Articles · for seafarers · Batumi
Internet on a ship: don’t burn your data in one day
Many ships have internet now, but each person’s allowance is limited and the speed varies. Usually it’s not calls home that eat the data — it’s what phones and laptops do on their own: updates, cloud backups, autoplay video.
Phone: what to turn off
- App auto-updates — Wi-Fi only and manual.
- Photo backup to the cloud — pause it until you are ashore.
- Autoplay video in Instagram, Facebook, TikTok — off in each app’s settings.
- Auto-download of photos and videos in WhatsApp and Telegram — off, open on tap.
- Turn on Data Saver in phone settings.
- Switch from video to voice calls when the signal is weak.
Laptop: what to do before joining
- Install all Windows updates at home on fast internet.
- Mark the ship Wi-Fi as a “metered connection” — Windows stops downloading updates.
- Pause cloud drive sync.
- Download films, books, dictionaries and English courses in advance.
How to see what uses data
Phone: Settings → Network → Data usage shows each app. Laptop: Settings → Network & internet → Data usage.
How I can help
Before your contract I set up your phone and laptop: update everything, turn off what wastes data, download offline films, books and English lessons, back up your documents. I come to your home in Batumi.
FAQ
Questions and answers
Can I watch video on the ship?
Yes, if your allowance allows it. But downloading films at home is better: you don’t depend on the signal or spend your data.
Is it safe to turn off updates?
For the time of the contract it’s fine if everything was updated before joining. Turn them back on when you return.
What uses the most?
Usually video, cloud photo backup and app updates.
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