maratsade wrote:
- You could not turn the video data saver off (permanently)*
- The bandwidth per video stream/download to known recreational video sites was roughly cut in half
Neither of these are accurate (certainly not the first one, as the VDS was never locked so it could not be turned off). Where are you getting this information?
Although I could "turn off" the VDS from the screen, it was obvious from basic testing (or just watching the task manager) that it was still on at some level even in less busy times. This may have been a measure dependent on beam, but when this went back to the way it was before a couple of months ago (with it actually being off) the difference was easy to see.
I vaguely remember someone else noticing this too, but I don't know what thread it was--perhaps they can chime in.
Anyway, as video streaming is the big bandwidth pig, it is the common and obvious target ISPs go after to optimise work/productive things. Many other ISPs use plans with a very tight data saver policy that can not be turned off -- with the pandemic measures, where is an ISP going to get extra bandwidth? Based on what I could see from keeping data usage logs from every day, I maintain that it came by trimming back on what was available to the recreation video sites to make way for zoom/webex/teams/etc.
When you turned your VDS off during this time period, were you able to download a video at a higher rate or watch HD without buffering? Do you have any information regarding where the extra bandwidth came from? The following phrase strongly implies giving priority to critical sites, which means reducing priority to non-critical sites:
"To help people working from home, we have optimized Cloud-based business applications. We have also optimized online educational apps, and are working with teachers to identify the websites and learning tools on which they depend."
They even asked for users to report sites they were having trouble with. As for me, I could see WebEx and Teams seemed to be operating in spectacular fashion while at the same time YouTube was pinched.
*edit
I hope Liz will be kind enough to clear up the VDS misinformation; it's likely issues were encountered due to congestion, traffic, and latency.
I think you're speculating baselessly regarding optimisation of streaming providers, but I doubt the mods will address this one, so it will remain speculative, and issues can also be chalked up to congestion, traffic, and latency.
Hi folks, while the Video Data Saver can still be toggled on and off, our efficiency protocols currently limit the permanent snooze option, so we recommend temporarily snoozing VDS only when you are actively watching High Definition video or use a service that does not support adaptive streaming.
Thanks for your understanding.
-Liz
Cheers, Liz . Glad to see that I was right regarding the accuracy of the statement "You could not turn the video data saver off." It wasn't completely inaccurate, just misleading, as you can turn it off but not leave it off.
Liz wrote:Hi folks, while the Video Data Saver can still be toggled on and off, our efficiency protocols currently limit the permanent snooze option, so we recommend temporarily snoozing VDS only when you are actively watching High Definition video or use a service that does not support adaptive streaming.
Thanks for your understanding.
-Liz
Liz wrote:Hi folks, while the Video Data Saver can still be toggled on and off, our efficiency protocols currently limit the permanent snooze option, so we recommend temporarily snoozing VDS only when you are actively watching High Definition video or use a service that does not support adaptive streaming.
Thanks for your understanding.
-Liz
Thank you -- very helpful information here. Is this limit on the permanent snooze option of the VDS still in effect? It seems like it is staying off now. The efficiency protocols seemed to greatly improve productivity sites like Webex/teams vs. YouTube -- I hope my assumption that this was intentional was not inaccurate.
