Why Do Videos Keep Buffering?
If you are experiencing buffering issues while streaming live television or watching videos it could be a number of issues. It could be the speed of your internet connection, the quality of your Wi-Fi signal (if not using an Ethernet cable) or it could merely be a set up issue in the hardware you are using to allow you to stream video.
If your internet speed is too slow for the number of devices hooked up to your home Wi-Fi network it can cause video buffering problems. If you have multiple devices trying to stream simultaneously (ie gaming or music) it can certainly leave you scratching your head wondering "why do my video's keep buffering?" A family of four with 4 cell phones, 4 televisions, 4 tablets, 2 computers and 2 video gaming systems put quite a strain on a home Wi-Fi network. Unlimited data is nice but is no help if your speed is to slow. You have to look at your families normal usage and purchase your internet plan accordingly, My family of four has 75mps and we periodically experience buffering issues during peak traffic hours.
Another issue is the location of your modem / router. The more centrally located and clear of barriers your modem / router is the better signal your network will provide. It also really helps if you can provide a direct Ethernet connection to the device you are using to stream your content. A hard wired connection will usually improve video buffering issues if not fix them completely. There are also products available that can provide Ethernet connections at any electrical outlet in your home allowing you to hardwire all streaming devices directly to your home network.
The set up in your streaming device can also be contributing to your buffering issues. If you have the wrong video settings for your television it can cause voices to be off, which makes viewing with or without buffering difficult. Also trying to view content at higher qualities will put additional strain on your network. Sometimes lowering your video quality from 1080 to 720 will help fix buffering issues. Usually you will not notice much of a decrease in the quality of video you are streaming. In actuality the lower the quality setting for playback the less video buffering problems you will encounter. Only you can make the choice of what quality you can accept.
The key to stop video buffering is to choose the correct internet plan for your family's needs. If you choose a plan that does not support the actual usage of your household there is no amount hard wiring or video settings changes that will improve streaming video buffering on your home network.
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Thanks for the useful info Scott! ~Mark