Streaming issues

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the forums here so am hoping this is the right place to post this problem.

I'm a DJ in SL and am having major streaming issues certain times of the day. The problem I am having is that my stream skips between the hours of 5/6pm-10/11pm(local time). I get 7.2mbps to my router so internet connection speed isn't the issue. I have tried quite a few different things that have been suggested to me or that I've found on the net.

I stream with VDJ on my laptop (writing this in work so don't have the spec to hand but is more than capable of streaming) and run SL from my PC. I have a DSL broadband connection (cable not available in my area). It also happens on any streaming server I use.

I wondered if anyone has come across the same problem or has any ideas?

You may need more info but it's 5am and I'm struggling to think

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Thanks in advance!!

Could it just be peak net time crowding the lines?

No, not really... The speed of connection is more than ample... plus I don't know of anyone else who has had the same problem.

Never hurts to reset the router, but that's all I can say. Bumped your thread, though.

the key word here might be laptop.

and ur wireless connection .. if its wireless then try direct connection.

use an old puter to stream with that's not running sl at same time.

record your stream and play it back is it just U or do others hear the lag.

and if ur streaming when the kiddies are playing games in your neighbor hood .gee.


laptops n sl ....shudder

Thanks for your help so far guys.

Well before I bought the laptop, I was using my pc to stream which had the same problems. So I now run sl on my pc and VDJ on the laptop.

Everyone hears the skipping and infact I don't even need to hear the stream... I can see the broadcast time skipping on VDJ.

I did use a wireless connection and thought the same as you, that a wired connection may solve the problem... it didn't

This is always a bandwidth issue.

I have only had skipping (buffers) happen when my bandwidth just goes to crap or I try from the wi fi. I stream 128k Stereo out and run SL on the same PC all the time and almost never had an issue (that was with DSL at 750kbs upload speed and one other pc on SL as well. ) as DSL does not "share" the line with others, what the neighbors are doing shouldn't effect you at all (I have worse issues at peak times now on my cable where I get 5000k upload! )

I don't know the software you use I run SAM to DJ and winamp with the shoutcast dsp for live and even to DJ at times. What are you running the stream out at? have you tried dropping it to a lower speed? like 96k mono or 64k ? if your just DJing most wont hear the difference. (many live musicians have to drop to a low 63 and some even 24k at 22htx !! to not skip.

And 7.2k to the router that's down right? what is the upload side and how is your ping to the server?

are you in the UK by chance? seems there are more of these issues out of the UK for some reason!


best bet is make sure you have a good wired connection for the lap top, as well make sure you are streaming local files (if you stream out a stream you are streaming from off line its going to eat up your band width) try lowering your settings down below 128k stereo at 44htz go down a little at a time (note if you do this while you are live people will hear slow or chipmunk music till they re start the stream) You say you have tried other relay servers, There are a lot that are not true to what they say and there are some that well just are not up to snuff! try a few from different providers from different areas of the world ( I found one from the UK that just rocks 99.9% of the time for a very very low $L fee!

also the RAMM max it streamingf won't use much but that software may and then a playlist and adding moving all can slow the whole thing down..

I hope you can get it sorted if I can help at all let me know I have been streaming radio for 6 years on line and since the day I started in SL

Thanks for the great reply!

Typically I've had connection problems, hence the delay on the reply. My connection has gone slightly slower since but have been told it'll take a couple of days to settle.

Well the software I use is Virtual DJ. Out of peak hours I stream at 128k perfectly, however once peak time comes I can't even stream at 56kbs.

I tried the speedtest just now for both a server in the US and the UK...

US server(New York)

Download speed - 3.83mbs
Upload speed - 0.37mbs
Ping - 131ms

Uk server(Manchester)

Download speed - 5.77mbs
Upload speed - 0.37mbs
Ping - 56ms

Can I ask where you rent your server from? I know the current server I rent is US based, although whereabouts I'm not sure of.

I did have a wireless connection but wired it to see if that would help but it didn't. I've run a latency checker many times with only the odd yellow spike. So according to that I shouldn't have trouble streaming.

I'm not sure if that information has given you any clues?

Thanks alot for your help!

Is anyone else using your provider having the same troubles at the same time you are having troubles? You mentioned that you didn't think anyone was having the trouble so I assume not. You also mentioned that this is happening with "any" stream server you are using so I think we can rule out the server as the problem. I am wondering if it is peak time in your area, maybe the problem is just a lot of people in your neighborhood using the internet?

You use VDJ which I think makes things harder to diagnose. SAM tells you what the problem is in the description part of the encoder - a big benefit when trying to troubleshoot things.

It is possible that the problem can be something between you and the server. Sometimes these servers or routers your stream passes through can be unforgiving and while you wrack your brain trying to find what the problem is with your system, the problem is actually somewhere between you and the server.

I did, however, have a similar problem. My provider in SL took the time to walk me through a number of tests including one that exposed the problem. After running some tracing thing and pinging servers etc, he had me connect my laptop directly to my modem, bypassing the router. I streamed like a charm. The problem ended up being my router going (or gone) bad. I replaced the router and now I don't have any problems at all.

After using about 3-4 different providers, this one ended up being the only one that literally worked with me for 2-3 hours to pinpoint the problem. I'd recommend them. I don't know if we are allowed to mention provider names, so I will PM you the name.

{***EDIT: I tried to PM you the name of the provider but was not allowed to send you an email via the forum. PM me in-world if you wish to know who I use. END EDIT***}

So I'd recommend the provider I am suggesting, but if you search for other providers be cautious. My experiences have found that the lower priced servers are not always very reliable (some are, most aren't). Most low priced providers (i.e. 100 listeners for 899L) put a lot of shoutcast servers in their dedicated server thus using a lot of server resources and eventually causing buffering for everyone.

Good luck!

Anybody?