Cutting the cord and streaming content is a great way of obtaining great family entertainment in the comfort of your home. However, you need to know the facts about streaming multimedia (audio / video and live gaming) content and how it affects you total internet experience in your home. Here are a few facts about streaming content and gaming.
It should be noted that the speeds shown is per a single device streaming at a time ONLY. Total bandwidth requirements per household is calculated by the number of devices connected to your network multiplied by the number of streaming content multiplied by the bandwidth requirement per application.
Video Definition
Standard Definition (SD)
Standard definition video features the same picture resolution as DVDs, and use MPEG digital stereo sound similar to CD quality.
High Definition (HD)
High Definition (HD) provides a high quality picture, with display resolutions up to 1080p.This is similar to what you would see with a Blu-ray disc. HD video also features an enhanced sound experience and 5.1 multi-channel audio (for available titles, and with compatible sound equipment).
Ultra High Definition (UHD)
Ultra High Definition (UHD or 4K) offers a "4K" picture resolution that is four times greater than HD.
See the Video Streaming Services Requirements for bandwidth requirements per device.
audio Definition
Enjoying your favor music via stream services has long been been part of the internet’s benefit. However, the quality of the music and the fidelity in which you enjoy it is dependent upon the bitrate. Streaming music can be listened to at different bit rates. For audiophiles, the higher the bitrate the better quality of the sound.
Streaming music services like Amazon Music, Apple Music (iTunes), Pandora, Slacker, Spotify, Tidal, and others typical offer different plans from single user to multi-user family plans. Depending on your listening pleasure, some services offer high-quality streaming and requires more bandwidth.
See the Audio Streaming Services Requirements for bandwidth requirements per device.
Live gaming definition and Streaming Requirements
Playing games with others has moved from just board games to electronic game consoles to more recently to on-line video gaming streaming. Now anyone can play games with anyone else local or even around the global. Like other streaming services Live Video Gaming stream requires internet bandwidth. The bandwidth requirements vary and are dependent the service but more importantly is the ping time. Ping time is reaction time of your internet connection. The lower the ping time the faster your connection. Ping time is measured in milliseconds.
See Gaming Streaming Services Requirements for bandwidth requirements per device.
Video Streaming Services requirements:
Amazon Video
Prime Video titles are available in different video formats, including Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD), Ultra High Definition (UHD or 4K) and HDR (High Dynamic Range).
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.1 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 15 Mbps
Hulu
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 6 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: N/A
LIVE Streaming: 8 Mbps
HBOGo
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 4 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: N/A
Netflix
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 3 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 25 Mbps
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 6 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: N/A
LIVE Streaming: 8 Mbps
Sling
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 3 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 25 Mbps
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 6 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: N/A
LIVE Streaming: 8 Mbps
VUDU
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 11 Mbps
YOUTUBE
Internet speed:
Standard Definition: Minimum Download 3 Mbps
High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps
Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 25 Mbps
aUDIO Streaming Services Requirements:
Amazon Music
Minimum Download 500 Kbps
apple music (iTunes)
Minimum Download 256 Kbps, Supported Formats - ACC
Google play music
Minimum Download 320 Kbps, Supported Formats - ACC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg, ALAC
Iheart radio
Minimum Download 150 Kbps
NAPSTER
Minimum Download 64-320 Kbps
Pandora
Minimum Download 300 Kbps, Supported Formats - ACC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg, ALAC
sirius xm radio
Minimum Download 64 Kbps
slacker radio
Minimum Download 128-320 Kbps, Supported Formats - MP3
Gaming Services streaming requirements:
XBox One
Minimum Download 3 Mbps, Minimum Upload 0.5 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms
Playstation 4
Minimum Download 3 Mbps, Minimum Upload 1 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms
Ninetindo Switch
Minimum Download 3 Mbps, Minimum Upload 1 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms
WiiU
Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps, Minimum Upload 0.5 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms