Methods to Live Stream Using Cellular Internet Live streaming of video is one of the most prominent things for streamers and media organizations and there are various platforms with which one can easily stream events as they happen. This concept is known as live streaming and among the various mediums that are used for live streaming; the cellular internet is one of the complex ones. Most of the time, cellular internet is used to stream videos from remote locations. In places where there is no availability of Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then cellular internet is the only way out. Moreover, live streaming any type of event using cellular internet can be a smart and cost-effective option. However, the major drawbacks of live streaming over a mobile network are the signal strength which can fluctuate and eventually interrupt your live session. Generally, streamers think whether there is any viable option to achieve a stable live streaming experience. Here in this article, we will discuss in detail about live streaming using cellular internet.
Phone tethering This is considered one of the simplest methods to start live streaming of videos using cellular internet as you only need to set your phone to mobile hot spot mode. In this setup, your phone will behave as a Wi-Fi source for an encoder device which in turn will telecast the stream to YouTube, Facebook Live, or other CDN. This method of live stream is always easily available and inexpensive. However, you might face some problems when you are using your mobile as a Wi-Fi hot spot. You cannot use your phone for other operations and tethering also drains your battery very quickly. Moreover, this method may not work properly when you are streaming within a large crowd of people. The cellular signal fluctuates and degrades when a lot of people are accessing the same network at the same time.
Dedicated 3G/4g LTE hot spot A customized mobile hot spot instrument that is a pocket router can access cellular signals and convert 3G and 4G signals to Wi-Fi and vice versa which creates a wireless network for devices within the radius. You can purchase dedicated mobile hot spot instruments and you can purchase from carriers with prepaid data plans or as standalone devices. Most of the cellular carriers prefer purchasing a prepaid hot spot from them. Many researchers have found that using a preferred 3G/4G hot spot is a more preferable way to stream than phone tethering. This is only possible due to the consistent cellular signal and Ethernet hard wiring. It is great if you can monitor bandwidth and data usage in real-time. However, issues that occur with mobile tethering can also arise with dedicated 3G/4G devices when streaming from crowded areas and with a fluctuating cellular signal. This is because you may not be able to access the same level of bandwidth required for the uninterrupted streaming of video.
Cellular bonding Cellular bonding hardware is very beneficial for live video transmission using cell phones. This is because it makes it possible for combining the power of multiple cellular carrier signals which in turn provides you with more bandwidth and a stronger signal even in congested and remote areas. In addition to this, bonded cellular can change between signals if a signal becomes unstable or drops. This means you will be having a backup signal. Cellular bonding signals are considered best because they are also able to add Wi-Fi or Ethernet signals to the bonding mix if these mediums are available. USB modem sticks are used by bonded cellular devices to connect themselves to the 3G/4G cellular internet.
Unlike the other methods of live streaming using cellular devices, cellular bonding is very reliable and you must consider this medium for vital transmissions. Many experts opine that if bonded cellular is properly configured, then it can be successful 99% of the time. It will work even in crowded areas where you will get sufficient bandwidth for transmission of your live feed. For example, if you are broadcasting any news, then you need cellular bonding for uninterrupted broadcasting. Similar is the situation for sports broadcasting and other entertainment events as bonded cellular devices are definitely a good solution.
Finally There is no doubt in the fact that live streaming of video using cellular internet is fast catching up and while choosing a medium you need to consider your location, crowd size and carrier data caps. Moreover, take into account the price against the value ratio of the device.