Re: Reflector Slowdown

Brian O'Shea (boshea@wpine.com)
Mon, 10 Feb 1997 18:13:42 -0500

-
-I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on an apparent correlation
-between the number of people on a reflector and the speed of the video
-from the people on that reflector. I've noticed on most of the refs I get
-on that when there's one or two people on, the video from everyone is
-pretty good, but as more people get on the ref, the vid goes downhill
-fast. I know it's not just me, because I've heard others comment on it as
-well. I talked to the reflector owner and he says the machine and
-connection is very fast and it couldn't possibly be his reflector (of
-course he'd say that). It's to the point where I don't even get on a
-reflector if there's more than 7 people on it.
-

You are correct.

Despite the audio and video traffic on the network, there is also "control"
information. This "control" information is what allows you to have all that
wonderful information in the participants list, like who's watching you, etc.
The more people that are connected to a reflector, the more control
information you will receive.

Unfortunately, this information takes up valuable bandwidth. The original
CU-SeeMe implementors targeted a LAN enviornment, and didn't expect to have to
deal with 28.8 kb/s, so they didn't spend a large amount of time preserving
bandwidth. We are well aware of this issue, and many others associated with
the quality of the 28.8 experience and we are working on solutions to these
problems in both the reflector and the client.

Stay tuned, we're listening....

-bos

+***********************************************************************+
+ Brian O'Shea White Pine Software +
+ Reflector Group Leader 542 Amherst St +
+ bos@wpine.com Nashua NH, 03063 +
+ Phone: 603-886-9050 Fax: 603-886-9051 +
+ All it takes is all you've got. +
+***********************************************************************+