Lightbox quality comments

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301 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lightbox

#1163582 28-Oct-2014 14:23

We'll hopefully submit to Apple sometime this week (and then it's a matter of them accepting it) - assuming that we find nothing ugly in testing.

Lightbox - we are online TV.

Oldmanakbar

110 posts

Master Geek

#1168006 3-Nov-2014 20:58

Any updates on the Vodafone buffering/stuttering issues you acknowledged a little while ago?

Even though my connection is rock solid, I still get horrible buffering most evenings in prime time.

I did the CDN test you linked. I know it is a Vodafone issue as the content is quite obviously being served from/routed via old Ihug gear, and it is that data that stops flowing intermittently.

But even though it is technically their issue (and I can't really leave them, being in the first 12 months of UFB makes that painful), have you guys there at Lightbox heard anything you pass on that might show us some light is coming down the tunnel?

Lightbox

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Ultimate Geek

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Lightbox

#1168307 4-Nov-2014 10:48

Hi Oldmanakbar,

We're still working with our CDN provider to try and pin down something. Any information we can get is valuable, as we (or more likely our CDN provider) will need to convince the affected ISP(s) that there is indeed something wrong on their end.

When you have issues, it would be very helpful if you can try the following steps and send through the information:

1) Ping tdvott-s.akamaihd.net

2) Access whatismyip.akamai.com from the browser

3) Traceroute /mtr to the Akamai domain

4) Nslookup whoami.akamai.com

Lightbox - we are online TV.

gjdavies75

79 posts

Master Geek

#1247940 27-Feb-2015 17:08

I agree 100% with those who have had real issues with quality.

Just signed up to Lightbox (mainly for 'Better Call Saul') and have found the service patchy at best.

The picture quality isn't great and I have also had problems with freezing (need to refresh the whole page and re-find where I was up to in the programme manually) and also some buffering problems.
I have used the same laptop for other streaming services with no problems whatsoever; Premierleaguepass for the football is really good quality stream.

Spark need to up their game quickly with this. There is no way I would continue beyond a free trial period with things as they are. I agree that it feels like a 'Beta' rather than a ready-for-market product.
I will persist for a while longer and I will try it as a wired rather than wireless connection as some here have recommended.

Have others found any improvements?

Stu

Hammered
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#1247973 27-Feb-2015 17:30

Well contrary to what a few others seem to be experiencing, we have no streaming issues or quality issues at all. I'm on Spark VDSL, I use a Windows 7 laptop and son uses his PS4. The problem would seem to be between the viewing device and the Lightbox service. Could do with a few more features of course, but works rather well.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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301 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lightbox

#1247977 27-Feb-2015 17:45

I would definitely look at the Silverlight install - probably do a wipe of it and reinstall. Sounds an awful lot like a corrupted or outdated version of Silverlight to me.

Lightbox - we are online TV.

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek

#1248183 28-Feb-2015 08:18

On spark ADSL and the previous Vodafone ADSL we have had no issues at all. You get about 2-5 seconds of pixelation sometimes at the start sometimes while the adaptive streaming works things out and it is 100%fine after that. This is on Android tablet, Samsung blu-ray player and Windows 7 PC.

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freitasm

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#1248190 28-Feb-2015 08:35

gjdavies75: I will persist for a while longer and I will try it as a wired rather than wireless connection as some here have recommended.

Make sure you use wired connections - WiFi is the enemy of good quality streaming.

Also, uninstall Silverlight and install it again. I had a problem where I couldn't access streaming from another local service and removing Silverlight, installing it again from the latest version fixed things (probably to do with base code plus patches instead of just a clean install).

dwl

371 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1248446 28-Feb-2015 13:45

On Samsung TV app via a fairly low bandwidth ADSL connection from Spark we have hardly ever see any buffering or quality issues. Rewind can invoke a significant delay before play restarts.

With second simultaneous Lightbox user on an iPad sharing the same WiFi that can buffer while the Samsung TV doesn't miss a beat so the different platforms might have different robustness.

gjdavies75

79 posts

Master Geek

#1249320 2-Mar-2015 11:41

freitasm:
gjdavies75: I will persist for a while longer and I will try it as a wired rather than wireless connection as some here have recommended.

Make sure you use wired connections - WiFi is the enemy of good quality streaming.

Also, uninstall Silverlight and install it again. I had a problem where I couldn't access streaming from another local service and removing Silverlight, installing it again from the latest version fixed things (probably to do with base code plus patches instead of just a clean install).

Thanks for the advice.

I'll give both wired and a Silverlight re-install a try.

dclegg

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#1249329 2-Mar-2015 11:49

gjdavies75:
freitasm:
Make sure you use wired connections - WiFi is the enemy of good quality streaming.

Also, uninstall Silverlight and install it again. I had a problem where I couldn't access streaming from another local service and removing Silverlight, installing it again from the latest version fixed things (probably to do with base code plus patches instead of just a clean install).

Thanks for the advice.

I'll give both wired and a Silverlight re-install a try.

We recently switch to a 'pseudo-wired' connection (using Powerline ethernet over power adapters), and it has made a huge difference to Lightbox performance for us. The devices we use for this (PS3/PS4) were constrained to using 2.4Ghz WiFi, and these were performing shockingly. It was a lottery as to whether we'd be able to watch Lightbox or not on any given night. In contrast NetFlix & Hulu were streaming relatively well, but these are accessed via our Apple TV, which can connect to our 5Ghz network.

A little diagnostics revealed we were getting 700-800 Kb/s to our PS4, which was never going to work well in a SVOD environment. After purchasing and installing these, we now get between 8-10Mb/s to the PS4, and Lightbox hasn't missed a beat. I was also able to repurpose an unused NetGear modem/router to act as a switch, so all of our important Internet connected A/V equipment is now wired via the Powerline adapters.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1249522 2-Mar-2015 14:55

We have ADSL, it's never very fast, but LightBox works fine. Resolution is fine, no pixelation, just a couple of seconds buffering at the start of the programme. Maybe once every 20 programmes one will freeze.

We are using tablets via HDMI to view on the telly so a wireless connection is the only option I know of.

The WiFi router is in the next room though, so there is a good signal.

Mike

KiwiME

213 posts

Master Geek

#1250795 4-Mar-2015 09:57

I'm happiest with a PS3 (rather than a PC,) either being hardwired to a Fibre 30 connection. The wireless Dualshock controller does everything required, the Lightbox interface is simple and everything works responsively. I also like that it remembers where I left off each program, at least for a few days.
The only issue at all is that every week or two the PS3 randomly locks up to a black screen during viewing and needs a hard reset.

But where was Better Call Saul last night? I checked at 11pm and no go?

Lightbox

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Ultimate Geek

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Lightbox

#1251234 4-Mar-2015 18:06

KiwiME:

But where was Better Call Saul last night? I checked at 11pm and no go?

Episode 5 went live last night at the usual time?

Lightbox - we are online TV.

Oldmanakbar

110 posts

Master Geek

#1251284 4-Mar-2015 19:18

An update from my previous issues. I was an ex-TCL vodafone user on UFB. Constant buffering etc. I bit the bullet and switched providers to NOW ( i believe they utilise the snap network heavily). Not a single buffer no matter the time of day.

+1 for NOW and lightbox is great now

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