Network and performance tips
What causes lag and dropouts?
Live video needs a steady internet connection. If your connection gets weak or busy, you may see:
- Lag (video behind real time)
- Choppy video (skips or stutters)
- Blurry video (quality drops to keep the stream alive)
- Dropouts (stream disconnects and reconnects)
This page focuses on connection choices and quick, in-the-moment fixes—so you can keep filming the game without turning this into a tech project.
Wi‑Fi vs cellular: which should you use?
- You’re on a private Wi‑Fi network (home, small facility office Wi‑Fi) with a strong signal where you’re standing.
- The network isn’t shared by a crowd (or it stays fast even when the stands fill up).
- You can stay in roughly the same spot all game (so the signal doesn’t fade as you move).
- The venue Wi‑Fi is crowded, requires repeated sign-ins, or drops when the game starts.
- You have good bars where you’ll be filming (test from the bleachers, not the parking lot).
- You can use 5G/LTE with a solid signal and your plan supports video streaming.
Quick rule of thumb
- Strong, quiet Wi‑Fi beats cellular.
- Crowded/guest Wi‑Fi is often worse than cellular.
- Weak cellular bars usually means Wi‑Fi (if it’s stable) will be better.
Placement tips that make a big difference
Where you stand matters—especially indoors.
- Get higher if you can (top of a small section, higher bleacher row). Signals often travel better above people.
- Avoid “signal blockers”: concrete walls, metal railings, and packed bodies between you and the router/tower.
- Stay put once you find a good spot. Walking around can swing your connection from great to bad in seconds.
- Keep the phone unobstructed: don’t bury it behind a battery pack, jacket, or thick case flap.
Before the game: a 60-second connection check
Do this at the exact place you plan to film (not at the entrance).
If quality changes mid-game (fast fixes)
When the action is happening, you want fixes that don’t require digging through menus.
Common situations (and what to do)
This is usually network congestion (everyone’s phones hit the same Wi‑Fi or cellular tower).
- If you’re on guest Wi‑Fi, switch to cellular if your signal is decent.
- If you’re already on cellular, try moving higher/closer to an exterior wall (often better reception).
- If the venue has a private Wi‑Fi (not the public guest one), that’s often the best backup.
Bars don’t always mean stable upload. Gyms can have difficult reception and lots of interference.
- Move away from concrete corners and metal bleachers/railings.
- Try a higher row (less people blocking signal).
- Pick one connection type and stay on it—frequent switching often makes things worse.
Fast movement doesn’t directly break the internet, but it often means you’re also moving your position or turning your body and blocking the phone’s antenna.
- Keep your body from covering the phone (especially if it’s close to your chest).
- Use a steadier stance and avoid stepping into areas with weaker reception.
- If possible, stand where you have the best signal and track with your arms, not your feet.
This can happen when the controller device has a weaker connection than the camera device.
- Put both devices on the same strong network (both on Wi‑Fi or both on cellular/hotspot if that’s your plan).
- Keep the controller device close to the camera device if you’re using a hotspot.
- If delay persists, prioritize the camera device staying stable—viewers care most about the video staying live.
Keep it simple: your “best effort” setup
- Choose one connection you trust for the whole game.
- Find a spot with stable signal and stay there.
- If quality drops: pause moving → small relocation → switch networks only if necessary.