Fix Constant Buffering, Choppy, or Skipping Audio and Video

This guide will attempt to solve common but sometimes hard to diagnose problems you may have when listening to online radio stations, or when watching streaming video.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Choppy/skipping video/audio

• Constant buffering

• No picture/sound

• Not being able to connect

Any time you are downloading or uploading something, you are using bandwidth. Even viewing this website used a small portion of your available bandwidth. Depending on your connection, you are allocated a certain amount of bandwidth you can use at one time.

Put in simpler terms, just as animals in an environment compete for resources, all the applications that utilize the Internet compete for bandwidth. Whether it be your web browser, video games, media player, or P2P application, they all use these resources when performing tasks. If your connection is powerful enough, you will be able to run these applications together. The trick is to limit the amount each is using at one time.

The suggestions below apply to every computer in your home.

The easiest way to solve this problem is to close all other background tasks while listening. You may even need to close IRC if you are downloading too many files over DCC. Instant messaging programs such as MSN and AIM don't use much bandwidth, so don't worry about them. If you must download, limit any P2P applications to about 25% - 40% of your upload speed and pause any unnecessary files.

You can limit the upload speed in Azureus by right clicking on the name of it, clicking "Advanced", "Set Up Speed", then clicking "Manual". Choose the speeds that pertains to you connection. Most users should be good with around 15 KB/s, but lower it if you experience problems.

Changing it in µTorrent (or uTorrent, however you choose to spell it) is just as easy. Right click the name of the file, select "Bandwidth Allocation", "Set Upload Limit", and choose 15 KB/s. The values vary by what you have your maximum upload set to, so choose the value that works best for you.

The process is the same for nearly every peer to peer application around.

Lastly, make sure you don't accidentally open the same stream more than once. Doing so will only reduce your chances of staying connected. Rapidly tapping the play button doesn't help either.

Keep in mind that the station you are trying to listen to may be having problems of its own. If this is the case you will have to wait until the problems are resolved before trying to listen again.