Painfully slow Netflix downloads (Win 6.0.0.5)

[zapt]

I'm not sure whether the issue is Netflix, the update to StreamFab, or a function of my ISP, but my download speeds have been cut in half. On my 400mbps account, I was previously getting around 46Mbps and now it's 23 -- and occasionally drops to as low as 1mbps. I've run multiple Speedtest tests while StreamFab is downloading and they still report 300-400Mbps, so the issue is only happening on StreamFab downloads. Currently, I only have a Netflix account, so I can't tell whether other services are affected, too.

[Cats4U]

StreamFab reports downloads in MBps, not Mbps. Bytes, not bits. For a rough back of the envelope calculation, multiple what you see by 8. So, your previous at around 46MBps is 368Mbps which is close to your max. With your now speed at 23MBs, that is 184Mbps which doesn't seem abnormal to me especially if you are running a speedtest at the same time.
Netflix does a combined audio/video download. Both audio and video are downloaded at the same time. With other providers the audio and video are download separately. Sometimes the display will show each doing a 0-100% scale. Other providers show the video as 0-49% and audio as 50-100%. In either case the audio will show as being downloaded much slower, usually as KBps. This is normal.

[zapt]

No, I’m only concerned with the download speed reported by StreamFab at the top of the screen. I only ran Speediest when the download speed became abysmal—less than 1MB per second—to determine if my modem and router were suddenly incapable of downloading ANYTHING.

Prior to 6.0.0.5, all downloads were around 46. Now they’re half that. Today, it took over 4 hours to download 50 tv episodes. So my question remains: Is this a Netflix issue, a 6.0.0.5 issue, or something else? Am I the only one who's experiencing this issue on Netflix (and possibly elsewhere)? 23MBps hasn’t been normal for me for the past year of using StreamFab, and it’s been that way since the last update.

[october262]

No, I’m only referring to the download speed reported by StreamFab at the top of the screen. I only ran Speediest when the download speed became abysmal—less than 1mb per second—to determine if my modem and router were suddenly incapable of downloading ANYTHING.

Prior to 6.0.0.5, all downloads were around 46. Now they’re half that. Today, it took over 4 hours to download 50 tv episodes. So my question remains: Is this a Netflix issue, a 6.0.0.5 issue, or something else? 23MBps hasn’t been normal for me for the past year of using StreamFab, and it’s been that way since the last update.

do you get the same speed if you use a VPN ?? your isp does have the the right to throttle your internet speed if they choose to.
unless you have unlimited data.

[zapt]

I don’t use a vpn, but I do have unlimited data.

[Cats4U]

Prior to 6.0.0.5, all downloads were around 46. Now they’re half that. Today, it took over 4 hours to download 50 tv episodes. So my question remains: Is this a Netflix issue, a 6.0.0.5 issue, or something else? 23MBps hasn’t been normal for me for the past year of using StreamFab, and it’s been that way since the last update.

There are so many factors in Internet speeds including the possibility that your ISP or Netflix could be throttling you. If you are using a VPN that complicates things even more. Both 46 and 23 MBps are certainly within the normal range of operation. 4 hours for 50 TV episodes sounds within the normal range as well. Besides downloading, the files also take time to process.
If you are having times when you aren't able to download ANYTHING, send Mona your StreamFab.log along with the specific names of the videos that are causing this.

[zapt]

Thank you for your input. Throttling is always a possibility, although my ISP claims they don’t do that.

I’d still like to hear from other users concerning whether they’ve recently noticed a major drop in download speed for Netflix or other streaming platforms. If it’s only me, then it’s a “me” problem. Let’s see if anyone else weighs in.

[Cats4U]

Just for shits and giggles, Google "netflix throttle". Throttling of Netflix has been known for quite some time. Surprisingly (or maybe not), the supposed solution is to use a VPN. Now whether this is the opinion of the experts or it is pure marketing scheme, it's hard to tell. It's funny that quite a few websites, that I've never heard of, all list pretty much the same VPNs as the answer to the problem. Coincidence?

If I may add to your survey of Netflix speeds, I average between the high teens and the high twenties MBps depending on time of day and background activity (torrent client always running). Comcast likes to tell me that I'm getting 800 Mbps service. HaHaHa! I've yet to see any proof, including speedtests, to believe them.

[october262]

Thank you for your input. Throttling is always a possibility, although my ISP claims they don’t do that.

I’d still like to hear from other users concerning whether they’ve recently noticed a major drop in download speed for Netflix or other streaming platforms. If it’s only me, then it’s a “me” problem. Let’s see if anyone else weighs in.

if you do decide on a VPN, see this thread - https://forum.dvdfab.cn/forum/softwa...aming-services

[zapt]

Cats4U Ok. Well, you've confirmed that we're both getting the same Netflix download speeds, so that's a start. By contrast, I seldom have any other software running at the same time. My PC is virtually dedicated to DVDFab and StreamFab activities. I wish I still had an active Hulu or HBO Max account, so I could see if the same issue exists there, too. (I was a tech support director for a major pc software utility company for 5 years, so when troubleshooting an issue with multiple possibilities, one way to proceed is to eliminate as many plausible explanations as possible.) Because content changes slowly, however, I only subscribe to streaming services sporadically and never two at the same time.

[Cats4U]

My own results for Hulu and HBO Max are: Hulu blazingly fast on SF, HBO Max, not so much. I'll check next time for the actual numbers.
You and I have similar backgrounds. After I semi-retired from 25 years at a manufacturing job, to keep myself busy I became a modem tech at a large cable company for 5 years until they outsourced my job overseas. Prior to the cable job I was unpaid tech support for all my friends and family for as long as I can remember.

[zapt]

Unfortunately, I'm still unofficial go-to tech support person for every family member and friend. Back in "the day," I was able to fix the majority of their problems. Now, I'm lucky if I can resolve 1 out of 12.

Your differences in download speed for your services does indicate that this is probably a Netflix-specific issue rather than an ISP, StreamFab, or me problem. It's good to know that when I reopen my Hulu account, I'll probably resume blazing fast downloads. Thanks much to both of you for your input on this.

[jpp72]

Download speeds in SF are very inconsistent. Sometimes it's blazingly fast and other times it crawls. Doesn't really matter what your internet speed is unless it is less than 400mbps...

[zapt]

jpp72 I was much happier when I thought everyone was getting 18-25MBps on Netflix downloads. The 57MBps in your screenshot shows that’s not the case. Does your Netflix download speed vary greatly or is that example fairly standard? I started this thread because my speed has been pretty constant—typically around 45–until one or two weeks ago. Now it’s constant at half that.

[jpp72]

jpp72 I was much happier when I thought everyone was getting 18-25MBps on Netflix downloads. The 57MBps in your screenshot shows that’s not the case. Does your Netflix download speed vary greatly or is that example fairly standard? I started this thread because my speed has been pretty constant—typically around 45–until one or two weeks ago. Now it’s constant at half that.

I rarely look at my speed and i don't download much from Netflix. I download from Amazon and HBO Max because i want to replace all my H264 stuff with H265. My quota is done for the day but i will try tomorrow and will keep an eye out to see the floor, average, and ceiling. Will report back