Sigh.
It’s the circle again.
You’re watching your favorite show or movie, and, like an unwanted DM, that blue spinning circle pops up on your screen.
Happened to you? Keep reading. We’ve got plenty of ideas about banishing buffering from your home.
Test Your Speed
First things first, make sure you’ve got the speed you need. Take a free Internet speed test to see if your connection is up for streaming. We recommend at least 100 Mbps to watch 4K video – and that’s if nothing else is using your bandwidth. If your speeds are consistently lower than what you’re paying for, reaching out to your Internet provider might be worthwhile.
Location, Location, Location
Like real estate, great streaming setups are all about location. So, make sure your router is centrally located in your home, away from walls and metal objects that can block its signal. If you’ve got an older model router, considering an upgrade might be a good idea.
The Wired Advantage
Moving on to something a little more old-school: wires. While everyone may have already embraced our wireless future, there are still advantages to plugging an ethernet cable into your favorite streaming device. In fact, on average, WiFi speeds are only 42% as fast as a direct ethernet connection. That can, of course, make a huge difference when you’re streaming.
Prioritize Yourself and Device(s)
Let‘s introduce you to your new best friend: Quality of Service (QoS) settings. It’s a feature on many routers that lets you prioritize traffic to your streaming devices. It’s like giving your Netflix traffic a VIP pass through your home network. Yes, there’s an app for that.
Step Back to Move Forward
Most streaming services have quality settings that you can tweak. If you’re experiencing frequent buffering, try lowering the video quality a notch. It might not be 4K, but a smooth 1080p stream beats a stuttering 4K any day of the week.
Clean Cookies and Cache
Clear your browser’s cache and cookies. It’s like giving your streaming setup a fresh start. While you’re at it, make sure all your streaming apps and devices are current. Those updates aren’t just for show. They often include performance improvements that can make a real difference.
Rebooting is a Thing
Also, don’t underestimate the power of a good old-fashioned restart. Make it a habit to reboot your router regularly. It’s like giving your Internet a quick power nap, refreshing its connection and potentially boosting your speeds.
Halt Bandwidth Hogs
Keep an eye on your overall bandwidth usage. If you have large downloads running in the background or automatic updates scheduled, they could be hogging your precious bandwidth. Try to schedule these activities during off-peak hours when you’re not likely to be streaming your favorite shows.
These streaming tips will help upgrade your streaming experience. The key is to experiment and see what works best for your setup and connection speed. If you ever have any questions, CLtel’s experts are always a local call away (641-357-2111).
