Streaming HD video, what speed do I need?

scottmandue · 05-23-2012, 07:03 AM

Still calculating switching from Dish Network to high speed Internet to watch TV...

I'm kinda a audio/video snob so I want rock solid sound and picture, how fast do I need to get for that?

Obviously you pay more for higher speed connection.

I have four flavors to chose:

3Mbs @ $39/Mo = furgetaboutit

18Mbs @ $54/Mo = maybe?

25Mbs @ $65/Mo = starting to get over budget

50Mbs @ $100/Mo = fugetaboutit

Thanks in advance

AirKuhl · 05-23-2012, 09:37 AM

I have 16Mbps and speedtest.net shows me regularly getting >25Mbps. If only my "last mile" mattered then it would be fine but that's not the case.

Netflix is pretty good most of the time but their servers seem to congest pretty badly in the evenings and on weekends. They will adjust the resolution on the fly to the end-to-end available bandwidth. I don't think I've ever made it all the way through an HD movie on a Friday evening without it throttling down at least for a few seconds.

I love Netflix for catching up on old TV series or the occasional casual movie, but I still have Dish for stuff that I really want to get in to and I still buy BD's of stuff I want to keep. Netflix is a fine service for what it is but it is not HD in any sense of the word for anyone that is into movies.

Rot 911 · 05-23-2012, 10:33 AM

Keep in mind the level you buy is only under optimum conditions. In my opinion, as a streaming vid user, 12mb will get the job done. 25 and you will never see a delay or degradation in quality.

scottmandue · 05-23-2012, 10:34 AM

Thanks... looks like the 18Mbs will work fine...

Mostly looking at Netflix and Vudu... that is all I know about right now, sure I will find more as I get into it... I'm really big into PBS and documentaries... motor racing would be cool... think the cable company includes ESPN with the Internet hook up.

Money is way too tight... can't afford both (dish and Internet)... and too many nights with 150 channels and nothing to watch.

Got piles of books that need to be read too.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

When I'm streaming HD, it uses 2-3Mb/s. So you need a higher speed than that. 8*Mb = 1MB, so figure a little less than a GB per hour of HD.

Comcast limits us to 200GB per month. YMMV

stomachmonkey · 05-23-2012, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

When I'm streaming HD, it uses 2-3Mb/s. So you need a higher speed than that. 8*Mb = 1MB, so figure a little less than a GB per hour of HD.

Comcast limits us to 200GB per month. YMMV

Thought Comcast just announced they were doing away with the limit?

Or was that someone else?

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Do you have a DLNA compliant TV or DVD player? That may be another option for your streaming entertainment needs.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Thought Comcast just announced they were doing away with the limit?

Or was that someone else?

250GB/month

stomachmonkey · 05-23-2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

250GB/month

Looks like they are upping the limit and trying out some different models.

"In the vast majority of our footprint," the data cap will be suspended while we conduct the tests, David L. Cohen, Comcast executive vice president said during a conference call with reporters.

Comcast Ditching 250GB Data Caps, Exploring New Options | News & Opinion | PCMag.com