How do you go with streaming video services? We have tested a few now and have come to the conclusion that if you have rubbish internet speeds (as we do here in Beerwah) your only real option is Netflix.

Streaming services for slow internet connectionsStan

Stan offers a good range of content, pricing is on par at $10 per month… but it just does not adapt as well to a slow connection as Netflix does. With 2 tv’s in the home, one streaming Netflix and the other Stan – all the Stan ones does is buffer continuously – rendering it completely useless. Switch to Netflix and no problems. Stan does show TV Shows and Movies in High Definition. At present there are no 4k media options available. You can watch it on up to 3 screens at any one time.

Stan say their requirements for internet speeds are as follows which would explain a lot – we average (thanks to Telstra network congestion) anywhere between 3-6Mbps down in the evenings.

  • 0 mbps for good picture quality
  • 0 mbps for Standard Definition (SD)
  • 5 mbps for High Definition 720p (HD 720p)
  • 5 mbps for High Definition 1080p (HD 1080p)

 

Presto

My main issue with Presto is the limitation on the number of devices it can be watched on. It doesn’t just limit you to simultaneous sessions… but also to the actual number of registered devices – it was 4 and has been increased to 6 – you can watch from. If you are the type of user to jump between different TV’s in your home, a laptop/phone/tablet/ work computer or more this is definitely not the service for you. Limited to watching on 3 different devices at once. Conversely with the top package from Netflix you can use it on as many devices as you have – and only limited by 4 concurrent sessions.

Presto have only just launched HD streams for their customers– for the first 12 months after it launched all streams were in standard definition. Still no sign of 4K streaming on this platform.

Again – trying to watch content on Presto when the internet connection is being utilised elsewhere in the home results in much buffering and frustration. Presto advises that a decent internet connection is required to properly stream the new HD content – at least 7.5Mbps down for a constant stream compared to only 5Mbps for Netflix.

Presto says that streaming HD content will use almost 3GB an hour – so keep an eye on your download allowances. Or choose Telstra as your ISP – as these are unmetered on a home broadband connection.

Netflix

Netflix continue to add more to their library… have an increasing range of 4K content on offer and a fair price point. For the convenience and the performance on our various woeful internet connections and to avoid having to have “shared custody” of the internet connection in our home at night – this is the only option for us!

Netflix recommended download speeds:

  • 5 Megabits per second – Required broadband connection speed
  • 5 Megabits per second – Recommended broadband connection speed
  • 0 Megabits per second – Recommended for SD quality
  • 0 Megabits per second – Recommended for HD quality
  • 25 Megabits per second – Recommended for Ultra HD quality

We find the quality it displays at is fairly low for the first few minutes of the movie/tv show but improves quickly after a few minutes.