Video loads slowly or stutters

A video that keeps spinning on the loader or starts to stutter during playback. In almost all cases it is bandwidth or file size. Four causes in order.

1. The video is too big

A 4K video of a few hundred MB cannot load fast enough on slow internet lines to play smoothly. gibeon.io streams video through a fast CDN, but if your upload source is already heavy, it stays heavy.

Fix: compress the video before you upload it. For signage 1080p is usually enough. Use 4K only where it really adds something. Tools like HandBrake easily bring a 200 MB video down to 30 MB without visible loss.

2. Not enough bandwidth at the player

The player is on a slow or overloaded internet line.

Check: run a speed test on a laptop on the same wifi network. Below ~10 Mbps download, you are cutting it close for 1080p streaming.

Fix: connect the player by cable if you can, or upgrade the internet line at that location. Temporarily you can switch to a lighter video.

3. Too many videos in a row in the playlist

Four heavy videos in a row put a heavy load on the player cache. Between items the player downloads the next one. If it is not ready yet, you get a short buffer.

Fix: alternate videos with static items (image, template). Between items the player has a short breather to get the next one ready.

4. Player hardware at its limit

An older browser or a Raspberry Pi 3 struggles with 1080p video. The gibeon.io player and modern Android devices run smoothly, but a browser on an 8-year-old Smart TV can stutter.

Fix: choose a more recent player. For production quality we recommend the gibeon.io player or a Google TV device. See the hardware overview.

If the problem remains