WMP 11 Internet Video Streaming pauses frequently

P4 3Ghz 1.5Gb RAM I'm on XP sp3 8Meg Broadband running about 6Mbps.

Especially when trying to watch World Superbikes on SBK TV from the SBK
Official web site. At 550Kbps. When I check stats on the WMP screen whilst
streaming: best connect at 548kbps, network or Internet is connected at
528kbps, content currently received at 548kbps (this value changes frequently
low of 48kbps).
Sorry to go on but the FAQ says
"In some cases, firewalls block Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP)
traffic, which is the protocol required to play streaming content. In those
cases, the Player is forced to use the HTTP/TCP protocol, which causes
buffering and pauses when there is network congestion.
To find out whether the Player is pausing (buffering) due to network
congestion, you can compare the bandwidth the Player is currently using
against the available bandwidth. On the View menu, click Statistics, and then
click the Advanced tab."

This unfortunately doesn't help. Dissable firewall to no avail. So can you
please assist? How do I change bandwidth or solve this pausing. Thanks

In WMP menus, under Tools -> Options -> Performance :
Manually set your broadband / connection speed to T1 or LAN

That should prevent WMP fro mtrying to incorrectly negoatiate a lower
rate if you're *certain* your broadband is uncapped and can definitely
sustain 550kbps or higher.

If you've been torrenting all night, you might find your ISP has
capped your broadband download speed, so a speed check before doing
this change would be a useful diagnostic.

HTH
Cheers - Neil


On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 14:38:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
<dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> P4 3Ghz 1.5Gb RAM I'm on XP sp3 8Meg Broadband running about 6Mbps.
>
>Especially when trying to watch World Superbikes on SBK TV from the SBK
>Official web site. At 550Kbps. When I check stats on the WMP screen whilst
>streaming: best connect at 548kbps, network or Internet is connected at
>528kbps, content currently received at 548kbps (this value changes frequently
>low of 48kbps).
>Sorry to go on but the FAQ says
> "In some cases, firewalls block Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP)
>traffic, which is the protocol required to play streaming content. In those
>cases, the Player is forced to use the HTTP/TCP protocol, which causes
>buffering and pauses when there is network congestion.
>To find out whether the Player is pausing (buffering) due to network
>congestion, you can compare the bandwidth the Player is currently using
>against the available bandwidth. On the View menu, click Statistics, and then
>click the Advanced tab."
>
>This unfortunately doesn't help. Dissable firewall to no avail. So can you
>please assist? How do I change bandwidth or solve this pausing. Thanks
------------------------------------------------
Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs

Thanks Neil! Did a quick speed test and got 900+kbps so changed settings as
you suggested (LAN) and no problems!. Cheers

"Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:

> In WMP menus, under Tools -> Options -> Performance :
> Manually set your broadband / connection speed to T1 or LAN
>
> That should prevent WMP fro mtrying to incorrectly negoatiate a lower
> rate if you're *certain* your broadband is uncapped and can definitely
> sustain 550kbps or higher.
>
> If you've been torrenting all night, you might find your ISP has
> capped your broadband download speed, so a speed check before doing
> this change would be a useful diagnostic.
>
> HTH
> Cheers - Neil
>
>
> On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 14:38:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
> <dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > P4 3Ghz 1.5Gb RAM I'm on XP sp3 8Meg Broadband running about 6Mbps.
> >
> >Especially when trying to watch World Superbikes on SBK TV from the SBK
> >Official web site. At 550Kbps. When I check stats on the WMP screen whilst
> >streaming: best connect at 548kbps, network or Internet is connected at
> >528kbps, content currently received at 548kbps (this value changes frequently
> >low of 48kbps).
> >Sorry to go on but the FAQ says
> > "In some cases, firewalls block Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP)
> >traffic, which is the protocol required to play streaming content. In those
> >cases, the Player is forced to use the HTTP/TCP protocol, which causes
> >buffering and pauses when there is network congestion.
> >To find out whether the Player is pausing (buffering) due to network
> >congestion, you can compare the bandwidth the Player is currently using
> >against the available bandwidth. On the View menu, click Statistics, and then
> >click the Advanced tab."
> >
> >This unfortunately doesn't help. Dissable firewall to no avail. So can you
> >please assist? How do I change bandwidth or solve this pausing. Thanks
> ------------------------------------------------
> Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
>

PROBLEM BACK AGAIN!! Must have been luck that the next time I tried it, it
was OK.
Changed settings to T1 and the same! Might it be the web site that the video
is streamed from?
Thanks in anticipation. Richard

"dubiousricardo" wrote:

> Thanks Neil! Did a quick speed test and got 900+kbps so changed settings as
> you suggested (LAN) and no problems!. Cheers
>
> "Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:
>
> > In WMP menus, under Tools -> Options -> Performance :
> > Manually set your broadband / connection speed to T1 or LAN
> >
> > That should prevent WMP fro mtrying to incorrectly negoatiate a lower
> > rate if you're *certain* your broadband is uncapped and can definitely
> > sustain 550kbps or higher.
> >
> > If you've been torrenting all night, you might find your ISP has
> > capped your broadband download speed, so a speed check before doing
> > this change would be a useful diagnostic.
> >
> > HTH
> > Cheers - Neil
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 14:38:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
> > <dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > > P4 3Ghz 1.5Gb RAM I'm on XP sp3 8Meg Broadband running about 6Mbps.
> > >
> > >Especially when trying to watch World Superbikes on SBK TV from the SBK
> > >Official web site. At 550Kbps. When I check stats on the WMP screen whilst
> > >streaming: best connect at 548kbps, network or Internet is connected at
> > >528kbps, content currently received at 548kbps (this value changes frequently
> > >low of 48kbps).
> > >Sorry to go on but the FAQ says
> > > "In some cases, firewalls block Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP)
> > >traffic, which is the protocol required to play streaming content. In those
> > >cases, the Player is forced to use the HTTP/TCP protocol, which causes
> > >buffering and pauses when there is network congestion.
> > >To find out whether the Player is pausing (buffering) due to network
> > >congestion, you can compare the bandwidth the Player is currently using
> > >against the available bandwidth. On the View menu, click Statistics, and then
> > >click the Advanced tab."
> > >
> > >This unfortunately doesn't help. Dissable firewall to no avail. So can you
> > >please assist? How do I change bandwidth or solve this pausing. Thanks
> > ------------------------------------------------
> > Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
> >

There's really no guarantee that the web server (or streaming server)
you're connecting to really *can* sustain a large number of
simultaneous plays of higher bitrate content.

So I guess the real question, is - can you reproduce this at "busy
times" (e.g 5-11PM, or if there's a popular race on) but it works just
fine at 3AM - 5AM ?

Hard to test I know, but if the remote end is resource limited,
there's very little you can do to fix it.

What's a direct URL to playback the video ? I'm in GMT + 0000 here, so
at 8 hours from PST I should experience a different set of peak hours
if I played it back here.

HTH
Cheers - Neil

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:25:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
<dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>PROBLEM BACK AGAIN!! Must have been luck that the next time I tried it, it
>was OK.
>Changed settings to T1 and the same! Might it be the web site that the video
>is streamed from?
>Thanks in anticipation. Richard
>
>"dubiousricardo" wrote:
>
>> Thanks Neil! Did a quick speed test and got 900+kbps so changed settings as
>> you suggested (LAN) and no problems!. Cheers
>>
>> "Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:
>>
>> > In WMP menus, under Tools -> Options -> Performance :
>> > Manually set your broadband / connection speed to T1 or LAN
>> >
>> > That should prevent WMP fro mtrying to incorrectly negoatiate a lower
>> > rate if you're *certain* your broadband is uncapped and can definitely
>> > sustain 550kbps or higher.
>> >
>> > If you've been torrenting all night, you might find your ISP has
>> > capped your broadband download speed, so a speed check before doing
>> > this change would be a useful diagnostic.
>> >
>> > HTH
>> > Cheers - Neil
>> >
>> >
>> > On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 14:38:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
>> > <dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > > P4 3Ghz 1.5Gb RAM I'm on XP sp3 8Meg Broadband running about 6Mbps.
>> > >
>> > >Especially when trying to watch World Superbikes on SBK TV from the SBK
>> > >Official web site. At 550Kbps. When I check stats on the WMP screen whilst
>> > >streaming: best connect at 548kbps, network or Internet is connected at
>> > >528kbps, content currently received at 548kbps (this value changes frequently
>> > >low of 48kbps).
>> > >Sorry to go on but the FAQ says
>> > > "In some cases, firewalls block Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP)
>> > >traffic, which is the protocol required to play streaming content. In those
>> > >cases, the Player is forced to use the HTTP/TCP protocol, which causes
>> > >buffering and pauses when there is network congestion.
>> > >To find out whether the Player is pausing (buffering) due to network
>> > >congestion, you can compare the bandwidth the Player is currently using
>> > >against the available bandwidth. On the View menu, click Statistics, and then
>> > >click the Advanced tab."
>> > >
>> > >This unfortunately doesn't help. Dissable firewall to no avail. So can you
>> > >please assist? How do I change bandwidth or solve this pausing. Thanks
>> > ------------------------------------------------
>> > Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
>> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
>> >
------------------------------------------------
Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs

Thanks for the input Neil...
The URL http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/popup.php?id=290
Maybe as the site has world interest due to being last race of world
championship season and a new circuit!!
Stutters at 5 seconds and pauses shortly after. Stats show 'Network or
Internet Connection >3500.0 kbps; Received at 298.0 kbps.
Thanks again
Richard

"Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:

> There's really no guarantee that the web server (or streaming server)
> you're connecting to really *can* sustain a large number of
> simultaneous plays of higher bitrate content.
>
> So I guess the real question, is - can you reproduce this at "busy
> times" (e.g 5-11PM, or if there's a popular race on) but it works just
> fine at 3AM - 5AM ?
>
> Hard to test I know, but if the remote end is resource limited,
> there's very little you can do to fix it.
>
> What's a direct URL to playback the video ? I'm in GMT + 0000 here, so
> at 8 hours from PST I should experience a different set of peak hours
> if I played it back here.
>
> HTH
> Cheers - Neil
>
> On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:25:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
> <dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >PROBLEM BACK AGAIN!! Must have been luck that the next time I tried it, it
> >was OK.
> >Changed settings to T1 and the same! Might it be the web site that the video
> >is streamed from?
> >Thanks in anticipation. Richard
> >
> >"dubiousricardo" wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks Neil! Did a quick speed test and got 900+kbps so changed settings as
> >> you suggested (LAN) and no problems!. Cheers
> >>
> >> "Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:
> >>
> >> > In WMP menus, under Tools -> Options -> Performance :
> >> > Manually set your broadband / connection speed to T1 or LAN
> >> >
> >> > That should prevent WMP fro mtrying to incorrectly negoatiate a lower
> >> > rate if you're *certain* your broadband is uncapped and can definitely
> >> > sustain 550kbps or higher.
> >> >
> >> > If you've been torrenting all night, you might find your ISP has
> >> > capped your broadband download speed, so a speed check before doing
> >> > this change would be a useful diagnostic.
> >> >
> >> > HTH
> >> > Cheers - Neil
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 14:38:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
> >> > <dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > P4 3Ghz 1.5Gb RAM I'm on XP sp3 8Meg Broadband running about 6Mbps.
> >> > >
> >> > >Especially when trying to watch World Superbikes on SBK TV from the SBK
> >> > >Official web site. At 550Kbps. When I check stats on the WMP screen whilst
> >> > >streaming: best connect at 548kbps, network or Internet is connected at
> >> > >528kbps, content currently received at 548kbps (this value changes frequently
> >> > >low of 48kbps).
> >> > >Sorry to go on but the FAQ says
> >> > > "In some cases, firewalls block Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP)
> >> > >traffic, which is the protocol required to play streaming content. In those
> >> > >cases, the Player is forced to use the HTTP/TCP protocol, which causes
> >> > >buffering and pauses when there is network congestion.
> >> > >To find out whether the Player is pausing (buffering) due to network
> >> > >congestion, you can compare the bandwidth the Player is currently using
> >> > >against the available bandwidth. On the View menu, click Statistics, and then
> >> > >click the Advanced tab."
> >> > >
> >> > >This unfortunately doesn't help. Dissable firewall to no avail. So can you
> >> > >please assist? How do I change bandwidth or solve this pausing. Thanks
> >> > ------------------------------------------------
> >> > Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
> >> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
> >> >
> ------------------------------------------------
> Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
>

OK well I opened directly the URL in media player :
http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/asx....ype=FM&sessid=

It showed normal and (also) quite -odd- streaming behaviour.

The selected / required bitrate initially was 548kbps, stated as the
encoding rate of the best video stream selected by the player.

This was delivered over TCP (RTSPT) so it should be reliable and
resend lost packets. The selected bitrate showed 548kbps when T1/LAN
was chosen (I have around 8Mbps here downstream)

As often happens, the stream "overbuffers", that is - the server is
configured properly, to send more than the Max bitrate initially, then
back right off, with the delivered bitrate often dropping back to
60kbps then ramping back up again as the player buffer emptied.

The player only rebuffered occasionally. No packet loss seen.

Oddly, it didn't seem to overbuffer when I used the seek bar to move
to a new random access position in the clip. Fast streaming / fast
start on the server *should* do that at any point in the clip, if the
required data isn't in the player's buffer.

However I did notice the *selected* bitrate move down to 298, and
sometimes to 48Kbps which is normally stream thinning due to reports
by the client that it can't keep up with the delivery bitrate (the
server takes this action)

Hmm pretty odd, I'd have to dig about in the WM server documentation
to see what might cause that. As an end user, there's not much I think
you can do - unless I turn up a "magic" KB (knowledgebase) or support
article that describes this scenario.

I'll get back if I find out anything more.

HTH
Cheers - Neil

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:53:03 -0800, dubiousricardo
<dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Thanks for the input Neil...
>The URL http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/popup.php?id=290
>Maybe as the site has world interest due to being last race of world
>championship season and a new circuit!!
>Stutters at 5 seconds and pauses shortly after. Stats show 'Network or
>Internet Connection >3500.0 kbps; Received at 298.0 kbps.
>Thanks again
>Richard
>
>"Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:
>
>> There's really no guarantee that the web server (or streaming server)
>> you're connecting to really *can* sustain a large number of
>> simultaneous plays of higher bitrate content.
>>
>> So I guess the real question, is - can you reproduce this at "busy
>> times" (e.g 5-11PM, or if there's a popular race on) but it works just
>> fine at 3AM - 5AM ?
>>
>> Hard to test I know, but if the remote end is resource limited,
>> there's very little you can do to fix it.
>>
>> What's a direct URL to playback the video ? I'm in GMT + 0000 here, so
>> at 8 hours from PST I should experience a different set of peak hours
>> if I played it back here.
>>
>> HTH
>> Cheers - Neil
>>
>> On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:25:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
>> <dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >PROBLEM BACK AGAIN!! Must have been luck that the next time I tried it, it
>> >was OK.
>> >Changed settings to T1 and the same! Might it be the web site that the video
>> >is streamed from?
>> >Thanks in anticipation. Richard
>> >
>> >"dubiousricardo" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Thanks Neil! Did a quick speed test and got 900+kbps so changed settings as
>> >> you suggested (LAN) and no problems!. Cheers
>> >>
>> >> "Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > In WMP menus, under Tools -> Options -> Performance :
>> >> > Manually set your broadband / connection speed to T1 or LAN
>> >> >
>> >> > That should prevent WMP fro mtrying to incorrectly negoatiate a lower
>> >> > rate if you're *certain* your broadband is uncapped and can definitely
>> >> > sustain 550kbps or higher.
>> >> >
>> >> > If you've been torrenting all night, you might find your ISP has
>> >> > capped your broadband download speed, so a speed check before doing
>> >> > this change would be a useful diagnostic.
>> >> >
>> >> > HTH
>> >> > Cheers - Neil
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 14:38:01 -0800, dubiousricardo
>> >> > <dubiousricardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > > P4 3Ghz 1.5Gb RAM I'm on XP sp3 8Meg Broadband running about 6Mbps.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >Especially when trying to watch World Superbikes on SBK TV from the SBK
>> >> > >Official web site. At 550Kbps. When I check stats on the WMP screen whilst
>> >> > >streaming: best connect at 548kbps, network or Internet is connected at
>> >> > >528kbps, content currently received at 548kbps (this value changes frequently
>> >> > >low of 48kbps).
>> >> > >Sorry to go on but the FAQ says
>> >> > > "In some cases, firewalls block Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP)
>> >> > >traffic, which is the protocol required to play streaming content. In those
>> >> > >cases, the Player is forced to use the HTTP/TCP protocol, which causes
>> >> > >buffering and pauses when there is network congestion.
>> >> > >To find out whether the Player is pausing (buffering) due to network
>> >> > >congestion, you can compare the bandwidth the Player is currently using
>> >> > >against the available bandwidth. On the View menu, click Statistics, and then
>> >> > >click the Advanced tab."
>> >> > >
>> >> > >This unfortunately doesn't help. Dissable firewall to no avail. So can you
>> >> > >please assist? How do I change bandwidth or solve this pausing. Thanks
>> >> > ------------------------------------------------
>> >> > Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
>> >> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
>> >> >
>> ------------------------------------------------
>> Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
>>
------------------------------------------------
Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs