Want to stream the Olympics in peace and quiet without buffering issues? Here’s how

The Summer Olympics are here! You’ve attended the opening ceremony — salute Lady Gaga — and you’re ready for all the exciting drama of the Summer Games to unfold. If you’re a sports fan who ever tried to live stream a big event in your apartmentthen you probably already know the pain of realizing that your neighbors are seconds ahead of you, as you hear them react to the big touchdown, home run or jump shot long before it hits your screen. Or, just as bad, you get a notification on your phone before you see the winning takeoff.

I’ve been there. It stinks.

The reality is that, historically, there was a certain amount of lag or delay when streaming large events live while everyone else was watching the same broadcast. There’s not much you — or your neighbors — can do about that collective baseline lag. But if your cheering neighbors above you seem to be consistently a few seconds ahead of you, that’s a sign that there may also be issues with your home network that’s slowing things down.

Let me first say that there may be long-term solutions to improving your streaming capabilities. For example, my CNET colleagues suggest upgrade your wifi router and other solutions in our guide to improving your streaming experience. For those of you who plan to experience the Summer Games on YouTube TV, my colleague Eli Blumenthal has some specific tips for you. But let’s focus on short-term improvements that you can make in a few days so you’re ready for the big game.

Don’t wait for Simone Biles to break the internet. Make a move for the big jump

Ideally, you should begin this fact-finding mission at least a few days before the main events. That will give you enough time to make any necessary adjustments before Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, and Sha’Carri Richardson take center stage.

Take a speed test

The first priority is to know if you are getting the internet speed you are paying for. I have a hunch that a lot of you are not even sure what speed you are supposed to be getting (and maybe that is a post for another day), so if you are unsure, check your account online and see what speed your plan promises.

Next, you’ll want to run a speed test to determine if you’re getting the download and upload speeds you need in the rooms you’re tuning into. The best and most thorough approach is to run multiple tests at different times of the day to get a more complete picture of your connection’s speed.

There are plenty of free internet speed testsbut I most often use the Ookla speed test. I have the app on my Apple TV and can see the results on my LG TV — you can also run it in your browser or by using a free speed test app on your Android or iOS device.

In our CNET guide to how much internet speed you really needwe recommend a minimum of 25Mbps for streaming 4K video, so that’s your starting point. In general, we also found that today’s households should look for minimum download speeds of at least 100Mbps, if such speeds are available and affordable in their address, especially given the number of smart devices connected in the home (which we’ll come to below).

Make sure that your speed test results are giving you the speeds that you should be getting. If the numbers are way off, it might be worth contacting your ISP and asking if there is something wrong on that end, or if possible, you could even try to Negotiate a faster plan for less money than you are paying now. If you have been with your ISP for a while, you may be surprised to discover what better, cheaper plans are now available.

Check your layout

Wi-Fi is incredibly convenient, but it can also be to blame for your buffering issues. Simply put, the further away your streaming device is from your modem and router, the slower your wireless speeds will be. If your speeds are slow enough, you’ll see buffering as your streaming device struggles to get the video content across the air fast enough to show you in real time.

I mentioned earlier that I ran my Ookla speed test from my Apple TVThe reason for this is that my wife and I decided to connect our Apple TV directly to our router using an Ethernet cable. We wanted to be able to — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plusetc. — to give everyone access to the fastest speeds in our home, which would not be possible via Wi-Fi. Also, if possible, try a wired ethernet connection for any device you want to watch the Summer Games on.

If you can’t connect via Ethernet cable, your best option is to watch the Olympics on a device or TV in the same room as your modem and router. The closer your router is to your Wi-Fi streaming device, the better your chances of uninterrupted performance.

Use your router to monitor your household’s bandwidth usage

If you’re still having issues, even though your download speeds seem fine, you may have an issue with your router. Try the simplest thing first: turn it off and back on. I know that can be frustrating to hear, especially if you’ve ever asked for help from a tech support person. The standard first response is usually, “Have you tried unplugging it and plugging it back in?” But the truth is, sometimes it can be that simple: restarting your router often resets it and gets it working better.

Another thing to consider is the number of people and devices using your network. While we mentioned earlier that the ideal download speed for streaming 4K video is 25 Mbps, it’s important to remember that every device on your network is using bandwidth.

Our homes are now filled with connected devices, including mobile phones, laptops And smart tvs. We also have game consoles, security cameras, voice assistants, connected speakers/sound systems, smart thermostats, watches and many others smart home gadgetsThey’re all fighting for your resources.

Take inventory of the smart devices in your household and discuss with your partner, roommate, children, or whoever is staying with you which devices can be temporarily disconnected from your network so that you have a less busy network while watching the Summer Olympics.

On that note, if you have people in your house who aren’t sports fans and would like some counter programming — talk to them ahead of time and see if you can come up with a list of shows or movies that you can download before the big games. Maybe you can download a copy of To enjoy for the kids. Or maybe the non-sports fans would enjoy a few episodes of The last of us or some classic episodes of The officeWhatever it is, take the time to get your household on board and download those alternatives early, and you can avoid battles, arguments, and bandwidth backups on the most important days.

Complete a final checklist

Okay, you’ve done a few practice rounds. But now it’s time to go. The Summer Games are here until August 11th. It’s time to go over the tasks one last time to make sure all your efforts haven’t been in vain.

Run that speed test again

Those fantastic download speeds you recorded a few days ago won’t help you if they’re missing when you need them most. It’s always a good idea to check your download speed before checking off other items on your list.

Go back to your router and check the bandwidth status again

Remember your inventory of smart devices? Go through the list and start removing them from your network. Even if you’ve discussed this with other family members before, take the time to remind them of your game plan. For example, you don’t want the kids to go off script and start playing online Fortnite instead of sticking to the movie you’ve already downloaded. This will help reduce stress when the medals are on the line.

Now you are ready to get the best experience possible for your current home setup. You have done all you can, now have fun!