BT Whole Home WiFi - 4k streaming issue

[peterafranklin]

I stream video from a NAS media server to my TVs over WiFi. This works fine for 2k video, but 4k video  has issues  - it stops and starts. The TV was connected via Whole Home WiFi disc; so I connected it directly to the router and it now streams 4k video fine. So, I suspect the Whole Home WiFi is the culprit in not fully supporting 4k video.

Does anyone know if it should support 4k video?

[licquorice]

It's not a question of whether the discs 'support' 4K streaming, it's a question of WiFi speed. The discs will have ample capability to stream the 4K but obviously the received speed will reduce in direct proportion to the distance between disc and receiver and any other impairments to the signal.

[peterafranklin]

I'm aware that distance/impairments can impact speed. Distance is no more than 10m between TV and disc, through two brick walls. Is there a way of measuring speed?

Tech spec of the discs just mentions 2.4 and 5gHz transmission speeds, but gives no indication of application support, hence the question.

[licquorice]

10M through2 brick walls is a bit of stretch for WiFi.

2.4Ghz an 5Ghz are the frequency bands, not speeds.

It's just a WiFi stream, the discs have no idea or care  what the application is.

2.4Ghz band is slower but has greater reach than the 5Ghz band.

You can measure the speed using your mobile (at least you can with Android, presumably you can with an iPhone). Go to Network and Internet in settings, then select the connected internet source, click on the cogwheel and scroll down to reveal link speeds.

[peterafranklin]

Yeah, meant frequency, not speed. So, if 2.4Ghz may be better for my application, how do I ensure the disc uses it, rather than 5Ghz?

Not sure my iPhone can measure link speed; googled speed checks report around 240Mbps - reported as broadband speed so not convinced is actual speed on final link to my phone.

Thanks for suggestions!

[licquorice]

Your device chooses the best band to use. You can turn off the 5Ghz band on the hub but don't know about the discs as I don't have them.

Whatever speed your phone is measuring will be the slowest link in the chain, so a minimum speed of 240Mbps should be plenty fast enough for streaming.

Not sure why you are seeing problems, a bit odd.

It could be the transmit link from the NAS to the disc causing the problem, but that would be difficult to diagnose.

[peterafranklin]

I can't find a way to turn off 5Ghz on the disc in its settings.

If speed test shows slowest link then, as you say, 240Mbps should be good enough.

The NAS is connected by Ethernet to the router, main disc also Ethernet connected to router, So, by having the  TV WiFi connected to router now and it streams OK, then unlikely NAS is the problem.

Well, it's working in current set up so not really a problem any longer, but I'm curious as to why it had poor performance via the disc.

I might try the BT Helpdesk again (spent 30 mins on hold this morning without changing my position in the queue), to see if they can explain why. 

[gg30340]

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@peterafranklinwrote:

I might try the BT Helpdesk again (spent 30 mins on hold this morning without changing my position in the queue), to see if they can explain why. 

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You will be wasting your time if you think that the Customer Service rep can answer that without flannelling you!

[peterafranklin]

😊

[chrisjp]

The customer service reps won't have a clue about WiFi speeds - they may not even know what WiFi is!
All they'll do is try to upsell you a new "deal" for your broadband service and claim this will fix all your problems!
If your TV is now streaming 4k content without issues now it's connected to the router by ethernet cable, and it didn't do so when connected by WiFi - there's your answer. The WiFi wasn't capable of streaming 4k content without buffering. This is not that unusual and ethernet cable connections are always superior.