Your Internet connection is one of the biggest parts of your cord cutting experience. A good internet connection can make streaming easy. A bad connection can result in buffering and pain.
So what internet speed do you need? Are you overpaying for the internet? We are going to answer that question in today’s Ask Luke.
First, let me explain this new Ask Luke series. We often get the same questions repeated from multiple people. When we see that happen, we will post them here as part of an Ask Luke series. This gives me (Luke) and the Cord Cutters News staff an opportunity to answer common questions for everyone to see.
If you have a question feel free to email us HERE with your questions.
So what Internet Speed do you need for YouTube TV?
So first let’s quickly talk about how internet speeds is measured. Mbps is like Miles Per Hour for your car. Its a way to tell you how fast your internet is. The higher the Mbps number the faster the internet speed.
Often, internet providers, today start around 100 Mbps and can go up to over 1,000 Mbps. So what speed do you really need as that 1,000 Mbps connection is way more expensive than the 100 Mbps connection?
Here is what internet speed Google says need for YouTube that should be similar to YouTube TV:
| Video Resolution | Recommended sustained speed |
|---|---|
| 4K UHD | 20 Mbps |
| HD 1080p | 5 Mbps |
| HD 720p | 2.5 Mbps |
| SD 480p | 1.1 Mbps |
| SD 360p | 0.7 Mbps |
So with this, a 100 Mbps internet service can stream 5 4K YouTube TV streams at once. So if your household has less than 5 TVs that will be streaming at once, we recommend starting with a 100 Mbps connection. The good news is you can always upgrade to a more expensive, faster connection if you want to later.
Now that you have the right internet speed do make sure you have a fast WiFi network. Weak WiFi at your TV means your WiFi will be slow even if your internet service provider is fast. If you want some tips to make sure you have a strong WIFI signal on your TV, you can find them HERE.
As always, avoid overpaying upfront for internet. Start with a cheaper option and upgrade to a more expensive one if you find a need for it. Don’t be talked into getting the most expensive package as many people don’t need all that it has to offer.
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