Streaming Video-How it works?

[ajgraz]

Re: Streaming Video-How it works?

jlinder, here's a question (possibly a dumb one). Could the fact that I haven't yet sprung for HDMI cable between the Blu-Ray and the TV (still using component) have anything to do with skips/pauses during streaming? Like some sort of electronic brain-fart during DA conversion?

 

[jlinder]

Re: Streaming Video-How it works?

jlinder, here's a question (possibly a dumb one). Could the fact that I haven't yet sprung for HDMI cable between the Blu-Ray and the TV (still using component) have anything to do with skips/pauses during streaming? Like some sort of electronic brain-fart during DA conversion?

If you have no problem with watching blu-ray then it is not a factor (and I can't imagine how an HDMI could cause skipping).

Another note - there are all sorts of HDMI cables. Monster cable even sells one for a monster price. HDMI either works or it doesn't. Unless you are getting some custom made very long cable the cheapest is just as good as the more expensive. Makes no difference. HDMI is digital so there is no D/A conversion
If anyone tries to sell you an expensive cable consult your meter
http://www.gifanatics.com/gif/bovine-excrement-meter

 

[mscher]

Re: Streaming Video-How it works?

The article claims that Netflix is throttling back the writers data rate for movies. The reality is that a number of ISPs have been caught doing this for one reason or another.

For example, Comcast has said they will slow down or limit access to certain sites if it wants to do so. The FCC took them to court but lost on appeal on this. (Google net neutrality comcast)

It may be less of an issue with "net neutrality" and more of Comcast and others, just trying to keep their network segments functional.

They surely have service levels, that they need to maintain, so "managing" bandwidth hogs like streaming video traffic, is something the may HAVE to do.

Streaming video takes up a lot of network and back end server resources. Muliply times 10's (or hundreds) of thousands of users and there is potential for lots of network performance issues. This has always been an issues of putting services out there, that the current, or near future infrastructure, may not be able to handle.

Sound's like Netflix may have just released the service and worry about about making it work right later. ISP's are simply caught in the middle.

Some things never change.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Streaming Video-How it works?

Agree that it is ISPs trying to protect bandwidth. Whether it is because of people abusing pipe or ISP just not building enough into the backbone is open to interpretation (i.e. - are you the ISP or the consumer)

Where the term net neutrality comes in is that some ISP's have been found to slow down certain sources and not others. Don't remember specifics, but an ISP gave nice high bandwidth to their streaming video product, but slowed down what they saw as competition.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Streaming Video-How it works?

Came across an interesting site to test whether or not your ISP is limiting data
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1RruK8/broadband.mpi-sws.org/transparency/glasnost.php
Tests take a while to run but give it a try if you suspect anything