Pre-stream checklist

Most failed streams do not fail because of the network. They fail because a battery bank was left on the kitchen counter, or a stream key was still pointing at last month's channel, or nobody noticed one SIM had run out of data.

This is the list. Work down it, tick things off, go live. Boxes clear themselves every time you load the page, so you get a fresh list for every stream.

Night before

Do this while you can still fix things

• Every phone, battery bank, and camera charged to full
• Data remaining checked on every line The one you forgot about is the one that dies mid-stream.
• App updated on every device you stream with
• Storage space freed up on the streaming phone
• Route planned, and you know how you are getting back
• Weather checked — rain changes what gear you need

Before you leave

Bag packed, door not yet closed

• Battery banks actually in the bag
• Every cable and adapter you need, plus one spare
• Mount, gimbal, or harness tested with the phone in it
• External mic connected and levels checked
• Lens cleaned Pocket lint on the lens looks like a broken encoder.
• Backup phone or spare SIM packed, if you have one

Connections

Before you rely on any of them

• Every bonding device powered on and joined
• Each link reporting bandwidth in the app A connected device that reports nothing is not carrying your stream.
• Wi-Fi hotspot enabled and connected, if you are using one
• Wired or Starlink link plugged in and active, if you are using one
• Carriers spread across links where you can Three SIMs on one network share one dead zone.
• Devices you are not streaming with left off the bonded links

Stream settings

Set for the worst coverage, not the best

• Bitrate set for the coverage you expect to hit, not what you have right now
• Resolution and codec confirmed
• Audio levels checked on a short test recording
• Correct stream key for the channel you are going live on
• Right server selected — cloud or your own self-hosted relay
• Account has credit or an active plan Worth thirty seconds now rather than finding out at the door.

Platform side

Where your viewers actually arrive

• Stream title and category set
• Mods online and chat settings configured for the kind of stream this is
• Alerts and overlays tested
• Go-live notification says what you want it to say
• Community told you are starting, if you announce

Final two minutes

Last chance to catch anything

• Test stream started and watched back
• All links showing active, not just connected
• Drop protection enabled so viewers never see a black screen
• Do not disturb on so a call cannot interrupt the stream
• Screen locked against accidental taps in your pocket or on the mount

Once you are out there

Keep half an eye on these

• Battery and data levels checked periodically, not just at the start
• You know the local rules on filming where you are going
• You have a plan for when someone asks you to stop filming Deciding in advance is much easier than deciding on camera.
• Somebody knows roughly where you are going

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