to the Internet on their own to download updates and transfer files. They will also operate without any regard to the amount of traffic they generate to perform routine tasks. Consider the guidelines in this topic to eliminate unnecessary background Internet activity and minimize the amount of data you consume. Adopting these guidelines will help ensure you use the service in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
If you don’t intend to use your mobile device to access the Internet over the LTE service, disable the mobile device’s automatic Wi-Fi connection to the wireless network. Most mobile devices also have a setting called "Airplane Mode" which can be used to disable all cellular and Wi-Fi data usage, until turned off.
The default configuration of many applications allows them to download updates from the Internet automatically, without any user interaction. KVH recommends that, while the device is being used at sea, you set up these applications either to not check for updates or to notify you before downloading them. These applications include:
Note: Android™ devices offer a “Restrict Background Data” setting, which will prevent background updates from all installed apps. iPhone®/iPad® users can go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and disable it to prevent apps from refreshing in the background.
Any malicious applications hidden on your device may also use your Internet connection without your knowledge. Therefore, prior to using your device onboard the vessel, run a full system scan with an up-to-date anti-virus and spyware detection/removal utility.
The default configuration of many cloud-based file sharing and syncing tools allow them to upload files (including photos, videos, and other media) and synchronize mobile devices without any user interaction. KVH recommends that, like preventing automatic updates, you set up these services for manual backup and synchronization only. These cloud storage services include:
To disable other automatic downloads, iPhone/iPad users can go to Settings > iTunes & App Store and disable automatic downloads and/or cellular data. Android users can find sync settings in Settings > Data Usage > Menu. In addition, push notifications may be disabled.
A firewall can prevent most applications from accessing the Internet without your knowledge, as well as protect your devices from outside intrusion. KVH recommends that you enable the firewall on your router or individual network devices.
All popular web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari, offer various tools that allow you to minimize the amount of data they consume. Consider these options:
Set up your browser to disable multimedia content embedded in websites from playing automatically.
Many consumer websites overlay small pop-up windows over the main page to launch ads. Turn on your web browser’s pop-up blocker to prevent these from running and consuming data. Your web browser might also offer tools to block websites or types of content that you specify, or allow access to only certain websites that you trust.
By default, web browsers automatically refresh the content they have stored in their cache. If the browser finds a new version of a website is available, it will delete the version it has stored locally and download the new one. KVH recommends you set up your browser to download new versions of web pages only when you visit them, and also increase the size of the cache to the maximum level permitted for your browser.
The mobile version of Google Chrome (the default browser on Android devices) speeds up web browsing by preloading the destination web pages of links shown on the currently viewed page. This feature consumes an enormous amount of data and should be disabled.
KVH recommends that you browse the web using a single open browser tab. Any tabs left open in the background may continue to consume data.
The following applications can consume a great deal of data whenever they are active or running in the background:
Many organizations now offer alternative versions of their websites optimized for mobile devices. Although designed for smartphone users on a cellular connection, you can access these mobile websites on a desktop or laptop as well. KVH recommends you visit mobile websites instead of full sites whenever possible to minimize the amount of data used.
To view the mobile version of a website, simply replace the “www” in the address with an “m”. For example, to view the mobile version of CNN’s website, you would enter “m.cnn.com” in your web browser.
There are several ways to reduce the amount of data your email application uses. Consider the following email best practices:
© 2019-2021, KVH Industries, Inc., All rights reserved.