Since the coronavirus pandemic the events industry has switched entirely to livestream and virtual events. But this new approach also has its problems – in particular failure of the internet connection. in particular failure of the internet connection.
Events technology companies generally have cameras, as well as video mixers or systems with which live video productions can be generated. The images generated via HDMI or SDI are then transmitted via an encoder.
In some cases colleagues use OBS, Vmix or WireCast to generate and mix livestreams with computers. Superimposed text and thoughts can then be shown nicely and mixed live. Often, however, an important point is overlooked: the calculation of the internet connection and the reliability.
How do I calculate my internet connection for a livestream?
We have a rule of thumb with which it always actually works. Assume 10 MBit/s per livestream that you are sending to a server from your location. For example the transmission from 3 cameras via a mixer and an encoder to YouTube. The best thing to do is to reserve 10 Mbit/s in your upload line for this alone. In some internet connections this already “occupies” everything that is available. So, for connections with Teams or Zoom, you should already plan a second connection here.
Internet from the box: Bonding Encoder for more bandwidth in live streaming
This means you can plan for more bandwidth for livestreams, for example with the GigaCube from Vodafone or comparable products from O2 or Telekom, or pack everything into one device: The MiNE M4. This bundles the connections for your livestreams and ensures the reliability of the stream. This “taps in” equally to the networks of Telekom, Vodafone and O2. You use your SIM cards, which are not part of the device, and distribute these over the four SIM card slots. With LTE Speed you can thus generate a quadruple connection that achieves up to 100 Mbit/s for uploading and downloading. The livestream can thus take place reliably, and even the connections via Zoom or Teams can be easily realized via the same connection.
Making the internet failsafe
There are, of course, extreme situations such as a complete network crash or power outages. But with the MiNE M4, such extreme situations remain the only challenge, and the business of normal streaming can continue as planned. The battery in the MiNE M4 lasts for up to 4 hours and is thus a saviour on the road when you need stable internet for the livestream.