Meet the Bandwidth Hogs: What’s Slowing Down Your Wi-Fi?

Let’s paint the picture: it’s movie night. You’ve popped the popcorn, the lights are low, and you hit “Play” on the latest action-packed thriller—only to be greeted with the dreaded buffering circle of doom. 😩

What gives?

Chances are, your home network is being hogged by a few sneaky, data-hungry devices and apps. Let’s break down the top 5 bandwidth hogs and how you can outsmart them with Dobson Fiber Internet and the powerful eero Max 7 system.

🎬 1. Streaming Video in HD and 4K

Whether it’s Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, or every “Plus” you can think of, streaming in high resolution can chew through bandwidth like it’s got the munchies.

• HD streaming uses around 3–5 Mbps, while 4K? A whopping 15–25 Mbps per stream.

• Got multiple people streaming at once? You’re in bandwidth brawl territory.

🎮 2. Online Gaming & Massive Game Downloads

Contrary to popular belief, playing online games doesn't require tons of bandwidth—downloading them does.

• New games and updates can be 50GB–150GB, easily clogging the digital freeway.

• Pro tip: Schedule downloads overnight—or gasp—encourage outdoor time. (We know, radical.)

💻 3. Video Calls and Online Meetings

Zoom, Teams, Google Meet—these are now part of everyday life.

• Each HD video call uses 2–3 Mbps, and if multiple people are working or learning remotely, it stacks up fast.

• Toss in screen sharing and camera-on policies? Your Wi-Fi might wave the white flag.

🔒 4. Smart Home Devices (Especially Cameras)

Smart lights and thermostats are no big deal, but video doorbells, baby monitors, and security cams? Different story.

• Some smart cams stream video 24/7 and can use up to 5 Mbps each.

• Multiply that by your front porch, back door, garage, and bird-feeder cam? Yep. Bandwidth buffet.

☁️ 5. Cloud Backups & File Syncing

You might not be doing anything, but your devices probably are.

• Apps like Google Drive, iCloud, and OneDrive sync and back up files in the background.

• Photos, videos, full-device backups—quietly eating up bandwidth while you sleep.

👀 How to See What’s Hogging Your Wi-Fi

If you’re using a Dobson-provided eero router, you’re in luck. You can actually see how much bandwidth each device is using in real-time.

Here’s how:

1. Open your eero app.

2. Tap on Activity at the bottom.

3. Tap on Devices.

4. View your list of connected devices and see their real-time usage.

🎯 Check out the full how-to here:
👉 How do I see how much bandwidth my devices are using?

🚀 The Fix? Faster Fiber and the Power of eero Max 7

Here’s the good news: Dobson Fiber offers speeds up to 10 Gbps, and when paired with the eero Max 7 mesh system, your home becomes a bandwidth beast.

Benefits of Upgrading:

✅ No more dead zones with wall-to-wall Wi-Fi coverage
✅ Handle multiple 4K streams, gaming, and video calls all at once
✅ Advanced Wi-Fi 7 tech for lightning-fast speeds and lower latency
✅ Easy to monitor and control via the eero app

With Dobson Fiber Internet + eero Max 7, even the greediest bandwidth hogs can’t slow you down.

Ready to upgrade? Let’s get your home network running smoother than your neighbor’s freshly waxed sports car. 🏎️💨
Contact Dobson Fiber today and say goodbye to buffering. Call 855.5.DOBSON to upgrade.