Videos continually buffer

I checked my bandwidth with a speed test and its fine so the problem is with the channel9 subdomain. The videos are dreadfully slow and buffer continually. I would rather not waste time on a site like this.

Yeah, the same experience is here. Constant buffering, skipping and stuttering.Has been happening for a month or so now with approx 1/2 of the new videos posted during this period.

CDN or whatever, could you guys fix it? I'm on Win7 + IE9 + SL4. East cost, Verizon FiOS link 25/15Mbps.

Yup, I've been just streaming the .WMV instead of the smoothstream lately because of all the buffering.

I've experienced the same within the last few days.

Tried to watch Scott Guthrie video, buffering starts after about 4 minutes into the show. There are seem to be some issues with the smooth streaming servers or CDN servers or both.

There is an excerpt from the IE9 network capture (hope someone from MS could look at it and figure out what is causing it):

URL Method Result Type Received Taken Initiator Wait‎‎ Start‎‎ Request‎‎ Response‎‎ Cache read‎‎ Gap‎‎
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3243240000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3243240000) GET 200 video/mp4 161.58 KB 78 ms  298134 0 31 47 0 47580
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3243827664">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3243827664) GET 200 video/mp4 35.24 KB 78 ms  298134 0 47 31 0 47580
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3263260000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3263260000) GET 200 video/mp4 128.11 KB 1.81 s  300115 0 1763 47 0 43867
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3266118820">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3266118820) GET 200 video/mp4 29.43 KB 46 ms  300334 0 31 15 0 45412
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3283280000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3283280000) GET 200 video/mp4 189.85 KB 1.79 s  302112 0 1747 47 0 41886
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3284694784">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3284694784) GET 200 video/mp4 35.24 KB 46 ms  302206 15 16 15 0 43540
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3303300000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3303300000) GET 200 video/mp4 142.46 KB 4.13 s  304124 0 4088 46 0 37534
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3306057142">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3306057142) GET 200 video/mp4 29.43 KB 31 ms  304156 0 15 16 0 41605
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3324517007">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3324517007) GET 500 text/html 1.37 KB 4.02 s  306074 0 4025 0 0 35693
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3323320000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3323320000) GET 200 video/mp4 151.12 KB 3.19 s  308274 0 3167 31 0 34320
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3344137868">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3344137868)  (Aborted)  0 B < 1 ms (Pending...) 310115 0 0 0 0 35677
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3343340000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3343340000)  (Aborted)  0 B < 1 ms (Pending...) 311488 0 0 0 0 34304
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3344137868">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3344137868)  (Aborted)  0 B 31 ms (Pending...) 319506 31 0 0 0 26255
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(599000)/Fragments(video=3343340000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(599000)/Fragments(video=3343340000) GET 200 video/mp4 143.42 KB 109 ms  320520 16 31 62 0 25163
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(599000)/Fragments(video=3363360000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(599000)/Fragments(video=3363360000) GET 500 text/html 1.37 KB 4.04 s  320676 0 4040 0 0 21076
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3363360000">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(784000)/Fragments(video=3363360000) GET 200 video/mp4 116.18 KB 1.26 s  324763 0 1233 31 0 19765
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3366312925">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3366312925)  (Aborted)  0 B < 1 ms (Pending...) 327774 0 0 0 0 18018
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3387109296">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3387109296)  (Aborted)  0 B 16 ms (Pending...) 336791 16 0 0 0 8985
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3404509750">http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/b4c5/2da38755-aaee-4ab3-afbb-9ef60112b4c5/BTCScottGuthrie.ism/QualityLevels(128000)/Fragments(audio=3404509750) (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) 345792 0 0 0 0 0

http://channel9.msdn.com/events/mix/mix11/FRM03

Having the same problem with smooth streaming, and I don't think it is me.  I've butilt my own players, and have used it without incident.  I'm also downloading the High-Quality WMV at about 16mbps, so it's also not my ISP.  What's wrong with ch9's smooth streaming services?  Any way we can send debugging information back to help?

Smooth streaming that isn't smooth makes me   ...What a poor way to showcase an amazing technology.

21 hours ago, StevenB337 wrote

  Smooth streaming that isn't smooth makes me   ...What a poor way to showcase an amazing technology.

YUP

What a wonderful rainy day here in NE, have some in-door time to spare. Unfortunately, Ch9 smooth streaming servers do not reply at all (IE9 network capture below). None of the vidoes on the front page would stream.

The funny part is that requests don't even time out. As the result silverlight player hangs and doesn't respond to any buttont clicks. That's one lousy end-user experience...

URL Method Result Type Received Taken Initiator Wait‎‎ Start‎‎ Request‎‎ Response‎‎ Cache read‎‎ Gap‎‎
http://m.webtrends.com/dcs1wotjh10000w0irc493s0e_6x1g/dcs.gif?&dcsdat=1307898083959&dcssip=media.ch9.ms&dcsuri=/ch9/7971/9a4f50e1-8455-4184-a5e8-9efe00297971/CloudCoverEp47QueuesAndTopics_ch9.wmv&dcsref=http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Cloud+Cover/Cloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&WT.co_f=96.252.45.128-2415068864.30095791&WT.vtid=96.252.45.128-2415068864.30095791&WT.vtvs=1307897768840&WT.tz=-4&WT.bh=13&WT.ul=en-us&WT.cd=24&WT.sr=1920x1080&WT.jo=Yes&WT.ti=Link%3AClick%20To%20Play&WT.js=Yes&WT.jv=1.3&WT.ct=lan&WT.hp=0&WT.bs=1587x127&WT.fv=10.0&WT.slv=3.9&WT.le=windows-1252&WT.tv=8.6.2&WT.dl=1&WT.ssl=0&WT.es=channel9.msdn.com%2FShows%2FCloud%2BCover%2FCloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&WT.z_bdb=1&WT.entryid=Entry%3AWebView%3A9a4f50e184554184a5e89efe00297971&WT.sli=Installed&WT.vt_f_tlh=1307898077&WT.nv=video&wtEvtSrc=channel9.msdn.com%2FShows%2FCloud%2BCover%2FCloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&wtDrillDir=%2Fshows%2F%3B%2Fshows%2Fcloud%2Bcover%2F&wtNavigation=video&WT.dep=wtEvtSrc%3BwtDrillDir%3BwtNavigation">http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Cloud+Cover/Cloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&WT.co_f=96.252.45.128-2415068864.30095791&WT.vtid=96.252.45.128-2415068864.30095791&WT.vtvs=1307897768840&WT.tz=-4&WT.bh=13&WT.ul=en-us&WT.cd=24&WT.sr=1920x1080&WT.jo=Yes&WT.ti=Link%3AClick%20To%20Play&WT.js=Yes&WT.jv=1.3&WT.ct=lan&WT.hp=0&WT.bs=1587x127&WT.fv=10.0&WT.slv=3.9&WT.le=windows-1252&WT.tv=8.6.2&WT.dl=1&WT.ssl=0&WT.es=channel9.msdn.com%2FShows%2FCloud%2BCover%2FCloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&WT.z_bdb=1&WT.entryid=Entry%3AWebView%3A9a4f50e184554184a5e89efe00297971&WT.sli=Installed&WT.vt_f_tlh=1307898077&WT.nv=video&wtEvtSrc=channel9.msdn.com%2FShows%2FCloud%2BCover%2FCloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&wtDrillDir=%2Fshows%2F%3B%2Fshows%2Fcloud%2Bcover%2F&wtNavigation=video&WT.dep=wtEvtSrc%3BwtDrillDir%3BwtNavigation">http://m.webtrends.com/dcs1wotjh10000w0irc493s0e_6x1g/dcs.gif?&dcsdat=1307898083959&dcssip=media.ch9.ms&dcsuri=/ch9/7971/9a4f50e1-8455-4184-a5e8-9efe00297971/CloudCoverEp47QueuesAndTopics_ch9.wmv&dcsref=http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Cloud+Cover/Cloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&WT.co_f=96.252.45.128-2415068864.30095791&WT.vtid=96.252.45.128-2415068864.30095791&WT.vtvs=1307897768840&WT.tz=-4&WT.bh=13&WT.ul=en-us&WT.cd=24&WT.sr=1920x1080&WT.jo=Yes&WT.ti=Link%3AClick%20To%20Play&WT.js=Yes&WT.jv=1.3&WT.ct=lan&WT.hp=0&WT.bs=1587x127&WT.fv=10.0&WT.slv=3.9&WT.le=windows-1252&WT.tv=8.6.2&WT.dl=1&WT.ssl=0&WT.es=channel9.msdn.com%2FShows%2FCloud%2BCover%2FCloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&WT.z_bdb=1&WT.entryid=Entry%3AWebView%3A9a4f50e184554184a5e89efe00297971&WT.sli=Installed&WT.vt_f_tlh=1307898077&WT.nv=video&wtEvtSrc=channel9.msdn.com%2FShows%2FCloud%2BCover%2FCloud-Cover-Episode-47-Queues-and-Topics-in-the-Windows-Azure-AppFabric-Service-Bus&wtDrillDir=%2Fshows%2F%3B%2Fshows%2Fcloud%2Bcover%2F&wtNavigation=video&WT.dep=wtEvtSrc%3BwtDrillDir%3BwtNavigation GET 200 image/gif 1.44 KB 31 ms <img> 6255 0 31 0 0 858
/scripts/Channel9.xap?v=1.5 GET 304 application/x-silverlight-app 223 B < 1 ms  6318 0 0 0 0 826
http://smooth.ch9.ms/clientaccesspolicy.xml GET 304 text/xml 272 B < 1 ms  7144 0 0 0 0 0
http://smooth.ch9.ms/ch9/7971/9a4f50e1-8455-4184-a5e8-9efe00297971/CloudCoverEp47QueuesAndTopics.ism/manifest (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) (Pending...) 7144 32 0 0 0 -32

I wonder if anyone from MS is actually interested in fixing all this mess or at least figuring out what is going on. I'd gladly help by runnung some diagnostics or sending logs somewhere. Just tell me what diag and what logs and where to send them.

How long has this going on for anyway? I've got a 20Mbps connection so I can stream the .WMV in the meantime (it looks better anyway) but it's gotta be annoying for people with slow connections.

@Duncanma: Things are looking much better now. For a few days now no buffering and smooth streaming looks smooth again. I'll keep my fingers crossed (though it never really helps )

Yup, I watched the last TWOC9 in the Silverlight viewer and it seems to work well again.

I am still getting constant buffering on preyty much any video. Any idea when this service will be stable?

Sid.

An update on my streaming issues:

I have been working with my ISP to try and localize the issue. He noticed that they could stream the videos at their facility with no issues. However  when I tried the results were just aweful. The conclusion was that maybe there were some settings on my IP stack that were not optimum for streaming from the channel 9 sites. The solution was that they had me set up to use a proxy at their facility for web access. This fixed the issue, or at least gave me a workaround that allows me to access the site videos.

It is worthy of note that the channel 9 site is the ONLY place I have had issues streaming from so while we have a workaround I really believe there are stil issues with the site servers themselves.

Maybe my experince will help others having problems,

Sid.

An update on my streaming issues:

I have been working with my ISP to try and localize the issue. He noticed that they could stream the videos at their facility with no issues. However  when I tried the results were just aweful. The conclusion was that maybe there were some settings on my IP stack that were not optimum for streaming from the channel 9 sites. The solution was that they had me set up to use a proxy at their facility for web access. This fixed the issue, or at least gave me a workaround that allows me to access the site videos.

It is worthy of note that the channel 9 site is the ONLY place I have had issues streaming from so while we have a workaround I really believe there are stil issues with the site servers themselves.

Maybe my experince will help others having problems,

Sid.