Jonathan Jachura Argues QoS Router Settings Fixes Streaming Buffering
- In a column for MakeUseOf, Jonathan Jachura argues that frustrating streaming video buffering issues on a fast 300Mbps home internet connection can often be resolved through router settings...
- Jachura explains that he uses a TP-Link Deco X50 mesh Wi-Fi system with two nodes covering his home.
- While exploring the TP-Link Deco app, Jachura discovered a setting called Quality of Service, or QoS, which he had previously ignored.
In a column for MakeUseOf, Jonathan Jachura argues that frustrating streaming video buffering issues on a fast 300Mbps home internet connection can often be resolved through router settings without spending any money. Jachura notes that despite paying for a 300Mbps internet connection and running speed tests that showed no issues, he occasionally encountered problems where YouTube dropped video quality, movies buffered, and live football streams acted up. Initially, he blamed streaming apps and suspected Wi-Fi issues.
Network Congestion Despite High Speeds
Jachura explains that he uses a TP-Link Deco X50 mesh Wi-Fi system with two nodes covering his home. With many devices connected—including phones, laptops, a PC, a smart TV, a NAS, and gaming consoles—something is always happening on the network. Network activity can involve downloading a massive game on a PC while someone watches Netflix, or uploading large video files for work while family members stream YouTube at 4K. Although 300Mbps should be plenty for all of this, streaming occasionally struggled whenever the network got particularly busy. After restarting the router, checking the Deco app, and verifying the TV signal strength yielded nothing, Jachura decided to dig deeper into his router’s settings.
Using QoS to Prioritize Streaming
While exploring the TP-Link Deco app, Jachura discovered a setting called Quality of Service, or QoS, which he had previously ignored. He learned that having a fast connection and making the most of it are two different things, as QoS essentially lets users tell a router which devices or activities should get priority when a network gets busy. He describes it as giving certain devices a VIP pass to ensure more important activities get attention instead of letting a large download hog bandwidth.
Jachura illustrates the concept by imagining watching a 4K movie while a PC downloads a 100GB game. Because both devices share the same connection, the game download can eat up a significant chunk of available bandwidth and cause congestion, making a movie buffer even though 4K streaming does not require 300Mbps. By turning on QoS and prioritizing his streaming device, Jachura could tell his router to favor its traffic during congestion, allowing his PC to keep downloading the game while the router kept the stream running smoothly.