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Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 30 Oct 2016 16:29
by gkn_ozcan
My internet connection is slightly slow so I am having small interruptions (half a second of interruption every 10 secs) as I play IPTV.

What configuration tuning I can do to watch my IPTV without interruptions?
I tried to pause the stream for 10 secs and play again but it did not improve the situation much.

What comes to my mind is maybe introducing additional buffering delay for the broadcast, so I can follow the broadcasts maybe with 30s delay but without interruptions?

P.S. I searched in the forum for this topic but could not find anything as such.

Re: Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 30 Oct 2016 17:51
by RĂ©mi Denis-Courmont
If by IPTV you mean multicast, then there is basically nothing you can do in software. The physical connection has to be stable.

Re: Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 31 Oct 2016 22:33
by Joejim
If by IPTV you mean multicast, then there is basically nothing you can do in software. The physical connection has to be stable.
"IPTV you mean multicast"
I think we are talking about same thing? IPTV is streaming tv channels via internet. I use m3u8 files to watch IPTV on VLC.
If so, I was always curious HOW or IF any cache settings in VLC have any effect on IPTV streaming.

Correct me if I am wrong but any buffering/cache setting in VLC help IPTV VOD(pre taped tv shows/movies), but not LIVE tv broadcasts like sports?
I has something to do with live tv streaming uses UDP(?) vs VOD uses TCP(?).

But in the end it's packets that is cahched into VLC then played in VLC. So why can't VLC set cache for live tv streams?

Re: Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 31 Oct 2016 22:53
by Joejim
I am total newbie to VLC, IPTV, etc as of few months ago but done lotta researching.
Based on what I can understand there is difference between VOD(Pre recorded) and LIVE tv streams.
Protocols UDP vs TCP?

Most cache/buffer setting discussions do not distinguish between UDP and TCP.

VLC cache or buffer setting only effect TCP feeds? true?

But it's all about packet transfer so why can't UDP feeds cached into VLC?

Re: Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 01 Nov 2016 02:31
by Joejim
Just finished researching more about UDP, TCP, etc...
Learned about HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) protocol. I guess m3u8 files are HLS protocol not UDP.

So can I set buffer? Cache for HLS in VLC?

Re: Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 01 Nov 2016 10:31
by Lotesdelere
I guess m3u8 files are HLS protocol not UDP.
Yes, the lot of them.

So can I set buffer? Cache for HLS in VLC?
Menu Tools -> Preferences (Show Settings = ALL) -> Input/Codecs
Then scroll down to Advanced/File Caching on the right panel.

viewtopic.php?p=351438#p351438

Re: Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 01 Nov 2016 21:58
by Joejim
"Menu Tools -> Preferences (Show Settings = ALL) -> Input/Codecs
Then scroll down to Advanced/File Caching on the right panel.
"
There's also Network caching. Does it buffer HLS streams too?
How about Preference/Stream Output/Stream output muxer caching?

In fact I tried all three options, set them at 5000 and 10000 before. HLS stream, m3u8 still bad buffer then freeze.
Maybe it the source server and nothing VCL can do?

Here's the fundamental question.
Based on my research and my understanding of VLC and caching protocols HLS, VLC cannot set buffer caching for HLS. Those three cache settings above have NO effect on buffering HLS.

Again, repeating here. Can VLC set cache buffer for HLS?

Re: Solution for Slow Connection during IPTV

Posted: 03 Nov 2016 11:05
by Lotesdelere
Maybe it the source server and nothing VCL can do?
I'm afraid that's what is happening.