Steam Link Bandwidth Requirements

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PCBuilderProbs

PCBuilderProbs

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Mar 24, 2015
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So with the first round of Steam Links out yesterday and the next round coming in around a month's time I'd like to discuss a few details about this. Essentially, we're looking at "home requirements". Most people have system requirements, now we got home requirements to deal with! Yay technology!

Essentially, I'd like to know how much bandwidth it takes to stream 1080p60fps through your home network in a Steam In-Home Streaming situation in order to maintain 1080p60fps fluid. Anyone who has used Steam In-Home Streaming is free to comment, as I've never used the system before.

I currently have Verizon FIOS in around a 60-75 mbps download/upload (via Speedtest.net) on what'll be the host desktop running through this Verizon router via Cat5e Ethernet, and the Steam Link in my particular setup can be connected both in a wired connection or a wireless connection (wireless is preferred, but if I need to I'll plug in wired Cat5e ethernet). I'd like to know from others' experience regarding Steam In-Home Streaming whether my router can handle the bandwidth and if I need to make any upgrades prior to the Steam Link purchase.
 
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Supernova1138

Supernova1138

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Mar 22, 2011
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What kind of Wi-Fi do you have? If you have an old 802.11g router, it's not going to work well. 802.11n dual band is pretty much the minimum for Wi-Fi with in-home streaming. Even then, because you're streaming in real time, in-home-streaming is very sensitive to interference and poor signal strength. If you do Wi-Fi you're going to want to have the Steam Link close to your wireless router, and even then performance might not be good if you live in a tightly packed neigbourhood where everyone has a Wi-Fi network, and as such there is a lot of interference. You can check this with a Wi-Fi analyzer tool with your phone or laptop and see how many networks you can pick up in your house. If all Wi-Fi channels are really crowded, then you might want to just go with a wired connection, that's what I had to do as there was too much interference where I am to get Steam in-home streaming to work well consistently.
 
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PCBuilderProbs

PCBuilderProbs

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interesting, so the 802.11g wireless networking on my current router will prevent me from achieving 1080p 60fps though in-home streaming. Maybe I'll have to call up Verizon and see if they can upgrade me to their FIOS Quantum Gateway router.

But as long as I do ethernet through both the Steam Link and the host PC I shouldn't have a problem running it through my current router?

Quick Edit: Neighborhood is spacious (not an apartment complex), no one has good internet around me.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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I have the Verizon Quantum Gateway router, and it is quite a bit better than the standard one they give you. It cost me $100 to buy it. $100 split into 3 payments added to my monthly bill.

But WiFi overall sucks.for critical functions such as gaming.
Ethernet is by far the recommended way to connect.
 
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Supernova1138

Supernova1138

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Wiring both the PC and the Steam Link to your router is definitely going to be the most reliable option, and probably cheaper than upgrading your router. Wireless as long as it's 802.11n or better can provide the necessary bandwidth, but tends to have a lot of problems with doing so reliably with minimal latency if conditions are not ideal, eg. physical barriers between the Steam Link and the wireless router like concrete walls and metal beams, and lots of interference from other nearby Wi-Fi networks.
 
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