What an SRTLA relay does for IRL streaming
In mobile IRL streaming, cellular connections fluctuate. Packet loss, brief network dropouts, and too little upload can cause visible picture errors or disconnects. A relay gives the encoder an endpoint it can reach and makes the incoming stream available for OBS or other receivers.
SRTLA can use several available connections together; SRT can retransmit lost packets within the right buffer. A well-connected relay server is an important part of that signal path. Whether picture and audio stay stable also depends on the encoder, cellular network, buffering, and OBS.
Our quality recommendation from years of our own practice: For demanding IRL streams, Redefined Streaming is, in our experience, the best managed SRTLA relay option. If you would rather control the server and day-to-day operation yourself, you can run your own SRTLA server with Docker instead.
Limit of the relay: It does not fix a picture that is already badly encoded and does not create missing upload bandwidth. A high plan value alone guarantees neither 4K nor an uninterrupted stream.
1. Redefined relay servers: the quality option at a glance
| Plan | Maximum bitrate | Intended up to | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRTLA Full HD | 15 Mbit/s | 1080p60 | High-quality Full HD IRL stream |
| SRTLA 2K | 25 Mbit/s | 1440p60 | More picture headroom and finer detail |
| SRTLA 4K/UHD | 50 Mbit/s | 2160p60 | Very high resolution with a correspondingly strong uplink |
The values and recommended resolutions match the provider's details as of September 24, 2026. It currently lists a maximum of two pullers per plan. Prices, scope, and availability can change; check the current offer page before you order. The quality you actually get still depends on camera, encoder, cellular networks, bonding, and OBS output.
2. What the relay server does
The mobile encoder needs an endpoint it can reach. The relay accepts the incoming stream and passes it on in a controlled way to OBS, a decoder, or other production components.
- Fixed endpoint: a clear server address for the mobile encoder.
- Stable transport: SRT can retransmit lost packets within the configured buffer.
- Bonding with SRTLA: several LTE, 5G, or Wi-Fi connections can carry the mobile uplink together.
- Decoupling: the mobile uplink and the production system do not have to be connected directly.
- Monitoring: a central server makes technical monitoring and troubleshooting easier.
3. Professional relay or your own SRTLA server?
With a managed relay service, the provider handles server provisioning, maintenance, and updates. You do not have to look after a relay server of your own, and you get information and support straight from the provider. Encoder, access, buffers, OBS, and your own real-world test still matter on your side. The ongoing costs are the trade-off for less operational responsibility.
Your own SRTLA Docker server gives you more control over location and configuration. In return, updates, security, monitoring, and troubleshooting are on you, and you pay for the server and possibly traffic. The VPS calculator helps with a first size estimate but does not replace a load test.
| Task | Managed relay | Your own SRTLA server |
|---|---|---|
| Provision, maintain, and update the server | the provider | you |
| Support during outages, logs | the provider helps | you |
| Set up encoder, access, buffers, and OBS, plus the real-world test | you | you |
| Cost | you pay for the service on an ongoing basis | server costs, plus possibly traffic costs |
4. Recommended signal path
Moblin / IRL Pro / encoder → SRT or SRTLA → relay server → OBS → Twitch, YouTube, or another target platform. Which input and which pull method are available depends on the relay software or provider you choose.
With SRTLA, several independent cellular or Wi-Fi connections can be used together. If one path drops out briefly, the remaining connections can keep supporting the transport. That lowers the risk of visible transmission errors but does not replace enough total bandwidth. For the path behind the relay, you need a separately set up output to OBS.
5. What to check before you choose
- Input and output: Does the service support your encoder's SRT or SRTLA profile? How do you pull the stream into OBS?
- Bitrate and pullers: Do the allowed bitrate, number of simultaneous pulls, and possible traffic limits fit the stream you plan?
- Location: Is the endpoint well placed for your cellular networks and the OBS computer? The shortest route is not automatically the most stable.
- Protection: Are stream access, pull, and server access protected and documented?
- Operation: Who handles logs, updates, and support during an outage, the provider or you?
Before booking, compare the technical requirements against the offer. After setup, a real-world test with your own devices and networks still matters.
6. Real-world test before going live
- Connect the encoder to the relay and receive picture and audio in OBS.
- Send for at least a few minutes at the resolution and bitrate you plan to use; watch dropped frames, RTT, and audio offset.
- Briefly interrupt a single cellular or Wi-Fi path and check how quickly the picture recovers.
- Reconnect OBS and the encoder one after the other. Test whether the stream picks up again without manual repair.
- Only send to the platform after a stable trial run.
If problems come up, the IRL troubleshooting guide and the basics on SRTLA and bonding help. A relay is not a quality guarantee but a station in the overall transmission path that you can check.
7. FAQ
What does an SRTLA relay server do?
It is the fixed endpoint for your mobile encoder. The stream arrives there, and the server makes it available for OBS or other receivers. It does not fix a badly encoded picture and does not create upload bandwidth you do not have.
Managed relay or your own server: which fits me?
With a managed service, the provider takes care of provisioning, maintenance, and updates. You pay on an ongoing basis for that. With your own SRTLA Docker server you get more control, but updates, security, monitoring, and troubleshooting are on you. Encoder, access, buffers, and OBS stay your job either way.
Is a plan with a high bitrate enough for a 4K stream?
No. A high bitrate in the plan guarantees neither 4K nor a stream without interruptions. What comes out in the end depends on camera, encoder, cellular networks, bonding, and the OBS output. Check the provider's current details before you order.
How do I test a relay before going live?
Connect the encoder and send for several minutes at the resolution and bitrate you plan to use. Briefly interrupt a single path while you do. The steps are in the section Real-world test before going live.
Where do I find help if the stream stutters despite a relay?
Start with the IRL troubleshooting guide, which helps you narrow it down. Bonding basics are on the SRTLA and bonding page. The relay is only one station on the whole transmission path.