Society & Culture2 mins ago
you tube-aaarrgghhh
why is it when i go onto you tube and click on something i want to watch the video stops and starts,and stutters.
and cant watch anything in full without it doing this
thank you
and cant watch anything in full without it doing this
thank you
Answers
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The stop/start you're experiencing is 'buffering'...
Buffering: In streaming media, buffering refers to bringing in the data before actually playing it. Having more audio or video data 'in memory' than are actually needed at each precise moment compensates for momentary delays in transmission from the source.
When a network is fast enough to keep up with playback, buffering is not necessary.
Buffering: In streaming media, buffering refers to bringing in the data before actually playing it. Having more audio or video data 'in memory' than are actually needed at each precise moment compensates for momentary delays in transmission from the source.
When a network is fast enough to keep up with playback, buffering is not necessary.
Both of those answers are completely correct but they seem to be ignoring the actual cause of the problem, which is either a poor quality phone line or insufficient broadband capacity.
Almost all ISPs use some form of 'traffic management', which means that they 'throttle' download speeds for certain types of internet traffic and/or at certain times of day. Additionally you'll be effectively sharing your broadband connection with other users in your locality. 'Bargain basement' ISPs usually have high 'contention ratios' (so that, for example, you might be sharing a connection with 50 other users). Better (but more expensive) ISPs usually have a contention ratio of no more than 20.
So it's likely that your internet connection simply isn't good enough for reliable access for video streaming. Use the following two sites to check:
Go here to run a ping test:
http://www.pingtest.net/
That will effectively check the quality of your phone line. You're seeking an 'A' grade (or, at worst, a 'B'). If it's lower, get BT to check your phone line.
Then go here to run a speed test:
http://www.speedtest.net/
Run it at several different times of day. If you don't consistently get a speed of at least 2Mbps your ISP isn't providing a good enough service for video streaming.
Chris
Almost all ISPs use some form of 'traffic management', which means that they 'throttle' download speeds for certain types of internet traffic and/or at certain times of day. Additionally you'll be effectively sharing your broadband connection with other users in your locality. 'Bargain basement' ISPs usually have high 'contention ratios' (so that, for example, you might be sharing a connection with 50 other users). Better (but more expensive) ISPs usually have a contention ratio of no more than 20.
So it's likely that your internet connection simply isn't good enough for reliable access for video streaming. Use the following two sites to check:
Go here to run a ping test:
http://www.pingtest.net/
That will effectively check the quality of your phone line. You're seeking an 'A' grade (or, at worst, a 'B'). If it's lower, get BT to check your phone line.
Then go here to run a speed test:
http://www.speedtest.net/
Run it at several different times of day. If you don't consistently get a speed of at least 2Mbps your ISP isn't providing a good enough service for video streaming.
Chris
Thanks for the reply.
Either you're a long way from your telephone exchange or you've got a lousy ISP (or, of course, possibly both). The Government's target is that every UK home should have access to a broadband connection, at a minimum of 2Mbps, by 2012. That speed was chosen as the target figure because its regarded as the absolute minimum speed which can reliably support existing video stream sites, such as Youtube and BBC iPlayer. (Many people, though, would suggest that 4MBps would be a more realistic minimum speed). If you're only getting 0.48Mbps it's hardly surprising that Youtube data can't get to your PC fast enough.
It's probably time to look for a better ISP.
Chris
PS: I've just remembered another possible cause of a slow download speed. If you're using a wireless connection it might simply be that you're getting a poor signal from your router. Try moving your computer closer to it!
Either you're a long way from your telephone exchange or you've got a lousy ISP (or, of course, possibly both). The Government's target is that every UK home should have access to a broadband connection, at a minimum of 2Mbps, by 2012. That speed was chosen as the target figure because its regarded as the absolute minimum speed which can reliably support existing video stream sites, such as Youtube and BBC iPlayer. (Many people, though, would suggest that 4MBps would be a more realistic minimum speed). If you're only getting 0.48Mbps it's hardly surprising that Youtube data can't get to your PC fast enough.
It's probably time to look for a better ISP.
Chris
PS: I've just remembered another possible cause of a slow download speed. If you're using a wireless connection it might simply be that you're getting a poor signal from your router. Try moving your computer closer to it!
hi chris i am with bt broadband and have only just signed up with them with an 18 month contract.
i know that i can come out of the contract but at a fee...what a surprise.
i have done a speedtest with bt and it has come up 0.512 mb.
maidenhead is my telephone exchange and i am in manchester,and always have my laptop in the living room near the wireless router.
would it be worth calling bt and asking why my my download speed is so slow.
thanks for getting back
i know that i can come out of the contract but at a fee...what a surprise.
i have done a speedtest with bt and it has come up 0.512 mb.
maidenhead is my telephone exchange and i am in manchester,and always have my laptop in the living room near the wireless router.
would it be worth calling bt and asking why my my download speed is so slow.
thanks for getting back
put your phone number in here and it will give an indication of what speed to expect from your line
http://www.productsan...opic.do?topicId=16738
http://www.productsan...opic.do?topicId=16738
That's an excellent link from Chuck. My estimated maximum speed, according to that link, is 6.5Mbps. I usually get between 5.8Mbps and 6.3Mbps, so that seems reasonable.
If the figure you get from Chuck's link, Northboy, is below 2Mbps you should ask BT when they're planning to upgrade their infrastructure in your area. If it's above 2Mbps you should ask BT to find out why you're only getting around 0.5Mbps.
Chris
If the figure you get from Chuck's link, Northboy, is below 2Mbps you should ask BT when they're planning to upgrade their infrastructure in your area. If it's above 2Mbps you should ask BT to find out why you're only getting around 0.5Mbps.
Chris
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