Livestream Studio has the ability to stream via a bonded connection, allowing you to stream over multiple Ethernet, Wi-Fi or 4G/LTE network connections, increasing your bandwidth while also allowing you to create network redundancy.
Important: Bonding is only available when streaming to Livestream. If choosing multiple providers, be aware that other providers will use only the network you selected when configuring each provider's stream settings.
While Windows should recognize and automatically install any necessary drivers for USB modems, the drivers can also be manually downloaded from the modem vendor's site. Ensure that all networks can access the Internet.
In order to successfully stream with a bonded connection, ports UDP 2088 and TCP/IP 80need to be open in addition to standard Firewall ports.
As a best practice, it's recommended that USB devices are spread across your PC's various USB ports and hubs. This avoids taxing each USB hub and ensures that each modem's connection is used.
In Livestream Studio, navigate to the Stream tab and login to your Livestream account.
Select your event, then click Advanced Settings.
Check Use Bonding, then click Done.
At the top-right corner of the Stream module is a gearwheel. Select this to configure default settings for your stream, including your default network. Here you will see a Bonding column with each corresponding network and a small dropdown menu with the following options:
- Use: Networks with this option selected will combine together and distribute the stream.
- Standby - use only when needed: This network will not be used unless all other active networks lose connection. For example, if you have a 4G USB modem plugged in with data caps, you may want to consider saving that as your backup connection to avoid data overage charges.
- Off: Will not be used at any point during your broadcast regardless of the status of other network connections.
When you go live, your network dashboard will show information for each network, such as the bitrates each active one is distributing and if one disconnects.
Your standby networks will not stream unless a problem occurs with all of your selected primary networks (i.e. those with Use selected).
