Netflix vs. Amazon Prime for streaming video

[jgillott]

Jgillott, I have Netflix and Amazon prime. They're both about the same I would have to say it just really gets down to personal preference your best bet is to choose one try it out and if you don't like it simply MoveOn. Amazon prime does let you download some book selections for free if you have a e reader bracket .(iPad Kindle etc)
Also what kind of Internet service do you have and are you going to be streaming wirelessly. I think the minimum speed is going to be at least 12 MB per second downstream. Maybe more I don't know,currently I have 18 MB per second and in January when I cut tv services I am hoping it to 25 MB per second over cable with a backup of 20 MB per second over the pots lines.
If you're going to be streaming wirelessly you're going to at least need "N". You can do with wireless G but depending on your connection you will get a lot of cutting out and delays.

Our internet service is advertised at 50 MB but I have no Idea what the actual rate is. I did replace our old D-Link G router with a N recently, so we should be OK there. I have a few days off now this week for New Years. So, I am going to get things up and running on one of the services and see what happens.

 

[JLEONARD]

I think my service (Optimum) is advertised like that, but I get about 24-25 mb when I perform a speed test. My netflix kept stopping to buffer when I was doing it wirelessly, even though it was pretty close to the router. After a week of that BS I ran a hard cable to the blueray player and now no problems.

 

[jgillott]

I think my service (Optimum) is advertised like that, but I get about 24-25 mb when I perform a speed test. My netflix kept stopping to buffer when I was doing it wirelessly, even though it was pretty close to the router. After a week of that BS I ran a hard cable to the blueray player and now no problems.

I just hooked up the new Blueray player. It seems to work well with youtube video etc. How would I look to see what speed it is running?

 

[mwilson]

I just hooked up the new Blueray player. It seems to work well with youtube video etc. How would I look to see what speed it is running?

This is the one that we use......http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Just pick the closest big city for your test. Here in Houlton, Maine using the NYC server I just got 19.52 over 4.02 at work.

 

[jgillott]

11.13 and 2.29. Not good I assume.

 

[mwilson]

11.13 and 2.29. Not good I assume.

I don't think that is bad, we are on fiber optic here. I'm thinking that 11.13 will carry it. Check it several times through the day, you may see some fluctuation in those numbers.

I believe your numbers are very close to what I have at home with Time Warner and I can play anything that I want without any herky-jerky on You Tube for example.

Mike.

 

[p-Bar]

If it's cable check it at night when everyone else is watching netflix . Cable companies only dedicate so much bandwith per node (neighborhood) so it gets drained as more people us it . DSL stays fairly consistent . Don't worry about your up speed it's the down you need. As I have stated I watch it on a 2.5 mbps speed

 

[jhenderson]

After reading all this I realize I really am a cave man. You guys are driving a 2014 Ram and I'm in a model A.

 

[Sticks]

Only if if you are still on 56kps dial up modem.

More of a Studebaker I think.

 

[jhenderson]

No, I'm on fiber optic. It's the terms being used. Might as well be Latin. Until I saw it yesterday, I don't think I'd have said dongle in mixed company.

 

[mwilson]

Am working in Bangor today, just checked the speed here. 21.00 over 4.75. Fiber Optic, same as Houlton.

Remember that speed is being maintained while running a server that handles this store plus four other locations. Every command given on a keyboard at the other locations that involves our in-house business system goes to Bangor and then is sent back to that store. Every keystroke.

Also running at a rough count 25 PC's and several laptops right now at this location.

So with that being said anything over 2.00 download speed should handle streaming at home, I would think.

This stuff really is amazing when you stop and think about it.

Mike.

 

[mwilson]

No, I'm on fiber optic. It's the terms being used. Might as well be Latin. Until I saw it yesterday, I don't think I'd have said dongle in mixed company.

I still have to stifle a grade school giggle every time that I have to say "Dongle".......

Can't help it, when you quit laughing at stuff it is all over.......

 

[leaky gasket]

Here is the Netflix recommended connection speeds. I hope this link works. https://support.netflix.com/en/node/306
Jgillott, I know these Internet service providers don't guarantee their advertised number. But I feel if you are paying for 50 MB a second service your speech should be a lot faster than what they are. I'm assuming you have cable because I don't think DSL can reach speeds unless the line is bonded. You may want to look into just getting 25 MB per second service and see if your speed remains the same.
Of course now that I think about it some more. Those speeds could be normal for your area and the type of service you have. There's just not enough information known,but I hope I've given you a few things to consider or think about at least.

 

[jgillott]

Here is the Netflix recommended connection speeds. I hope this link works. https://support.netflix.com/en/node/306
Jgillott, I know these Internet service providers don't guarantee their advertised number. But I feel if you are paying for 50 MB a second service your speech should be a lot faster than what they are. I'm assuming you have cable because I don't think DSL can reach speeds unless the line is bonded. You may want to look into just getting 25 MB per second service and see if your speed remains the same.
Of course now that I think about it some more. Those speeds could be normal for your area and the type of service you have. There's just not enough information known,but I hope I've given you a few things to consider or think about at least.

After reading your post, I ended up looking in to our internet service and I was/am mistaking about my current service package. We have cable internet service through Armstrong and when I signed up for, it was called "Zoom 500" which was 50 mb. According to my billing statement, we now have what they call "Zoom" which is listed on their site now as being 10 mb. That would explain why my test speeds are so slow and also why our system seems to be so sluggish lately, especially when trying to watch video etc.

 

[Bill Stockard]

After reading your post, I ended up looking in to our internet service and I was/am mistaking about my current service package. We have cable internet service through Armstrong and when I signed up for, it was called "Zoom 500" which was 50 mb. According to my billing statement, we now have what they call "Zoom" which is listed on their site now as being 10 mb. That would explain why my test speeds are so slow and also why our system seems to be so sluggish lately, especially when trying to watch video etc.

WOW!! I wouldn't know how to act at 10mb/s... and at 50mb/s? We're out in a rural area, still in the "dark ages", and on wireless broadband creeping along at an advertised 1mb/s that actually runs from 0.7 to 0.9mb/s.

Exede satellite internet service advertises speeds up to 12mb/s, but I see the "up to" in the claim and take the 12mb/s with a grain of salt. I hesitate to sign up for satellite internet service from all the horror stories I've read and heard about it in the past. However, speeds near 10 to 12 mb/s would be a big improvement.

Bill

 

[p-Bar]

After reading your post, I ended up looking in to our internet service and I was/am mistaking about my current service package. We have cable internet service through Armstrong and when I signed up for, it was called "Zoom 500" which was 50 mb. According to my billing statement, we now have what they call "Zoom" which is listed on their site now as being 10 mb. That would explain why my test speeds are so slow and also why our system seems to be so sluggish lately, especially when trying to watch video etc.

10mb sluggish/? you have to be kidding me I would love to have that kind of speed we are at 2.5 mb . We watch netflix just fine

 

[DBarfield]

One more thought on the discussion. We only have a lowly DSL connection now that usually measures 3.5 M up and 500 K down. But it is unlimited - at least for now. My son just moved to Pensacola and they are capped at 200 Gig per month and he was a heavy downloader when he was at home.

We turned off the satellite TV earlier this year. We have access to Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu Plus. My wife who watches most of the TV misses the Sat TV sometimes but then likes to binge on some of her favorite shows so it probably comes out even. She initially like Amazon Prime until she found out they do not play the current season shows. It seems like the favorite now is Hulu Plus even with the ads.

BTW, I also turned off the local phone to replace it with Google voice and an ObiTalk device that goes on the local network and then plugs into the wireless phones around the house. So far, I have cut $100 per month off of the monthly budget.