Which streaming protocol? SRT, SRTLA, RTMP & WHIP compared
SRT, SRTLA, RTMP or WHIP — which protocol fits your setup? Honest recommendations for IRL on the go, desktop streams and legacy encoders.
Which streaming protocol?
FizzyPeak accepts your stream over four protocols — all included in every plan (SRTLA bonding from IRL Pro). The choice is yours, but depending on your setup there is a clear recommendation:
Recommendations at a glance
| Your setup | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IRL on the go, Belabox/Moblin with multiple SIMs | 🥇 SRTLA (from IRL Pro) | Bonds all connections — if one SIM drops, the stream keeps going. The most stable option there is. |
| IRL/mobile with a single device (Moblin, Larix, LiveU, 1 SIM) | 🥈 SRT | Automatically recovers lost packets — stays stable even on shaky LTE. The standard for mobile streaming. |
| Desktop/OBS on a stable connection | ⚡ WHIP (NEW) | WebRTC standard since OBS v30 — sub-second latency, ideal if you want to react to chat instantly. |
| Legacy encoders/hardware that only speak RTMP | 🔧 RTMP | Works everywhere, but weakest under packet loss. Use only if SRT is not available. |
The protocols in detail
SRT — the mobile standard
SRT automatically re-requests lost packets and smooths out fluctuations with a buffer. The result: a clean picture even on a mediocre LTE connection. You need at least ~1 Mbit/s upload — below that, no protocol can save you.
Setup: Dashboard → IRL/BELABOX → Setup Guide — your SRT URL, host, port and stream ID with copy buttons.
SRTLA — SRT with bonding (from IRL Pro)
SRTLA sends your stream over multiple internet connections at once (e.g. two SIM cards + WiFi). If one drops, the others take over seamlessly. For serious IRL streaming with Belabox or Moblin this is the clear number one — and a feature many competitors don't offer at all.
WHIP — ultra-low latency for desktop
WHIP is the new WebRTC standard natively supported by OBS since version 30. Sub-second latency instead of 2–5 seconds — your stream reacts to chat practically in real time. The trade-off: WebRTC skips large buffers, so WHIP shines on stable connections (cable/fiber) and is not the first choice for mobile networks.
Setup: OBS → Settings → Stream → Service WHIP → paste your WHIP URL from the dashboard (leave bearer token empty) → encoder H.264 → Start Streaming.
RTMP — the compatibility fallback
RTMP is the oldest protocol and runs on practically any hardware — but has no error correction. Fine on stable cable internet, noticeably worse than SRT on mobile. Recommendation: only use it if your device can't do anything else.
Bitrate ground rules
| Connection | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|
| 4G/LTE on the go | 2000–4000 kbps |
| 5G / good WiFi | 4000–6000 kbps |
| Cable/fiber (desktop) | 6000–8000 kbps |
From IRL Pro, automatic bitrate adaptation (NOALBS stages) adjusts your stream on signal loss — configurable under Settings → Stream.
Noch Fragen? Öffne das Dashboard oder schreib im Discord #support.