Amazon excepting SNAP???

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by library addict

I know, but Netflix is so jumpy on my TV that I can't imagine Amazon streaming services being better. Actually, it's not much better on my laptop or tablet, but with the smaller screen size it's not quite as noticeable.

Even with my old DSL 3Mbps service, I never noticed any jumpiness with any of the streaming services on my large screens. With my new 60+Mbps service, they're all nearly HD quality. I've always used a separate device (Wii, Playstation, Roku, FireTV, FireStick)—hard-wired wherever possible—rather than any built-in SmartTV app to utilize the various streaming services. Perhaps that, or the internet connection itself, is the difference in our experiences?

[ApK]

Yeah, as DD says, modern streaming services are not inherently jumpy at all.
If you were under the impression that that was just the nature of the beast, then you really should have your router, or your Internet service, checked to see if there is a problem you can have fixed.

If you just meant your service in your house has issues so you don't mess with it, well, that's your choice. I have no vested interested in you using Netflix or Amazon Video.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ApK

Yeah, as DD says, modern streaming services are not inherently jumpy at all.
If you were under the impression that that was just the nature of the beast, then you really should have your router, or your Internet service, checked to see if there is a problem you can have fixed.

If you just meant your service in your house has issues so you don't mess with it, well, that's your choice. I have no vested interested in you using Netflix or Amazon Video.

If they are using a computer, they might also check to see if there is something running in the background.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Even with my old DSL 3Mbps service, I never noticed any jumpiness with any of the streaming services on my large screens. With my new 60+Mbps service, they're all nearly HD quality. I've always used a separate device (Wii, Playstation, Roku, FireTV, FireStick)—hard-wired wherever possible—rather than any built-in SmartTV app to utilize the various streaming services. Perhaps that, or the internet connection itself, is the difference in our experiences?

Yep - a 3Mb Internet connection is ample for smoothly streaming HD video. Latency tends to be more important than speed, when it comes to streaming. It's poor latency that'll cause constant pauses for re-buffering.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yep - a 3Mb Internet connection is ample for smoothly streaming HD video.

True. Granted ... not much else could be happening in the house (internet-wise) at the same time, but it was sufficient. But not for multiple streams and multiple devices fighting for bandwidth at the same time. Hence the long-overdue upgrade.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Latency tends to be more important than speed, when it comes to streaming. It's poor latency that'll cause constant pauses for re-buffering.

Which is why I prefer streaming devices to be hardwired if possible. Wireless introduces more latency (even if the wireless bandwidth is more than sufficient). Satellite internet always suffered from horrible latency as well. Don't know if that's gotten any better or not.

[John F]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yep - a 3Mb Internet connection is ample for smoothly streaming HD video. Latency tends to be more important than speed, when it comes to streaming. It's poor latency that'll cause constant pauses for re-buffering.

3Mb for HD sounds a little low, doesn't it?

From netflix:

Below are the Internet download speed recommendations per stream for playing TV shows and movies through Netflix.

0.5 Megabits per second - Required broadband connection speed
1.5 Megabits per second - Recommended broadband connection speed
3.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for SD quality
5.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for HD quality
25 Megabits per second - Recommended for Ultra HD quality

and a quick search for Hulu:

Hulu's website lists the recommendations for streaming video as follows:

720p - a minimum of 3.5Mbps downstream bandwidth is recommended
480p - a minimum of 1.5Mbps downstream bandwidth is recommended
360p - a minimum of 1.0Mbps downstream bandwidth is recommended

FWIW

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by John F

3Mb for HD sounds a little low, doesn't it?

I guess it depends on the resolution. The BBC reckon it's enough for their iPlayer streaming service:

How fast does my internet connection need to be?

BBC iPlayer programmes stream at up to 2.8 Mbps or megabits (2800 kbps), depending on the quality. Our standard quality version is 1.5 Mbps (1500 kbps).

[ApK]

Originally Posted by John F

3Mb for HD sounds a little low, doesn't it?

From netflix:



and a quick search for Hulu:



FWIW

Some services won't deliver HD content if you're below the recommended speed, others will just adapt the quality. But I think the point was, whatever quality image you are being served by any of the major players, it won't be "jumpy" even with a 3Mbps service. Certainly image quality won't always be as high as it could possibly be, though. Fuzzy, maybe, but not jumpy.

(Fuzzy and Jumpy are the 8th and 9th dwarfs.)

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yep - a 3Mb Internet connection is ample for smoothly streaming HD video. Latency tends to be more important than speed, when it comes to streaming. It's poor latency that'll cause constant pauses for re-buffering.

Satellite internet suffers from that on devices with limited buffers.
In the very early days of HD streaming, when I had DSL, (ca. 2006) I would download the video rental to my XBOX and then watch it. It avoided stuttering.

Today you might get that issue sporadically on cable if everybody in the neighborhood is downloading big files at once *and* the ISP hasn't upgraded their system for a long time. That would be an ISP issue rather than a Netflix issue.

Netflix provides a website where you can test your network connection to see if the ISP is delivering proper paid-for bandwidth:

https://media.netflix.com/en/company...internet-speed

As is, Netflix and Prime should deliver nearly identical quality (both run on AWS) and be almost imperceptibly inferior to Hulu. Pretty much everybody lags behind those three with CBS and DirecTV now being noticeably worse. For now. They're taking enough flak for it.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Just $15? Why such a small amount?

The calculations aren't straightforward. Income levels change annually depending on how many families and individuals the SNAP budget can support. It also varies depending on your age. $15 is the minimum amount. The thing is, once you qualify for SNAP, you can qualify for a bunch of other services without having to apply again. So, while $15 is a pitiful amount a month, getting home health or transportation help could amount to hundreds a month. Sometimes that $15 buys all the fruit the recipient is going to get for the month.

Barry, even in our neighborhood, people assumed my parents were much more well off than they were because they paid off their house early, only ate out occasionally, didn't buy premade food, bought a lot of clothes from Salvation Army, etc. My car is a 1999 Honda Odyssey. Looks a bit beat up now, but it is still reliable.

[John F]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I guess it depends on the resolution. The BBC reckon it's enough for their iPlayer streaming service:

This is what I came up with doing a search:

How fast does my internet connection need to be?

We recommend an internet connection fast enough to allow 3.2Mbps (megabits) playback.
If you’re having buffering issues while streaming but think you have a fast enough connection, you should contact your internet service provider.

You could also try switching to SD (Standard Definition).

What do you actually mean by “High Definition”

To be classed as ""true"" high definition, we encode in at least 1280x720 resolution or 720p. We use h.264 with a bit rate of 3.2Mbps and 192kbps audio. This means that streaming programmes in HD quality will put demands on your network connection

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/h...ted/hd_general

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Tarana

The calculations aren't straightforward. Income levels change annually depending on how many families and individuals the SNAP budget can support. It also varies depending on your age. $15 is the minimum amount. The thing is, once you qualify for SNAP, you can qualify for a bunch of other services without having to apply again. So, while $15 is a pitiful amount a month, getting home health or transportation help could amount to hundreds a month. Sometimes that $15 buys all the fruit the recipient is going to get for the month.

Thanks for the explanation.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by John F

This is what I came up with doing a search:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/h...ted/hd_general

High-def is not 720. hi-def is 1080. 720 is in between-def.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

Fuzzy, maybe, but not jumpy.

(Fuzzy and Jumpy are the 8th and 9th dwarfs.)

[barryem]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

The price of Prime is $99 per year. $10.99 per month equals $131.88 per year. $5.99 per month equals $71.88.

So the SNAP receivers save $27.12 per year - not half price.

I'm not sure that's the best way to look at this. If Prime is $131.88 a year paid monthly and they pay $71.88 a year, in monthly installments they're saving 60.00. This compares equal plans.

I suppose either way of looking at it is valid but comparing a monthly plan for Snap users with the Annual price isn't quite apples and apples.

Barry