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4G streaming issues?

dazmatic

ULTIMATE Member
Hi all,
Using Three 4G I've noticed weird buffering issues when streaming.
Amazon video is ok and Netflix are generally ok, but Disney and BBC iPlayer regularly sit buffering or **** and fart about stuttering. Genuinely a nuisance!

I'm regularly seeing 100mbps+ on this connection with decent ping times, like last night for example when iplayer was stuttering, I hit 130mbps during a test so I see no reason for it fanny about.

What else could it be?
 
Hi all,
Using Three 4G I've noticed weird buffering issues when streaming.
Amazon video is ok and Netflix are generally ok, but Disney and BBC iPlayer regularly sit buffering or **** and fart about stuttering. Genuinely a nuisance!

I'm regularly seeing 100mbps+ on this connection with decent ping times, like last night for example when iplayer was stuttering, I hit 130mbps during a test so I see no reason for it fanny about.

What else could it be?
Perhaps peering/transit issues, but unlikely. Try opening iplayer on your laptop when this happens, does it work? Could just be the tv having a cpu fart.
 
If your mobile connection is consistent and it appears on different devices then it may point to THREE's central network under the general term "traffic management". Whether is permanent or temporary they will have CDN, proxy and direct routes to content providers.

But as Lucian say's you need to try an alternative comparator streaming the same content during the same period and on different devices to eliminate.

I'm currently looking at and getting a continuous stream whilst on the move (two mobile networks bonded). However when trying to replicate my findings it is important to understand what is happening exactly during the stream.

I have found that on some masts the LTE connectivity is dynamic constantly changing every few seconds between bands and CA combinations. EE is worse but similar behaviour on other networks. You refer to 4G but I have personally experienced THREE connecting to 5G NSA for a speed test and then being thrown back to 4G afterwards. Similar policies may be being applied on 4G.

To eliminate your end I think you need to record a log of LTE connectivity during any period of buffering. Noting of course that not all streams are the same and there are other variable factors such as time of day, quality, content motion etc.

Like always you need to record network status, devices and their use looking for a pattern.
 
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I don't have Disney to check but over the 3 years I have been using Three only the BBC has given me issues. Prime, Yesterday, ITV etc are all good even the 4K streams but the BBC is problematical especially at peak times. I have always put this down to the BBC servers not Three, as I always check one of the others when the BBC has issues and the test is always good.
 
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