The problem
A mobile connection is not steady. It slows when you walk between cells, drops inside buildings and gets crowded at events. A live stream needs a constant flow of data, and when that flow stops, the platform sees no incoming video. Viewers get a spinning wheel, and after a short grace period the platform can end the stream altogether, so you have to start again, and your followers may get a second "live" notification.
RTMP and SRT
Most streaming apps send video using RTMP, an older protocol that runs over TCP. TCP insists that every packet arrives in order, so when the network gets bad it waits and retries, the delay builds up, and the stream stalls. It is simple and every platform accepts it, which is why it is still everywhere.
SRT is a newer protocol designed for unreliable networks. It runs over UDP, adds its own error recovery and keeps a small buffer, so that lost packets can be re-sent before the picture needs them. The cost is some extra delay, which you set with a latency value. On a mobile connection a latency of a couple of seconds or more is common, and a higher setting gives it more room to recover.
Bonding
Bonding combines more than one connection, such as two different mobile networks or a mobile network plus Wi-Fi, into a single stream. If one connection is weak, the other carries the load, and total bandwidth is shared between them. Dedicated bonding devices and apps exist for this. Using SIMs from different carriers helps in particular, because a poor signal from one carrier often does not affect another in the same place.
Why use a relay server
A relay sits between your phone and the platform. Your phone sends its stream to the relay over SRT, and the relay passes it on to Twitch, YouTube or Kick over a steady wired connection. The benefit is that the platform never sees your unreliable link, only the relay's. When your phone loses signal, the relay can keep the outgoing stream alive and switch to a "be right back" screen or a backup input, then switch back when you return, so your viewers never see the stream end.
A relay can also send one incoming stream to several destinations at once, record the show, and let moderators control scenes by chat commands.
Setting up the network
A relay at home needs your phone to reach it from outside, which normally means opening ports on your router. A simpler and safer approach is a private network overlay such as Tailscale or WireGuard, which connects your phone to your relay without exposing anything to the internet. Our own IRL Relay, which is still in testing, has both built in, so no router changes are needed. You can try its demo on the IRL Relay page.
Bitrate and resolution
More is not always better when you are walking about. A steady 720p picture at a modest bitrate is far more watchable than a 1080p stream that keeps breaking up. Platforms publish recommended maximum bitrates, and Twitch's guidance has long been about 6 megabits per second for 1080p, so check each platform's current advice. Test your upload speed in the places you plan to stream from, not just at home, and choose a bitrate comfortably below what you measure.
A checklist before you go out
- Charge the phone and bring a power bank, because streaming drains the battery quickly and the phone gets hot.
- Carry two SIMs from different carriers if you can.
- Test the full chain at home first: phone to relay to platform, including the backup screen.
- Set a stream delay of a minute or so if you are somewhere you do not want to be found in real time.
- Check what is visible in shot: street names, house numbers, tickets and screens give away more than you think.
- Make sure you are allowed to film where you are going, especially in shops, venues and on transport.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Try it yourself
Last updated 2 November 2026. These guides are general information written by the Cwtch.es team. Settings and platform limits change, so check the current details for any service you rely on.