OfficialOTT · Video guide · 1:44
Internet for streaming in Canada: practical checks
Measure the connection near your TV, compare Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and adapt your network to your household’s needs.
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Your plan advertises plenty of speed. Yet the video stops. Before paying for more bandwidth, find out where the problem is. Start with your address. Fiber, cable, fixed wireless, or satellite. Availability and service characteristics vary by location. Compare the actual plan terms, not just its maximum speed. Next, test on the device you use to watch. A good result beside the router does not necessarily describe the television's connection in another room. If the device supports it, compare Wi-Fi with an Ethernet cable. Run the speed test, then stop it before playing the video. Otherwise, the test itself can occupy the connection. If the cable improves playback, examine the Wi-Fi. Distance, walls, and router placement can matter. Keep the router in an open, unobstructed space and follow its manufacturer's guidance. Test again at your usual viewing times when several devices are in use. Available bandwidth is shared. Watch for consistent playback, not just the best speed test result. Think about data, too. For example, an average stream of 10 megabits per second, two hours a day for 30 days, uses about 270 gigabytes. This calculation excludes other activities and network overhead. Actual usage varies with the content and its quality. A VPN changes the connection's route. Depending on the network and server, it may help or slow things down. Compare with and without it under similar conditions, without assuming an automatic improvement. The Official OTT approach: Measure in the right place, change one thing at a time, and record the result. Find the steps in our Internet for Streaming in Canada guide.