You can check to see if your service is throttling video by comparing a speed test using (run by Netflix, so it uses a video file to test) with a more general speed test service like. TIP: Keep in mind that some mobile internet connections restrict speeds for video content to limit resolution and control data usage. However, if you pick a resolution higher than your data speed can support - you'll experience a lot of buffering pauses. And some services allow you to manually pick a quality setting, giving you some control over resolution and data use. Some video streaming services will automatically adapt to deliver as much resolution as your connection will allow. If your connection is particularly fast, you may burn through way more data than intended. If your connection is barely fast enough for the resolution you have selected - you may encounter pauses for buffering, or lengthy delays when you jump to a new location in a show. Since August 2017 Verizon has been throttling video streams on most plans - capping streaming speeds at 10Mbps - fast enough for 1080p in most cases. Streaming below 1Mbps can still work, but the resolution will drop to very low levels depending on the streaming service. 1 Mbps - SD resolution, aka "DVD Quality".So just what does it take to stream successfully, particularly when relying on mobile internet? How Fast of a Connection Do You Need?įor example, here are the current minimum speed recommendations for watching Netflix content. Video streaming is one of the most bandwidth intensive things you can do online, and is the area where your experience will change along with the quality of your connection and your mobile internet source. We so often hear from RVers and cruisers that they have just basic mobile internet needs - just e-mail, web surfing and video streaming.Įven though video streaming is commonplace and may appear simple, it is often not simple when it comes to streaming over mobile internet. And the amount of data and resources required to provide and receive it are mind-boggling. Just click on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Smart TV, or streaming box.īecause video streaming has become very common and affordable - we often forget that the technology behind the scenes that makes this possible is near magical. Video streaming allows watching live TV or specific shows on-demand over the internet anytime you like. If you learn a few tricks and the ways to avoid the worst pitfalls, there are actually still plenty of options to keep you entertained no matter where you roam!Ī quick video overview sharing top tips from this guide: You might not have ever thought about how much data is required to stream a movie or TV show (it requires a lot!) - which can be a major challenge with mobile connections that usually come with data restrictions, caps, and speed throttles.īut never fear - you don't have to give up your favorite shows to live a life on the go. If you have a fast and unlimited landline internet hook-up, then these data demands are no big deal. The cable is cut, satellite TV is hit-or-miss through trees or masts, local over-the-air channels are unfamiliar, and online streaming can leave you fighting with poor signal and living in fear of data caps.Īnd let's face it - few things consume data more quickly than streaming video!Įnjoying HD (and even glorious ultra-HD 4K) video requires astronomical amounts of data. With life in constant motion, many of the old ways of staying entertained just don't work like you might be used to. But affordable streaming options for nomads are out there! The problem: For many, one of the hardest aspects of hitting the road may be the fear of breaking a TV addiction. Unwinding after a day of work, exploring, or socializing by plopping down in front of the TV is part of modern-day life! There will be bad weather days, blood-sucking bugs, days you’re not feeling well, or days you’re just bored of exploring (yes, it happens) when you'd rather just Netflix and chill at home. We aren't spending all of our days playing tourist and evenings roasting marshmallows over a campfire. There’s no shame watching some television after the hike - or bailing on yet another museum to stream a good flick.įor a full-time nomad, this is life on the road or water - not an endless vacation. While nomads do enjoy getting out and exploring our new locales, hiking in nature, and visiting with friends – when travel is a lifestyle, it’s all about finding balance. RVing and boating don't mean giving up Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or any streaming service - you can still stream video while traveling using mobile internet sources like cellular data, satellite, and public Wi-Fi. Bookmark TV & Movie Streaming with Mobile Internet
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