Don’t Want to Suffer the Buffer During the Big Game? Here’s What You Need to Do

If you are a sports activities fan who’s ever tried to livestream a giant recreation in your condominium, then chances are you’ll already know the ache of realizing your neighbors are a couple of seconds forward of you as you hear them react to the large landing, dwelling run or leap shot lengthy earlier than it performs out in your display. Or, simply as unhealthy, you get a notification in your telephone earlier than seeing the successful kick. 

I’ve been there. It stinks.

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The actuality is that a certain quantity of lag or delay is typical once you’re streaming one thing reside whereas everybody’s tuning in to the identical broadcast (my CNET colleague Eli Blumenthal does an incredible job of detailing the causes of the streaming delay). There’s not a lot that you simply — or your neighbors — can do about that collective baseline lag. But in case your cheering neighbors upstairs persistently appear to be a number of seconds forward of you, that is an indication there may also be points with your house community slowing issues down. 

First, let me begin by saying there may very well be longer-term options to higher your streaming capabilities. For instance, my CNET colleagues recommend upgrading your Wi-Fi router and different options in our information to bettering your streaming expertise. But let’s concentrate on short-term, fast enhancements you’ll be able to sort out in just some days so that you’re prepared for the large recreation.

Don’t wait till kickoff. Use these performs earlier than recreation day

Ideally, you wish to embark on this fact-finding mission at the very least a couple of days earlier than kickoff. That’ll provide you with sufficient time to make the required changes earlier than the all-important occasion. 

Run a velocity check

The first order of enterprise is to know should you’re getting the web velocity you are paying for. I’ve a sneaking suspicion {that a} good variety of you on the market aren’t even certain what velocity you are purported to be getting (and perhaps that is an article for an additional day), so should you’re unsure, verify your account on-line and confirm what velocity your plan guarantees.

Next, you will wish to run a velocity check to search out out should you’re getting the obtain and add speeds you want within the rooms the place you propose on tuning in. The finest, most thorough strategy is to run a number of assessments at completely different instances of day to get a fuller image of your connection’s velocity. But for the particular process of getting arrange for the large recreation, you wish to run your velocity check on the identical time of day because the scheduled kickoff (which is roughly 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET).

There are loads of free web velocity assessments, however I most incessantly use the Ookla velocity check. I’ve bought the app on my Apple TV and may see the outcomes on my LG TV — you can too run it in your browser or through the use of a free velocity check app in your Android or iOS gadget.

In our CNET information to how a lot web velocity you actually need, our advice for streaming 4K video (for instance, this 12 months’s Super Bowl protection by FOX shall be broadcast in 4K, although most over-the-air broadcasts shall be in HD) is a minimal of 25Mbps, in order that’s your place to begin. Overall, we additionally concluded that as we speak’s households needs to be in search of minimal obtain speeds of at the very least 100Mbps if speeds like these can be found and reasonably priced at your handle, particularly contemplating the variety of good units related within the dwelling (which we’ll contact on slightly below). 

With your velocity check leads to hand, make sure you’re getting the speeds you are purported to obtain. If the numbers are far off, it’d make sense to contact your web service supplier and discover out if one thing is awry on that finish, or, if doable, you might even attempt to negotiate a quicker plan for much less cash than you are paying now. If you have been along with your ISP for some time, chances are you’ll be shocked to find what higher, cheaper plans at the moment are obtainable. 

Look over your format

Wi-Fi is extremely handy, but it surely may also bear some blame in your buffering woes. Put merely, the farther away from the modem and router your streaming gadget is, the decrease its wi-fi speeds shall be. If speeds are low sufficient, you will begin to see buffering because the streaming gadget struggles to tug the video content material over the air quick sufficient to indicate it to you in actual time. 

I discussed earlier than that I ran my Ookla velocity check from my Apple TV. The motive for that’s my spouse and I made a decision to attach our Apple TV on to our router through an Ethernet cable. We wished our streaming companies — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, and so on. — to all have entry to the quickest speeds in our home, which would not be doable through Wi-Fi. Likewise, if doable, attempt a wired Ethernet connection for no matter gadget you propose to observe the Super Bowl on.

If you can’t join through Ethernet cable, the following best choice is to attempt watching the sport on a tool or TV in the identical room as your modem and router. The much less distance between your router and your Wi-Fi streaming gadget, the higher your possibilities for uninterrupted efficiency.

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Quick tips to help speed up your Wi-Fi at home

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Check your household bandwidth usage by using your router

If you’re still encountering problems even though your download speeds seem to be up to snuff, you may be having trouble with your router. The first thing to try is the simplest: turning it off and back on again. I know that can be frustrating to hear, especially if you’ve ever asked for help from anyone in tech services. The standard first response is usually, “Have you unplugged it and plugged it back in?” But the truth is that sometimes it can be that easy — restarting your router often helps it reset and function better.

Something else worth considering is the number of people and devices using your network. While we mentioned earlier that the ideal download speed for streaming 4K video is 25Mbps, it’s important not to forget that each device on your network uses bandwidth.

Our homes are now filled with connected devices, starting with our mobile phones, laptops and smart TVs. We also have gaming consoles, security cameras, voice assistants, connected speakers/sound systems, smart thermostats, smart refrigerators, smartwatches and many other smart home gadgets
. These are all vying for your resources.

Take an inventory of the smart devices in your household and, with your partner, roommate, kids or whoever else is at your abode, agree on what can be temporarily removed from your network to allow a less congested network for your game day.

On that note, if you have people in the home who aren’t football fans and would like some counterprogramming — consult with them beforehand and see if you can come up with a list of shows or movies that can be downloaded ahead of time. Maybe download a copy of Encanto for the kids. Or maybe the nonsports fans would enjoy some episodes of The Last of Us or some classic episodes of The Office. Whatever it may be, take the time to get your household on board, and those alternatives downloaded early, and you can avoid strife, arguments and backed-up bandwidth on the day.

Execute a game-day checklist

OK, you’ve done a practice run several days before the big game. But now it’s Go Time. It’s Sunday and you’re just hours away from kickoff. To ensure all your efforts weren’t in vain, it’s time to run through the tasks one last time.

Rerun that speed test

The fantastic download speeds you registered several days ago won’t do you any good if your game day speeds are lacking. It’s always a smart idea to check your download speed before marking off any other items on your list.

Return to your router and double-check the bandwidth status

Remember your inventory of smart devices? Go through the list and start removing them from your network. Even though you previously discussed this with the other household members, take the time to remind them of your game day plan. For example, you don’t want the kids going off-script to hop online and play Fortnite instead of sticking to the movie you already downloaded. This will make for less stress in the fourth quarter when the game’s on the line.

Now you’re set to get the best experience possible for your home’s current setup. You’ve done all you can, now have fun!

One last play: Avoid streaming the game if possible

Before you start yelling at me, I’m not contradicting everything I just mentioned. Nor am I advocating that you give up your sports habit altogether. 

Maybe you found a few holes in your system that these tips can’t fix (you’re due for a new router, or it’s time to get out of apartment life, maybe?). Or maybe you don’t want to chance a game-day glitch. I’d encourage you to take a look at other ways to view your favorite matchups at home. 

For example, approximately 90% of all regular season and postseason NFL games are broadcast on the traditional networks of CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC. That means that even if you’re a cord-cutter like me — and Statista predicts there will be over 40 million households that part with pay TV in 2023 — depending on where you live, you can still get your football fix by using an over-the-air antenna. If you go that route, you could watch the big game without being at the mercy of buffering, blips or delays. 

That said, other sports, like the NBA, NHL and MLB, to name a few, have a much smaller percentage of games shown on the broadcast networks, so an antenna won’t do you much good there. Or, as my colleague David Anders put it in his rundown of internet and TV bundles, if you want your regional sports networks, you’ll need to lean on a traditional TV subscription or streaming service with live TV. 

Whatever you choose to do, take some time before kickoff to ensure that your game day experience is the best you can make it. Also, be sure to have all your snacks on hand, prep your chili, wings, pizza and subs early, and enjoy the game!