Question 1

Why does buffering happen even when my speed test is high?

Accepted Answer

Speed tests often measure peak throughput. Buffering issues often come from jitter, packet loss buffering, latency spikes, or router buffering behavior that creates delay under load.

Question 2

What internet speed do I need to stop video buffering?

Accepted Answer

It depends on resolution and stability. A stable 1080p stream needs much less than 4K, yet the connection must be consistent. If you chase 4K on an unstable line, you can trigger quality switching delay and rebuffering.

Question 3

Why does my live stream buffer more than movies?

Accepted Answer

Live streaming uses a smaller safety buffer, especially with low-latency streaming settings. On-demand playback can buffer farther ahead.

Question 4

Does lowering video quality really help?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lowering quality reduces bitrate demands, reduces buffer depletion risk, and makes the stream less sensitive to bitrate fluctuation.

Question 5

What is bufferbloat, and why does it wreck live streams?

Accepted Answer

Bufferbloat happens when network buffers fill up, creating long delays. Live streams feel it immediately because they can’t hide behind a big buffer. QoS or smart queue management can reduce it.

Question 6

Why does my smart TV buffer but my phone doesn’t?

Accepted Answer

Smart TVs often have weaker WiFi hardware, less memory, and heavier processing. A streaming box on Ethernet can solve it.

stream buffering

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