Internet radio buffers forever: IGMP problems?

bandchef
bandchef Posts: 21  Freshman Member
First Comment Friend Collector Fourth Anniversary
edited December 8 in Switch

I have a Magenta TV receiver from Deutsche Telekom that requires IGMP.
Now I have the effect that when the receiver is running, regardless of whether a channel is being watched at that moment or a program is being recorded in its absence, the Internet radio in the bathroom buffers for seconds, then plays a radio program for a few seconds and then buffers again, etc. etc.

I already had problems with the IGMP of the Magenta TV receiver about 2 years ago; at that time my laptop was affected, which is supplied with LAN/Internet from the monitor via USB-C DP cable.

The entire setup looks like this:
FTTH -> FritzBox -> Zyxel GS1920HPv2 -> Unifi WLAN Access Point -> Bad-Radio
|-> Magenta TV Receiver

The bathroom radio is connected via WLAN, the receiver via LAN cable via the house installation and thus directly connected to the switch.

So now the question: How can I eliminate the buffering problem with the Badradio when the receiver is running? I really assume that IGMP is causing problems here again. Does anybody have an idea?

Thanks in advance!

All Replies

  • Zyxel_Kay
    Zyxel_Kay Posts: 1,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - WLAN Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security

    Hi @bandchef

    To assist you further, could you please provide the following information:

    1. Do you frequently change the channel or station on your internet radio when the buffering issue occurs?
    2. Could you check and share the Port Utilization from your switch in the following scenarios? You can find this under MONITOR > Port Status > Port Utilization on the GS1920HPv2 local GUI:
      • Your current scenario
      • A scenario where the Magenta TV Receiver is disconnected from the network This would leave the setup as follows:FTTH -> FritzBox -> Zyxel GS1920HPv2 -> Unifi WLAN Access Point -> Bathroom RadioThis will help us determine whether the IGMP traffic from the Magenta TV Receiver is causing interference.

    Kay

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  • bandchef
    bandchef Posts: 21  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector Fourth Anniversary

    Hello @Zyxel_Kay

    thank you for the very quick reply.

    1. Do you frequently change the channel or station on your internet radio when the buffering issue occurs? - No, I am do not change the channel or station.

    Could you check and share the Port Utilization from your switch in the following scenarios? You can find this under MONITOR > Port Status > Port Utilization on the GS1920HPv2 local GUI:

    • Your current scenario:
    image.png
    image.png
    • A scenario where the Magenta TV Receiver is disconnected from the network This would leave the setup as follows: FTTH -> FritzBox -> Zyxel GS1920HPv2 -> Unifi WLAN Access Point -> Bathroom RadioThis will help us determine whether the IGMP traffic from the Magenta TV Receiver is causing interference:
    image.png
    image.png

    After I have tried both settings, the bathradio was operating in a normal way. This time it is a very strang behavior. Other devices with IGMP can be excluded from my analysis, because I do not have any other devices which are using IGMP.

    Are there any other ideas were the problem is?

  • Zyxel_Kay
    Zyxel_Kay Posts: 1,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - WLAN Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security

    Hi @bandchef

    Thank you for providing the detailed feedback and port utilization data.

    Based on the information and your observations, it appears that the ports are not overloaded, which helps rule out congestion as the primary cause.

    The issue may instead relate to one of the following:

    1. Connection Stability: There could be intermittent connectivity issues between your access point and the bathroom radio.
      • Consider checking the signal strength and quality of the Wi-Fi connection to the bathroom radio.
    2. Internet Speed: If the overall internet speed is slow or unstable during the buffering periods, it might be affecting the streaming quality.
      • Test your internet speed during the buffering occurrences to verify stability.

    Kay

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  • bandchef
    bandchef Posts: 21  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector Fourth Anniversary

    Hi @Zyxel_Kay

    thank you again.

    Indeed, I also have considered some WLAN connection issues, but the Bathradio is only 4-5meters apart from each other.

    As WLAN Access Points I am using UAP AP AC Pro Access Points, and If I am checking the signal strength with the official UniFi Client App on my iPhone, I am getting best values for the signal strength of the Bathradio.

    The Internet Speed itself should not be the problem, however I have not checked it during the buffer problems; I can use a "real FTTH" internet from German Telekom. The last 5 years I've never experienced any slow downs with this kind of internet-connection.

  • Zyxel_Kay
    Zyxel_Kay Posts: 1,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - WLAN Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security

    Hi @bandchef

    Since the signal strength and internet speed seem optimal, the root cause of the buffering issue remains unclear. To narrow down the possibilities, we suggest trying the following steps:

    1. Bypass the Switch: Connect the Unifi Access Point directly to the FritzBox, bypassing the GS1920HPv2 switch. Then, check if the buffering issue persists with this configuration.
    2. Enable IGMP Snooping: Activate IGMP Snooping on your GS1920HPv2 switch. This can help manage multicast traffic more efficiently and potentially resolve any IGMP-related interference.

    Let us know the results so we can further assist you!

    Kay

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  • bandchef
    bandchef Posts: 21  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector Fourth Anniversary

    Hello again,

    thank you for your reply.

    Bypass the Switch: Connect the Unifi Access Point directly to the FritzBox, bypassing the GS1920HPv2 switch. Then, check if the buffering issue persists with this configuration. → No Changes.

    Enable IGMP Snooping: Activate IGMP Snooping on your GS1920HPv2 switch. This can help manage multicast traffic more efficiently and potentially resolve any IGMP-related interference. → See here a picture of the current configuration:

    image.png

    From my point of view, IGMP Snooping is active as well the IGMP Filtering.

  • Zyxel_Kay
    Zyxel_Kay Posts: 1,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - WLAN Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security

    Hi @bandchef

    Thank you for providing the additional information and configuration details. Based on your tests:

    1. Bypassing the Switch: Since connecting the Unifi Access Point directly to the FritzBox did not resolve the issue, it confirms the problem is not related to the GS1920HPv2 switch.
    2. IGMP Snooping: With IGMP Snooping and Filtering already enabled, it seems that this setting is not the solution for the buffering issue in your current setup.

    Given these findings, the issue appears unrelated to the switch itself. Unfortunately, we’re unable to provide further insights into this behaviour as it may be linked to other devices or configurations in your network. We recommend reaching out to the vendors of your other devices for further assistance, as they may have more specific guidance to address this.

    Kay

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  • peos42
    peos42 Posts: 18  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector

    Note that the signal strength on wifi doesn´t mean anything. What means everything is the SNR or Signal to Noise ratio. If you have good signal but he noise floor is high, you will still have problems. That you should check.

    If you live in an apartment, lower the channel width which give 3 dB better SNR every time to divide by 2. It also gives more channels and better chance you do not have to fight with neighbors AP:s on the same channel.

    Also check that your unit supports your settings on the SSID. I am thinking of 802.11 k, v and r for example. These could cause disconnects if not supported properly.

    Also go over your multicast settings in the unifi.

    And if you have more APs, have you checked if the unit is connected to the nearest AP? Not that it matters if you have a good SNR… If you have more APs, that many people that uses ubiquity have, people don't understand that the network will perform worse in the roaming if the power is maxed on the APs.

    The statement "Bathradio is only 4-5meters apart from each other" could indicate you have more than one radio. If you have, and also have more than one AP, well, then you could if not configuring correctly have "direct routing" issues. If set up in a stereo pair... Of course depending on how your unit works. Maybe this won't apply at all for you.

  • bandchef
    bandchef Posts: 21  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector Fourth Anniversary

    Thank you for your answer.

    In the meanwhile I have switched the bathradio to another "mode", were the streams are not take from the out-of-the-box implemented "TuneIn", but you have to enter the stream addresses of the radio stations manually via the html GUI of the Bathradio.

    Now, approx. 1 week later, I've never got any stream stops or endless buffering (as depicted above), no matter what time and no matter what radio channel.

    My consideration now is, that the implementation of TuneIn has failed on the manufacturer's side.

    I thank that no IGMP or other "network" problems (signal strength, SNR) have lead to this unusual buffer problems.

    Therefore: Thank you all for your extraordinarily good help. Thread can be closed, because the problem must be solved by the manufacturer.

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