Disabling automatic downloads with iTunes?

[RWenger]

I have HughesNet satellite internet, which limits the amount of data you can download in a 24-hour period. So tonight while I was talking to townsbg on YIM I had my iTunes open listening to my music and without my knowledge iTunes tried to download about 3 video podcasts from a podcast I used to watch while at VT. My 200 MB cap was busted within about 5-10 minutes.

So my question is, is there a setting in iTunes to turn off in order to prevent a podcast from automically downloading?

[townsbg]

I don't know other than unsubscribe. I'll have to investigate and right now I don't have the time to. Plus I don't have my windows computer on. Perhaps I'll have an answer for you tomorrow night.

[townsbg]

I didn't see anything specifically about disabling podcasts and I've never subscribed to one but you should be able to block itunes from reaching the internet using 3rd party firewalls such as zone alarm. I don't know how you'd go about that in windows firewall. If you install a 3rd party firewall be sure to disable windows firewall. What about unsubscribing from the podcast? Have you googled it?

[RWenger]

I want to stay subscribed to the podcast because I really enjoy watching them, and I would also like to download the updates. I forgot firewall permissions though; I was just focusing on looking for an option in iTunes. Thanks.

[townsbg]

I'm not finding anything on how to disable updates (except in an old version) however I am seeing that people are having trouble with itunes disabling updates if it thinks that you aren't listening to them. I don't know what to tell you.

[RWenger]

Alright, thanks for checking into it. I think I'll stick with the firewall settings for now.

[shovenose]

Is getting a different ISP at all an option?

[RWenger]

No. I live in an area where there is really no option when it comes to internet service. It's either dialup, satellite, or the internet where you plug the USB receiver into the computer to use the cell towers (can someone tell me the proper term for that connection?). Satellite is the best option out of the three as the cell towers aren't that great around here.

[shovenose]

i see. Mobile Broadband?

if you have an iPhone, jailbreak it and tether...
if you have an older Android device, try PDAnet tethering...

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by the way, what happens if you over the limit?

[RWenger]

(04-22-2011 01:15 AM)shovenose Wrote:  i see. Mobile Broadband?

Ah, yes, that's right. Thanks for the refresher.

Quote:if you have an iPhone, jailbreak it and tether...
if you have an older Android device, try PDAnet tethering...

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I've never had a smartphone, although I believe the next phone I get might be a smartphone. Also, as I say the cell towers aren't very good here, so I don't know if I could even get internet over a phone.

Quote:by the way, what happens if you over the limit?

The internet slows to the point where data transfers at about 50 bps. Not kbps, mind you, bps. That's bytes per second. When the speed is limited, most sites won't load and the ones that will take about 5 minutes each or more.

[shovenose]

that really sucks. I hope that internet costs $5 lol. I would honestly rather have dial-up!

[RWenger]

Not the dialup where I live, it gives you speeds of about 4 kbps when loading a page. My phone line is only good enough to have a conversation on, and having internet over it is not so great.

[GT4AWD]

The dialup I had out in a rural area was also very slow compared to say dialup in the city. The restrictions on your satellite internet is heavy. I know that isn't cheap either because I once looked into hughesnet through direct tv...

[RWenger]

I found a solution to this problem. In the Podcasts or iTunes U section(s) (whichever you want to disable the auto-downloading for), click settings. Change "When new episodes are available:" to "Do Nothing".

[townsbg]

You finally figure it out when you have access to high speed internet.

[RWenger]

No, I just remembered to post the solution.