Whenever you need internet support, our local experts at Tipmont are ready to help. But we also want to share some proactive tips and best practices to help you get back to streaming.
Today, we’re talking about buffering. Streaming issues are what our experts at the Tipmont Network Operations Center hear about most often — including when a movie, series or live event is buffering.
Buffering is otherwise known as “freezing,” “that spinning thing” or more colorful euphemisms we can’t use here. It refers to your smart TV or streaming device’s need to download a certain amount of data before it can begin to play a section of your movie, series or event. When an internet connection can’t keep up with that need, the program stutters, skips or freezes.
With a fast internet connection like the one Tipmont offers, buffering is atypical. Here’s what to do if it happens.
If you experience buffering during a stream on your smart TV or streaming device (e.g., Roku), exit that particular service and see if other streaming services are buffering. In other words: If you see buffering on Netflix, exit Netflix and check Max, Disney+, YouTube TV or any other streaming service.
If other services stream without issue, there is a technical difficulty with the initial service. (Visit Down Detector and type in the service in question to see if others are having the same issue.)
If you also encounter buffering on additional services, your smart TV or streaming device may need to reboot. (If you have multiple streaming devices, it is also a good idea to access services on them in case the initial device is at fault.)
To reboot, unplug your smart TV or streaming device’s power cord from the outlet for 15 seconds and plug it back in. Be sure to unplug from the outlet and not just from the back of the device.
If that still doesn’t resolve the issue, unplug the power cord of your Tipmont router from the outlet for 15 seconds and plug it back in. Please allow five minutes for your internet service to fully restore and then test the streaming service again.
If you have questions on this, or another internet issue, feel free to call us at 800-726-3953, email help@tipmont.com or start a chat. You will always reach a live person from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
