How much data does live TV use in a Tesla?
Live TV in a Tesla uses about 0.4 to 3 GB an hour, depending on quality. See numbers for 360p, 720p and 1080p, plus Wi-Fi and hotspot advice.
Short answer: Live TV in a Tesla uses about 2-3 GB an hour at 1080p, about 1.2 GB at 720p and about 0.4 GB at 360p when you watch with tescast. tescast is a web app for live TV, YouTube and your own IPTV list in the Tesla browser, and you choose the quality yourself.
tescast is a web app that plays live TV, YouTube and your own IPTV list in the Tesla browser. The data a stream uses depends on the quality you choose. These numbers are approximate values for tescast.
How many GB does each quality use?
| Quality | Data per hour (approx.) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 360p | 0.4 GB | Small data plan, weak coverage |
| 540p | between 360p and 720p | A middle option |
| 720p | 1.2 GB | A good balance for most use |
| 1080p | 2-3 GB | Large plan, strong connection |
Real use changes a little with the channel, the content and the connection. We give no separate number for 540p. It sits between 360p and 720p.
tescast relays most live streams as they come and does not re-encode them. The quality you get depends on what the channel sends. Many news channels, such as BBC News, DW and France 24, send up to 1080p or 720p.
What does that mean per month?
A rough calculation:
- One hour a day at 720p: about 36 GB a month (1.2 GB x 30 days).
- One hour a day at 360p: about 12 GB a month.
- One hour a day at 1080p: 60 to 90 GB a month.
Multiply by your own watch time. This is only to give you an idea.
Which connection should you use?
A Tesla has three options:
- Premium Connectivity. The car's own cellular connection. Tesla says that video streaming over cellular needs it (Tesla connectivity page). Tesla sets the price per market.
- Wi-Fi. At home, at work or at a charging site, Wi-Fi does not use your mobile plan. It is the cheapest way when you are parked.
- Phone hotspot. It uses your phone's data plan. It is practical on the road but can empty a plan fast.
Wi-Fi is not available while the car drives. On the road, Premium Connectivity or the hotspot carries the stream. If a stream stutters, lower the quality. See live TV freezing.
How do you save data?
- Lower the quality. On the big screen, 720p is enough for most content. News and talk shows look fine at 360p.
- Use Wi-Fi when you have it. Keep your mobile plan for the road.
- Close the channel when you stop watching. A closed channel uses no data.
- Set a limit for long trips. Estimate the hours and multiply by the table.
- Browse the mosaic freely. Mosaic view shows live frames of channels side by side and plays only one muted preview at a time, so it adds little data.
For a long trip plan, read passenger entertainment on a road trip.
How do you choose the quality?
The quality options are 360p, 540p, 720p and 1080p. Automatic quality starts at the highest level and drops one step if the connection is slow.
- Open a channel in tescast.
- Open the quality menu in the player.
- Pick the level that fits your connection.
- If the picture stutters, go one level lower.
Does YouTube use data too?
Yes. YouTube data use depends on the quality of the video. We give no separate figure for YouTube in tescast, but the same logic applies: higher quality means more data. See YouTube on Tesla.
How do you get started?
- Open tescast.app in the car browser.
- Scan the QR code with your phone and create an account.
- Try it free in your car, no card needed. After that, a plan costs $7.99 a month or $59.99 a year, about $5 a month.
- On the first run, start at 720p and adjust.
If tescast does not work in your car, you can ask for a refund within 14 days. Passengers can keep watching when the car moves. The driver does not watch: traffic rules in many countries forbid watching video while driving.
FAQ
How many GB does live TV use per hour in a Tesla?
About 2-3 GB at 1080p, about 1.2 GB at 720p and about 0.4 GB at 360p. The real value depends on the channel and the connection.
Does watching over Wi-Fi use my data plan?
No. On a Wi-Fi network, your mobile plan is not used. Any limit of the Wi-Fi network itself still applies.
Is a phone hotspot a good choice?
Yes, but it can use up your plan fast. Choose 360p or 720p.
Which quality uses the least data?
360p, at about 0.4 GB an hour.
Does a closed channel keep using data?
No. Data is used only while the stream is open.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Watch for 5 minutes in your car with no card (10 minutes if you agree to campaign e-mails). After that, the price is $7.99 a month.
Sources
- Netflix: How to control how much data Netflix uses (Netflix Help Center): data use per hour by quality.
- YouTube Help: Change the quality of your video (Google): quality settings and data saving.
- Tesla: Connectivity (Tesla): Standard and Premium Connectivity, the car's internet connection.