Question One mainstream streaming website not working - all else perfect

[dawnclark]

For about a month now, we have been virtually unable to stream from sportsnet.ca on any device in our home. Every other streaming site we try (Netflix, Disney, Prime, etc) is perfect, can’t remember the last time one of those buffered. But Sportsnet will play 1-2 seconds of low-quality video, then buffer from several seconds to several minutes before again playing just a second or two of video. (It is slightly better in the daytime vs the evening, but still not close to how it should be)

It is not the devices, as we’ve taken laptops and phones to other locations and they work on that site perfectly. We have also tried different browsers at home as well as the Microsoft app with no difference. It is not the mobile app we use on our phones as I can switch to data and it streams perfectly. Our Speedtest comes back consistently around 300 Mbps download. Literally no other website seems to be affected, although before this last month we have watched sports nearly every day through Sportsnet for probably five years.

I’m not sure where to look next for the problem. Our ISP sent out a tech and confirmed that there was nothing he could see on our end that would be causing it. He is supposed to be passing the problem on to someone up the chain, but I have no idea when or if we’ll hear anything.

 

[Ralston18]

I just tried the link (sportsnet.ca) and no apparent problems.

Try "ipconfig /flushdns"

References:

https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/help/connectivity-and-performance/article/how-to-flush-dns/000061010

https://blog.hubspot.com/website/flush-dns

= = = =

Also look in the hosts file. Any references to sportsnet.ca?

https://pressidium.com/blog/the-hosts-file-a-powerful-tool-for-users-and-developers/

 

[dawnclark]

I have tried flushing DNS with no change. Also there is no reference to the site in the hosts file.

**UPDATE: After going round and round with both our internet provider (who says it must be the site), and the Sportsnet site (who says it must be our internet provider), on a hunch I signed up for a VPN account and when I’m logged into a VPN (in Canada, where I live) I can stream fine from the site. As soon as I disconnect from the VPN, it goes back to the problems we’ve been having.

I don’t know quite enough to understand what this would indicate - does the fact that it works on a VPN narrow down where the problem must be?

Thank you!

I just tried the link (sportsnet.ca) and no apparent problems.

Try "ipconfig /flushdns"

References:

https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/help/connectivity-and-performance/article/how-to-flush-dns/000061010

https://blog.hubspot.com/website/flush-dns

= = = =

Also look in the hosts file. Any references to sportsnet.ca?

https://pressidium.com/blog/the-hosts-file-a-powerful-tool-for-users-and-developers/

 

[Ralston18]

Start with learning more about VPN - get the "bigger picture" so to speak.

For example:

https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/privacy/vpn/what-is-a-vpn

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/what-is-a-vpn-and-how-does-it-work/

You can easily find other similar links. Look for links with explanatory diagrams or images.

https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/vpn-tunneling/

What VPN did you use?

The VPN changed your location and that location was apparently acceptable to Sportsnet. Your real location - apparently not.

There may be other thoughts, ideas, and interpretations offered. I have no problem with that.

 

[dawnclark]

Thank you for the links. I am using Proton VPN.

I do not believe the issue is location-based because:

• sportsnet.ca is a Canadian streaming site, we are in Canada and have used this site for 5+ years without any problem except in this last two months
• I did not change our (country) location with the VPN, specifically connected to a Canadian server (the sportsnet.ca site isn’t available for streaming outside of Canada)
• I can’t stream from the site when connected to our wifi, but if I switch to cell data it works perfectly (which wouldn’t change our location)

Both companies (our internet provider and Sportsnet) have said they did an IP check to see if our IP was blocked or anything for some reason, and said it was fine.