Paramount coverage 2021/2022

[Tevor]

If that’s what’s required the service will fail. They’ve got to get it sorted and simple in quick order. I wouldn’t put it past them giving everyone a free month next month (or adding a month to the sub term for 12m users) if it isn’t turned around by this weekend.

And that’s just talking about the steam nevermind pause, rewind, start over, etc

1,000%; I haven't had major issues however when you read social media people are just giving up and not going to watch so it's an epic fail. It needs to be simple to use and easy to access or its not acceptable. I hope the APL had a good contract in place but then again CBS are handing over the $$$.

I think someone mentioned it a while ago, they really should have used the early Cup games as test runs.

I'm genuinely concerned for the sport itself as we don't need everyday people being turned away because it's just too hard to watch on TV.

 

[FFC Mariner]

I must of lucked out …zero issues since I logged into the P+ app on either the Telstra tv or the iPad weeks before the games kicked off

Same - works fine for me too. Maybe NBN related?

 

[turbo]

Same - works fine for me too. Maybe NBN related?

The volume of issues doesnt suggest it's internet provider related. As insertnamehere is saying if you use kodi it can work better when all other variables are the same. It's their app and platform.

 

[FFC Mariner]

On a tablet, laptop, fetchbox or via Chromecast (with Android TV built in) it works fine for meif it isn't NBN could it be hardware related?

 

[turbo]

The first question is what do you define as fine? Is it equal smoothness and quality as foxtel or kayo? I can watch just fine but the smoothness is not where it needs to be overall and at times is quite jarring, sometimes to a point of making the game unenjoyable. Picture quality itself isnt bad in most cases. But if you watch the Sydney full game or mini match the motion is still garbage for example.

Other issues like crashing could well be hardware dependent. In some instances watching on a small screen masks those faults too because the details are smaller. I dont notice most of those things on an ipad or phone but if i cast it from the ipad to the TV it's very obvious though I dont do that often because my TV has android tv built in.

There has been some analysis of the stream in the paramount thread on whirlpool if you're interested in the technicalities.

@Insertnamehere - does Kodi let you pause, rewind or start over?

 

[AuzDutchy]

the framerate is the issue, 25fps isnt enough for sport

its why some people think it works fine and others can watch the same thing and feel sick from the lower framerate, anybody used to 60fps is gonna have a bad time

 

[Insertnamehere]

The first question is what do you define as fine? Is it equal smoothness and quality as foxtel or kayo? I can watch just fine but the smoothness is not where it needs to be overall and at times is quite jarring, sometimes to a point of making the game unenjoyable. Picture quality itself isnt bad in most cases. But if you watch the Sydney full game or mini match the motion is still garbage for example.

Other issues like crashing could well be hardware dependent. In some instances watching on a small screen masks those faults too because the details are smaller. I dont notice most of those things on an ipad or phone but if i cast it from the ipad to the TV it's very obvious though I dont do that often because my TV has android tv built in.

There has been some analysis of the stream in the paramount thread on whirlpool if you're interested in the technicalities.

@Insertnamehere - does Kodi let you pause, rewind or start over?

I'll double check and let you know next round.

Curiously the replays and minis are at a much lower datarate which results in HD that isnt as clear or stable. So I noticed on match day there were datarates up to 15mpbs 1920*1080 with h.265. Whereas the replays are maxed at 5mbps 1920*1080 with h.264. I have no idea how much of an impact that had but I ran it at max data and it was the best image I've seen sport run on before. Someone will know what that all means better than I.

Fast forward, rewind and pause work but it won't let you skip to a specific time.

 

[Tevor]

The first question is what do you define as fine? Is it equal smoothness and quality as foxtel or kayo? I can watch just fine but the smoothness is not where it needs to be overall and at times is quite jarring, sometimes to a point of making the game unenjoyable. Picture quality itself isnt bad in most cases. But if you watch the Sydney full game or mini match the motion is still garbage for example.

Other issues like crashing could well be hardware dependent. In some instances watching on a small screen masks those faults too because the details are smaller. I dont notice most of those things on an ipad or phone but if i cast it from the ipad to the TV it's very obvious though I dont do that often because my TV has android tv built in.

There has been some analysis of the stream in the paramount thread on whirlpool if you're interested in the technicalities.

@Insertnamehere - does Kodi let you pause, rewind or start over?

Exactly, looks great on a PC or small screen. Put it on my 60 inch and it makes you feel like you need glasses. Definitely the frame rate as only blurs when there is a lot going on or fast movements.

 

[scottmac]

Is this not the first major sport that is solely dependant on internet streaming? Isn't this country devoid of the infrastructure to provide quality streaming right across the nation? Head outside and lift your closest Telstra pit (don't do that) and you'll see what type of cabling that's providing you if it's not entirely submerged in water right now. I've got 5g phone reception where I am currently getting anywhere from 100 to 200mbps. Plus I've got around 50m of copper from the fibre node for my nbn. It makes a massive difference. The house before this one had over 200m of copper and it was such a disaster of a line that houses along the street would be falling off all the time.
The sound the other night isn't explainable and I'm sure they've got teething issues but blue rings and poor quality can be put down to internet quality.
My 75" Sony through the paramount app is great. So is my 55" Samsung through the Samsung internet app. If anything the ball jumps a bit on long passes.

 

[turbo]

The sound the other night isn't explainable and I'm sure they've got teething issues but blue rings and poor quality can be put down to internet quality.

I’ve got FTTP. Zero issues with any other service. Work in IT so know my way around this stuff we’ll enough. The majority of complaints aren’t user issues. And if the service works perfectly under the most optimal conditions (Like Apple TV box + 100/40 internet) then it’s still a platform failure because you shouldn’t need that to get a decent level of service.

 

[Ironbark]

Head outside and lift your closest Telstra pit (don't do that)

Haha

 

[scottmac]

I’ve got FTTP. Zero issues with any other service. Work in IT so know my way around this stuff we’ll enough. The majority of complaints aren’t user issues. And if the service works perfectly under the most optimal conditions (Like Apple TV box + 100/40 internet) then it’s still a platform failure because you shouldn’t need that to get a decent level of service.

Your fttp is still user dependant though. How far are you from the exchange? Is there a node in-between? If the exchange/node isn't capable to handle the traffic it services (which is the case for many many fttp communities especially in peak usage hours) it doesn't matter how fast it can get from there to your home, you'll not get the service advertised and in some instances worse than the old adsl. Football is mostly broadcast (can you even say it's being broadcast anymore?) during peak usage hours. Im not saying they don't have issues they obviously do. But this is definitely something that will be contributing to the issues.

 

[turbo]

There’s no way it’s congestion causing the same issues so consistently across different time slots and while other services and speed tests are fine. Being a live game you might expect dips if that were the case but not across a 2 hour broadcast. I agree that streaming adds a layer of complexity and another fault point but dealing with that is part of having a successful product.

 

[Tevor]

What I find interesting is I can watch the first half with no buffering and then at half time the adds buffer like crazy. I have good internet access and still experience the odd problems.

 

[Pirate Pete]

If you've got a modicum of computer nouse, its worth getting kodi then using the p+ add-on created by Matt huisman. It gives you the option for what data rate rather than HD or SD. Using the actual 1080p stream, the image was perfect.

Thanks. I might have a go at this.
I've got an old android box I might blow the dust off and see how it goes.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Thanks. I might have a go at this.
I've got an old android box I might blow the dust off and see how it goes.

Also for the newer Chromecast with Android TV inbuilt.

How to Install Kodi on a Chromecast: Stream Kodi on Google's Dongle

Smart TVs are great. They give you access to a range of apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more—all for a relatively low cost. Regardless, you can

www.alphr.com

Also, you can not stream Kodi content to Chromecast from an iOS device, so we will only be talking about Android devices for this method. sorry iSheep

 

[Pirate Pete]

Also for the newer Chromecast with Android TV inbuilt.

How to Install Kodi on a Chromecast: Stream Kodi on Google's Dongle

Smart TVs are great. They give you access to a range of apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more—all for a relatively low cost. Regardless, you can

www.alphr.com

Also, you can not stream Kodi content to Chromecast from an iOS device, so we will only be talking about Android devices for this method. sorry iSheep

I've got a Fire Stick that works perfectly and I really don't want to f**k around with that.
The little Android box I have has been sitting on a shelf for 2 or 3 years.
It might not even be new enough to work for this.
But if I brick it or f**k it up I don't care.

And as for things beginning with i..........

 

[Corsair]

There’s no way it’s congestion causing the same issues so consistently across different time slots and while other services and speed tests are fine. Being a live game you might expect dips if that were the case but not across a 2 hour broadcast. I agree that streaming adds a layer of complexity and another fault point but dealing with that is part of having a successful product.

Yeah it's not contention, I'm on a business plan which puts me ahead of the neighbors in the contention stakes and I only have streaming issues with this service, nothing else ever buffers, even 4K youtube/Netflix.

I think Paramount just haven't bought enough bandwidth and/or got enough horsepower at the source. Whatever infrastructure NetFlix and Kayo are using, probably both running scalable workloads from AWS or Azure, P+ needs to do the same. It is a cheap service, however I'd rather pay more and have it work properly.

 

[AuzDutchy]

its the framerate, i cant say this enough times.

1080p looks the same to everyone but 1080p30 or 1080p60 or 1080p25 are all COMPLETELY different and most people will barely tell whereas others are more susceptible to framerates

 

[turbo]

its the framerate, i cant say this enough times.

1080p looks the same to everyone but 1080p30 or 1080p60 or 1080p25 are all COMPLETELY different and most people will barely tell whereas others are more susceptible to framerates

Some using Kodi on whirlpool were saying they were getting 50 fps streams but it was like every 2nd frame was the same.