Understanding why Jailbroken Fire Sticks (also known as ‘dodgy-sticks’) frequently suffer buffering on 30Mbps to 100Mbps wireless internet connections
“Jailbroken” or “dodgy” Amazon Fire Sticks are hacked devices that have been modified to install apps from outside the Amazon Appstore (known as “sideloading”). The types of apps installed on jailbroken Fire Sticks can significantly consume your broadband data consumption resulting in buffering of video streams, leading to the following advice given to Save9 internet customers:
“Jailbroken Fire Sticks can suffer from more buffering issues due to a combination of factors related to sideloaded apps, poor streaming technology, hidden uploading and potential security issues.”
– Save9 Helpdesk
Why jailbroken Fire Sticks can use significantly higher bandwidth than standard Fire Sticks:
- LESS OPTIMISED VIDEO: The main reason people jailbreak Fire Sticks is to access a wider range of content, often including free movies, TV shows, and live TV streams from unofficial or pirated sources. These sources are less optimised for bandwidth efficiency compared to legitimate streaming services. Using a legitimate streaming service means you take advantage of fully-optimised video from the original source.
- UNNECESSARY HIGHEST POSSIBLE VIDEO RESOLUTION: Many unofficial streaming apps can attempt to stream content at the highest possible quality by default (e.g. full 4K resolution), even if the user’s internet connection or screen doesn’t require it. Legitimate streaming services often dynamically adjust quality based on available bandwidth, which these unofficial/illegal apps tend not do as effectively.
- YOUR INTERNET LINK MAY BE USED WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE: Some third-party add-ons or apps, particularly those associated with Kodi (a popular media centre software often sideloaded) might engage in peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing. This means that while you’re streaming, your jailbroken Fire Stick could also be uploading video content from your location to other internet users, consuming significant upstream bandwidth that affects your internet connection without your direct knowledge.
- SLOWED-DOWN INTERNET FOR OTHER DEVICES: When a jailbroken firestick device on a network is hogging a large amount of bandwidth, it can significantly slow down internet speeds for all other connected devices, impacting activities like online gaming, video calls or working from home.
Apart from the legality issue – it is for the above technical reasons, Save9 advises against using jailbroken Fire Sticks, as they can lead to a degraded internet experience resulting in unexpected buffering. They are also a potential security vulnerability.
