NPERF Test Streaming Info

NPERF is a tool I'm going to start using a lot more.  There is a lot of value in some of the tests that are run.  The only issue I have (if you are using it) to rate a provider based on streaming resolution is to ensure that your cellular provider supports 1080p and/or this feature is enabled on your plan.

AT&T calls this stream-saver.  It is turned on by default (IE: higher resolutions not turned on).  Verizon sometimes will allow you to add 1080p streaming as an additional feature (additional cost) but it is not enabled by default.  I believe T-Mobile supports it natively with their Magenta plans.  This is why T-Mobile showed a better streaming rating.

With the report I did yesterday in New York City, I originally thought that AT&T and Verizon performed badly on the streaming tests (IE: low streaming percentage) but this was due to the higher resolution not being available on the plan.  It was not an indication of bad performance in my case.

T-Mobile would have won overall (highest NPERF score) based on the great streaming rate.  It appears that a very heavy weighting is given to the overall score based on streaming performance.  Even though Verizon performed better in almost all other tests, T-Mobile would have won just based on streaming tests.

Mental  Note

*************

If you are using Nperf to compare providers in the future (for streaming), ensure that the 1080p feature (high resolution) is enabled for 1080p or else, your results will be tainted.  Don't make the same mistake I did.

***************