In recent days I’ve noticed that I’m getting a lot of buffering on YouTube and FB videos. What might be causing this? I dumped my history to see if that makes a difference, but nope. As I type this, there is a YT video churning on buffer hold because I tried to jump forward a bit to hear the bridge. It totally locks up the site, as well, to where I can’t cancel the page out without a longish wait. This is a laptop running wireless, 12MB RAM and Core i7 processor.
The 12 megs of ram might be the issue.:dubious:
But, anyways, it sounds like it might be a browser issue. You could try a different browser or dig deeper into issues with whichever browser you’re using.
What browser are you using?
Also, have you tried things like resetting your computer? Checking your download speed (speedtest . net, fast .com)? Make sure none of your add-ons/extensions have gone wonky? Also, it’s always good to google for this and set google to just check for the past week or so to see if anyone else is having issues as well.
But, for starters, what browser, what version? Windows I assume?
Yeah, Windows 10. I’m using Chrome, version 57 and a bunch of decimals, 64 bit. I would have thought 12MB would be enough, and it hasn’t been a problem until the last few days. Download 221.91Mbps, upload 12.03, ping 9.
ISP data throttling?
You may as well be speaking Urdu. 
Sorry, that was a joke, if you have 12 of something, it’s GB, not MB. (gigs, not megs). So, one of us got wooshed.
Possible. Easy enough to check. Chefguy, if you have Netflix, on your TV, pull it up and try using it, today*. See if it works. If you get it working or it buffers a lot or the video quality is really bad. Then we can probably narrow it down to an internet problem.
OTOH, if you can connect your laptop to a different internet connection (take it to work, or even just sit in a Starbucks parking lot for 5 minutes) and it’s still not working, then it’s your computer.
Those two things would narrow it down to the computer or the connection. In the mean time, you can run a speed test and you can reset any network gear (modem, router etc) in your house, just for good measure.
*AB is suggesting that your internet provider is slowing down (or stopping) your connection. Often times they’ll do this if you have a data limit. When there is a limit (aka data cap), it resets in the next billing period. Not knowing when your billing period resets, that’s why I’d want you to do this today since it could be fine tomorrow. If this is the case.
My guess would be wifi interference. Perhaps a neighbor has recently started using a wifi device on the same channel as yours. You could use a wifi analyzer tool to check your wifi environment, or just blindly change the channel on your router and see if it helps. Change it to either 1, 6, or 11, one that you’re not currently using.
Brain fart on the GB v MB. I used Netflix yesterday without issue. Did the speed test as noted above. Since this is such recent problem, I’m not sure what to think. The laptop is only a few months old, and the billing cycle is nowhere near due. I don’t have limits on data that I know of. Guess I could try the Starbucks on the corner.
Really have no idea how to do that, but I’m willing to give it a try.
Well… اللہ کا فضل ہو!
If you have exceeded the data cap from your internet provider, they may slow down your data rate instead of simply blocking further data. A speed test wouldn’t necessary show this, nor would most net operations. It might be keyed only to video and other continuing high-bandwidth operations.
Best thing to do is log into your provider user page and check your data usage etc. for the month.
If you’re using WiFi, though, all bets are off; the 201x-era update of Harry Newton’s Law (“It’s the cable.”) is “It’s the fuggin’ wireless connection.”
How to change the channel depends on what kind of router you have, but it’s usually pretty easy. Do you know how to get into the router settings? Google your router model number and “change wifi channel” and you should be able to find instructions.
Markn+ has details on how to change the channel.
If you want to know what channel to change to and you have a smartphone there are free apps for it. I use WiFi Analyzer for Android. I am sure there are others for iPhones.
With that you can see the wifi networks in range and what channels they are on. No tech knowledge needed. It is obvious when looking at it.
Also, there may be a chance someone else has piggy-backed on to your wifi network. Depending on the router you may be able to go into the control panel and see what is on your network. You can also use a smartphone app like Fing to see what is on your network (assuming your smartphone is logged in to your network). Or you could just change your wifi password (but then all your devices need to get a new password so that is a hassle).
The other computer in the house (Mac i27) doesn’t seem to be having this problem unless I try to “outrun” the download.
Physically, where are you in the house, and where is the router? Do you get the problem when you’re in the same room as the router? Do you get the problem if you connect the laptop to the router with a network cable?
Is anyone using the other computer to view videos at the same time?
I’ve used wifi analyzers. Personally, (especially if you don’t even know where) the setting is), it’s easier to just blindly pick a new channel than to get an app. IME, one channel is as good as the next and it’s not like any of the other ones can really be any worse than “youtube doesn’t work anymore”.
@chefguy, I know one or two people posted directions, but in general, you’ll go to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (I think I may have seen some that were 192.168.1.255). It’ll prompt you for a user name and password which I’ll assume you remember. Click around and find something that says “Channel” and pick a new channel, save the new setting and that’s it. Assuming that’s the only thing you do, you won’t hurt anything and you don’t have to change any other settings.
Is the other computer wifi or do you have an ethernet cable plugged into it.
Netflix, on your TV, right? I should have mentioned that you shouldn’t be streaming this through your laptop. So, assuming it wasn’t, was the device that was streaming the netflix wifi or ethernet?
And what did it say? Yes, I know, the ISP could pick and choose, but if it’s over 10ish (even down to 5), I’d be comfortable saying that it’s not the internet grinding youtube to a halt, especially since you said your entire browser is locking up too.
I’m in the next room from the router (probably 20 feet away through an open door) and have no problems with the laptop connecting immediately. Haven’t tried a cable connection yet. My wife occasionally streams something, but rarely.
These days the airwaves are so chock-full of wifi signals I found it helpful to use the analyzer (I live in a densely populated residential area in a condo so I am almost completely surrounded by other wifi signals). Not like the analyzer is hard to use. Just turn it on and read the graph.
Also, they are good for assessing signal strength which it kind of sounds like it may be the problem here (wifi strength and possible interference from other signals).
@Chefguy a wired connection is always better than a wireless connection if you can swing it. Even just running a long cable across the house to test is worthwhile (just do not buy cable from BestBuy…you can get a 50’ CAT5 cable from Monoprice for $19).
Also, use something like CCleaner (free version) to clean old junk off your hard drive. While you are at it check to see how much free space you have available and how fragmented the drive is.
Wifi also, both through the Mac Time Machine.
It’s through Roku, which is wifi, and yes to watching on TV.
Download 221.91Mbps, upload 12.03, ping 9.