Sky Player keeps Buffering on Live TV

[ozsat]

Your fault may be the wireless, are you using Vista by any chance?

Have you tried with a wire?

I originally had the problem on an XP machine on a 20M network.

Now using a different Vista laptop on a 50M network.

Not tried a wire as it is not in same room - strength is 90%.


When I get change I'll retry wireless and when is buffers try switching to the wire.

[Smithy99]

I know Vista had a lag bug on wireless where it would keep checking for woreless signals every 60 seconds, this caused a similar fault to the one you have. But you shouldn't get it on ethernet.

[ozsat]

I've now changed a couple of settings on the router - one to enable multicast streaming.

Once I can get the laptop back in my hands - I'll try the cable and post back with the various results.

[Isitme]

You could try downloading and running Vista AntiLag it may help Downloads although if you are able to stream successfully from other sources it might not help.

Uninstalling and reinstalling Silverlight may be an option, it is one thing used by SkyPlayer which some other streaming sites don't use. A corruption in its installation could cause your problem.

You might also want to try changing the Channel in your router, it could be you are getting interference on the one you are on which is slowing it down. You could try downloading Inssider from the link below. This will show you all the networks in your area and the channel they are using. Choose one as far from those in use as possible. Once again if SkyPlayer is the only application effected this is probably not the cause, but it may be worth checking.

[ozsat]

I keep an eye quite often in neighboring network channels - I'll try Silverlight - I don't have any streaming issues with any other source.

[pesky]

I've had this buffering issue for a year. I subscribed for the footie season, and it's impossible to watch a full live match in medium or high wuality without the buffering making it unwatchable. If we cosider our home systems meet the requirements stated by Sky, then the root causes must be outside our control.

The way I see it is that not only do ISPs throttle broadband speeds based on usage, but also Sky must be able themselves to serve data in response to demand. I have been in conversation with BT and they say my connection has never dropped below 3.5Mbps (max 8Mbps) even at peak time. Therefore I'm thinking Sky just can't serve the data.

I've tried wifi and ethernet cables, and different more powerful machines, but the technology in Sky Player and the nature of the internet makes the system unviable and they can;t justify the charges. I'm sick of it, but I love footie - what can I do?

[Isitme]

BT and they say my connection has never dropped below 3.5Mbps (max 8Mbps) even at peak time

They would say that. Have you tried a speedtest at peak time using the official BT performance tester. I know that Sky users using Connect have a terrible time trying to stream anything, but if you are direct with BT it should not be so bad, but a speedtest would do no harm. If you are using wireless that will not help either, try a wired connection if you are.

Your other option is to move to an LLU provider where you can possibly get a better speed.

[kizito]

i know this is probably a stupid question but how do you change the settings from high to low on skyplayer?? for my laptop.

thanks in advance