Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

What can I do to prevent the interruptions during the DirtVision broadcast stream?  The live stream is great for a few minutes, then it's lost and sometimes come back and sometimes I have to re-boot to get it back.  Help please.

It's impossible to answer your question with the small amount of details you have given.  However it's safe to say if this isn't happening to a ton of other people that the problem is in your house.  Whether it be a slow or intermittent internet connection or slow or weak wi-fi or the device you're watching it on is not up to par.  Or it could be a combination of those things.  It's important to remember there's a lot that goes into streaming something live and to keep in mind that even though it's an app or website you're watching it's completely different streaming on demand content (like Netflix).  I only say this because you have to remember that just because Netflix works fine, streaming something live might not if your equipment isn't up to the task.

The things to check are first your internet speed.  It takes something like 6 Mbps just to do basic streaming on one device so if you're out in a rural area with 10 Mbps service and three kids online at the same time you'll have issues.  If your speed is nit a problem download a WiFi analyzer to your phone and assuming you're using WiFi for streaming check the speed in the area where your TV or computer is located.  I have 100 Mbps service but it dropped to 10 on the other side of the furnace room in the lower level.  The solution was to hard wire bothe TVs to Ethernet and get a mesh WiFi system to resolve WiFi issues.  Dirtvision finally made a Roku app available so now I can use the wired connection but also solved WiFi issues.  Another thing to look at if all those boxes check off is if you are close to other homes there could be too many neighbors using the same channel.  I solved that issue by checking it on the cell phone WiFi analyzer and logged into my router and changed it.  And finally if none of that helps what are you watching it on and is it an older device?  

I am by no means an expert, I'm a retired railroad rate clerk who has never worked in tech but I have maintained my own computers and home network for 25 years.  I'm that guy who used to pop open the computer case on my old x486's and change the jumpers on the motherboard to get more speed out of those old CPUs back in the 90s and push them to the brink of instability just to get a few thousandths of a second more speed.  No doubt being a Sprint Car fan influenced my crazy habit of tweaking computers to make them faster.

Stan Meissner

I've been having the same issue since earlier this spring, but just on my LG smart tv. I can stream on my laptop without issue and have cable interent and plenty of speed. I contacted Dirtvision and was told to clear the cache and delete my browser history. It didn't work immediately and I refreshed the signal and got it going, but usually about three times per race night it buffers and I have to refresh. 

I have been disappointed with the functionality of the app as well. I really like Flo-racings ability to pause the race and come back to it later. I also think there is an opportunity to improve the coverage by expanding the camera view and showing more of the race. Last night in the dash we saw Gravel cross the line alone in a single shot with no one near him vs. a race between Larson and Reutzel where position changed last corner. If the view was pulled back we could have seen all of it on a track that size. 

I don't want to sound unappreciative, because this is fantastic to be able to see races across the country when we can't be there. Like anything else though continuous improvement should be the goal.  

I have a 55" TCL Roku TV that is hard wired to Ethernet and never have any issues.  I use a powered splitter in the line where it comes into the lower level from the modem.  That allows me to split the signal to both TVs in the living room and downstairs in the family room and we never have any issues.  Reading these posts about streaming issues I should start a business and go around and trouble shoot people's setup.  This comes up at least once a week so I would do pretty well except the travel expenses.  

Stan Meissner

I used to use my web browser on my smart tv but a couple months ago it started buffering randomly. I emailed dirt vision and through some suggestions I used my Roku device and went through that way and have not had any problems since. I think they stated they updated some antitheft or antispyware and that may be causing the issue with the browser.

For whatever reason, smart TVs often struggle with streaming services, even the big ones. I recommend a device like Roku, Apple TV etc....Ive never had an issue with that. 

Call your internet provider.  They will come out someday around 11:00 a.m........................when everyone is at work and internet usage is the lowest.  Your technician will rave about how great the service is at your house and come up with something simple that is the fix as to why you're having the issue.  Then, when the technician is gone, and everyone arrives home from work/school and begins to use the internet in your house/immediate area, your internet service will once again suck and you will have a buffering problem.  

Rinse.  Repeat.  

Our issue never went away until we switched providers and quit letting them blow smoke up our ass and rip us off. 

I have 4 big ROKU screens in my family room, and between drag racing and DV and Flo they all stay busy on the weekends.  All are on wifi, never have any buffering probs, have a 75 mps service

I had my wifi problems before Dirtvision made a Roku app available.  During that time I was using a Firestick browser.  The connection was terrible until I installed the mesh system to boost the signal in the lower level.  Even then I used to get a few seconds of the spinning circle at times but it usually came back.  I had a couple races that just wouldn't stream but that was only when others were reporting problems.  Now after connecting by Ethernet cable to the two main TV's if there is a problem I know it's not on my end and either wait it out or watch something else.  We stream all of our TV, broadcast channels and a Hulu channel package, so we know our setup is rock solid on our end.  Aside from that there isn't anything more I could do on my end.  The broadcasts have pretty much flawless since I hard wired. 

I wonder how many that report problems are streaming all of their channels?  I think when a person does that they would take care of streaming problems and not have any issues.  If I can stream live NFL games and all kinds of live programs I figure I'm covered on my end when only one particular service acts up.  The racing streaming seems to be a pit more picky than other live streaming.  Probably on account of the lack of good internet at some of the tracks they broadcast from.  These tracks are mostly all out in small towns so I think that the service in those areas must have some affect.  There was one USAC race on Flo recently that they had to cancel the live stream due to the internet service at the track.  They made the replay available as soon as possible, 

Stan Meissner

My experiences are similar.  After all the teething probs, live streaming seems solid now (knock on wood lol).  I feel blessed to have all this available

Yup.  Cannot state this enough-----the issue is not DV.