FA+
Shop
Today's Stream + Internet Update
4 months ago
General
So I wanted to post an important follow up given how I've been trying to track and resolve my ISP issues (if possible).
Today will be the first stream I'll be doing since the technician replaced my router with the correct router to provide stable internet connectivity for my area, since it is now compatible with their network hardware in my area. As such, my internet connection should be more stable, and the drop in internet/frames should be minimal. That being said, if it does not appear to improve, or the issues persist despite this update, I will have to seriously consider going on a lengthy hiatus from streaming...and it really is because of an issue beyond my control and is all related to my ISP.
So it's time to rip the band-aid off and level about the internet situation:
My ISP is Spectrum (formerly Charter Communications). And several years ago, they were planning (and ready) to carry out a technical overhaul of the hardware throughout my area and the surrounding region to not only provide faster, stable internet, but to also make it possible for the upload speeds to match the download speeds, or at the very least, be MUCH faster than 10Mbps. Right now, my current plan has a Download-Upload Ratio of about 1Mbps Upload to every 40Mpbs of download; not the most accurate way to describe it, but it's the best way I can describe it for my situation.
The goal was to wrap up the upgrades and have things solid as of 4 years ago. Of course, we all know what was happening around then - the COVID Pandemic...
The pandemic upended a lot of plans for my area, forcing Spectrum to then reroute their resources and efforts to other "high priority" areas as they have paid and volunteer technicians do overnight hardware upgrades. Last I was told, they were working in Sault Ste. Marie ("The Soo" for some) and making their way west, hitting other major city hubs like Marquette, Escanaba, and Iron Mountain (to name a few). Until then, they did a type of "band-aid" solution to ensure that we have some form of better internet access, until they can do the proper hardware updates for our area.
Of course, this leads to a "catch" as I was told: because of the network in my area not having full-on hardware upgrades, the new router takes time to reboot and reconnect. As such, if I were to power cycle it, it could take much longer to reconnect to the internet than what the older modems took, and that leads back to the above consideration of having to take a break from streaming if the networking issues persist, as much as I'd hate to do so, but it's hard to provide fun to all of you when lag and dropped frames are constantly getting in the way.
I hope the issues are ultimately a one-off, and if I do have to do an internet reset during stream, I will slightly extend stream time to accommodate for the disruption in service.
Fingers crossed!
Today will be the first stream I'll be doing since the technician replaced my router with the correct router to provide stable internet connectivity for my area, since it is now compatible with their network hardware in my area. As such, my internet connection should be more stable, and the drop in internet/frames should be minimal. That being said, if it does not appear to improve, or the issues persist despite this update, I will have to seriously consider going on a lengthy hiatus from streaming...and it really is because of an issue beyond my control and is all related to my ISP.
So it's time to rip the band-aid off and level about the internet situation:
My ISP is Spectrum (formerly Charter Communications). And several years ago, they were planning (and ready) to carry out a technical overhaul of the hardware throughout my area and the surrounding region to not only provide faster, stable internet, but to also make it possible for the upload speeds to match the download speeds, or at the very least, be MUCH faster than 10Mbps. Right now, my current plan has a Download-Upload Ratio of about 1Mbps Upload to every 40Mpbs of download; not the most accurate way to describe it, but it's the best way I can describe it for my situation.
The goal was to wrap up the upgrades and have things solid as of 4 years ago. Of course, we all know what was happening around then - the COVID Pandemic...
The pandemic upended a lot of plans for my area, forcing Spectrum to then reroute their resources and efforts to other "high priority" areas as they have paid and volunteer technicians do overnight hardware upgrades. Last I was told, they were working in Sault Ste. Marie ("The Soo" for some) and making their way west, hitting other major city hubs like Marquette, Escanaba, and Iron Mountain (to name a few). Until then, they did a type of "band-aid" solution to ensure that we have some form of better internet access, until they can do the proper hardware updates for our area.
Of course, this leads to a "catch" as I was told: because of the network in my area not having full-on hardware upgrades, the new router takes time to reboot and reconnect. As such, if I were to power cycle it, it could take much longer to reconnect to the internet than what the older modems took, and that leads back to the above consideration of having to take a break from streaming if the networking issues persist, as much as I'd hate to do so, but it's hard to provide fun to all of you when lag and dropped frames are constantly getting in the way.
I hope the issues are ultimately a one-off, and if I do have to do an internet reset during stream, I will slightly extend stream time to accommodate for the disruption in service.
Fingers crossed!
