V P N & Speed Tests

[topt]

1 hour ago, superal said:

Can anyone explain why it is that YouTube videos play in a high resolution and never buffer but every IPTV service that I have tried all buffer ?

Possibly YT have servers here in Thailand which would make a huge difference compared to IPTV services.

[topt]

2 hours ago, superal said:

T95 Android boxes .

How old are they and are you sure that they have a 1Gbs connection and not 100mbs which used to be the standard?

 

For example when I bought an HK1 RBox 3 years or so ago there were different types - some with 100 and some with 1000Mbps and people on forums were moaning because they had unknowingly bought the wrong one.

[superal]

3 hours ago, topt said:

How old are they and are you sure that they have a 1Gbs connection and not 100mbs which used to be the standard?

 

For example when I bought an HK1 RBox 3 years or so ago there were different types - some with 100 and some with 1000Mbps and people on forums were moaning because they had unknowingly bought the wrong one.

Well , I didn't know that . The boxes say ROM 4 GB    RAM 32 GB . Wizz told me they were capable of 1000 MBPS but the 3BB tech said they were low quality and old technology . Also Wizz say that the Amazon Fire Stick is a better bet to download their app .

[VR333]

7 hours ago, superal said:

They stated that my equipment was too old or of a low quality

They may have a point.

 

I get varying speeds when I test, depending on the device being used. I pay for 1000/500 or 1000/1000, can't remember which. On a four year old budget Samsung A12, I get 100/150. On my wife's year-old, higher-spec Oppo phone, it's 300/270. On my year old medium spec laptop, 480/400. The interesting test result was on a seven year old desktop. I swapped in a tp-link Archer TX50E Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 PCIe adapter, and the download test speed went from 400 to 950. 

[topt]

5 hours ago, superal said:

Well , I didn't know that . The boxes say ROM 4 GB    RAM 32 GB . Wizz told me they were capable of 1000 MBPS but the 3BB tech said they were low quality and old technology . Also Wizz say that the Amazon Fire Stick is a better bet to download their app .

Quick search on Brave summarised this  - only you can say exactly what model you have and what speed they advertised when you bought it -

Quote

 

T95 Android Box Internet Speed

Based on the provided search results, here’s a summary of the LAN speed information related to the T95 Android TV Box:

• The T95 Android TV Box 10.0, 2GB RAM 16GB ROM, Allwinner H616 Quad-Core Cortex-A53 CPU, and Android Box 2.4G/5G Wi-Fi 100M LAN Ethernet Bluetooth Smart TV Box has a LAN speed of 100M (megabits per second).
• Another model, the T95 MAX Android TV Box 2.4G/5.8G Dual Band WiFi Ethernet LAN BT 4.1 6K HDR 10 Smart TV Box 2024, also has a LAN speed of 100M.

I appreciate not quite the specs you mention but if correct then not surprising you are getting the speeds you mention.

[topt]

4 hours ago, VR333 said:

The interesting test result was on a seven year old desktop. I swapped in a tp-link Archer TX50E Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 PCIe adapter, and the download test speed went from 400 to 950. 

No real surprise if you have clients that are AX compatible and you connect to AX (wiFi 6)  with lan - however very good if connected wirelessly.

[topt]

5 hours ago, superal said:

The boxes say ROM 4 GB    RAM 32 GB

This shows 100Mbps.......

https://www.amazon.com/T95-Android-Allwinner-Support-Ethernet/dp/B0BHZ9YGRM

 

Maybe just buy faster boxes.......

[arick]

On 11/28/2024 at 2:15 PM, superal said:

I am with 3BB fiber and pay for V.I.P. guaranteed 200 Mbps .Bedroom TV with Ethernet often buffers using Wizz IPTV . Do a Speed Test , OOkla / Fast and they both show about 50 - 70 Mbps .No VPN is used . Daytime in my office , on my laptop using wifi , I get about 215 Mbps . Turn on my VPN ( Surf Shark ) and it drops to 20 Mbps . My phone that is using the house router , shows 200 Mbps not using a VPN .

 Do you think that the 50 - 70 Mbps speed in my bedroom  is causing the tv buffering ? Strange thing is that when the TV programme comes back on , it picks up from where it left off , which suggests an IPTV blip ?

3BB techs said my devices were too old , Smart TV 5 years old and T95 Android box 1 year old . Techs connected their android box  and after 20 minutes of playing around achieved 1000 Mbps . Is this b/s ? BTW , the bedroom TV has sometimes hit 220 Mbps speed testing .

A 1000bps will drop down to 200 using wireless a d. Ot a cable .

[ChaiyaTH]

23 hours ago, superal said:

Can anyone explain why it is that YouTube videos play in a high resolution and never buffer but every IPTV service that I have tried all buffer ?

Is loaded from CDN (Content Delivery Network) which basically means YouTube has datacenters all over the world, making the data you load always being nearby. IPTV services are often illegal, they just shut one down in europe last week that made like 200 million a month (euro), with the point being they usually only have few servers on specific locations (hong kong).

Other than that streaming high quality simply requires a high stable connection, wifi is based on signal strength so is less stable. Things like netflix and youtube buffer this as soon you start, you can't do that with live sports either.

 

Some IPTV services do use the buffer technique with live sports, which is fine until the bar next to you has faster and you hear the booing and cheering.

[superal]

Recap . Me using a TV android box T95 and getting slow speeds and buffering especially watching Wizz TV .

 

I bit the bullet and bought the latest Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max , cat 6 e . A speed test went straight to 195 Mbps . So I settled in to watch the golf on Friday evening . Great quality; fhd picture from the live golf in South Africa for about 2 hours until 7 00 pm . Then it buffered so I checked the speed and it had dropped to 50 Mbps . Next day I went to the internet shop to complain and they put me up to 500 Mbps . My speed test showed 325 Mbps , very pleasing . Settled down to watch the Preston v Leeds on Wizz TV . All good for 30 minutes but then started buffering . I checked my speed and was still getting 180 Mbps .  I switched to other channels and they played without buffering . So I have come to the conclusion that you must have decent streaming equipment but that does not ensure buffer free viewing . I am thinking that when it comes to popular programmes that are being streamed by many viewers , the likes of Wizz TV servers cannot cope  and hence the buffering . 

[superal]

6 hours ago, romulsdefroz said:

It does sound like a frustrating situation! The speed drop to 50–70 Mbps in your bedroom could indeed be causing the buffering, especially if the IPTV service is particularly demanding on bandwidth. The fact that it resumes from where it left off does suggest an IPTV glitch rather than a simple network issue. As for the techs achieving 1000 Mbps with their box, it feels a bit exaggerated, but they might have optimised settings specifically for that test.

I have mentioned the following before . My Surfshark VPN takes my speed test from 2-300 Mbps down to 45ish . S/S told me to change protocols but it made no improvement . My S/S contract expires next month and I will be looking at alternatives . I have a basic H/P laptop and the o/s is Chromebook . Any recommendations ?

[KhunHeineken]

On 12/19/2024 at 2:22 AM, superal said:

I have mentioned the following before . My Surfshark VPN takes my speed test from 2-300 Mbps down to 45ish . S/S told me to change protocols but it made no improvement . My S/S contract expires next month and I will be looking at alternatives . I have a basic H/P laptop and the o/s is Chromebook . Any recommendations ?

45Mbps is still fine for streaming HD content. 

 

Are you always connected to S/S?  If not, why the need for the extra speed? 

[superal]

17 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

45Mbps is still fine for streaming HD content. 

 

Are you always connected to S/S?  If not, why the need for the extra speed? 

For some reason my speed test is not constant / stable and having 500 Mbps contract gives me a lot more tolerance when the net is busy . As I said before I have 3 BB fibre but when connected in my bedroom using Ethernet connection via my T95 Android box , I cannot get decent speeds , normally at 70 Mbps at best and last night trying to watch the football on Sky Sports , it was non stop buffering . The Fire Stick also has buffering when watching popular channels , e.g. football and a speed test can show 390 Mbps , so I put it down to the IPTV servers that cannot cope .  Switching to another non popular channel gives no buffering .   Also someone on this forum suggested switching to a lesser known IPTV company because their servers are not in too much demand . 

I generally only use S/S when needing to connect to online banking in the UK 

[VR333]

On 12/19/2024 at 9:22 AM, superal said:

My S/S contract expires next month and I will be looking at alternatives . I have a basic H/P laptop and the o/s is Chromebook . Any recommendations ?

I've tried a few different VPNs over the years. Speeds took a hit with all the ones I've tried. Sometimes as much as ninety percent, depending on the location selected. The fastest I found was Nord, but it was pricey, so it wasn't worth it for me. 

[KannikaP]

18 minutes ago, VR333 said:

The fastest I found was Nord, but it was pricey, so it wasn't worth it for me. 

What WOULD you be willing to pay for a VPN which gives a good connection and speed almost all the time, as NORD does for me, on 3BB 1000 Fibre?

My IPTV app however does not need VPN for UK, SKY, TNT or any Sports/Movie channels. ZOO TV works fine on Fire stick, and when installed on my PCs via Bluestacks, possibly better as the PC is connected via LAN.

Crazy that in UK the Big Fight cost GBP 24.99 to watch, and I got it on my IPTV for which I pay GBP a year!

[VR333]

39 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

What WOULD you be willing to pay for a VPN which gives a good connection and speed almost all the time, as NORD does for me, on 3BB 1000 Fibre?

I think I'm paying about 40AUD a year for the VPN I use, but I'm not using 3BB so what you need to pay is for you to decide. I can watch the international sports and news I'm interested in without buffering and have no issues with banking. Not as fast as Nord, but it suits me. Nord was double the price, even with an introductory offer. Also, once the intro offer expires, there can be steep price increases. I know there are cashback, etc. offers people say they pay next to nothing for, but they seem to require jumping through a lot of hoops. 

 

Everyone has a different setup, different needs. I'd test some of the free ones first. If they aren't any good, try the paid ones. Some have money-back guarantees. If they don't work like you think they should, move on to the next.

[KannikaP]

4 minutes ago, VR333 said:

I think I'm paying about 40AUD a year for the VPN I use, but I'm not using 3BB so what you need to pay is for you to decide. I can watch the international sports and news I'm interested in without buffering and have no issues with banking. Not as fast as Nord, but it suits me. Nord was double the price, even with an introductory offer. Also, once the intro offer expires, there can be steep price increases. I know there are cashback, etc. offers people say they pay next to nothing for, but they seem to require jumping through a lot of hoops. 

 

Everyone has a different setup, different needs. I'd test some of the free ones first. If they aren't any good, try the paid ones. Some have money-back guarantees. If they don't work like you think they should, move on to the next.

So which ISP are you using? And IPTV for International sports?

I can use my Zoo IPTV on my phone via my DTAC SIM card faultlessly, but like the security of a good router and LAN connectivity for my PCs. NORD works and is within my budget.

[paddypower]

On 12/23/2024 at 4:10 PM, KannikaP said:

So which ISP are you using? And IPTV for International sports?

I can use my Zoo IPTV on my phone via my DTAC SIM card faultlessly, but like the security of a good router and LAN connectivity for my PCs. NORD works and is within my budget.

hopefully this is on topic - i use TOT/NT. I was getting buffering (throttling?) on my newish TV (Sony Bavaria) - only when i am watching Netflix. Service guys came, did a speed test. replaced my ISP receiver with a new one. download speed increased from 250 to 650 Mps. it did not fix the problem. any suggestions. my TOT package is 1Gbs/500Mbs fibre.  other TOT users in my village with a lower download package report no problem with Netscape. viewing. with an increased sub fee coming - i am seriously thinking of dumping Netflix and relying 100% on streaming

[Centigrade32]

7 hours ago, paddypower said:

hopefully this is on topic - i use TOT/NT. I was getting buffering (throttling?) on my newish TV (Sony Bavaria) - only when i am watching Netflix. Service guys came, did a speed test. replaced my ISP receiver with a new one. download speed increased from 250 to 650 Mps. it did not fix the problem. any suggestions. my TOT package is 1Gbs/500Mbs fibre.  other TOT users in my village with a lower download package report no problem with Netscape. viewing. with an increased sub fee coming - i am seriously thinking of dumping Netflix and relying 100% on streaming

 

Which model of SONY Bravia? Sounds like a TV issue. How is Netflix on your PC or Smartphone? NetFlix 4k? 1080p? 480p?

[paddypower]

19 hours ago, Centigrade32 said:

 

Which model of SONY Bravia? Sounds like a TV issue. How is Netflix on your PC or Smartphone? NetFlix 4k? 1080p? 480p?

tks for spellck. 😉 SONY MODEL KD43X 7500F. unsure about netflix on my mobile, never use it there. (actually tv is not 'newish', probably 3-4 years old)

[paddypower]

On 12/6/2024 at 10:04 AM, superal said:

Can anyone explain why it is that YouTube videos play in a high resolution and never buffer but every IPTV service that I have tried all buffer ?

i can't answer that. But i have 2 related questions. i have TOT's 1Gbps down/500 Mb up package. #1: on my Android smart Sony TV, there is no buffering on YouTube. But, just recently, Netflix buffers all the time. #2: speed testing on my tablet, i get 650 down, 450 up, (with my Proton VPN turned on). I have read many posts on different threads and still have the question, does having your VPN 'on' affect the incoming signal from Netflix.  ?

tia

[superal]

7 minutes ago, paddypower said:

i can't answer that. But i have 2 related questions. i have TOT's 1Gbps down/500 Mb up package. #1: on my Android smart Sony TV, there is no buffering on YouTube. But, just recently, Netflix buffers all the time. #2: speed testing on my tablet, i get 650 down, 450 up, (with my Proton VPN turned on). I have read many posts on different threads and still have the question, does having your VPN 'on' affect the incoming signal from Netflix.  ?

tia

I don't have Netflix but if I have my Surfshark VPN on , my speed test drops from 380 Mbps download to 40 Mbps . I am in contact with S/S at the moment and they are trying to rectify it . My contract ends in 1 month and I may change the VPN to Nord .

Do you regularly clear your cache and turn off your router for 30 minutes ? Does your router get hot ?

My speed tests are always low at the week ends and evenings , popular times for surfing .  You may be paying for 1 Gbps but your ISP will state that in busier times you will not get that . You may get up to 1 Gbps ( best case scenario ) .

The mysteries of the internet . I get buffering often on Wizz TV but others not far away do not and same ISP . It seems that Thai internet techs have limited skills up here in Issan . YouTube never a problem because they have many quality servers globally .

[paddypower]

23 minutes ago, superal said:

I don't have Netflix but if I have my Surfshark VPN on , my speed test drops from 380 Mbps download to 40 Mbps . I am in contact with S/S at the moment and they are trying to rectify it . My contract ends in 1 month and I may change the VPN to Nord .

Do you regularly clear your cache and turn off your router for 30 minutes ? Does your router get hot ?

My speed tests are always low at the week ends and evenings , popular times for surfing .  You may be paying for 1 Gbps but your ISP will state that in busier times you will not get that . You may get up to 1 Gbps ( best case scenario ) .

The mysteries of the internet . I get buffering often on Wizz TV but others not far away do not and same ISP . It seems that Thai internet techs have limited skills up here in Issan . YouTube never a problem because they have many quality servers globally .

interesting. thanks. waiting for some other responses re: Netflix subscribers. i think it might be my tv, b/c my neighbours have 2 tvs and watch different Netflix shows simultaneously. no buffering, same ISP.

[Centigrade32]

2 hours ago, paddypower said:

tks for spellck. 😉 SONY MODEL KD43X 7500F. unsure about netflix on my mobile, never use it there. (actually tv is not 'newish', probably 3-4 years old)

 

It's from 2018, so seven years old. Are you using the native Netflix application on the TV? Have you ever updated it via Google Play or anywhere else?

[paddypower]

23 hours ago, Centigrade32 said:

 

It's from 2018, so seven years old. Are you using the native Netflix application on the TV? Have you ever updated it via Google Play or anywhere else?

 

23 hours ago, Centigrade32 said:

 

It's from 2018, so seven years old. Are you using the native Netflix application on the TV? Have you ever updated it via Google Play or anywhere else?

no wonder my knowledge about this topic is out-of-date. (and  i thought village life is slow, 555)  i still can't figure if my vpn makes a difference 🙂 

[paddypower]

Just now, paddypower said:

 

no wonder my knowledge about this topic is out-of-date. (and  i thought village life is slow, 555)  i still can't figure if my vpn makes a difference 🙂 

postscript: i am using the native Netflix app. - and only on my tv.  and no I have not tried to update it. I will have to research how to do that. thanks.

[recom273]

20 hours ago, paddypower said:

postscript: i am using the native Netflix app. - and only on my tv.  and no I have not tried to update it. I will have to research how to do that. thanks.

Smart TVs are generally underpowered, our Samsung would never run the AIS play app, always stalling and buffering - I changed over to an android TV box and all the issues went away - If you use an iPhone, then consider an apple TV, it’s a pretty slick experience. 

[Centigrade32]

On 2/7/2025 at 5:15 AM, paddypower said:

 

no wonder my knowledge about this topic is out-of-date. (and  i thought village life is slow, 555)  i still can't figure if my vpn makes a difference 🙂 

 

VPN has nothing to do with it. Why are you using a VPN for Netflix anyway? More likely to do with the Netflix application on your TV.

[Ben Zioner]

14 minutes ago, Centigrade32 said:

Why are you using a VPN for Netflix anyway?

Isn't that obvious to you? He wants to access content that isn't available in Thailand.

[Centigrade32]

On 2/4/2025 at 8:17 PM, paddypower said:

i am seriously thinking of dumping Netflix and relying 100% on streaming

 

2 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Isn't that obvious to you? He wants to access content that isn't available in Thailand.

 

is why I asked. If they have to go through such a palaver and it's not working anyway..