Broadband speeds are fine BUT can't stream and download/game at same time

[#1]

This has been driving me nuts for months. Why on earth can't I stream ,download or game at the same time there are 2 of us using the broadband at the same time. 

There are certain peak times in the evening when streaming is worse. 

I really hope service providers aren't still restricting our bandwidth.  

[#2]

@zakf782 Welcome to the forum. Which product are you on? You only have a certain bandwidth, and if you are trying to do all three at the same time, you could easily be saturating it.

At peak times, everyone will be using the 'net, and if you are in a built-up area, you are likely to lose some of it - it is not an infinite resource.

ISPs don't restrict your bandwidth, but it has to be shared.

[#3]

Hi @jab1 I'm on the Unlimited Fibre Extra package. Even right now while I type this, my partner can't stream on any service no matter what device we use with perfect speeds. It's a constant issue in the evening & like I mentioned before if I'm downloading/gaming. 

[#4]

OK. What does a speed test report - do this when only the test machine is running? What speed are you supposedly connected at?

[#5]

Summary of Performance Test

Timestamp

Tuesday 31 January 2023 | 20:29:24

Ping

16 Ms

Download

73.86 Mbps

Upload

17.89 Mbps

Everything is fine here. 

[#6]

Is there a way I can maybe priorities the firesticks when they are being used?

[#7]

You are at the top of the range there. When you see this issue, what are using/doing -there is plenty of 'room' to be watching streams and game-playing - unless of course it is all in high-definition/4K and you are trying streaming/downloading/gaming all at the same time.

[#8]

No 4k We're either

Gaming & Streaming 

or

Just Streaming 

Both are an issue. And I know myself from the stats I'm seeing there shouldn't be an issue at all. Like you said the speeds are very good. 

[#9]

In that case, I'm sorry, but I can't really see an issue. Hopefully, someone in the Community with more knowledge/experience will come along and try and help you. Sadly, I live alone and watch very little TV and am not a gamer, so I have nothing to compare your situation to, personally.

[#10]

Maybe this is a congested or faulty (Hot) vlan. Try raising this as a broadband fault. Can we ask what modem/Router are you using?

[#11]

Okay thank you. I believe its the hub 2

[#12]

So I phoned there support up and I was told I basically use to much internet ? Buffering is happening because I'm using over the recommended allowed although I'm on unlimited? So what we've learnt from this is Unlimited isn't truly unlimited. 

And I'm surprised 2 devices at once is causing this issue 

[#13]

@zakf782 - what usage is showing on your Hub? 'Too much usage suggests you are really hammering it, but to be honest, I don't think the agent really knew what they were talking  about.

[#14]

Buffering is happening because I'm using over the recommended allowed although I'm on unlimited? 

@zakf782  im with @jab1  here, there is NO limit on the AMOUNT of data. I've no idea where support are making this up from🙄

There is an overall limit on the RATE ( Bandwidth) at which you can download, its the speed of which your line is capable, and that rate will be shared between all active devices. You seem to have quite a reasonable speed of the line, so I'd be surprised if two active devices exceeded the available bandwidth, especially if they are only streaming HD.

What MIGHT be causing a problem is if one of the devices is constantly UPLOADING data at a high rate ( e.g cloud backup ). That may saturate the upstream bandwidth ( wheich is much less than the downstream ) and WILL affect the ability of other devices to download/stream

[#15]

Thanks for the reply is there a way I can see if any devices are uploading a lot ?