Dear fellow Forum members,
This might be more of a Netflix/TV topic, but I think I'll find more Netflix users here, than networking experts at e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/. Thank you for your insights.
There is a Netflix app in my smart TV. It allows testing connection speed. It consistently reports 29 to 33 Mbps when the TV is cabled to a gigabit switch. It consistently reports 89 to 90 Mbps when the TV is directly cabled to the router, bypassing the switch (THIS is consistent with my 400 Mbps internet speed and 100 Mbps Ethernet port in the TV). Many other tests show the switch and cable seem fine. But is an app supposed to be aware/sensitive to "going" through a switch ??
Plenty of details and test results below.
I'd like to understand where my reasoning/testing fails. But I can't understand this behaviour so far. (I know that in both cases, Netflix streaming will work fine https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306. And I definitely can plug it in the router and call it a day. But I like learning and understanding.)
Thank you very much in advance
Enjoy the weekend
Best regards
In a nutshell, we have:
ISP Modem (DOCSIS) -> Asus Router -> Netgear Switch -> (cable_3) -> TV
If the cable that enters the TV (cable_3) is plugged in the Switch, the Netflix app reports approx. 30 Mbps. If it's unplugged from the Switch and plugged directly in the Router, the Netflix app instantly reports approx. 90 Mbps. So maybe the Switch is ill... (Tested repeatedly, on different days, back and forth)
If cable_3 is plugged in the usual port in the switch, and the other end is disconnected from the TV and connected to a laptop instead of the TV, the laptop sees approx. 360 - 400 Mbps (not 30), so my full ISP connection speed. So, switch OK ?
I also tested the switch, and the same cable in the same switch port with iperf3. So, two laptops connected to the switch, one acting as server and one as client. Full details of the client below, for TCP and then for UDP. But I basically get the gigabit speed of the switch and laptops. So, switch and cable OK ? The maximum packet loss I got (at 400 Mbps on the "LAN" (just the switch)) was 0.011%.
The PS4 connected in the switch reports between 100 and 260 Mbps. I don't trust the speedtest of Sony anyway. But it's still way more than 30 Mbps. And also seems to show the switch is OK.
Maybe the Netflix server is the culprit ? But I always get 3 times as much as soon as I connect the TV to the router. So, the 30 Mbps is not explained by temporarily overloaded test servers at Netflix.
Maybe the Netflix app is the culprit. But is an app supposed to be aware/sensitive to being connected through a switch ??? By the way, this is now experienced with the Netflix app on the Panasonic TV, but I experienced something similar with the Netflix app in a Sony Android TV a couple of years ago.
I guess DNS might result in having you connected to different Netflix servers, but I don't see how the switch would change that. The DHCP is in the router, and doesn't change.
Your insights are very welcome. Thank you in advance. And please pardon any English oddity, from a non-native speaker.
Switch: Netgear GS308E - 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Smart Managed Plus Switch.
Tested before and after applying "Default settings".
Tested with V1.00.08EN and the newer V1.00.11EN
ISP: VOO in Belgium
Advertised connection speed: 400 Mbps. Reliable.
Primary DNS : 62.197.111.140
Secondary DNS : 109.88.203.3
Router: Asus RT-AC86U, Merlin 386.12.x (not that it matters)
DNS settings in ASUS router:
WAN DNS Setting: DNS Server: Default status : Get the DNS IP from your ISP automatically.
DNS Director: "No redirection" for the TV
Manually Assigned IP around the DHCP list for the TV (and the Netgear Switch)
Current TV:
Panasonic JZ1500E, model year 2021.
Not Android ("My Home Screen", previously known as "Firefox OS")
Ethernet port: 100 Mbps
Previous TV with similar behaviour:
SONY XE9005, also known as X900E. Model Year: 2017, Android.
Ethernet port: 100 Mbps
(NB: Completely unrelated to the topic but FYI, the Sony accepts USB adapters for networking. The Panasonic doesn't. )
iperf3 tests:
This might be more of a Netflix/TV topic, but I think I'll find more Netflix users here, than networking experts at e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/. Thank you for your insights.
There is a Netflix app in my smart TV. It allows testing connection speed. It consistently reports 29 to 33 Mbps when the TV is cabled to a gigabit switch. It consistently reports 89 to 90 Mbps when the TV is directly cabled to the router, bypassing the switch (THIS is consistent with my 400 Mbps internet speed and 100 Mbps Ethernet port in the TV). Many other tests show the switch and cable seem fine. But is an app supposed to be aware/sensitive to "going" through a switch ??
Plenty of details and test results below.
I'd like to understand where my reasoning/testing fails. But I can't understand this behaviour so far. (I know that in both cases, Netflix streaming will work fine https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306. And I definitely can plug it in the router and call it a day. But I like learning and understanding.)
Thank you very much in advance
Enjoy the weekend
Best regards
In a nutshell, we have:
ISP Modem (DOCSIS) -> Asus Router -> Netgear Switch -> (cable_3) -> TV
If the cable that enters the TV (cable_3) is plugged in the Switch, the Netflix app reports approx. 30 Mbps. If it's unplugged from the Switch and plugged directly in the Router, the Netflix app instantly reports approx. 90 Mbps. So maybe the Switch is ill... (Tested repeatedly, on different days, back and forth)
If cable_3 is plugged in the usual port in the switch, and the other end is disconnected from the TV and connected to a laptop instead of the TV, the laptop sees approx. 360 - 400 Mbps (not 30), so my full ISP connection speed. So, switch OK ?
I also tested the switch, and the same cable in the same switch port with iperf3. So, two laptops connected to the switch, one acting as server and one as client. Full details of the client below, for TCP and then for UDP. But I basically get the gigabit speed of the switch and laptops. So, switch and cable OK ? The maximum packet loss I got (at 400 Mbps on the "LAN" (just the switch)) was 0.011%.
The PS4 connected in the switch reports between 100 and 260 Mbps. I don't trust the speedtest of Sony anyway. But it's still way more than 30 Mbps. And also seems to show the switch is OK.
Maybe the Netflix server is the culprit ? But I always get 3 times as much as soon as I connect the TV to the router. So, the 30 Mbps is not explained by temporarily overloaded test servers at Netflix.
Maybe the Netflix app is the culprit. But is an app supposed to be aware/sensitive to being connected through a switch ??? By the way, this is now experienced with the Netflix app on the Panasonic TV, but I experienced something similar with the Netflix app in a Sony Android TV a couple of years ago.
I guess DNS might result in having you connected to different Netflix servers, but I don't see how the switch would change that. The DHCP is in the router, and doesn't change.
Your insights are very welcome. Thank you in advance. And please pardon any English oddity, from a non-native speaker.
Switch: Netgear GS308E - 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Smart Managed Plus Switch.
GS308E | Plus Switch | NETGEAR Support
Find setup help, user guides, product information, firmware, and troubleshooting for your GS308E Plus switch on our official NETGEAR Support site today
www.netgear.com
Tested with V1.00.08EN and the newer V1.00.11EN
ISP: VOO in Belgium
Advertised connection speed: 400 Mbps. Reliable.
Primary DNS : 62.197.111.140
Secondary DNS : 109.88.203.3
Router: Asus RT-AC86U, Merlin 386.12.x (not that it matters)
DNS settings in ASUS router:
WAN DNS Setting: DNS Server: Default status : Get the DNS IP from your ISP automatically.
DNS Director: "No redirection" for the TV
Manually Assigned IP around the DHCP list for the TV (and the Netgear Switch)
Current TV:
Panasonic JZ1500E, model year 2021.
Not Android ("My Home Screen", previously known as "Firefox OS")
Ethernet port: 100 Mbps
TX-65JZ1500
Panasonic UK Support - Search for an answer, find links to manuals and firmware or ways to get in contact with our support teams.
support-uk.panasonic.eu
Previous TV with similar behaviour:
SONY XE9005, also known as X900E. Model Year: 2017, Android.
Ethernet port: 100 Mbps
(NB: Completely unrelated to the topic but FYI, the Sony accepts USB adapters for networking. The Panasonic doesn't. )
iperf3 tests:
~$ iperf3 -c 192.168.17.251
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 52078 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 113 MBytes 945 Mbits/sec 0 348 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 112 MBytes 937 Mbits/sec 0 348 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 111 MBytes 932 Mbits/sec 0 348 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 111 MBytes 929 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 112 MBytes 936 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 111 MBytes 934 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 111 MBytes 932 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 111 MBytes 932 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 112 MBytes 938 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 111 MBytes 934 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.09 GBytes 935 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 1.09 GBytes 930 Mbits/sec receiver
iperf Done.
ANONYMOUS_USERNAME@T15:~$ iperf3 -c 192.168.17.251 -u -b 400m
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 57753 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34516
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34537
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34531
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34514
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34548
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34532
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34525
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34527
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34521
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34543
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Jitter Lost/Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 477 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 0.000 ms 0/345294 (0%) sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 477 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0.007 ms 11/345286 (0.0032%) receiver
iperf Done.
ANONYMOUS_USERNAME@T15:~$ iperf3 -c 192.168.17.251 -u -b 400m
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 37819 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34518
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34528
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34533
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34538
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34521
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34543
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34524
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34515
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34543
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34517
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Jitter Lost/Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 477 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 0.000 ms 0/345280 (0%) sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 477 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0.005 ms 0/345280 (0%) receiver
iperf Done.
ANONYMOUS_USERNAME@T15:~$ iperf3 -c 192.168.17.251 -u -b 400m
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 53176 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34516
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34536
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34525
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34536
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34529
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34528
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34530
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34530
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34533
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34530
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Jitter Lost/Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 477 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 0.000 ms 0/345293 (0%) sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 477 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0.006 ms 37/345293 (0.011%) receiver
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 52078 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 113 MBytes 945 Mbits/sec 0 348 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 112 MBytes 937 Mbits/sec 0 348 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 111 MBytes 932 Mbits/sec 0 348 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 111 MBytes 929 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 112 MBytes 936 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 111 MBytes 934 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 111 MBytes 932 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 111 MBytes 932 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 112 MBytes 938 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 111 MBytes 934 Mbits/sec 0 406 KBytes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.09 GBytes 935 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 1.09 GBytes 930 Mbits/sec receiver
iperf Done.
ANONYMOUS_USERNAME@T15:~$ iperf3 -c 192.168.17.251 -u -b 400m
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 57753 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34516
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34537
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34531
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34514
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34548
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34532
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34525
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34527
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34521
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34543
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Jitter Lost/Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 477 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 0.000 ms 0/345294 (0%) sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 477 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0.007 ms 11/345286 (0.0032%) receiver
iperf Done.
ANONYMOUS_USERNAME@T15:~$ iperf3 -c 192.168.17.251 -u -b 400m
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 37819 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34518
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34528
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34533
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34538
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34521
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34543
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34524
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34515
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34543
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34517
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Jitter Lost/Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 477 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 0.000 ms 0/345280 (0%) sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 477 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0.005 ms 0/345280 (0%) receiver
iperf Done.
ANONYMOUS_USERNAME@T15:~$ iperf3 -c 192.168.17.251 -u -b 400m
Connecting to host 192.168.17.251, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.17.24 port 53176 connected to 192.168.17.251 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34516
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34536
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34525
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34536
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34529
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34528
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34530
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34530
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34533
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 47.7 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 34530
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Jitter Lost/Total Datagrams
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 477 MBytes 400 Mbits/sec 0.000 ms 0/345293 (0%) sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.04 sec 477 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0.006 ms 37/345293 (0.011%) receiver