Amazon Prime download speed

yukonlilye · 12 May 2023

Hello, newbie here.

I have the same problem with trying to download (NOT stream) videos from Amazon Prime.
I use Hughesnet, and testmy shows consistent speeds above 25Mbps.
I download during the "free" hours: between 2AM and 8AM - not likely to be much congestion.
The download tracker on prime video shows the progress of the download (usually), and the speed is consistently 1MB every 3-4 seconds......or (generously) 3Mbps.
I'm downloading at the lowest quality video.
Nothing else at all is running on this desktop HP using Win10. Connected to the router by ethernet cable.
No other program seems to be this slow.
I'd agree that there is something fishy with the download speed of Prime Video.

AndyHw10f · 12 May 2023

Here is what I’ve found so far. Remember, this entire discussion is ONLY about when there are no major restrictions (high traffic, signal interference, etc) on the basic cell phone signal,– unless internet speed tests, available from a fair number of websites, are not telling the truth. Many commenters want to repeat the fact that poor cell phone reception can exist but that is irrelevant to this situation. The carrier’s support people also constantly repeat this, using the same words from a script, regardless of what I tell them.

At best, my phone tests above 60Mbps, at worse, less than 1Mbps. I learned very early not to bother with video downloads unless the tests recorded above the 5Mbps that the carrier contract allows for mobil hotspot. Usually this is 20 to 50Mbps on the phone. When the phone tests high, the computer, with Firefox, using the mobil hotspot, tests above 5Mbps, almost always at 5.7Mbps.

Until I switched to the new “improved” 4G/5G network and new 5G phone, under constant urging from the carrier, video downloads were recording 5Mbps in Windows Task Manage. Now they are always at 2Mbps, with occasional variation up or down of 0.1 or 0.2 Mbps. Somebody, either the carrier or Amazon, is lying because they both tell me they aren’t responsible for the slow speed.

While my sample poll of other Amazon Prime users is small, and do not involve mobil hotspot users, much higher Amazon Prime video download speeds were consistently reported, up to 150Mbps. Thus the carrier is the 1st suspect. I don’t know Hughesnet but I suspect it is also a cell phone signal and thus controlled by its carrier company.

I recently found, never having tested this before, that while Amazon video downloads are running at a steady 2Mbps, I can simultaneously download other files through my browser, Firefox, at almost 5Mbps. The Task Manager Performance tab show 6.5Mbps and the Process tab shows a division of 2Mbps to Amazon Prime and the rest to Firefox.

As far as the suggestion for gaming the system with a VPN, Amazon allows neither streaming or downloading. The message is
Your device is connected to the Internet using a VPN or proxy service. Please disable it and try again.

MisterEd · 12 May 2023

AndyHw10f said:

For information perhaps relevant to my inquiry, the new network is labeled 4G/5G. There is no 5G coverage around here nor is there likely to be anytime soon. I purchased a 5G phone only for (hopefully) obsolescence insurance. The 2 year old 4G phone I had been using was fully adequate for all of my interests but (I was told) not compatible with the new network.

Are you sure your carrier said that your 4G phone wasn't compatible? That doesn't make sense because 4G is not going away any time soon.

There are two situations where I know where people had to replace their phones:

People with 3G phones had to get new phones because 3G service was shut down nationwide.
People that had phones from the pre-2020 Sprint had to get new phones. That is because the old Sprint phones supported CDMA (like Verizon) while the new Sprint owner T-Mobile supported GSM.

BTW, my phone supports 5G. My phone carrier supports 5G but I have it disabled. I have found that 5G is slower that 4G with data.

I have Gigabit Internet. I get about 900Mbps wired and about 700Mbps wireless with my laptop.

I just did a download test of a video from Amazon Prime Video using WiFi with my laptop. The download speed started at 300-500Mbps but after a minute settled down to a constant 113Mbps.

AndyHw10f · 12 May 2023

I am quite sure. When the new network was advertised, I tried to change to it because it cost less per month.
NO, your phone is not compatible.
After running around the barn a few times I was told
Android 13 is required.

As you may know, Phone companies commonly provide one (1) Android upgrade after purchase. Then you need a new phone if you want to go further. This assures more phone sales.
I decided buying a new phone was not worth the cost. It would take years to make up the difference through the reduced price on the new network. Also, I know 5G has nothing to offer me, even if it worked wonderfully. My phone use is more than 95% mobil hotspot. Because of the few internet service providers available here, this phone contract is significantly cheaper than any other, and my available funds are hard stretched to cover even it.

However, eventually there were notices from the carrier that I should upgrade soon because the old 4G network would be shut down. Then they offered a significant rebate on purchasing a new phone so I could switch to the new network. Only, for my purposes, the new network is proving to be a big degradation.

MisterEd · 12 May 2023

That company must have a monopoly in your area if they are making demands like requiring a 5G phone. Technically Android 10 supports 5G but most new phones are probably going to have Android 13. Not all new phones support 5G so you have to check the specs to make sure they do.

I was going to suggest you try a different phone carrier but then you said you need hotspot capability. Not all plans offer that. I know my plan doesn't have it but I could get it for more money.

You must live a very rural area if you are so limited in phone carriers. I live in a city so have no problems but I know people that are only 10 or 15 miles away in rural areas that are are lucky to have any kind of cell service.

BTW, I don't know which country you live in but in the United States there are only three major phone carrier networks. They are AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. All the others are either owned by one of of them or lease their networks. Sometimes you have to go with one of the three major phone carriers to get the best service in a rural area.

AndyHw10f · 12 May 2023

I am 1bout 100 miles from the nearest city. Phone service here is not a general problem although when I moved here a year ago I was told the improvement was recent. While having a phone is sometimes important, it is a very minor thing for me. Internet is a different thing as this small community has almost no local commerce of any sort. My phone service is through Verizon but only indirectly. The carrier I use buys bulk access and resells it to users for considerably less than Verizon. That isn't uncommon. There are several such carriers I could use that way but this is the only one I know that includes mobil hot spot use.

bro67 · 12 May 2023

Amazon and other services like Netflix streaming are going to be a variable bit-rate with the rate being not more than 5mbps for HD streams. Even with UHD, you are lucky to get 12mbps. Has zero to do with what you are paying your ISP for.

Malneb · 13 May 2023

There is all sorts of net shaping going on if there wasn't then the internet would be a slow snail and no one would be able to do anything.

Bro has pretty much summed it up from post #2 . I would say just deal with the 2mbps you are on a hot spot anyway for this reason alone you won't get priority to bandwidth.

You are also in the boondocks complaining about 2mbps i mean its ironic all already and the whole paradigm is full of discrepancy, you also have like 10 different ways to die choose one go figure.

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Maybe upgrade and get a proper satellite service that has a good modem.

MisterEd · 13 May 2023

On one of these forums someone was complaining about only getting about 5Mbps. They didn't have many options either. It was suggested they get service through STARLINK. STARLINK was designed to give high speed Internet to rural areas. It is not cheap but may be the only option for people with limited or no other options. The person that tried STARLINK said they were getting about 125Mbps.

yukonlilye · 13 May 2023

Malneb said:

There is all sorts of net shaping going on if there wasn't then the internet would be a slow snail and no one would be able to do anything.

Bro has pretty much summed it up from post #2 . I would say just deal with the 2mbps you are on a hot spot anyway for this reason alone you won't get priority to bandwidth.

You are also in the boondocks complaining about 2mbps i mean its ironic all already and the whole paradigm is full of discrepancy, you also have like 10 different ways to die choose one go figure.

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Maybe upgrade and get a proper satellite service that has a good modem.

Ah, yes. If only that were available and then if only it were affordable !

What would you consider to be a good modem for use with Hughesnet? The current modem that comes with the service handles downloads from spources other than Prime Video at higher download speeds than seen with Prime Video.

Thanks !