[Snap] YouTube rates Snap network as only "Standard Definition"

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badbadmonkey

28 posts

Geek

#160311 1-Jan-2015 21:26

Snap promoted its "YouTube HD Verified" status last year:
http://business.snap.net.nz/snap-becomes-youtube-hd-verified/

13 June 2014 – Snap, one of New Zealand’s fastest growing telecommunications providers, has received the highest rating in Google’s first Video Quality Report in New Zealand. Snap’s network is now ‘YouTube HD Verified’ on average across New Zealand, meaning users can expect to watch YouTube videos in HD (at least 720p) with quick load times at least 90 percent of the time.

Unfortunately, Google / YouTube now appear to disagree. When watching YouTube videos using Snap, it is not uncommon to see a little blue dialog appearing below the video frame, with a vague message about 'interruptions'. Following the link provided, one finds an advisory from YouTube that Snap is rated as "Standard Definition" only.
https://www.google.com/get/videoqualityreport/?v=AQBAf-zF78k

Snap Internet in Auckland
Standard Definition
Users on networks rated as Standard Definition should expect smooth playback on standard-definition YouTube videos (360p) and may experience occasional interruptions on high-definition YouTube videos (720p and above).

YouTube provides a comparison of popular competitor networks. A number of others remain "HD Verifed".

hellonearthisman

1819 posts

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#1207002 1-Jan-2015 21:56

The report is an average from users and is not as bad as it sounds.
Most people are getting HD.

ChrisNZL

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1207012 1-Jan-2015 22:09

The ISP roundup is interesting:

I get the odd slow-loading HD video but on the whole it seems to be fast enough. *shrug*

Creator of Tallowmere. Working on Tallowmere 2.

insane

3240 posts

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#1207029 1-Jan-2015 22:37

hellonearthisman: The report is an average from users and is not as bad as it sounds.
Most people are getting HD.

They looks to have multiple listings

chevrolux

4962 posts

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#1207031 1-Jan-2015 22:46

How on earth is 'Spark ADSL1' HD verified?!

richms

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#1207039 1-Jan-2015 23:36

I'm actually finding youtube on snap is a bit crap at times. Fire tv will often lag signifigantly when starting to play. Streams go up and down res a lot too.

Richard rich.ms

mikenzb

371 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1207062 2-Jan-2015 05:56

I do find sometimes my 1080p videos on youtube will take a few seconds to buffer but once I give it like 10 seconds, its smooth sailing down the road.

RunningMan

8961 posts

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#1207075 2-Jan-2015 08:01

chevrolux: How on earth is 'Spark ADSL1' HD verified?!

Multicast. One movie goes to all Conklin users (Outram included) simultaneosuly ;-)

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Behodar

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#1207081 2-Jan-2015 08:42

chevrolux: How on earth is 'Spark ADSL1' HD verified?!

A complete guess is that customers that signed up in the ADSL1 days are still in the ADSL1 pool, even if they've been upgraded to ADSL2+.

NzBeagle

962 posts

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#1207083 2-Jan-2015 09:01

It's interesting in that the majority of HD verified are 'fibre' pools where as snap has all in one. Easier to maintain hd verified for your Fibre customers no doubt. Spark adsl1 being the abnormality of course.

Aredwood

3885 posts

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#1208210 4-Jan-2015 22:54

Do Snap have any Cache servers? As that would probably make a big difference to Youtube performance. Assuming of course that the video is already in the cache.

Talkiet

4793 posts

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#1208218 4-Jan-2015 23:31

chevrolux: How on earth is 'Spark ADSL1' HD verified?!

It's an artifact. We're doing a vast amount of IP space reassignment at the moment and the mappings for geographic region and access type in the network are out of step with what Google obviously currently are working with.

That's my job to fix and I'll sort it when I get back into the office in a week or so.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

eXDee

4032 posts

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#1208375 5-Jan-2015 10:54

mikenzb: I do find sometimes my 1080p videos on youtube will take a few seconds to buffer but once I give it like 10 seconds, its smooth sailing down the road.

Quality switches to 1080p in less than a second on Snap UFB 200.

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek

#1208404 5-Jan-2015 11:09

I find snap pricing is no longer competitive. But speeds are excellent for me, can't really comment on youtube as I hardly notice any buffering

RalphFromSnap

776 posts

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Snap Internet

#1208409 5-Jan-2015 11:16

Hi All,

Yes we have multiple Google CDN's across our network and direct connectivity to Google servers offshore. Once we have completed splitting our ADSL1/BUBA customers (an informational item back to Google) then it will show HD verified across each region.

Thanks
TheRalph

Snap

0800 BROADBAND (276 232)
www.snap.net.nz

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mobiusnz

457 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1212713 12-Jan-2015 19:38

I'm finding my VDSL connection (35ish / 10) less reliable in the new year - I'm wondering if the kids home from school around the country are hammering the international bandwidth all round - I'm on Vodafone at home (Only due to the sky bundle) and I'm finding thats been very laggy since before Xmas too.

I know for a fact my kids are often sitting there streaming two HD Youtube streams nonstop for hours (One each while playing Sims 4 or Minecraft) and I bet between endless spotify, various lame streaming movie sites / Torrent downloads etc that International bandwidth will be pushed more than normal.

Are there any stats on peak internation bandwidth demand available in NZ??

Matt Beechey Mobius Network Solutions