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RonaldH
Visitor

M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

I'm developing a Channel for Livestream, to test, but when we have multiple bandwidths enabled in the m3u8 it doesn't go to HD, when we only put up HD it will play it fine, bandwidth can't be an issue.

I modified the customvideoplayer example to accept the m3u8 of ours.

Specifications:
-Roku HD - Software version 2.9 build 1553
-Bandwidth to the city where the server is: http://www.speedtest.net/result/1274142669.png
-M3U8 URL: http://xhdmultibitratedemox.api.channel.livestream.com/3.0/playlist.m3u8

If more info is required, I could supply it.
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8 REPLIES 8
TheEndless
Channel Surfer

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

I'm not sure if this is what you're seeing or not, but with HLS, the Roku will start with a lower quality stream to get playback started faster. After a minute or so, you should see it switch to the higher stream(s).
My Channels: http://roku.permanence.com - Twitter: @TheEndlessDev
Instant Watch Browser (NetflixIWB), Aquarium Screensaver (AQUARIUM), Clever Clocks Screensaver (CLEVERCLOCKS), iTunes Podcasts (ITPC), My Channels (MYCHANNELS)
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RonaldH
Visitor

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

It will sometimes switch to HD, but will switch shortly after it to normal quality.
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tensen
Visitor

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

I could be that it isn't able to sustain the higher bandwidth consistently. Can you put in an intermediary 720p HD in to catch a midpoint in your bandwidth utilization?
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RonaldH
Visitor

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

I tried it, and it has the same issue.

When having a stream up @ 6 Mbit/s just in HD quality, it will keep it streaming just fine, no glitches or any other problems.
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RokuKevin
Visitor

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

How did you come up with the 3096000 bandwidth value in the .m3u8 file??

--Kevin
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RonaldH
Visitor

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

The current stream is just mobile and high for the test.

it's 3000 Kbit/s for video + 96 Kbit/s for audio * 1000

On the HD + Meidum + Mobile it is

#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=198000
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=52
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=678000
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=2128000
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RokuKevin
Visitor

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

Because you've set the bandwidth artificially high, the Roku is trying to download that bandwidth but can't get it. Therefore, it drops down to the lower bandwidth.

You should set the bandwidth to the actual average bitrate of your stream.

--Kevin
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RonaldH
Visitor

Re: M3U8 Multi Bandwidth issue

We will try to do so, but it isn't artificially high, we are actually streaming at that channel with a 3 Mbit downstream.

What bandwidth work best with the roku device? what works best in your experience?



The specifications of HTTP Live streaming says the following of of the bandwidth

BANDWIDTH=<n>
where n is an approximate upper bound of the stream bitrate, expressed as a number of bits per second.


As a last note, we will try to lower the bandwidth tag, but the roku device is handling the constant streaming of the 3 Mbit one fine, when we have the four bandwidth one, it sometimes jumps to 2128000 and then sometimes jumps back to 678000. As you can see in the first post, the internet that we have can handle the speed fine.
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