Iplayer

[mrX]

Not sure what to make of this, just tried watching something on BBC Iplayer and really struggled, reloading every 10 seconds or so, so thought I'll try the channel 4 equivalent as there was something on there I wanted to watch as well, and had no problems with that, was able to watch it perfectly. Just before I tried Iplayer I had a download running in the background at about 250KB/s, I obviously stopped this so it wasn't hammering my connection.

So i know at the time my connection was running at about 2meg, which should be more than enough for the standard quality stream as the high quality recommends a 1meg connection. Is this more likely to be karoo's end, or that as it was evening the Iplayer was real busy and struggling with all the traffic.

[richardmyers]

Generally speaking I can't watch anything on iPlayer in an evening, it's fine during the day and afternoon but evenings are impossible. With that said I've not moved onto their ADSL2 rip off packages, and won't be any time in the near future.

[ryanesx7]

did you download the programme using 4od and then watch it or did you stream it from 4od???

[Sean]

All of these systems experience packet loss, in fact all connections outside of karoo.co.uk do.

BBC iPlayer is higher quality I think, and so data is coming faster, and it seems to buffer much less and therefore the combined effect of all these is that it has to constantly stop and buffer a little bit.  You can see the difference in a packet sniffer, at 8PM you will get a steady stream of data, with many duplicate Acknowledge packets (a sign of loss), the stream will stop every 10 seconds to wait for more data.  At 2AM you will see bursts of data, then a pause (i.e. it's buffered enough to display) then another burst and the stream is perfect.  I find iPlayer streaming is fastest after 23:30.  If programmes are available from their own BBC page, these are lower quality but may work.

I find it impossible to even download programmers for later off iPlayer now, 30/40kbps.

I have had the above problem now for over a month, maybe close to two now.  I have exchanged over 15 emails with the helpdesk, and have now filed a complaint.  I have had a phone call today (missed, but message taken) from Karoo saying they are investigating this as many users are having problems, 3 weeks ago they told me I was the only one!

The only period I have not had the problem is when they temporarily upgraded me to Karoo Pro to test.

Please report this to Karoo to ensure they take notice.

[mrX]

I streamed from channel4.com/watchonline, rather than directly through the 4OD software, not sure if it runs differently. I've not bothered to try and stream anything recently, any TV catch up i want to do I just get from a private torrent site during the day, downloaded last nights dead set in about 10 mins this morning.

[dylan]

Just tried iPlayer - unwatchable. Buffering every 2 seconds. 

[stormy]

Its typical karoo style streaming, its garbage. See my lovely speedtests!

[Sean]

Just tried iPlayer - unwatchable. Buffering every 2 seconds. 

Welcome to my world, 2 months of this.  Karoo Max Option 2.

[dylan]

Actually I'm wondering if Karoo are specifically shaping traffic going to iPlayer. I've just tried watching a low quality stream and it's buffering like heck.

Speedtest is giving me

 

Pretty crap, but I'd have thought fast enough to stream iPlayer.

[willcocks]

they give the speedtest sites higher priority so no real gauge as to performance of your line

i get 17~ meg off speedtest sites but often everything else is only doing 100kb/s

apart from at the moment (where the beverley exchange is broken)

only getting about 700kb/s at midday :|

[digitalranger]

If you're having trouble streaming, then download a DRM free copy with this.