Why Bandwidth Planning Matters

Lagging video and dropped frames can ruin a live broadcast. Whether you stream community events or run a full-fledged studio, knowing your bandwidth requirements ahead of time ensures smooth delivery. This planner helps you total the video data from multiple cameras and includes network overhead, so you can verify that your connection is robust enough.

The Bandwidth Formula

Let $N$ be the number of cameras, each streaming at $B$ megabits per second. Network overhead such as audio, metadata, and protocol overhead is represented by a percentage $O$. The total bandwidth $T$ in megabits per second is:

$$T=N\times B\times (1+\frac{O}{100})$$

This figure represents the minimum sustained upload speed you need for reliable streaming. For example, two cameras at 4 Mbps each with 10% overhead require $2\times 4\times (1+\frac{10}{100})=8.8$ Mbps of upload capacity.

Estimating Monthly Data Use

Bandwidth is only part of the equation. Many ISPs impose monthly data caps. If you stream for $H$ hours per week, your monthly data usage $D$ in gigabytes is approximately:

$$D=T\times H\times 4\times 3600/8/1024$$

The factors 3600 and 8 convert hours to seconds and bits to bytes. Divide by 1024 to express the result in gigabytes. Tracking this usage helps you avoid unexpected overage fees.

Choosing Bitrates and Overhead

Higher video quality requires more bandwidth. Full HD at 30 fps often ranges from 3 Mbps to 6 Mbps, while 4K footage can exceed 15 Mbps. Network protocols add overhead for reliability. We use 10% as a default, though some setups may need more. Experiment with different values to see how quality choices affect network demand.

Running a Test Stream

Before your big event, test your connection with the calculated bandwidth. Many routers offer quality-of-service settings to prioritize video packets. Streaming platforms often provide a bandwidth indicator during setup—keep an eye on it to ensure your connection matches the planner’s suggestion.

Scaling Up

If you plan to add more cameras or stream at higher bitrates in the future, revisit the calculator to update your requirements. Some streamers bond multiple internet connections or upgrade to fiber to handle heavy uploads. Understanding your baseline bandwidth helps you decide when it’s time to invest in a faster connection.