How to get the SLR streaming speeds you are looking for
Are you unhappy with the speed you stream videos on SexLikeReal? Let’s look at how we can improve things. [This post is updated as new information emerges. Last update: August 3rd, 2022]
To watch your favorite VR videos, the signal goes from your device to the SLR servers via all the hardware and software in between such as WiFi routers, firewalls, antivirus protection, etc before it reaches your ISP (internet service provider). The stakes are high as the average video requires around 30Mbps bandwidth to truly enjoy the magic of VR.
There are two major factors in your connection: the VR headset sends signals back and forth to your ISP, then your ISP connects to the SLR servers. We are happy to see an increasing number of SLR users and while we assure high performance of our streaming, some users might experience connection issues. This post will help you adjust your internet settings to get the right speeds.
SLR uses a distributed network of servers all over the world to ensure fast access from any location. We have hosting with enterprise operators who guarantee connection speed and bandwidth. That’s what we pay for. Little can go wrong there thanks to 24/7 monitoring. Usually, we’ve found bandwidth issues occur closer to the consumer end of the network.
Statistically, 95% of the time, the problem is with the WiFi network. Things like moving your router into a visible area, proper 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz setup or updating your router software often do a great job of speeding things up. Sometimes an internet modem and Wi-Fi router restart might be required. Ultimately, upgrading a modem, Wi-Fi router or switching to a newer mesh system might be the only way to solve your low Wi-Fi speed. However, there are some other options you can try to improve the signal.
Aside from connectivity issues, there may be security issues caused by malware. This can turn one of your connected devices into a bot that gobbles up your bandwidth.
Try getting more out of your ISP. Make sure you have at least a 50Mbps fiber connection. As resolution and bitrate are increasing all the time in VR it would be best to go for 200Mbps or higher. You could look at upgrading the modem that connects to your router. If nothing else helps, complain to your service provider, or consider switching to a different ISP ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. This is because throttling can be used by your ISP. General throttling will often worsen in peak hours when more people rush to browse the internet. Throttling can also be targeted to specific connections for which you commonly use a lot of bandwidth. In situations like this, one resolution is to use a VPN. In fact, if you are getting low throughput for SLR and performance jumps after employing a VPN, that would be an indicator that your connection is being throttled by your ISP.
What can you do if you have a slow connection with SLR?
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Run the SLR speedtest and report the results to support@sexlikereal.com if you experience an atypically low connection.
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Try running the same speedtest from a different device, location and ISP. Your smartphone’s 4G/5G connection might be a good benchmark to compare to your desktop connection.
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Also run https://www.speedtest.net/. Make sure to choose a server in the same city as shown in the SLR speedtest (any server will do). There might be a connection or traffic issue between your location and remote location.
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Try running a SLR speedtest outside peak hours in your area when fewer people are likely to be using the internet. If you have a better connection your ISP is likely throttling your bandwidth in peak hours.
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Contact your ISP support. Submit a complaint and consider upgrading your data plan. As resolution and bitrate are increasing all the time in VR 200Mbps or higher is recommended. Some 4G providers have been found providing a ridiculously low 3Mbps bandwidth as their default data plan.
Some users have argued having an excellent experience with streaming services like Youtube and Netflix. These are different from SLR. First, their content is lower resolution and bitrate than the default SLR 6K 60FPS VR videos. Second, they are big enough to host their caching servers with major local ISPs. The latter are interested in these relationships as it means they don’t pay for expensive external traffic any more. Hosting servers locally seems to be the only solution to ensure the connection speeds we are looking for. Rest assured, we are getting there.
Another option is Starlink. We easily received 220Mbps simply by placing it in an open space. As VR technology progresses, high bandwidth will become increasingly more important. Right now, you need at least 50Mbps to stream VR but this is set to rise.
Finally, try to stream on SLR using a VPN. If you get good speeds this way it means your ISP is throttling our servers and you should contact them and request a change.
At SLR we are actively looking for hosting solutions to ensure high-speed connection to our videos. It’s important to run a speedtest and report the results as it helps us to look into the problem and better assist you.
Having an up to date headset is as important as having a good internet connection. We can’t guarantee proper quality on smartphone Cardboard headsets, GearVR or older devices.
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Did you enjoy reading this blog post? Do you have a good understanding of how it all works? Apply for a job with SexLikeReal and help bring the world of VR to life!
SLR fans who have joined the company have turned out to be our best employees. We’re a positive, happy company and we all enjoy the work we do.
Mail us at careers@sexlikereal.com with your CV and a few lines about what motivates you when it comes to joining SLR. We are greatly expanding into the VR ecosystem and we’re excited about getting talented people to come and work hand-in-hand with us.
