What Internet Speed do I need to watch TV or make Skype® calls on my computer?

Monday, 28 February 2011 14:40 Last Updated on Saturday, 17 December 2011 20:19

I've been getting this question in various forms since I started my computer business nearly 5 years ago.
Since I started providing my VPN service that allows you to watch British TV on your computer this question has become my most frequent!

Don't worry if you don't know what a Kb/s or a Mb/s is: I explain how to test your speed at the end of this. One thing you should know is that a Mb/s is 1000 times as fast as a Kb/s. So, 384 Kb/s is the same as 0.384 Mb/s.

Watching Video / TV / Movies Live on your Computer

Recommended Speeds:

Videos (YouTube etc.):	384 Kb/s
TV Programmes:	1.5 Mb/s
Movies:	2.5 Mb/s
Movies (HD):	5.0 Mb/s

You may be OK if you have less and only have a little buffering. With slower connections you would need to download and play back later.

If you are interested in watching TV whilst abroad (i.e. watching UK TV in Spain) then give my 14-day FREE trial a try. No obligation, but if you like it for just £10 a month you can watch whatever is available from wherever you are!

Making Skype^® Phone and Video Calls

Recommended Speeds:

Voice only:	64 Kb/s
Video and Voice:	384 Kb/s
Screen Sharing:	512 Kb/s

I use the built in (and FREE) screen sharing to offer help and advice to my clients remotely over the Internet.

Please bear in mind that for Skype it is recommended that you have these speeds for your upload as well (otherwise your caller will have problems hearing and/or seeing you!).

You can also refer to my article on setting up your audio equimpent to work with Skype if you are having problems.

For more information on Skype^® see my article recommending Skype^®.

How to Test your Internet Speed

Now that you know what you need, you need to know what speed you have. To find out, you need to run a speed test. See my article on Testing Your Internet Speed.