METRIC 1: Responsiveness

Responsiveness measures how long your network takes to react to each request. It is measured in milliseconds (ms) and is technically known as latency or lag. The lower the number, the better.

Imagine asking someone a question from the other side of a room. Latency is the time from when you finish speaking until that person starts to respond.

High latency causes the server to take a long time to respond when your device requests the next video segment. This causes those annoying waiting moments when starting the video or skipping to another point in the playback.

Latency: Rating

• Less than 20 ms - Excellent

• 20 – 50 ms - Very good

• 50 – 100 ms - Acceptable

• More than 100 ms - Problematic

Recommended tool: ping-test.net

This tool shows your latency and instability in real time with a visual graph. If the line is straight, your connection is stable.

Tip: Run the test connected by cable and also by Wi-Fi. A big difference between both indicates your router could be part of the problem.

METRIC 2: Reliability

Reliability measures how consistent your connection is over time. A network can have a good average speed but suffer small and constant interruptions known as packet loss. When data is lost, your device has to request it again, causing micro-cuts.

It's like receiving a letter with some blurred words: even if it arrives quickly, the message is incomplete and you have to ask for it to be sent again.

An unstable connection is especially harmful for live streams. Even a 1-2% packet loss can cause pixelation, audio cuts, or frequent video freezing.

Packet loss: Rating

• 0% Perfect

• 0.1% – 0.5% Very good

• 0.5% – 1% Noticeable

• More than 1% Problematic

Recommended tool: packetlosstest.com

It sends test packets and shows how many are lost along the way, with a clear percentage result.

Tip: If you detect packet loss, try restarting your router and modem. If the problem persists, it could be a sign you should contact your internet provider.

METRIC 3: Speed

Speed is the most well-known metric: how much data your connection can transfer per second, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Contrary to what many believe, high speed doesn't guarantee a good experience if latency or stability fail.

For example, speed is the size of the hose. But if the tap takes a long time to open (high latency) or the water cuts off by itself (instability), the hose size doesn't matter much.

For streaming, the most important is download speed. These are the minimum recommended according to playback quality:

Quality : Minimum recommended speed

• SD - 480p 3 Mbps

• HD - 720p 5 Mbps

• Full HD - 1080p 10 Mbps

Recommended tool: Internet Speed Test | Check Broadband Speed | Google Fiber 

A tool that measures your real download speed. Simple, no settings, and results in seconds.

Tip: Run the test at different times of the day. Many providers have higher congestion between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., and speed can drop significantly.

Because the three work together, it's common to have good metrics on paper yet still suffer problems. These are the most typical scenarios:

SPEED ✓ LATENCY X

• The video takes a long time to start: Your connection can transfer a lot of data but takes too long to react. The video takes time to begin and skips within playback feel slow.

SPEED ✓ INSTABILITY X

• Quality goes up and down: Average speed is good, but micro-disconnections interrupt the flow. Video quality constantly changes or audio cuts out at random moments.

LATENCY ✓ STABILITY ✓ SPEED X

• The buffer doesn't fill: The connection is reliable and responds quickly, but not enough data arrives. The video looks low quality or stops when the buffer runs out.

Tips to improve your performance

If any metric is outside the ideal range, these actions usually help:

CONNECTION:

• Use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi whenever possible; it's faster and more stable.

• If you use Wi-Fi, bring your device closer to the router or use a signal repeater.

• Choose the 5 GHz band if your device supports it; it's faster, although with less range.

ROUTER AND EQUIPMENT:

• Restart your router and modem at least once a week.

• Make sure your router's firmware is updated.

• Place the router in a central and elevated location, away from thick walls and appliances.

NETWORK USAGE

• Avoid automatic downloads or updates while streaming.

• Prioritize bandwidth from your router (QoS function) if multiple devices are connected.

• Consider streaming during off-peak hours to avoid network congestion.

IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS

• Contact your provider with screenshots of your tests.

• Request a technical review if packet loss exceeds 1%.

• Consider changing your plan if problems are frequent and unsolvable.