Screen sharing performance depends on multiple network factors. This guide helps you diagnose and resolve network-related issues affecting your Airtame streaming experience.
Performance Symptoms to Watch For
- Choppy streaming with frequent stops and starts
- Over 1 second delay between the device and screen
- Frequent disconnections during streaming
- Stream sessions take over 3 seconds to initiate
Initial Troubleshooting Steps
Network Infrastructure
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Power and Positioning
- Ensure the Airtame device is properly powered (PoE+, DC adapter, or USB)
- Position Airtame on the edge or side of the display to avoid WiFi dead zones
- Keep the device within 15m/50ft of an access point
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Access Point Configuration
- Reboot access point
- Disable power-saving settings
- Update access point firmware
- Check access point load and connected devices
Network Performance Testing
To test the network connection for a specific Airtame device, start by locating the Airtame Device IP. Next, ping the device and compare the response time.
To make this process as easy as possible, We recommend using our custom network speed script. Simply run the Python script on your laptop and enter the Airtame device IP to test the quality:
- Install Python
- Download the Network speed script
- Locate the IP address of an airtame device in Airtame Cloud
- Open the Python script
- Paste the IP of the Airtame Device
The script will ping the Airtame device 20 times and give a result.
The completed speed test shows an excellent connection to the Airtame device
Manual Ping test
In case you don't want to use the script, follow this guide to manually perform the test.
- Locate the IP address of an airtame device in Airtame Cloud
- Run the Ping test
- Windows: Open CMD, run
ping [Airtame IP] -n 20
- Mac: Open Terminal, run
ping [Airtame IP]
- Windows: Open CMD, run
- Calculate the median "time" of all 20 pings
- Compare the median to the following values:
- <10 ms: Excellent - Low latency, clear picture
- 10-50 ms: Good - Moderate latency, stable picture
- 50-200 ms: Poor - High latency, degraded picture
- >200 ms: Very Poor - High likelihood of dropouts, poor quality
- Verify no packages were dropped
- As long as less than 1% of packets are dropped, the connection is considered healthy.
A manual ping test of an Airtame device. The mean value is 88 ms, which indicates a poor network speed.
Measure screen sharing latency
- Open an online stopwatch
- Start stopwatch
- Initiate Airtame stream
- Photograph both screens
- Calculate time difference
Expected Delay:
- Without audio: 10-400 milliseconds
- With audio: 1-2 seconds (intentional sync mechanism)
WiFi-Specific Diagnostics
Interference and Signal Strength
- Use WiFi scanning apps to assess:
- Channel interference
- Signal strength (aim for minimum -50 dBm)
- Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
Common WiFi Performance Issues
- Physical signal blockers (walls, furniture, appliances)
- Interference from:
- Other access points
- Radio wave devices (2.4 GHz band)
- Bluetooth devices
- Cordless phones
- Microwaves
WiFi Optimization Strategies
- Use 5 GHz band when possible (less interference)
- Choose less saturated WiFi channels
- Minimize physical obstacles between the device and the access point
- Consider wall-mounting Airtame for better signal
Network Configuration Improvements
-
Quality of Service (QoS)
- Prioritize streaming traffic
- Allocate sufficient bandwidth for screen sharing
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Alternative Connection Methods
- Use Ethernet adapter
- Deploy PoE adapter
- Add additional access points to distribute network load
Network Integration Considerations
When deploying Airtame, ensure:
- Correct hostnames are resolvable
- Required ports are open
- Network architecture supports low-latency streaming
Recommended Tools
- WiFi scanning apps
- Network monitoring software
- Ethernet/PoE adapters
When to Seek Further Support
- Consistent performance below acceptable thresholds
- Inability to resolve issues with provided troubleshooting steps