Disney Channel Causing Issues

chris1165

The title of this post is correct.  I've been running a 6400 with my Maestro connected via Wifi through a TP Link Archer C9 Wifi router.  I've been connected through 5G and using the Maestro while sitting on the couch Netflixing and making CW contacts.  It's worked flawlessly for me since I purchased the 6400 and Maestro a few months ago.  Zero issues!

Our house consists of each TV running YouTubeTV, three to be exact.  No problems at all while everyone is streaming.  Then my son's girlfriend came over the other night and installed an App on my son's TV, the Disney Channel.  Unbeknownst to me, the Maestro started experiencing quality issues.  I noticed the audio quality during a QSO started to flutter and that's when I noticed five bars turned to one bar (RED).  

It took me several minutes of troubleshooting the Wifi router.  I noticed three devices were connected to the 5G network and two connected to the 2.4G network.  I switched the Maestro over to the 2.4G and the audio issues went away.  I switched back to the 5G and the problem returned.

Just as I started to look at the logs a little deeper, the problem went away and my son came out of his bedroom.  When I asked me if he was doing anything different, he told me about the Disney Channel they were streaming.  This is odd because we both were using YouTubeTV with no issues. We did some more troubleshooting and once he started streaming again, the problem returned.  I've since moved him to the 2.4G network.

What this tells me is that my router was struggling with three of us using the 5G.  I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this and what WiFi router are you using?  I'm thinking I might need to upgrade to a gaming router.

de N3MLB

Mike-VA3MW

Hi

Welcome to the broken world of today's WiFi that was never really designed to handle as much streaming as we are doing today.  I am not actually surprised that you are experiencing this sort of problem.   I also expect that Disney is using much more bandwidth than YouTube.  You will need to figure out a way to measure it on your router so that you can make an educated decision.

If I was in your shoes, I would not be running the Maestro on WiFi at all.  If you can't operate it via a LAN cable, you might want to try using some TP-Link 'PowerLine' adapters that will allow you to use your house wiring as a vehicle to connect your Maestro to your Router/Switch directly without using WiFi.

Today's users of the internet have gotten hugely dependent on WiFi for data, however, that is where all the slowdowns you are experiencing are happening.   Don't forget, your WiFi also have to leave time for data to move on your neighbours WiFi as well.  It is a very big party line meaning everyone has to share.  

I doubt that even changing to another router/WiFi AP will solve your issue to your satisfaction.  

Mike va3mw

Kevin - K4KWB

I found that using the power line adapters, during 40m transmitting it would make the data rate go down into the red. Kevin

Mike-VA3MW

You may have to test different models and make sure you set them for streaming video for each node.  For some of them, you can customize them.

I tested a bunch of DLink ones and TP-Link ones and I had much better success on the TP-Link ones.

Red is only a report on packets being lost.  I run in the Red a lot of times when the ISP at my remote HF station is saturated, but to be honest, I never hear or notice the packet loss.

Mike

Kevin - K4KWB

Mine was losing audio.

Kevin

Clay N9IO

Another thought might be to add an additional wireless access point on 5Ghz/2.4Ghz.
The access point could handle your streaming devices.
Your normal 5Ghz could be exclusive to the Maestro just separate the channels on both 5Ghz access points if you choose to satay on wireless with the Maestro..