Regardless of the service plan you chose you can take advantage of a built-in feature called Data Extender that will help minimize the data you use when streaming. By using this feature you will be able to stream more because the feature cuts back on the amount of data consumed each time you stream. The way it does this is to keep your video resolution set at DVD quality. You can always turn this feature OFF when you want HD quality streaming but you will use more data. Access the feature in your My Viasat account login or on the My Viasat mobile app where you can turn it on or off anytime.

Data Extender is a great way to get more from your plan. When you set the Data Extender to ON it tells the system to stream your video content at DVD-quality resolution, typically 480p. This level will work well for small screens and laptops. If you do not set the Data Extender to ON your video resolution will be anywhere from 720p up to 4K depending on your plan parameters and the settings you choose in the content provider platform. On an everyday level you might not notice that much difference in the higher resolution and yet you’ll be using so much more data so it pays to use this feature. Resolution at 480p, which is DVD quality, is adequate for most TV shows and kiddie content unless you are showing them on a wide-screen setup.

For times when you truly want the HD experience then you can easily log back into your My Viasat account or mobile app and set the Data Extender to OFF. Your resolution will default to the settings in the platform you are watching such as Netflix or YouTube but you can control the resolutions in these and other content platforms either under the gear button on the screen while the video is playing or in your account settings with each platform.

Different resolution settings produce different quality images on your screen. 360p is low-resolution best used on a phone or tablet. 480p is DVD-quality and suitable for phones, tablets and laptops. 720p is HD and looks better on most screens except very large ones. 1080p is Full HD video that will look great on even the largest screens. 4K is Ultra-HD, the top video resolution standard designed for wide screens and digitally produced content.