What Internet Speed Is Best For Streaming Movies?

If finding the right internet service provider is like finding the right store, then finding the right internet speed must be like finding the right size for clothing or shoes. Everyone has a different style (requirements) and size (speed) thus the need for guides like this. However, finding the right speed is not so much a complicated process anymore. It is fairly easy to assess the speed you use on average and how much more or less you would want.

Oftentimes, you don’t even need to look elsewhere to find help and you can find useful information or help on the provider’s website. Take, for example, Astound Broadband powered by RCN. You will find that each plan offered by RCN contains some basic info or details about the plan. Aside from getting the terms & conditions of the plan and the pricing, you will find that you can also learn about the number of users and devices roughly. Head out to www.buytvinternetphone.com/rcn to know more about it!

Whatever else you need, you will find it here!

Is There A Way to Measure Internet Speed?

So, the first thing you need to learn about is how internet speed is measured. Internet speed is usually measured in Megabits per second (Mbps) and Gigabits per second (Gbps). These units tell you how fast data is traveling between your home and the internet provider.

The minimum speed for internet download and upload by FCC was set at 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. However, as of recently, this limit will most likely be changed to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload speed.

Moreover, some plans might have synchronous or asynchronous speed depending on the type of connection it is. What we mean by this is that some plans have differing download and upload speeds, which means it is asynchronous, whereas the same upload and download speeds mean it is synchronous. For fiber internet connections, you will always have synchronous speeds, whereas cable internet or DSL internet connections have asynchronous speeds.

If you’re wondering why the download speed is faster than the upload speed in asynchronous connections, it is because the download speed is more crucial to us. Most of what we do is transfer data from one device to another and for this, we need to use the download speed. Hence, you will always find that the download speed will be higher than the upload speed.

How Do I Know What Internet Speed I Need?

Knowing a bit about internet speed, let’s move on to the minimum speed needed for activities you might perform on a daily basis. When it comes to calculating the speed you might need, you have to take into consideration some factors like:

• How many people are using the same internet connection as you?
• What activities are all these people performing daily?
• Is there anyone that likes to spend hours gaming or streaming online?
• Is anyone working from home on the same internet connection?
• Do you have any smart gadgets or security devices that need to stay connected all the time?

Once you have figured out the answers to all of these questions, the next thing to do is see how much internet speed each activity is taking up.

Taking a look at this table and taking into consideration the fact that the new minimum requirement for internet download speed according to FCC is 100 Mbps, this is what we would recommend as well. Make sure to keep a margin of 100 Mbps as the minimum download speed and see if you need more from there.

As you can see, the minimum speed for streaming SD videos is 3-4 Mbps, while for HD videos is 5-8 Mbps. But if you want to go above and beyond in terms of streaming, you will need 25 Mbps for Streaming ultra HD 4K video. Take a look at the table below to find the internet speed for streaming for different platforms.

What Should I Keep in Mind When Going to Buy High-Speed Internet for Streaming?

Once you do figure out the internet speed that works for you, the next step is to look for the right internet plan. However, picking an internet plan by just looking at the speed is not the right approach. You need to look at the factors that affect internet speed as well. The connection type, the provider, the distance (in some cases), and all of these factors can and will affect the internet speed.

• Advertised Speeds and Actual Speeds

Did you know that there is a difference between advertised internet speeds and actual internet speeds? Oftentimes, we think that whatever the advertised speeds are, these will also be the speeds we will get. This isn’t true, however. The speed that is advertised in an internet plan is usually the maximum speed possible with that plan.

Additionally, the actual speed and the advertised speed will not have much difference, maybe only 50-100 Mbps. So, if there is more difference than this, you might want to pay a visit to your provider’s office.

When it comes to streaming, good internet speed is a necessity to enjoy a good movie. It is important to realize the difference between advertised and actual speeds because of this particular reason too.

• Wired and Wireless Connections

Another factor that affects internet speed is whether you are wirelessly connected to the internet or not. Just like your smartphone is wirelessly connected, your laptop or computer system might be connected via Ethernet. If this is the case, you might notice that the internet on your laptop is much smoother and faster than on your smartphone.

Or maybe, when you distance yourself from the modem, go into a separate room and close the door, you might notice that the internet will slow down even if just by a few seconds.

This is the difference that you will notice between wired and wireless connections. If, for example, you live in a big home and you want to make sure you get uniform internet speed throughout your home, you can use devices like Wi-Fi extenders to ensure that. Whereas, if you are working from home, gaming, or doing any internet-heavy activity, we recommend that you use a wired connection, an Ethernet cable, to connect your system. This also applies to streaming movies.

• Types of Internet Connections

The different types of internet connections have a hand in internet speed. Whether you choose fiber, cable, DSL, or any other, you should know how each connection type affects the speed.

Fiber: Fiber internet is the fastest internet connection there is, but its availability is very limited. Fiber internet is very reliable and is not easily affected by weather or any other external factors.

Cable: Cable internet is the next-most popular internet connection after fiber internet. Contrary to fiber internet, cable internet is commonly available and is also pretty speedy. While its reliability does not match or exceed fiber internet’s reliability, it is a very good option.

DSL: DSL internet is an affordable connection type and is not very fast. Unfortunately, its reliability level also falls below fiber and cable. It is usually a good option when you don’t have cable or fiber internet in your area.

To Finish Off

Now you know how to find out which speed is right for streaming and what factors you need to consider before and during purchase. Once you have made an estimate and are ready to browse some plans or make a purchase, just visit here!

As we mentioned before, 100 Mbps is where you should start and go upwards to calculate how much you really need. The ideal internet speed for most people with a family of 3-4 people is 300 – 400 Mbps, which is why RCN offers 300 Mbps as its lowest internet speed!

So, what are you waiting for? Get that plan and start streaming!

Also Read: Departure of Internet Explorer: A Golden Opportunity of Edge?