IPTV is sometimes referred to as Smart TV. The standard provides for the transmission of data packets over a high-speed Internet connection instead of an antenna, satellite or cable. A series of IP packets encoded to deliver streaming video is broadcast in IPTV. This system can be used to provide content on a private network, although this model is less commonly used due to complexity and scaling issues. Sometimes viewers who have switched to the new standard complain that IPTV slows down, so you need to figure out the reasons for such failures.
Basic Internet Protocol TV
IPTV content is delivered over a managed or dedicated network. Compared to the public internet, a private network gives the network operator greater control over video traffic and therefore the ability to provide quality of service (QoS), uptimework and reliability. All programs are broadcast simultaneously. The available program signals are sent downstream and the viewer selects the program by changing the channel.
IPTV service, in contrast, sends only one program at a time. In this case, IPTV cannot slow down, since the controller remains in the service provider's network. When the viewer changes channel, a new stream is sent from the server. Reception requires a set-top box or other subscriber device.
IPTV mainly uses Internet Control Protocol (IGMP) IP broadcasting for live broadcasts and Real Time Transfer Protocols (RTSP) for on-demand programs. Other common protocols include the Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). IPTV uses a packet-based delivery system, which is related to Voice over IP (VoIP).
The use of IP also provides various services and applications such as digital recording, video-on-demand, and the ability to rewind or restart live programs that are already being broadcast. Despite the load, the standard is built in such a way that IPTV will not slow down, but, on the contrary, will compete with another TV model distributed through the website.
Live broadcasts
Programs are broadcast in radio waves and transmitted over the air to an antenna on the roof of the house. It converts waves into electrical signals. Satellite TV works in a similar way, except that cable TVsends a signal directly to the house without a radio wave.
If there are four main functional components of the IPTV network, it will not slow down:
- Reliable service provider with high performance equipment.
- Access network to the edge of the service provider's network to the consumer's home.
- Home broadband network that distributes IPTV in the subscriber's networks.
- Middleware that converts distributed IPTV content into a user interface, usually a set-top box or STB.
IPTV differences:
- Storing programs so they can be selected and broadcast as needed. Some VOD services have a limited number of Internet access programs and low-speed hardware, which may explain the reason why IPTV is slow.
- Preparing programs. A TV program must be converted to digital format, and sometimes additional A/D conversion processing is required so that it can be transmitted without buffering in MPEG2 format.
Packet switching
Packet switching is the key to making the internet work. It includes the usual pieces of information and sends them in separate packets. When the viewer receives a TV program, he does not download it as a normal file. Instead, only part of it is downloaded. As the RTP/RTSP protocol and IGMP multicast protocol, common web protocols and technical means are used. Streaming uses adaptedprotocols for simultaneous download and playback. Violation of these conditions may explain why IPTV slows down.
In line with IPTV, load requirements for a broadband system are greatly reduced. This creates significant benefits for the user:
- Lower bandwidth costs.
- Cheap infrastructure.
- Reduce maintenance costs.
- Lower equipment costs.
In addition, IPTV packet technology supports advanced user-friendly features:
- Simultaneous viewing and recording.
- Pause and rewind (timeshift TV).
- Video on Demand (VoD).
- Preview.
- TV on Demand (TVOD).
- Digital music libraries.
- FM streaming internet radio.
Managed networks
Making IPTV available over the Internet is very different from making it available through a private provider network. In practice, this means having a highly organized hierarchical network with an open office where programs are stored and all services are coordinated, which are provided centrally using video and hubs (VHO) serving local distribution offices connected to set-top boxes in individual homes.
Internet connection allows you to watch IPTV on any device, but most users do not want to watch TV on a laptop screen, especially if IPTV channels are slow. That's why IPTV attracts viewers, customers(STB) that receive input to connect to the internet via an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.
The signal reproduces and displays the image on a large-screen widescreen TV. STBs are actually stand-alone computers programmed to perform the task of receiving streaming video packets, converting them to video files (MPEG2, MPEG4), and then displaying them like high-quality television.
Minimum hardware parameters
Recommend the following valid settings for streaming IPTV content:
- minimum speed required: 0.5Mbps;
- recommended speed for broadband connections: 1.5 Mbps;
- speed for SD video content: 3.0 Mbps;
- speed for high-quality viewing: 5.0 Mbps;
- Ultra HD video rate: 25.0 Mbps.
Requirements of video formats for the bandwidth at which IPTV player does not slow down:
- 480p - 3 Mbps;
- 720p - 5 Mbps;
- 1080p - 8 Mbps;
- 4k - 25 Mbps.
Main types of failures
Broadcast television distribution over an IP network requires strict QoS restrictions such as low latency and loss. Streaming content in IPTV is typically delivered at an IP distribution point using IP multicast and protocol independent multicast (PIM).
While watching IPTV, the video stream is not sent to the device at the same time. Instead ofof this it is sent in small packages. The broadcast is stopped due to the fact that HD IPTV slows down, waiting for the next packet. This process is called buffering.
Main causes of poor broadcast quality:
- Local hardware limitations. The router, Ethernet cable, modem, or TV equipment may not work due to buffering errors.
- Remote server slowdown.
- Network connection problems.
- Limited bandwidth.
- Configure device cache.
Local link failover using MPLS or Layer 2 Fast Reroute (FRP) is a proven method for fast failover. Link-based FRR creates a pseudowire or IP tunnel for an interior gateway protocol (IGP) such as OSPF.
Buffering errors
Buffering occurs when the speed of viewing video data is slower. In these cases, a situation occurs when IPTV slows down on the TV. Also, a similar situation occurs if the viewer is watching HD video with low internet speed.
Algorithm for diagnosing the problem:
- Quality wired connection.
- Check device performance on other channels like YouTube, STAN, Netflix. If the issue is with only one streaming platform, then it is a channel-specific transmission issue.
- When streaming, TV media is downloaded as content and used in a temporary cache. After that, the video will be loaded ahead of time and providebroadcast quality.
Setting up Smart TV in Kodi
Kodi, one of the most famous and popular media centers for Windows, Mac and other platforms, uses IPTV streaming. The advantage of the software is that you can watch streaming TV using the software without the need for additional hardware such as a TV tuner.
Kodi supports third-party IPTV add-ons that can be used to access various TV channels. Some of the more famous IPTV add-ons include Navi-X, iCloud, UKTV, Kodi Live, and Ultimate IPTV. To enable IPTV in Kodi, you need to install content from web sources.
The disadvantage of the scheme may be sources of potential danger of streaming on the Internet, which have no protection:
- The ISP has direct access to everything the user views and streams online.
- Most ISPs don't want to deal with lawsuits directly, so they only stream content that is allowed to be viewed.
The only way to secure browsing and identity in the above scenarios is to use a VPN. In order to install a VPN on your Fire TV Stick, you need to set up add-ons for "unknown sources" in Kodi. To do this, click on the "cog" icon at the top of the Kodi sidebar and select "System settings" to open additional options. Then select "Unknown Sources" and the "Yes" button to confirm the selection.
Correctionproblems
In order to fix video content freezing issues, you can try changing Kodi's video cache. All that is required is to exchange data in an intermediate storage called a cache. If an internet connection is required for some reason, video streaming stops only after the part of the video stored in the cache is played from beginning to end.
In order to play a video from start to finish without buffering, or more precisely, without causing a situation where Kodi slows down IPTV, part of the video must be stored in the cache. The increased cache size can buffer larger videos ahead of time.
However, be careful, because too large a buffer size can lead to a load on the device's resources, and too small - to problems with downloading videos on the Internet.
Internet speed test
Very often, providers say that their service issues a packet with a speed of 10 or 20 Mbps, but in practice this is not true. Failure to comply with the parameters of Internet packages is the main reason why IPTV slows down on the TV. To test your speed yourself, you can download the Speedtest service on your device or go to speedtest.net from your computer. If the download speed is less than 10 Mbps, then you need to make a claim or get a new Internet package with a speed of at least 20 Mbps. If the Internet speed is more than 30 Mbps, it is recommended to manually configurevideo or change the DNS of the router.
You can run multiple tests on speedtest.net, compare performance when other devices are connected to your home network, and disconnect them from your router to offload your home network. Sometimes translation problems stop as a result of simply updating the current connection with the provider.
In cases where excessive ISP regulation slows down movie streams, a good VPN can fix it in an instant. A VPN masks traffic to artificially slow down some ISPs. When traffic is fully encrypted, it always travels as fast as possible
Download SS IPTV
There are two most common ways to download SS IPTV - via a link for external playlists or with a non-permanent access code, for internal playlists. Replay is allowed for any number of external lists.
If SS IPTV slows down, download the playlist from the link and go to the setting on the "Content" tab of the application, select the "External playlists" subsection and click the "Add" button below the screen. Enter the data in the appropriate field and click "Save". The playlist will be available on the main screen.
Smart TV is downloaded via server. This means that the link must be accessible from the external network. To upload a new code, click the "Get Code" button, which can be used 24 hours before creating a new one. To add a code, click the "Add device" button when it is installedconnection, select a playlist file on the PC, and download it using the "Save" button.
In the past decade, mainstream TV companies have faced competition from cable and internet providers. TV viewers want to receive modern services on the Internet. New possibilities of IPTV television in attractive packages expand the possibilities of modern Smart TV, which is connected to more and more users.
