Netflix speed test

[splatto]

Does anyone know how the Netflix network connection speed test works and what it actually reports? I have Full Fibre 500. 
My Sky Glass connected to the hub with Ethernet reports 85.5mbps.

My Sky Stream puck upstairs connected wirelessly reports 218.36mbps. 

[JimM1]

@splatto You will find that the sky Glass TV more than likely but you need to go find the spec's for it just like the Puck ones i sent you on the other post, that the Ethernet Interface will be rated at 100Mb/s speed, so that is as high as it goes so when streaming packets over the cable the rate you get is as shown, the speed link below shows what a typical packet is for the rate of TV Image you are using, packets are all buffered in, and as long as the buffer maintains a level then the TV image wiil be smooth, so lets say it streams 1 minute off TV and allows a drop down to 20 seconds remaining, the buffer say's fill me up to the 1 minute again and a stream off data flows to fill it up, then its a rinse/repeat all the time!!!!

Wireless is at the rate, your puck is rated AX so lets say 300Mb/s on the 2.4Ghz band and 800Mb/s on the 5Ghz band, take the distance away between the devices further away lower it get's then packets stream at your 218Mb/s up down slightly as it's all going along....

Cable is solid because transmission is full duplex ie out/in at the same time, wireless is not its in, stop, out stop, in stop etc, and depending on the device backhaul helps spreading out the signal to make it a little like full duplex if it can that is trans on channel 50 receive on channel 100 but wireless does not take much to deflect, ie shut a door can cause problems etc!

Wireless when working good is generally fine, but throw a rogue device or a bad app that cause wifi to slow down it can be one son off a gun, and mostly it is packet loss, every lost packet has to be resent to maintain the correct data in the stream, high loss is way way bad!!!

It's like stuttering or echo effect in radio waves!

[JimM1]

@splatto You may find this helpfull time to time for the Netflix help centre!

Netflix Error tvq-pb-101 | Netflix Help Center

Netflix-recommended internet speeds | Netflix Help Center

[splatto]

I have the 2nd Gen 43in. I was happy with the 85.5/100 on the face of it, but when I Googled it to see how accurate the Netflix test is it produced a long list of stuff to take into account. It almost seemed to render it pointless. I'll see what happens with the powerline adapter tomorrow with the puck. 

[JimM1]

@splatto At least you get to compare both wireless wifi to a puck and wired Ethernet, speed is speed but stability is the baby, the normal factor is 100Mb/s on Ethernet needs over 400Mb/s on wireless.

[Jporch316]

Hi @splatto 

as stated the ethernet connection in glass and stream is 100mbs.

personally I would try your tv on wifi and if it's stable enough leave on wifi. 

[Chrisee]

@splatto video streaming in UHD with HDR, low latency etc tops out around 35Mb/s so both your puck and Glass TV have ample bandwidth. Given signal stability is as important as bandwidth for streaming Ethernet is always the preferrred connection as it is not vulnerable to interference unlike WiFi. If using ethernet disable the TVs WiFi.

[splatto]

This was not intended as a Sky Glass question. It was regarding Sky Broadband and the Netflix speed test irrespective of the TV system. Someone moved the thread from Broadband to Glass. Whether that resulted in more replies or less we'll never know, but it is what it is.
Just to wrap it up for anyone who's interested and for potential useful information for the future, I've connected my Stream Puck upstairs  to the hub downstairs via a TP Link powerline adapter. The Netflix speed test shows 87.97mps. The puck and the adapter are both limited to 100. I consider that a good result depending on the reliability of the Netflix test (the purpose of my original question). As a non expert it looks like a good alternative if you have unstable or poor WIFI in a room. I assume your electrical wiring set up can be a factor. My house was completely rewired in 2011, so is fairly modern.

[JimM1]

@splatto At least your powerlines appear to be up or over the 100Mb/s, it's hard with only the power cable between both devices and basic same rules longer the distance slower it can get between, you can use the Tp link software but not worth the effort to install, web manager to the Tp is better if you know the IP that shows up for the Puck would assume your app might show you that?

[splatto]

@JimM1 The Sky app shows the IP address. Not sure what you mean by "web manager to the Tp". I just used Netflix because it seemed like an easy option.

[splatto]

Just a postscript to this. I wired my Fire TV Stick to the router and the speed test showed 88.72mb. Whether that proves anything is debatable, but it matches the Netflix result. 

[JimM1]

@splatto The Firestick Ethernet interface like most TV control devices are all mostly 100Mb/s speed interfaces, TV data does not need to be any faster than that to get what they required for streaming the data to them! The good thing is that stability is increased as not relying on the wifi packets off information especially for re-transmissions if data packets get dropped because of wifi issues!

[Angel_Aka]

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@splatto wrote:

Just a postscript to this. I wired my Fire TV Stick to the router and the speed test showed 88.72mb. Whether that proves anything is debatable, but it matches the Netflix result. 

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Ethernet adapters for Firesticks are limited to offering 100Mbps maximum due to the fact they have to be connected via microUSB. The limited bandwidth offered by MicroUSB means that you won't get any faster, not that you need it on a Firestick anyway. 

[splatto]

I've hard wired an Apple TV to the Sky Pod in the bedroom, but it doesn't seem to have a built-in speed test. 

[JimM1]

@splatto That's a google for it! search apple tv speed test.