HD Netflix streaming on sub 6mb AT&T DSL?

exalted512

Anyone done this?

I currently have cable & cable internet, but their prices are getting ridiculous for what you get. Thinking about switching to AT&T internet, but its 6mb up, whereas now I'm getting about 10. Those of you who stream stuff off of netflix, anyone do it with a 6mb connection? Work well? If it has to buffer every 30 minutes or less, I'd rather just pay more and keep the 10mb connection.

I've seen online people usually recommend around 4mb.

Also, anyone have experience with AT&T's internet?

Right now, its $20 for 6mb through AT&T...my cable company wants $55 if I'm doing just 10mb internet. I'm more than likely going to be getting DirecTV.
-Cody

ryanjoachim

My ex-wife uses Netflix every day for the kids. She has Comcast's basic package which is (if I remember correctly) around 10mb. Quality is crappy, which isn't really unexpected. I've only seen the kids' movies and shows though, so I can't really attest to what a real movie will look like.

As far as bandwidth goes, every now and then Netflix will say "your network has slowed" and degrade the quality automatically, just to keep the stream flowing. For a standard 1-hour kids movie, it takes around 15 seconds to go from buffering to playing, with no hiccups or issues past that.

exalted512

well...nevermind anyway. They dont have it in my area. Why is it so damn hard to find DSL providers in my area? Is there a website where they list everyone in the area?

The only people that seem to have internet in my area (besides satellite) is my freakin cable company. Man I wish we had FIOS.
-Cody

cokewithvanilla

I suppose you mean 6mbps? that's 750kb/sec. Find out the highest quality netflix offers, and see if it's higher than 750kb/s

I assume it will be. I know on WMC Netflix, it says "determining quality"... so I bet they have multiple.. you might just stream lower quality

disneyjoe7

I use an AT&T 6mb DSL line for Netflix streaming, works fine.

PolkClyde

exalted512 wrote: »

Anyone done this?

I currently have cable & cable internet, but their prices are getting ridiculous for what you get. Thinking about switching to AT&T internet, but its 6mb up, whereas now I'm getting about 10. Those of you who stream stuff off of netflix, anyone do it with a 6mb connection? Work well? If it has to buffer every 30 minutes or less, I'd rather just pay more and keep the 10mb connection.

I've seen online people usually recommend around 4mb.

Also, anyone have experience with AT&T's internet?

Right now, its $20 for 6mb through AT&T...my cable company wants $55 if I'm doing just 10mb internet. I'm more than likely going to be getting DirecTV.
-Cody

AT&T's internet is great.I never lose a connection.I tried Comcast but they failed me.4mb is fine for what I use...but,if you are a gamer,I understand that a cable internet connection would be better than DSL. I'm not a GAMER."stream stuff off of netflix" is also great via Oppo 95 Blu-ray Player.

packetjones

I have a 5bm connection and I am able to even stream the so called HD material with no issues.

cokewithvanilla

packetjones wrote: »

I have a 5bm connection and I am able to even stream the so called HD material with no issues.

does it buffer forever before playing?

ryanjoachim

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

does it buffer forever before playing?

Buffering shouldn't take more than 15-20 seconds for any content. All buffering is designed to do is get a headstart on the stream, so that the user isn't caught waiting.

Mostly, buffering shouldn't take much time simply because Netflix downgrades the quality to match your bandwidth.

That means that even if you're watching an "HD" movie, you're not streaming the full 8mb bitrate that the movie could offer unless you have "true" broadband speeds with little latency.

packetjones

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

does it buffer forever before playing?

No. It buffers for maybe 15-30 seconds like the other person says.

shadowofnight

Beginning May 2nd, overage charges and capping starts on AT&T dsl and Uverse internet services....


" Broadband Reports was the first to learn, and has confirmed with AT&T, that the company will be implementing a new 150GB monthly usage cap for all DSL customers and a new 250 GB cap on all U-Verse users starting on May 2. "

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Billing/Exclusive-AT-amp-T-To-Impose-Caps-Overages/td-p/2704255


It would be a really bad idea to stream movies with AT&T after May 2nd, you would go over 150gb easily.

ryanjoachim

shadowofnight wrote: »

Beginning May 2nd, overage charges and capping starts on AT&T dsl and Uverse internet services....


" Broadband Reports was the first to learn, and has confirmed with AT&T, that the company will be implementing a new 150GB monthly usage cap for all DSL customers and a new 250 GB cap on all U-Verse users starting on May 2. "

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Billing/Exclusive-AT-amp-T-To-Impose-Caps-Overages/td-p/2704255


It would be a really bad idea to stream movies with AT&T after May 2nd, you would go over 150gb easily.

While that does indeed suck, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Netflix has done wonders for video compression, which in turn means less bandwidth used for the same movie.

Watching for 1 hour will use approximately 1GB of bandwidth or approximately 2GB if you are watching in HD

From Netflix.

It should be very easy to manage his bandwidth, unless he is an avid torrent-er or other types of heavy usage.

cokewithvanilla

packetjones wrote: »

No. It buffers for maybe 15-30 seconds like the other person says.

that's interesting. that means they are only providing less than 750kb/s quality?

I wonder what their highest is... it must be higher than that.

tx_polkhead

I am using a 3 Mbit DSL connection and have no problems with netflix. Only been using it for about 2 or 3 months but it works great (via an LG Bluray player hardwired to my 2Wire modem/router) on a 42" HD display. Buffering is a non-issue, most selections start within 8 to 11 seconds. I've seen a re-buffering screen twice I think (I should mention that 4 computers share the same DSL connection) but that only lasted about 8 seconds. I hope to have access to fiber soon, I guess after that upgrade I might have a different opinion. Apperently Netflix examines your connection and delivers the quality feed that the connection is capable of.
Overall I would say the picture quality is close to DVD on an upsampling player, way better than my DVD's look on a standard DVD player.
Hope this helps.

billbillw

Netflix works fine with anything above 3Mbit service, as long as you aren't running a torrent client or some other big download.

billbillw

shadowofnight wrote: »

Beginning May 2nd, overage charges and capping starts on AT&T dsl and Uverse internet services....


" Broadband Reports was the first to learn, and has confirmed with AT&T, that the company will be implementing a new 150GB monthly usage cap for all DSL customers and a new 250 GB cap on all U-Verse users starting on May 2. "

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Billing/Exclusive-AT-amp-T-To-Impose-Caps-Overages/td-p/2704255


It would be a really bad idea to stream movies with AT&T after May 2nd, you would go over 150gb easily.

First of all, this is news to me. I somehow missed the 'notice' from ATT. However, I don't think its the end of Netflix use for ATT subscribers. I watch Netflix streaming on a somewhat regular basis. Not every night all night, but maybe a few shows and a few movies each week.

I just looked at my ATT bandwidth usage and the highest I've had in the last 3 months was still less than 30GB.

Rupert305

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I use an AT&T 6mb DSL line for Netflix streaming, works fine.

I agree. We have AT&T 6mb as well takes about 15 seconds for the movie to buffer and movie will play until the end with no issues.

PerfectCreature

6MB should take no problem at all.
I run netflix HD at night time (day time traffic on internet sucks up speed) and I have a 768kb/second speed. Mine comes in perfectly clear over a PS3....
So 6mb should be easy to do for you.