I subscribed to this thread because of your posts, Shawn.
...this should be a wikipedia for streamers.
pt...still using two tin cans and a string....conference calls are tough
Pool Streams. Help US Understand them
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I subscribed to this thread because of your posts, Shawn.
...this should be a wikipedia for streamers.
pt...still using two tin cans and a string....conference calls are tough
That could work. I don't know what the answer is. I think it's getting to be less and less of a problem but still there ought to be some provision in place to satisfy the customer.
FWIW, when ustream or itunes issues the customer a full refund, they still keep their 30% cut. So, this means the customer gets their full refund, and you are on the hook for 30%.
I thought TAR did a smart thing a couple of years ago and opened their stream when they were getting hammered with complaints.
I thought TAR did a smart thing a couple of years ago and opened their stream when they were getting hammered with complaints.
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Did anyone watch the Tony Crosby stream over the weekend?
It was flawless HD throughout. Towards the end, during the match between Corey Duel and Josh Roberts, the video started to pause and resume every few minutes. It felt like it was buffering. But then it caught on and played flawlessly again. I always thought this was due to high volume of traffic watching the stream, but after this thread, it could very well be due to something on my end causing dropped packets. Maybe the furnace kicked on, or the DVR started recording a program.
Great info, Shawn. Thanks for all the answers.
It was flawless HD throughout. Towards the end, during the match between Corey Duel and Josh Roberts, the video started to pause and resume every few minutes. It felt like it was buffering. But then it caught on and played flawlessly again. I always thought this was due to high volume of traffic watching the stream, but after this thread, it could very well be due to something on my end causing dropped packets. Maybe the furnace kicked on, or the DVR started recording a program.
Great info, Shawn. Thanks for all the answers.
Without getting technical, it's best to follow this logic:
VIEWER PROBLEMS
Problem: My PPV stream sucks
Solution: Upgrade your internet
Problem: I upgraded my internet and my PPV Stream still sucks
Solution: Broadcaster cannot fulfill its promise to provide quality stream
BROADCASTER PROBLEMS
Problem: My PPV stream keeps crashing or my viewers complain of buffering
Solution: Lower your output settings to a lower broadcast bandwidth and reboot
Problem: Your settings have been lowered but Viewers are still complaining
Solution: Your PPV provider needs to open up the bandwidth or you need to upgrade your agreement for a higher number of viewers.
When a broadcaster sets their pricing and pre-pays for bandwidth from a PPV Provider like Audio-VideoWeb, they are basically making a projection that they will stream for a certain number of viewers at a certain bandwidth. Based on this, once you've paid for a projection of 500 viewers for 9 hours at 500k - if the demand goes higher than this during your show, you're going to be screwed unless you pay them some more money. This process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 4 hours. This being said, if you haven't pre-ordered correctly, or even if you're streamer may have trouble understanding what he/she has purchased, then they might be biting bigger than they can chew.
VIEWER PROBLEMS
Problem: My PPV stream sucks
Solution: Upgrade your internet
Problem: I upgraded my internet and my PPV Stream still sucks
Solution: Broadcaster cannot fulfill its promise to provide quality stream
BROADCASTER PROBLEMS
Problem: My PPV stream keeps crashing or my viewers complain of buffering
Solution: Lower your output settings to a lower broadcast bandwidth and reboot
Problem: Your settings have been lowered but Viewers are still complaining
Solution: Your PPV provider needs to open up the bandwidth or you need to upgrade your agreement for a higher number of viewers.
When a broadcaster sets their pricing and pre-pays for bandwidth from a PPV Provider like Audio-VideoWeb, they are basically making a projection that they will stream for a certain number of viewers at a certain bandwidth. Based on this, once you've paid for a projection of 500 viewers for 9 hours at 500k - if the demand goes higher than this during your show, you're going to be screwed unless you pay them some more money. This process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 4 hours. This being said, if you haven't pre-ordered correctly, or even if you're streamer may have trouble understanding what he/she has purchased, then they might be biting bigger than they can chew.
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It makes much more sense that it's the connection at the host location rather than UDP packet loss on the client's network. If that were the case, all streaming services, and all services relying on UDP, would suffer the same issues for that client.
What makes more sense is that because the host location can't handle the upload speed required to stream at a certain quality, it is forced to stream at a lower quality. If they did try to stream at a higher quality, the issue you mentioned would be worse than less quality, you would get no video, constant freezing.
I have streamed in locations all over the country and have had all types of issues come up with some more obvious then others. I streamed this past weekend and it went out perfectly and I only saw one person say they were having buffering issues which was probably on there end then.
There are many variables from my connection to the connection the viewer has along with equipment issues on the viewer end. There are some people who don't keep the computer they are using up to date for example latest updates and flash player/plug in, never resetting the router, poor connection, other programs running in the background slowing down the computer or something as simple as having the computer set to battery saver on a laptop.
I remember being in one place where the internet juke box was on the same connection I was streaming on and I was constantly getting kicked off. We unplugged the juke box and we were able to stream at low quality setting. I have been at many places I can stream at 1080p if I wanted to do so but then you have more viewers out there who cannot watch an HD stream because of the variables I mentioned so I output at 480p which seems to be a happy medium for most places I am streaming from and most viewers receiving the content.
Each place is different I stream from and most pool rooms have a bad connection and open wifi for patrons to use so its not secured and is shared. Poolrooms should have better connections if they can afford and get it if they have streaming there. For the day or days of the event secure the network for the streamer or limit the access to the password so there aren't 100 people connected with their phones to it. Sometime we have to lower our output settings to 240 or 360p and you will see a loss in quality so it doesn't mean the streamer sucks but the location connection is not strong enough to output the better quality.
I would say for every 100 viewers you probably have 10% who have issues. If you are watching a stream and the general consensus in the chat is the stream is good but you are having issues then its on you. Make sure you have a good internet connection, restart computer and router/modem, if on a laptop then plug power in and go to battery options and set to high performance, make sure you don't have a bunch of programs running slowing down your computer. I am sure others can chime in with some other tips to help too.
Because of all the variables mentioned along with free pool online being better for the sport I feel PPV is not a good way to go and found although people can complain about a free stream they won't be ready to hang you for it. As soon as you take someones money you have to deliver and you cannot always do something about the issues mentioned that might be on the end of the user except educate and hope they can figure it out so they can enjoy the show like everyone else.
There are many variables from my connection to the connection the viewer has along with equipment issues on the viewer end. There are some people who don't keep the computer they are using up to date for example latest updates and flash player/plug in, never resetting the router, poor connection, other programs running in the background slowing down the computer or something as simple as having the computer set to battery saver on a laptop.
I remember being in one place where the internet juke box was on the same connection I was streaming on and I was constantly getting kicked off. We unplugged the juke box and we were able to stream at low quality setting. I have been at many places I can stream at 1080p if I wanted to do so but then you have more viewers out there who cannot watch an HD stream because of the variables I mentioned so I output at 480p which seems to be a happy medium for most places I am streaming from and most viewers receiving the content.
Each place is different I stream from and most pool rooms have a bad connection and open wifi for patrons to use so its not secured and is shared. Poolrooms should have better connections if they can afford and get it if they have streaming there. For the day or days of the event secure the network for the streamer or limit the access to the password so there aren't 100 people connected with their phones to it. Sometime we have to lower our output settings to 240 or 360p and you will see a loss in quality so it doesn't mean the streamer sucks but the location connection is not strong enough to output the better quality.
I would say for every 100 viewers you probably have 10% who have issues. If you are watching a stream and the general consensus in the chat is the stream is good but you are having issues then its on you. Make sure you have a good internet connection, restart computer and router/modem, if on a laptop then plug power in and go to battery options and set to high performance, make sure you don't have a bunch of programs running slowing down your computer. I am sure others can chime in with some other tips to help too.
Because of all the variables mentioned along with free pool online being better for the sport I feel PPV is not a good way to go and found although people can complain about a free stream they won't be ready to hang you for it. As soon as you take someones money you have to deliver and you cannot always do something about the issues mentioned that might be on the end of the user except educate and hope they can figure it out so they can enjoy the show like everyone else.
Certainly common misconception with the number of viewers watching the stream affecting it. It might be a possibility that Ustream who is a common server provider for streamers having issues which has happened in the past, Shawn might be able to expand on that. Shawn is telling it like it is which is great and hopefully will help some of you to better understand and also solve issues so you can enjoy more streaming down the road.
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Its not your download speed that matters but your upload speed.
I apologize if this can be found using the search feature of the forum but I was not able to find a listing of Subject Matter Experts utilizing such. I was hoping you could point me in that direction as you appear to be very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with.
No? So then maybe you can share with all of us whom it is by your definition of "resource" that may speak on what topics related to pool here without it being considered "lipping off" by "experts" such as yourself that dickishly patrol the forums in search of such fragrant fouls of knowledge? We can then get that listing "stickied" for all new comers and hopefully make your job here easier.
Should we report all of those fouls to you so that you may reprimand them with your stern and yet utterly delightful personality? Or should we simply ignore them, provide the proper information and move on about our lives without displaying our lack of ability in working well with others in a social environment?
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I have streamed with .75 mbps upload speed before. Stream settings are at the lowest possible but it can be done. As long as that bandwidth is uninterrupted and dedicated, you should be able to pull it off. This being said, if you have 1.25 mbps upload speed, you should be able to stream at 480p, which isn't terrible quality. If I'm at a venue with at least 3mbps upload speed, them I'm able to do other things during my streams, such as promote to social networks and provide 'real time results' and 'live feeds' to my website.
No matter what, I always save my recorded media at 1080p or 720p so that when it goes to another server like Youtube, the viewing experience is always better.
I hereby step aside on this topic. You all can direct your questions to Skippy27. I'm done with the thread. He's a much more knowledgeable and polite subject matter expert.
Have fun, guys.
BTW, he's the guy that advised you need 1Mb/s PER CUSTOMER of upload speed for you to stream video.
Can we please get Skippy to leave and Shawn to come back ?
I would agree, Shawn should come back being he is clearly more knowledgeable than me. I even thanked him for such previously. He should just adjust that bad attitude of his.
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