Forum Discussion
Buffering
Hi - we are using our SIM in a TP link router and getting constant buffering on the TV - we are not using any other pieces of equipment at the same time. Any ideas/ solutions please as it is impossible to watch anything!
thank you
10 Replies
To get a bandwidth measurement, go to Ookla or Fast directly from your browser. These sites will give you the Maximum bandwidth figure in Mbps detected during the test period. This I would describe as a peak hold measurement.
What is more interesting and more relevant, especially in my case was when I used Google Speedtest, again directly from the browser. Speedtest offers a more dynamic test, showing what is happening to the bandwidth during the test period of approximately 30 seconds.
I was suffering similar issues to a number of people here on this forum where we could not stream shows from any of the usual sources (BBC, ITVX etc). even selecting a reduced resolution from the settings options failed. In fact on several occasions the apps on my TV refused to load due to poor bandwidth.
When using Speedtest, I noticed that the bandwidth would peak at anything between 10-15Mbps and then the bandwidth indicated on the dial would reduce to almost zero during the remaining test period. (both Fast and Ookla indicated between 10 and 15Mbps). This indicated that I was being starved of bandwidth and is a symptom of a problem with the LTE stack at the mast. I relayed this information to Smarty and some 7 weeks later the problem still has not been resolved.
In order to be able to stream video's the following recommended bandwidths per device are required
360P 1.5Mbps
720P 3Mbps
1080P 5 - 10Mbps
4K 15 - 25Mbps
You are possibly wondering, why I am still here when my delivered bandwidths are so poor. I was offered a credit of one months subscription as compensation for my received service, which I agreed to and agreed to monitor the situation. As I stated above my service has not improved and as a short term measure have signed up with a rival to Smarty who use the EE network, until I get a full fibre broadband installed later on this month.
I apologise for the long response to your question and I hope that you find the answer helpful.
RoyWilk_2576720 Thanks for the reply. I think that I have maybe failed to distinguish between getting a signal and the bandwidth of that signal.
In the end it naturally does come down to what bandwidth you can get. I had already suggested the two tests to one of the people who posted.
Forgot to say, when using Google Speedtest to check bandwidth, you should see the indicated bandwidth figure remain stable. By stable i mean the figure fluctuating by 2 to 3 Mbps maximum during the test and definately not falling rapidly.
Unfortunately there are many users on here disgruntled with slow data on Smarty, at times I get virtually no data at all any time from 2pm onwards until 7pm, other non peak times I can see 70mbs+ but tonight 1mbs down 0mbs up (crap in other words). This evening 10/04/26 it was still slow at 11pm. It is suggested that Smarty only has a limited data bandwidth from 3 and that during busy periods 3 users take priority. Ultimately the best plan is to go elsewhere as Smarty do not care they just want your money.
The_ASH I think that you may be about right. Smarty customers will probably do worse than Three customers when it comes to a chunk of the "data pie".
For many of us, the service does provide what we need i.e. a good signal for calls and texts and a bit of data when out and about - particularly those who use a fixed broadband line at home/work. For those who need more, I can see that it may be a problem.
Indeed, I as you (as everyone) just expect ‘adequate’ not super fast, this is a budget service after all, I do however expect ‘adequate’ not unusable which it was yet again this morning when I needed to download something urgently, 50 minutes later it was blisteringly fast.
What a lot of malarkey!
KirstyB_3642455 Sounds like your signal is not good enough to support the streaming. Have you checked the signal download via a website tester like Speedtest.net or fast.com?
Its not that your signal is not good enough, its the bandwidth that you have a problem with. Think of the signal being a pipe and water flowing through the pipe as the bandwidth. Poor bandwidth is a trickle of water, Good bandwidth is like a pressure washer in terms of flow.
RoyWilk_2576720 Where could we get a bandwidth measurement and compare it with a signal strength? Can you recommend a website or app?
