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Big issue with my fiber optics internet for Qobuz streaming

 

I just switched from cable to fiber optics for internet. Both download and upload speeds have been upgraded to over 600 Mbps, so speed should not be an issue at all. It came with a modem (AT&T BGW320 model), which handles the fiber-to-Ethernet conversion and also serves as a router.

For TV, video streaming, and cell phone access, the experience has been great—better than ever. However, when I stream Qobuz hi-res music, particularly 24/192, it continuously pauses, drops out, and/or skips tracks from time to time. Sometimes even lower-resolution music has similar issues.

I called AT&T support, and the technician performed a detailed diagnosis and reset from his end but found nothing he could address or offer to resolve the issue. He suggested raising the issue with Qobuz.

What could be the reason? Have you encountered such an issue? How did you resolve it?

lanx0003
erik_squires
17,552 posts
 

Sigh...... sigh.... 

Your chatgpt is only partially right.  DNS does not affect the quality of a stream, but it may affect which network end point a Qobuz stream is served from.  Every DNS server does not always resolve the right end point for every service.  For instance, if you are in Texas and the DNS server resolves to a Qobuz service in Ireland then you are more likely to have network issues.  

For residential Internet customers, by default your router will use the Internet provider’s DNS servers/services, so besides the backbone and on/off ramp locations the other variable between say AT&T and Comcast is the DNS servers themselves. 

I worked in ad tech, and helped monitor global network operations, not my core job. While this type of misconfiguration was rare they do happen. 

In any event, you should use OpenDNS or Quad9 just as a matter of privacy. :) 

More likely this is an MTU issue or a route issue. If you can find the exact IP address used for streaming (not necessarily the web page) you could run traceroute and ping and gain more specific information about the pathway between you and Qobuz.  

facten
3,124 posts
 

@shooter41  I've had AT&T fiber for 4 plus years - zero issues

shooter41
143 posts
 

@facten I have people in my own neighborhood that claim they never have issues with them. Doesn't mean that they don't still have some widespread problems. Again, their own tech told me as much...

facten
3,124 posts
 

Question with respect to the Ops issue for you more technically inclined folks who've responded -  since supposedly streaming movies and tv programs requires more bandwidth than music why wouldn't the OPs issue also occur with those if it were modem equipment or setting issues? Txs

djohnson54
398 posts
 

@lanx0003 This may or may not help but I am doing exactly what you seem to be about to try.  I have an ATT BGW320 (which you have to use because the ONT is built-in - AT&T doesn't provide a separate ONT).  Since I already had my own Asus mesh system (XT8), I set the BGW320 to passthru and turned off 2.4 and 5 transmitters.  This avoids the problems of double NATing and additional congestion on the networks you actually want to use (Netgear).  I have not modified the MTU setting for either router.  I stream Qobuz without problems.

Honestly, it sounds like a quirk between the AT&T router and your streamer.  If it worked before with the Netgear and that solves your current problem, this is even more likely.  My streamer (Lumin) does not do WiFi and my Mesh layout doesn't place a node near the equipment rack so I have a Netgear range extender providing an ethernet connection to the Lumin which is a little different than your situation.

My AT&T internet has been rock solid but I have only had it since last July.  Where I previously lived, people with AT&T had lots of problems so those issues are probably regional.

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