Netflix and low mbps- please help

[sparks_E39]

Hi all. We live in a rural area in Dorset. The max internet speed in the area is around 7-8 mbps although in reality it's more like 3-5 mbps. I watch a lot of Netflix via my Xbox One (wireless) and I have the HD package included. Every now and again I can view it in HD, but sometimes it's a bit blurry/distorted. More often than not I don't get any interference and it's quite content running in SD quality, and I am aware Netflix requires 5 mbps to view in HD. It's just a pain when it isn't running smoothly. We usually turn off as many wireless devices as possible when streaming which seems to help. A little more info that may help; we use our landlords internet (with his permission) via an Ethernet cable that runs from his house directly next door. His speed is roughly 5 mbps.

I don't really care if it's in HD or not to be fair, I just want a smooth viewing experience. I'm not very tech savvy if I'm honest, would I be correct in assuming that if I changed my Netflix plan to an SD package it wouldn't (shouldn't) have as much connection issue, as it wouldn't be trying in vain to achieve HD? Would I still be able to view everything or would certain HD films/programmes be unavailable to me as they are only filmed in HD? Finally, as I watch it though an Xbox One, would it be beneficial for me to plug the Ethernet cable directly into the console? The router and console are in the same room, although we live in a 300 year old cottage with very thick walls!

Sorry about the novice nature of this thread or if some of it seems a bit like I'm asking a stupid question, however I am not terribly savvy on these things, but would appreciate any advice! Cheers.

[aquarianone]

I'd start by doing what you're suggesting and try cabling it up first and ditch the wireless on the Xbox one, that'll give it the strongest connection to start with (for streaming HD)

Mine is similar to yours, I generally get around 6-7mb and Netflix, Plex and Amazon is fine, on a wired connection, it's just about enough.

Another thing to try is to find your main telephone socket / connection box and test your connection to see what kind of speeds you're getting, will give you an idea if it's your connection / service or something else down the line (ie the next thing to test and rule out)

- the cabling / sockets in your house / the router / the pc..next door neighbors wireless doorbell etc etc

https://support.zen.co.uk/kb/Knowledgebase/Testing...

Once you've got a better idea then you can look at fixes - new faceplate for the master socket / better wiring / cabling / router....

http://www.increasebroadbandspeed.co.uk/adsl-facep...

[Silverbullet767]

Get the console hard wired, especially if it's in the same room.

Also, an accelerator plate might help if you have old wiring.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AAA-Products-048280-Broad...

[jmorgan]

If you are sharing the landlords internet, what are they using it for? Netflix help site says 5mb/s for HD.

Edit. What are you watching it on as well, daft question maybe but I assume HD set?

[sparks_E39]

Thanks all. Worth noting we do not have a phone line in the cottage. Our only source of internet is via the Ethernet cable coming through the wall hooked up to our router. I will get an Ethernet switch and a longer Ethernet cable and hook the Xbox up directly.

We have a 49 inch full HD Toshiba set.

[Muntu]

Change your data use settings first, see if that helps

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/87

[sparks_E39]

Appreciate the help so far, thanks. £35 later and the Xbox One is plugged in to an Ethernet cable. It has marginally improved but still drops to around 3-4 mbps on occasion, but seems a bit better overall. Oddly the wifi speed also seems to have increased slightly now, at times last night up to the dizzying speeds of 6 mbps, I'm guessing because it doesn't have to cope with the Xbox. I had to purchase an Ethernet splitter/switch as everything (router, Xbox, splitter/switch) is running off that one Ethernet cable that runs into our cottage from our landlord, we do not have any separate access points at all. The router and Xbox is running off that switch now, and the switch directly connected to the landlords cable.

Would someone else streaming over wifi have any detrimental effect on the Xbox One's wired connection, or should it make no difference? Because it still dropped a little when my fiancée was watching something upstairs and went a bit fuzzy for a couple of minutes. I wonder if plugging the Ethernet cable into the smart TV (I believe it has that facility) would improve things further?

Also I've noticed our wireless router has two channels, 2.4 Ghz and 5Ghz. The Xbox when it was connected wirelessly was on 5Ghz and everything else is on the 2.4Ghz channel, two phones and an iPad. The iPad is not connected to the wifi when not in use. Is there something we can do there to improve things? My brother in law helped us set up when we moved in. He told me to keep our main streaming device on the 5Ghz channel as it provides a better connection?

Thanks all.

[Silverbullet767]

You'll be limited by the single ethernet connection, and yes, using wifi as well as wired will affect streaming as you only have a small bandwidth to play with.

TBH I wouldn't go spending any more money as I don't think it'll improve much going by what you've said. If you're going to be watching HD streaming, I'd be saying to others to keep the internet use to a minimum.

[parabolica]

Aside from making sure you've got good, solid, wired connections between everything, do you have anything else that can stream Netflix? My dad regularly has a 1.5 connection (never sees higher than that) however Netflix works perfectly in HD 95% of the time; he has an amazon fire stick. We were amazed streaming worked at all at his, and we first found out when I took my PS4 home over Christmas one time. Before that, streaming on anything older (dvd player, TV's built-in smart features etc) wouldn't work properly.

[sparks_E39]

Thanks. I won't spend any more money but I'm happy the console is hard wired now. I do have a Chromecast but get much the same result with that. I will change the settings on Netflix to normal quality rather than high. I don't mind not getting HD, I just don't want a fuzzy or blurry experience!

[chris285]

In terms of internet if you are hard wired then you've can't do much more, the fact you are sharing your internet connection will have an impact depending what your landlord is doing online if anything when streaming

It's possible a better router for traffic management in terms of streaming priority could help, but as you are sharing it is pointless as you would still be limited by the ISP's router the landlord uses

If you are happy enough that is fine but really it sounds like you are at the lower end of the requirements which would impact your experience the most

[JamieBeeston]

It wont be wireless causing the issue, it'll just be the DSL.

I watch 4k over my wireless without any issues (15mbit)

I download 330mb/sec from the internet to my iMac over wireless, so unless you've got the worlds worst Wifi, it wont be that.

[sparks_E39]

JamieBeeston said:

It wont be wireless causing the issue, it'll just be the DSL.

I watch 4k over my wireless without any issues (15mbit)

I download 330mb/sec from the internet to my iMac over wireless, so unless you've got the worlds worst Wifi, it wont be that.

How do I go about checking my DSL/knowing there's an issue?

[JamieBeeston]

sparks_E39 said:

JamieBeeston said:

It wont be wireless causing the issue, it'll just be the DSL.

I watch 4k over my wireless without any issues (15mbit)

I download 330mb/sec from the internet to my iMac over wireless, so unless you've got the worlds worst Wifi, it wont be that.

How do I go about checking my DSL/knowing there's an issue?

Well first step is run a few speedchecks, and log in to your router (address is usually printed on the back) and see what speed its synced

If the two don't match then you've an issue on the line (if its syncing higher than you're able to consistently download)

Then check your postcode online to see what speed you should expect (if you're getting 3mbit sync but living in an area that should get 80 again it points to an issue)

If you notice any discrepancies, contact your DSL provider and ask them to check your line.