Live Streams FAQ, Performance Hints And Tips

Performance Tips

Although P2P technology gets better all the time there are still a few things to look out for if you are experiencing performance issues. Remember to always use the latest versions of the programs that are available and that some channels just don't stream very well due to the number of people viewing. As a general guide the channels with the most viewers will be smoothest for P2P stream sharing.

Specification - By attempting to watch live television over the internet you are quite close to the cutting edge of internet technology. As mentioned previously you will need at least a 1Mb broadband connection. Your PC should be at least a Pentium3 model and have 256MB of ram. This should really be considered the minimum for running Windows XP and Media Player 9 and above anyway.

Resolution - If it almost appears as if you see the individual frames "flipping" in the stream you are watching then the problem is likely due to your graphics card. You should try reducing both the colour depth and resolution. If this fails it may be necessary to watch in a smaller window and not maximise the display window. Try experimenting until you can find a display that doesn't "flip" yet is large enough to watch.

Jerky Playback Even With 100% Buffer - If the stream appears to start and stop even though you are receiving a 100% buffer then the problem could be down to a combination of your processor and software firewall. If your PC is at the lower end of the specification required and you are running a software firewall this can sometimes happen. If your computer is behind a router (not a modem) then it may be ok to turn of your software firewall temporarily to see if it helps. This should never be done lightly and you must remember to enable it again as soon as you are finished.

No Decent Streams With XP Service Pack 2 - If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2 and just can't get a decent stream for any channel the problem could be to do with a windows limitation that was introduced in service pack 2. This security measure limits the number of half open connections to 10 instead of 50 and can affect P2P programs such as those above. A small application to restore the original limit is available for download from here:- XP Service Pack 2 Socket Fix

Stream FAQ

Q: The channel I've selected doesn't even start to buffer?
A: Some channels only broadcast at certain times of the day, this is especially true of some of the sports channels that will only broadcast when they are due to show a game.

Q: The channel I've selected is only showing a black screen?
A: Some channels put out a blank stream between events, this is not normally a problem and you will see the program when it starts.

Q: Even with all the performance tips a channel is still stopping and starting? A: Some channels are high bandwidth (500 kbps+) which means that you will need a lot of good sources to view a smooth picture. Network conditions and the number of users close to you can affect this. The best solution is to try another channel.

Q: Windows Media Player just continuously buffers?
A: Try messing with your Windows Media Player buffer time (vary between 10 and 30 seconds). Other than this it may be simply that there are not enough sources for the channel you wish to watch.