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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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:
Open your eero app.
Tap on Activity at the bottom.
Tap on Devices.
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?
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.
✅ 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.