Broadcasting, Live Streaming Hardware, Compare BoxCast, Live Streaming Software
Do you have to put up with stuttering and buffering live streams when the internet acts up? Or is there a way to take control and deliver a smooth, high-quality broadcast despite network instability?
| BoxCast Spark | Blackmagic Web Presenter 4K | Blackmagic ATEM Mini | Teradek Cube | Epiphan Pearl Nano | OBS | VMix | Resi Ray | |
| Data Lost In Packets |
14,838 | 234,801 | 158,167 | 112,026 | 118,517 | 66,674 | 125,686 | Unknown |
| Total Negative Events In Seconds |
45 | 141 | 135 | 129 | 128 | 93 | 148 | 129 |
| Stream Lost In Seconds |
0 | 120 | 135 | 109 | 120 | 98 | 63 | 0 |
| Stream Frozen In Seconds |
0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 129 |
| Stream Artifacts In Seconds |
45 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 0 |
Network Stability Is Never Guaranteed
Why Upload Speeds Drop
Inside the Test: Setup, Conditions, and Goals
Results: How Each Encoder Handled the Drop
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
When you sign up for internet service—whether for your home or organization—your ISP provides a specific upload and download speed included in your package. The assumption is that you'll consistently receive those speeds, but in reality, network performance is much less stable.
Many factors can cause your speeds to drop, sometimes for a moment or for an extended period of time. Such a drop is especially problematic for live streaming, which relies on having a stable and predictable upload speed. Even further, since most ISPs provide significantly higher download power compared to upload, even a small dip in upload bandwidth can put your stream at risk.
From ISP throttling to equipment issues, there are a wide range of reasons why your upload speed may not be as reliable as you think in the real world. Next, we explore some of the most common culprits behind these major fluctuations.
ISPs may throttle speeds during peak hours or when they detect high usage. When your internet connection is working hard to receive data (like when you're watching videos), it might also automatically limit how fast you can send data out, which can slow down your uploads.
Conference centers, hotels, stadiums, and other public venues often provide unpredictable and unreliable internet—even if you’ve paid for premium service. You can expect a shared internet connection to be less consistent.
Other devices on your network might be uploading large files, running automatic updates, or syncing to cloud storage without you realizing it. These background activities can consume significant bandwidth and disrupt your stream.
Some broadcasters set up automated failovers that switch to a backup connection, such as a mobile hotspot, if their primary network fails. While better than nothing, hotspots typically offer much lower upload speeds than a wired ISP connection.
At large events, attendee devices flood the network, consuming available bandwidth and leaving less for your stream. This can cause sudden drops in upload speed right when your broadcast begins.
Routers and network hardware can be unreliable. Overloads, misconfigurations, software bugs, and unexpected auto-updates can all lead to sudden speed reductions.
These are just a few of the common reasons why upload speeds drop mid-stream. The reality is, no matter what you pay for, your internet speed isn’t always guaranteed. When disruptions occur, your live streaming setup needs to handle them seamlessly—because it’s not a matter of if they’ll occur, but when.
To understand how different live video encoders handle this problem, we put eight popular encoders to the test. By simulating a sudden and significant drop in network speed, we observed how each encoder responded under pressure—whether they maintained a stable stream, introduced buffering or artifacts, or dropped the broadcast entirely. Before we get into the results, let’s break down the setup, conditions, and overall goals.
Each encoder was configured to stream at a consistent 4Mbps video bitrate with an available 8Mbps upload speed. At the 5-minute mark, we simulated a significant network drop, reducing the available bandwidth to 2Mbps for two minutes. The goal of this test was to observe how each encoder responded—whether they adapted smoothly or suffered from buffering, freezing, or total stream failure.
To ensure precision, we used Apple’s Network Link Conditioner, a tool designed to simulate network constraints with absolute accuracy. Finally, most of the encoders used SRT protocol to stream, while the BoxCast Spark used its patented BoxCast Flow protocol, and the Resi Ray used its RSP protocol.
Let’s start with the technical stats before diving into the real-world impact from a viewer’s perspective.
From a packet loss standpoint, the BoxCast Spark performed the best, losing only 14,838 packets, while the Blackmagic Web Presenter 4K lost the most at 234,081 packets. In fact, five out of the seven encoders lost over 100,000 packets during the bandwidth drop.
Note: The Resi Ray did not report how many packets were lost.
However, raw packet loss doesn’t tell the full story—what really matters is how these losses affected the viewer’s experience. To measure this, we tracked the total time each encoder caused noticeable disruptions, including video artifacts, freezing, or complete stream loss.
This encoder completely cut out for 2 minutes and 15 seconds, leaving viewers with a blank screen for what felt like an eternity.
First, 15 seconds of heavy artifacting, followed by 2 minutes of total broadcast loss. When the stream returned, it was stuck on a frozen frame for another 15 seconds before finally recovering.
The Pearl froze for 10 seconds, then displayed severe artifacts for a few seconds before cutting out entirely for 2 minutes.
Followed a similar sequence as the Pearl: 5 seconds of a frozen frame, 15 seconds of major artifacts, and then 1 minute and 49 seconds of total signal loss.
This option performed slightly better than the others so far, cutting out for only 1 minute and 33 seconds before recovering.
Showed more erratic behavior: first freezing for 10 seconds, then displaying a bright green screen with a tiny portion of artifacted video visible behind it for 1 minute and 13 seconds.
This encoder kept it simple, presenting a buffering wheel for 2 minutes and 9 seconds, and then resumed the stream with intermittent buffering occurring for the remainder of the broadcast.
The Spark handled the network drop more gracefully than all others. When bandwidth was reduced, audio remained clear, while video showed noticeable artifacts for only 45 seconds before returning to normal. Though not perfect, BoxCast’s ability to limit packet loss meant it had the shortest disruption time and provided the most watchable experience throughout the test.
The severity of packet loss determines its effect on your stream. Small losses may cause minor visual artifacts, while larger or sustained losses can lead to buffering, frozen frames, or even a complete broadcast dropout.
Artifacts are visual distortions that appear when data is lost or corrupted. They can be brief and affect only part of the frame or persist longer and degrade the entire video.
Yes. While many encoders rely on similar core technology, performance varies. Differences in codecs, processing capabilities, and maximum supported resolutions can impact stream quality and reliability.
Your encoder and streaming protocol play a crucial role in handling network disruptions. Some will adapt by adjusting bitrate, while others may introduce buffering, freeze frames, or disconnect entirely.
Ideally, your upload speed should be at least twice your configured video bitrate. This buffer helps maintain stability, even if your network experiences fluctuations.
Not all encoders are created equal — especially when the network gets unstable. While some struggled with severe buffering or total stream loss, the BoxCast Spark handled disruptions with the most viewer-friendly experience. Streams should adapt, not crash — and Spark proved its ability to keep problematic broadcasts stable, minimizing packet loss and intelligently adjusting to bandwidth changes.
Here’s the bottom line: If your live broadcast matters, so does your encoder—because when network conditions take a turn for the worse — the right technology makes all the difference.
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