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

It's not a DNS issue.   If you had a DNS issue, your PC would be struggling to even get to this site to post.

If you're having dropouts there's a good chance its the local network (which is my hunch).  

Try this on your PC (or Mac) in a browser.   Open your browser, type in play.qobuz.com.   Log in, and just start listening to music on your PC (or laptop whatever you have).   If there is no dropouts, it's not your ISP.   Try that for now and see what happens.  It will take you 5 minutes.

I am experiencing the same issues with Qobuz.  Song starts then after a minute of 2 it suddenly stops and goes to the next tract. Strange thing is it doesn't do it on all tracks. I have an Aurender A1000 streamer/dac connected to my TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro AXE5400 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System.  I am not using Roon or connected to computer.  Streamer connected via ethernet to the satellite unit.  Have Spectrum 500 MB internet which clocks in higher around 565 MB most days. No issues with other connected equipment.  I posted the issue on the Aurender Face Book site but only response was is my Qobuz account active.  I'm going to order another ethernet cable to see if that could be the issue. 

Yours wouldn't be the first occasion upgrading to newer faster tech revealed problems in equipment. 

Lumos fiber was made available here last November and could NOT get signed up fast enough. I went with 1 gigabit (up and downstream of course). I'm an I.T. guy so I like to roll my own equipment. I had the install tech setup the new box in transparent bridge mode so I'm not using their box's wifi or as a router. I thought my Mikrotik cloud router with four 10gb ports was sturdy enough. Nope!  It's gigabit ports I had my service connected to could only muster 350mbit. Directly from the Lumos box, almost 1,100 Mbit/sec was available. I don't recall having any stuttering issues, I just couldn't reach the speeds I paid for. 

I too the plunge and bought further into the ubiquiti/Unifi ecosystem. I ended up getting a Dream Machine Pro Max Gateway because it has a pair of 10GB ports to allow for faster fiber connections in the future. I also snagged one of their Pro XG 10 POE 10GB switches so I am fully 10gbit throughout. 

https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/cloud-gateways-large-scale/products/udm-pro-max

https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/switching-professional-max-xg/products/usw-pro-xg-10-poe

Using SFP+ ports on switches allow one to choose between both 10GBit copper or fiber connections directly to devices. I have a purpose built Audio PC in my He-Shed for listening. It's connected via fiber optics. 

I seem to hoard digital audio files in FLAC, WAV and DSD formats storing about 40TB of audio alone. Currently I'm converting from Windows Server to unRAID server for my digital hoard. 

I use an Asus RT-BE88U WiFi 7 router flashed with Merlin router OS and running just as an access point. I get in excess of 900mbit/sec on wifi 7 wireless connections. 

 

 

I did a Google search for:

"Streaming dropouts on the AT&T BGW320" I have no idea if any of this is pertinent or accurate but I found it interesting and educational.

Streaming dropouts on the AT&T BGW320 are often caused by a few specific hardware and software triggers. While the BGW320 is generally robust, users and technicians frequently report the following culprits:

1. ActiveArmor Security Interference

AT&T’s built-in security suite, ActiveArmor, is known to cause intermittent latency and drops in streaming performance. 

Reddit

  • The Issue: It scans incoming traffic in real-time, which can mistakenly flag streaming data packets or cause CPU spikes on the gateway.
  • Fix: Disable ActiveArmor through the AT&T Smart Home Manager app to see if stability improves.

2. Firmware Version Glitches

Certain firmware updates (notably versions like 4.27.7 or 3.20.5) have been linked to random "link down" events where the gateway momentarily loses connection. 

Reddit +1

  • The Issue: Software bugs can cause the gateway to restart or drop the signal without a clear hardware cause.
  • Fix: Check your current firmware version in the gateway settings (192.168.1.254). If it’s an older or known buggy version, contact AT&T Support to request a remote update or a replacement unit. 

    Reddit +1

3. SFP Module or Fiber Connector Issues

The BGW320 uses an SFP/ONT module (the small stick the fiber plugs into) that can overheat or be improperly seated. 

Reddit +1

  • The Issue: If the fiber cable has a "micro-bend" or the connectors are dirty, the "light levels" entering the gateway fluctuate, causing the stream to buffer or drop entirely.
  • Fix: Ensure the fiber cable isn't tightly bent. If dropouts persist, ask an AT&T technician to check the "Radius Test" or "QC Test" to see if there are "ONT alarms" indicating a physical line problem. 

    Reddit +2

4. IP Passthrough Stability (If using a second router)

If you have a personal router connected to the BGW320, the Blue 5Gbps port is sometimes cited as less stable than the standard yellow ports for certain hardware. 

Reddit +1

  • The Issue: Auto-negotiation issues between the BGW320’s multi-gig port and 1Gbps routers can lead to 5-10 second drops.
  • Fix: Try moving your personal router's connection to one of the yellow LAN ports. Additionally, increasing the IP Lease Timer from the default 10 minutes to something longer (like 24 hours) can prevent frequent re-authentication drops. 

    Reddit +2

5. Wi-Fi Band Steering Conflicts

By default, the BGW320 uses one name for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands (Band Steering). 

  • The Issue: Streaming devices (like Rokus or Smart TVs) may constantly "bounce" between these two bands, causing a momentary loss of connection.
  • Fix: Use the AT&T Smart Home Manager to separate the bands with different names, then force your streaming device to stay on the 5GHz band for higher stability. 

    Reddit +1