> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://fastpix.com/docs/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://fastpix.com/docs/_mcp/server.

# Monitor stream health

FastPix gives you real-time visibility into your livestream’s health so you can quickly diagnose ingest problems and fix issues such as buffering, stuttering, audio delays, or unexpected disconnects. This guide explains how to view live-stream health stats and use them to identify and resolve broadcast issues.

This guide includes:

* How to inspect **Live Stream Input Health**
* How to understand and use **Live Stream Stats**
* How to troubleshoot unstable bitrate, packet loss, variable FPS, and drift
* A practical checklist for operators

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## Start with Live Stream Input Health

1. Sign in to your [FastPix dashboard](https://dashboard.fastpix.com/login)
2. Navigate to **Live**, Select the live stream or stream key you want to inspect
3. Go to **Activity: API & Video > Viewer Metrics**

The Input Health dashboard provides real-time ingest metrics, including:

* Frames per second (FPS)
* Audio bitrate
* Video bitrate
* Packet loss
* Recent ingest history

Use this view to quickly detect encoder or network issues.

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## What a Healthy Live Stream Looks Like

A stable ingest session typically has:

* **Consistent FPS** - prevents motion jitter
* **Non-zero, stable audio bitrate** - avoids audio dropouts
* **Low video bitrate variance** - sudden spikes indicate congestion or overload

If all three are stable, the stream is considered healthy.

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# Debug live stream issues

## Common Issues and How to Fix Them

### Video Bitrate Variance

**Symptoms:** Quality swings, buffering\
**Causes:** Network congestion, CPU overload, unstable presets\
**Fixes:**

* Switch to **CBR (constant bitrate)**
* Reduce target bitrate
* Use hardware encoding where possible
* Ensure upload bandwidth ≥ **2×** encoder bitrate

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### Packet Loss or Disconnects

**Symptoms:** Stream resets, frozen frames, latency spikes\
**Causes:** Wi-Fi instability, poor routing, ISP issues\
**Fixes:**

* Run jitter and packet-loss tests (iPerf)
* Reduce bitrate during congestion
* Consider SRT for more resilient transport

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### Audio Bitrate Drops or Desync

**Symptoms:** Choppy audio or audio/video drift\
**Causes:** Silence suppression, codec misconfiguration\
**Fixes:**

* Use a constant audio bitrate (96–128 kbps)
* Check encoder CPU usage and logs

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### Variable or Spiky FPS

**Symptoms:** Jerky or uneven motion\
**Causes:** Encoder overload, camera FPS inconsistencies\
**Fixes:**

* Lock encoder and camera FPS (30 fps)
* Reduce resolution to lessen CPU load
* Use faster encoder presets

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## Troubleshooting Checklist

Use this quick list during live events:

* Check **Input Health → FPS, audio bitrate, video bitrate**
* Check **drift** and **deviation** in Live Stream Stats
* Switch to **CBR** to stabilize bitrate
* Lower video bitrate as a diagnostic step
* Use a higher bandwith of internet connection
* Check **encoder logs** for overload or throttling
* **Re-test** with a short stream after each change

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## More information

For help with FastPix streaming:

* Read the [complete FastPix documentation guides](/docs)
* See the [Live Streaming API reference](/docs/live-stream-api/overview)
* Join the [FastPix community discussions](https://github.com/orgs/fastpix/discussions)
* Contact [FastPix support](https://www.fastpix.io/technical-support)