Community Forums

BernerDad · 04-22-2015, 10:22 AM

We are in a campground in rural NC and are using an iPad mini as a Hotspot distributed through a wifi ranger go2. Trying to stream a TV show through Amazon Prime and a smart blu-Ray. Works great for about 10 mins then gets stuck buffering and reports low bandwidth. I can then turn off the blu-Ray, restart everything and it will work fine for another 10 minutes or so. The iPad shows 2-3 bars and LTE.

Is this just indicative of inadequate signal strength or is something else going on? Seems strange that it would work perfectly for that amount of time then come to a screeching halt.

Thanks,

John

2015 American Revolution 42G

John & Dorene with Lexie, Bailey, Brie (Bernese Mountain Dogs), and Ember (German Shepard Dog)

FlyingDiver · 04-22-2015, 10:35 AM

Sounds to me like the cellular carrier is throttling you. But it could be the Blue-Ray player, maybe. Can you watch directly on the iPad using the Amazon Instant Video app? That'll tell you if it's the BR player.

wa8yxm · 04-22-2015, 01:11 PM

You did not say who your cellular provider is or what plan you have.

T-mobile,for example Will cut your bandwidth if you suck too much

Verizon will suck your wallet dry

Some just shut you off.. Completly.

BernerDad · 04-22-2015, 01:34 PM

Hi,

We are on AT&T. Haven't tried it on the iPad.

John

2015 American Revolution 42G

John & Dorene with Lexie, Bailey, Brie (Bernese Mountain Dogs), and Ember (German Shepard Dog)

docj · 04-23-2015, 06:22 AM

In a similar thread on another forum a person posted about the problems he was having streaming with his Smart TV. It was interesting to me that all the people who wrote that they have no problems at all were using Rokus, which we also have. I'll bet that the problem is with your Blu-ray player's software. Most so-called "smart" devices become orphans as soon as a manufacturer comes out with a newer model. OTOH Roku software is continuously being updated. We stream a lot on our unlimited Verizon plan and hardly ever encounter a "rebuffering" problem. You can buy a Roku stick for <$50 and it does everything the standalone Roku units do.

BernerDad · 04-23-2015, 05:19 PM

Thanks docj, we have a roku at home. I'll have to do some tests when we get back.

I don't plan to stream a lot, but would like to be able to when we have the excess data available in our plan.

John

2015 American Revolution 42G
John & Dorene with Lexie, Bailey, Brie (Bernese Mountain Dogs), Chloe (American Eskimo), and Ember (German Shepard Dog)

BernerDad · 04-23-2015, 08:22 PM

Interesting, today is day one of a new billing cycle and an entire episode ran without incident.

John

2015 American Revolution 42G

John & Dorene with Lexie, Bailey, Brie (Bernese Mountain Dogs), and Ember (German Shepard Dog)

docj · 04-23-2015, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BernerDad

Interesting, today is day one of a new billing cycle and an entire episode ran without incident.

My understanding is that AT&T does throttle customers if they have grandfathered unlimited plans. Is that what you have?

vsheetz · 04-23-2015, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

My understanding is that AT&T does throttle customers if they have grandfathered unlimited plans. Is that what you have?

This is correct. I have grandfathered unlimited plan. But I don't know at what usage point the throttling begins.

BillJinOR · 04-23-2015, 09:59 PM

I have a grandfathered ATT plan . 5gb is the point you will be throttled it happens to me every month . I use my I phone a lot and download video and audio streaming. The throttling in my case is down to dialup speeds !! I would be happy if they gave me just edge speeds but it's even lower. Low quality Audio will stream fairly well with some cut outs but video is not viable . The minute you hit the new billing cycle it all comes back.

Technomadia · 04-24-2015, 10:03 AM

If you have a grandfathered unlimited AT&T iPad Plan (the one where you pay $29.95/month if you had it since 2010) - there is no throttling. It's only the unlimited iPhone plans that have throttling.

BernerDad · 04-24-2015, 10:03 AM

No I don't have a grandfathered plan. I do have one where they upped the data allotment to 15 GB for "Free" and they have recently added rollover data. It first started doing it when I was well under 15GB, but perhaps over the original amount.

John

2015 American Revolution 42G
John & Dorene with Lexie, Bailey, Brie (Bernese Mountain Dogs), Chloe (American Eskimo), and Ember (German Shepard Dog)

BillJinOR · 04-24-2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technomadia

If you have a grandfathered unlimited AT&T iPad Plan (the one where you pay $29.95/month if you had it since 2010) - there is no throttling. It's only the unlimited iPhone plans that have throttling.

Is it tied to the device (knew I should have bought one of the first ones

) or can you move the simcard to a newer ipad ? If not Id place that ipad in a feather bed and protect it with my life LOL AT&T is wishing bad things for your ipad.

hawgguy · 04-26-2015, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillJinOR

Is it tied to the device (knew I should have bought one of the first ones

) or can you move the simcard to a newer ipad ? If not Id place that ipad in a feather bed and protect it with my life LOL AT&T is wishing bad things for your ipad.

My Verizon grandfathered unlimited data plan is not tied to the device but rather the account. Here's the catch. It is not eligible for discounted device upgrades - I only keep the plan if I purchase the device. If I get a discounted phone, I get a new, non-grandfathered plan.