2D - Buffering Issues on Streaming websites

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › 2D - Buffering Issues on Streaming websites

mAYH3M

162 posts

Master Geek

#304674 27-May-2023 11:53

Recently transferred my fibre connection from Skinny to 2D and I keep seeing the buffering ring on YouTube and Fire TV channels. No software or hardware changes have been made on my end (other than the PPPoE to DHCP change).

I was using NextDNS as my DNS service with Skinny previously. I have disabled DNS proxy service on my router thinking that might be the reason, but that hasn't fixed anything. Speedtest docker consistently shows 900+ Mbps download speed and single digit ping to 2D Chch server.

=== Troubleshooting session started ===

2023-05-27 10:47:37 Pacific/Auckland
Test Type: TRACEROUTE
Source: [Hardware Controller]
Target: [EXTERNAL] www.netflix.com

===================================
Output Time: 2023-05-27 10:48:43 Pacific/Auckland

COMMAND=TRACEROUTE www.netflix.com
traceroute to www.netflix.com (44.237.234.25), 20 hops max, 46 byte packets
1 192.168.0.1 (192.168.0.1) 0.382 ms 0.278 ms 0.258 ms
2 * * *
3 192.168.255.250 (192.168.255.250) 2.506 ms 3.196 ms 2.331 ms
4 192.168.255.251 (192.168.255.251) 1.793 ms 1.834 ms 1.754 ms
5 default-rdns.vocus.co.nz (101.98.5.246) 2.023 ms 2.048 ms 2.136 ms
6 as9790.bdr01.akl05.akl.nz.vocus.network (175.45.102.234) 15.938 ms 16.141 ms 15.935 ms
7 be1000.bdr01.akl05.akl.nz.vocus.network (175.45.102.233) 16.016 ms 16.125 ms 16.003 ms
8 be200.bdr03.lax01.ca.us.vocus.network (114.31.199.74) 140.796 ms * 139.734 ms
9 206.72.211.146.any2ix.coresite.com (206.72.211.146) 139.667 ms 139.908 ms 140.058 ms
10 * * *
11 * * *
12 * * *
13 * * *
14 * * *
15 * * *
16 * * *
17 * * *
18 * * *
19 * * *
20 * * *
Trace Complete.

traceroute to www.youtube.com (142.250.67.14), 20 hops max, 46 byte packets

1 192.168.0.1 (192.168.0.1) 0.423 ms 0.358 ms 0.310 ms

2 * * *

3 192.168.255.250 (192.168.255.250) 2.526 ms 2.607 ms 2.524 ms

4 192.168.255.251 (192.168.255.251) 1.949 ms 1.965 ms 1.927 ms

5 default-rdns.vocus.co.nz (101.98.5.246) 3.337 ms 2.214 ms 2.188 ms

6 72.14.195.229 (72.14.195.229) 38.615 ms 38.420 ms 38.674 ms

7 72.14.195.228 (72.14.195.228) 38.435 ms 38.378 ms 38.260 ms

8 * * *

9 108.170.247.33 (108.170.247.33) 40.211 ms 142.250.212.136 (142.250.212.136) 38.908 ms syd15s16-in-f14.1e100.net (142.250.67.14) 38.598 ms

Trace Complete.

michaelmurfy

meow
13273 posts

Uber Geek

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#3080029 27-May-2023 11:59

In your NextDNS control panel under Settings try turning off "Anonymized EDNS Client Subnet":

I have personally not noticed any issues with streaming with NextDNS (and this option on) but have seen issues with Prime Video with it enabled also.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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mAYH3M

162 posts

Master Geek

#3080076 27-May-2023 15:58

I have been using gateway assigned DNS servers (100.95.255.100 & 100.95.255.101). Mostly use YouTube and it buffers on both wireless and wired devices.

To me it seems like a routing issue with 2D fibre as YouTube works fine if I switch to mobile data (2D) on my phone.

michaelmurfy

meow
13273 posts

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#3080078 27-May-2023 16:04

On all devices? Could be worth stating what router you have along with if you’re streaming over WiFi or Ethernet.

yitz

2083 posts

Uber Geek

#3080090 27-May-2023 16:40

If you are waiting 10 seconds before affected videos begin playback then it could be routing issues to the preferred CDN server before the player times out and falls back to a more distant server. You should be able to spot this behaviour in F12 developer tools console or network tab.

If you check the diagnostics page http://redirector.googlevideo.com/report_mapping that might indicate routing issues on your IP range with a [u] flag if I remember correctly.

skewt

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3080108 27-May-2023 18:19

I’ve also been having issues lately

Some YouTube videos just completely die midstream. They might restart after a few minutes but usually don’t.
Also they don’t always start playing and I have to reload

“Stats for nerds” shows a fast connection but no network throughput or buffer

Redirector shows Iam using => snap-akl2

yitz

2083 posts

Uber Geek

#3080112 27-May-2023 18:54

skewt: I’ve also been having issues lately

Some YouTube videos just completely die midstream. They might restart after a few minutes but usually don’t.
Also they don’t always start playing and I have to reload

“Stats for nerds” shows a fast connection but no network throughput or buffer

Redirector shows Iam using => snap-akl2

Are you on CG-NAT like the OP or static IP?

skewt

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3080113 27-May-2023 18:56

yitz:
skewt: I’ve also been having issues lately

Some YouTube videos just completely die midstream. They might restart after a few minutes but usually don’t.
Also they don’t always start playing and I have to reload

“Stats for nerds” shows a fast connection but no network throughput or buffer

Redirector shows Iam using => snap-akl2

Are you on CG-NAT like the OP or static IP?

Using a static IP

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

mAYH3M

162 posts

Master Geek

#3080119 27-May-2023 19:22

yitz:

If you are waiting 10 seconds before affected videos begin playback then it could be routing issues to the preferred CDN server before the player times out and falls back to a more distant server. You should be able to spot this behaviour in F12 developer tools console or network tab.

If you check the diagnostics page http://redirector.googlevideo.com/report_mapping that might indicate routing issues on your IP range with a [u] flag if I remember correctly.

So when you start a video it just goes dark and after a few seconds it will start playing and then buffer at random intervals.

161.29.237.228 => callplus-chc1 (161.29.236.0/22)

skewt

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3080120 27-May-2023 19:29

mAYH3M: So when you start a video it just goes dark and after a few seconds it will start playing and then buffer at random intervals.

It’s not every video but I have one of the following scenarios

1, video plays fine

2, video doesn’t start and stays on black screen. A restart usually gets it playing

3, video starts fine but mid video it stops and shows the spinning wheel. This will either recover itself after a few minutes or I have to restart the video but usually stops again in same spot

I don’t get constant stopping and starting with buffering

Happening for me on LG Tv with native YouTube app and also Android Tv device

mAYH3M

162 posts

Master Geek

#3080124 27-May-2023 19:38

skewt:
mAYH3M: So when you start a video it just goes dark and after a few seconds it will start playing and then buffer at random intervals.

It’s not every video but I have one of the following scenarios

1, video plays fine

2, video doesn’t start and stays on black screen. A restart usually gets it playing

3, video starts fine but mid video it stops and shows the spinning wheel. This will either recover itself after a few minutes or I have to restart the video but usually stops again in same spot

I don’t get constant stopping and starting with buffering

Happening for me on LG Tv with native YouTube app and also Android Tv device

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with routing as I havent made any changes to my network.Some of the videos were playing in 144p after buffering.......144p on a 1G fibre conection!😂