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This is the support site for Andrews & Arnold Ltd, a UK Internet provider. Information on these pages is generally for our customers but may be useful to others, enjoy!

Streaming UHD 4K Video: Difference between revisions

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As long as you have enough bandwidth (i.e. your line is fast enough), we'd expect our customers to be able to stream Ultra High Definition (UHD) 4K video, even at peak time.
=Overview=
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As long as you have enough bandwidth (ie your line is fast enough), we'd expect our customers to be able to stream Ultra High Definition (UHD) 4K video, even at peak time.


=More Information=
=More Information=
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Different content providers will have their own requirements as to what hardware and software are required, as well as minimum speed requirements of your Internet connection.
Different content providers will have their own requirements as to what hardware and software are required, as well as minimum speed requirements of your Internet connection.


Typically, UHD 4K video will require a minimum of 25Mb/s, however, some providers are encoding their video streams in different ways (eg using Variable bit rate as apposed to constant bit rate) meaning that lower speeds are required - perhaps around 17Mb/s. (in 2018) Netflix 4K UHD tends to be around 17Mb/s, other services, such as BBC, Amazon etc may well be higher, even up to 35Mb/s.
Typically, UHD 4K video will require a minimum of 25Mbit/s, however, some providers are encoding their video streams in different ways (e.g. using Variable bit rate as apposed to constant bit rate) meaning that lower speeds are required - perhaps around 17Mbit/s. (in 2018) Netflix 4K UHD tends to be around 17Mbit/s, other services, such as BBC, Amazon etc. may well be higher, even up to 35Mbit/s.


During the 2018 football World cup, the BBC suggest that 40Mb/s speed is required for their 4K streams at 50 frames per second. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44308154
During the 2018 football World cup, the BBC suggest that 40Mbit/s speed is required for their 4K streams at 50 frames per second. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44308154


==Congestion==
==Congestion==
Our aim is not to be the bottleneck, that means that the various interconnects we have between our DSL providers (eg BT, TalkTalk etc) and the many interconnects to various parts of the internet and content providers are not run at, or anywhere near, full capacity.
Our aim is not to be the bottleneck, that means that the various interconnects we have between our DSL providers (e.g. BT, TalkTalk etc.) and the many interconnects to various parts of the internet and content providers are not run at, or anywhere near, full capacity.


This means, that when our customers need to download at the full speed of their line that we would expect that to be possible even at the busiest time of the day or week.
This means, that when our customers need to download at the full speed of their line that we would expect that to be possible even at the busiest time of the day or week.
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Here is a list of things to check and investigate if you do have problems streaming at high resolutions.
Here is a list of things to check and investigate if you do have problems streaming at high resolutions.


===Check your TV hardware:===
===Check your TV hardware===
*Can your TV actually play UHD 4K content?
*Can your TV actually play UHD 4K content?
*eg, try playing UHD from a different streaming service such as Netflix, Youtube, Vimeo, iTunes, Amazon etc
*e.g., try playing UHD from a different streaming service such as Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo, iTunes, Amazon etc.
*If you can play UHD 4K then there is probably not a problem with your TV hardware
*If you can play UHD 4K then there is probably not a problem with your TV hardware
*If you can't then check the
*If you can't then check the
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**HDMI input (not all HDMI inputs on a 4K TV will accept UHD 4K video)
**HDMI input (not all HDMI inputs on a 4K TV will accept UHD 4K video)
**Use a wired ethernet connection instead of WiFi
**Use a wired ethernet connection instead of WiFi
**Try a different player - eg if you use a device such as an 4K Apple TV, try your Smart TVs built in Apps.
**Try a different player - e.g. if you use a device such as an 4K Apple TV, try your Smart TVs built in Apps.


===Check your internet connection:===
===Check your internet connection===
Check the speed of your line:
Check the speed of your line:
*Look on the Control Pages for the 'Rate' of your line:
*Look on the Control Pages for the 'Rate' of your line:
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===Try speed test sites to check your connection===
===Try speed test sites to check your connection===
*You'll be wanting to see about 25Mb/s or more, try these:
*You'll be wanting to see about 25Mbit/s or more, try these:
**http://speedtest2.aa.net.uk (the A&A tester)
**http://speedtest2.aa.net.uk (the A&A tester)
**http://fast.com (Netflix's speed test)
**http://fast.com (Netflix's speed test)
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