Question about buffering and stream speed

[Scooterboy]

Hi,

I searched the forum and found some info that touches on my question, but nothing that really answers it specifically. But I apologize in advance if my question has already been answered and I just missed it. Here's my question:

I opened a stream from the NBA forum that was listed as being 500k. In the StreamTorrent window, under the Bitrate column, it consistently displayed 464k (I think that's what it was but it could have been slightly higher or lower), but at the bottom of the actual StreamTorrent player it displayed only 225k. The actual video quality seems like it worsened after a while, I'd say about 20 minutes after I had opened the stream. Also, I don't think it ever buffered above about 70%. Just to test, I tried another stream (from the NHL forum) and got much the same result.

I'm using the latest version of StreamTorrent, Version 1.0(Build 0078). I'm using the latest update of Windows Vista. I am not going through a router. I have Comcast broadband hi-speed internet and a brand new modem, and I just tested my speed and it's 30.53 Mbps download and 4.94 Mbps upload (although it might have been a little slower earlier when I tried to play the stream).

So my questions are, why did the StreamTorrent window display a much higher bitrate speed than the actual StreamTorrent player displayed, and why did the stream not buffer above about 70%? Is it possible that it's because the streams I tried were both playoff games and thus were being watched by so many people that it bogged down the stream?

Any help anyone can provide would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

Greg

[DEAD_MAN_WALKING]

I think the 225k showing in the player is the speed your receiving the stream...

A quick Screenshot


So basically it should steady its self out and reach the desired bitrate its streamed at.

[Big Mac]

The speed displayed at the bottom of the player window is often very innacurate. It often only displays half or even quarter of the actual stream speed.

To accurately determine the stream speed, right click on the player window and select Statistics. This will give you the accurate bitrate of the stream and in real time show what you are actually receiving.

You will almost never see a stream buffere at 100%. That is not any reflection ofn the stream, but is just the way that P2P works. 75% to 85% is normal, and will give you a very smooth viewing experience.

[Scooterboy]

Thank you for the replies, I really appreciate your help.

Is the worsening of video quality that I experienced about 20 minutes into the stream something that just sometimes happens? I mean, is it normal for the video quality to fluctuate throughout the duration of the stream?

Also, I forgot to mention this in my original post, but at one point the video actually froze completely (I think it was about 25-30 minutes from when I started the stream). I waited a couple minutes for it to unfreeze but it didn't so I just closed the stream. Is video freezing common?

Thanks again,
Greg

[Norman]

If a stream freeze, you can lock it, close it, then open it without waiting for the buffering.
Freezing is not normal, but happens from time to time.

Norman