Sky Stream

[#1]

I find it difficult to comprehend why ping should affect streaming performance unless there is a problem with your Sky box. I find it hard to believe that the Sky box does not have inbuilt memory that is buffering the incoming data? I suspect that this is a fable invented to enable the Sky technician to blame others as an excuse to leave for some-one else to resolve.

I can understand why ping is important to gamers, but should be irrelevant to streaming services.

When I look at my download speed when streaming UHD from Amazon or the BBC (I don't have Sky), I see blocks of data peaking to about 28Mbps. This clearly indicates that the TV is buffering the data. If either by design or a fault in the Sky box, the buffer is nearly running out of data before the next tranche is downloaded then this is a fault for Sky to resolve. My money would be on faulty buffer memory in the Sky box.

@rooky 

If ping is important to streaming performance you might ask Sky why they do not specify a maximum ping time as well as the minimum download speed. They don't seem to specify it, so it can't be an excuse for their service not working properly.

[#2]

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@rooky wrote:
What dns server you use could this play a part?

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I use Google's dns server 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

[#3]

some dns page links

PN
https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/about-dns-server-and-website-settings/

GOOGLE 
https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns

QUAD9

https://quad9.net/

[#4]

Seriously though, just imagine the thousands of Sky Stream customers with a ping in excess of 18ms. Can you imagine them all searching around for ways of reducing their ping times in order for this service to work?

[#5]

Nope but why has sky said that.

Anyone is there any stream users here with any issues

[#6]

I'm wondering if there is something different between Plusnet's network (essentially the BT network) and Sky's own (Openreach delivered) network including their router.

Video (and other) streams are generally "chunked" hence the "bursts" seen by @Baldrick1 although the average throughput needed is well within what a 900 Mb/s fibre connection (or any other full fibre connection) would achieve.

A buffer under-run does seem the likely cause..

My guess is various "adjustments" are made by the box on buffer size. There may be an "adaptive" setting (a bit like YouTube has) on the box but I've never had a play with this sort of Sky box.

While perhaps interesting background this obviously doesn't provide a fix.

The one thing I might try (assuming it's not to painful to change) would be to try the Plusnet router connected to the ONT and connect the Netgear to a LAN port on the Plusnet router.

The Netgear on a LAN port (on the same Orbi as the WAN connecte to) should be well up to the job but this would worth a try.

.

[#7]

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@rooky wrote:

Nope but why has sky said that.

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I can guess at three scenarious:

1. The level of technical knowledge and experience of the Sky technician. At the extreme, maybe they don't umderstand the difference between milli-seconds and seconds. 

2. Management pressure. How much pressure the tchnician felt under to find an excuse to move on to the next job, so needed an excuse to leave..

3. Work ethic. Maybe they just wanted to get out and go home for their tea.

I have experienced stutterind/buffering in the past due to co-channel interference on a wireless link and also from Powerline Units connected on different RCD isolated power circuits. Neither was anything to do with the quality of the data connection to the property.

Have you considered the suggestions in post #16 etc. above?

[#8]

Where is this high ping being measured?

Some high pings can be introduced within the local network of the property with poor wifi connections being a possible cause.

It would be helpful to have an view of the local network setup. What is connected to the ONT, Hub two or the Orbi?

[#9]

@rooky 

@markhawkin's post has just triggered a thought

You have connected the Orbi directly to the ONT, not going via a Plusnet Hub 2?. If the latter without changing the Orbi to Access Point mode you would be double NATing, which would increase your ping. Not that I think that it would have any effect on this problem. 

[#10]

The orbi is the only thing ive got connected.

Ping today been 15-18 i guess it ok