Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I recently bought a Roku (the Roku3, specifically) for streaming video on the TV. It works fine, I really like it, etc. However, here's the issue: when I'm streaming video, it sometimes takes a while for the video to load. This always happens when either I try to fast forward or rewind a video. Like, last night, sometimes it was taking like 2 minutes for it to load up, which was making me want to punch the TV in the face. So, I'm assuming my internet is too slow/weak. I have the option of bumping up the speed of my internet, but I was wondering: how much faster does it need to be? Ideally, I'd like to get rid of the load lag completely. Advice on what I need to tell my internet provider that I need? Also, I have AT&T as my internet/cable provider, if that matters. One more thing, I currently have the Roku hooked up through an Ethernet cable (not through a wireless connection). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 Is the ethernet cable hooked up directly to the router or to the cable box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeesammy Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I'm not familiar with Roku's, but is it wired directly to an internet source or is it running on WiFi? We ran into this a lot at my apartment, our DVR loves to lag a bunch if we fast forward or rewind and it is WiFi based. We got fed up with it and ended up mounting the router about 4 feet up on the wall which boosted the signal a bit and eliminated the laggy issue. It has to travel about 20 feet through almost 6 walls, so if you have a similar scenario I'd see if moving your router to a more suitable position aids in the signal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 Is the ethernet cable hooked up directly to the router or to the cable box? I have the Ethernet cable plugged into a box-thing that plugs directly into the outlet. I can't remember what the box-thing is called. But I do vaguely remember that, when I bought it, I was told that this was like basically plugging the Ethernet into the router. Does this make sense? I feel stupid typing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I'm not familiar with Roku's, but is it wired directly to an internet source or is it running on WiFi? We ran into this a lot at my apartment, our DVR loves to lag a bunch if we fast forward or rewind and it is WiFi based. We got fed up with it and ended up mounting the router about 4 feet up on the wall which boosted the signal a bit and eliminated the laggy issue. It has to travel about 20 feet through almost 6 walls, so if you have a similar scenario I'd see if moving your router to a more suitable position aids in the signal. The Roku not running on WiFi, that much I am sure. I don't know if what I just explained in my previous post constitutes it being wired directly to the internet source or not. My router is down by the cable box, which is in the basement. Technically, it's not far from TV/Roku, but it has to travel through a floor, so I'd imagine that creates at least some interference (as far as WiFi is concerned). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbospec29 Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I have the Ethernet cable plugged into a box-thing that plugs directly into the outlet. I can't remember what the box-thing is called. But I do vaguely remember that, when I bought it, I was told that this was like basically plugging the Ethernet into the router. Does this make sense? I feel stupid typing it. The "box thing" sounds like its either a hub or a switch. Go to speedtest.net and tell us your download speed. You can test your network my plugging the roku ethernet into a laptop and testing it too. My roku loads sometimes too for a while. Its not always your internet speed. Could be the providers upload. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeesammy Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 The Roku not running on WiFi, that much I am sure. I don't know if what I just explained in my previous post constitutes it being wired directly to the internet source or not. My router is down by the cable box, which is in the basement. Technically, it's not far from TV/Roku, but it has to travel through a floor, so I'd imagine that creates at least some interference (as far as WiFi is concerned). Yeah I got what you're saying. Is the box it is hooked into running WiFi or on the LAN (wired internet)? If you have a finished basement then I'd assume it has insulation between the drywall downstairs and the floor upstairs for sound suppression, which also does a damn good job of blocking WiFi signals. When you get home see if you can grab a quick picture of the Roku setup and the box thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbospec29 Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 Wait. What type of cable does the box thing use to connect to the wall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinwebb Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 If you are downloading/uploading while watching depending on the internet connection it can slow down the Roku speed from what I have noticed from ours. We use wifi and it works great, so maybe stops with the pr0n downloads... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 The "box thing" sounds like its either a hub or a switch. Go to speedtest.net and tell us your download speed. You can test your network my plugging the roku ethernet into a laptop and testing it too. My roku loads sometimes too for a while. Its not always your internet speed. Could be the providers upload. Okay, but I won't be able to do that until later when I get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 Yeah I got what you're saying. Is the box it is hooked into running WiFi or on the LAN (wired internet)? If you have a finished basement then I'd assume it has insulation between the drywall downstairs and the floor upstairs for sound suppression, which also does a damn good job of blocking WiFi signals. When you get home see if you can grab a quick picture of the Roku setup and the box thing. I think it's on the LAN. The box is plugged into an actual outlet. Then the Ethernet cable is running from the box to the Roku. So, conceptually, it's like the Roku is hooked up to the LAN via an Ethernet cable via the outlet. Does that sound right? Yes, it's a finished basement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 Wait. What type of cable does the box thing use to connect to the wall? I don't think I understand what you're asking? Here's a link that shows a box-thing that looks exactly like the box-thing I am using: http://www.ehow.com/how_4662693_use-ethernet-over-power-outlets.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 If you are downloading/uploading while watching depending on the internet connection it can slow down the Roku speed from what I have noticed from ours. We use wifi and it works great, so maybe stops with the pr0n downloads... No, I wasn't streaming porn on my laptop while I was also trying to watch XXX movies on my Roku. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergwheel1647545492 Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I don't think I understand what you're asking? Here's a link that shows a box-thing that looks exactly like the box-thing I am using: http://www.ehow.com/how_4662693_use-ethernet-over-power-outlets.html yea i was wondering if you were using one of the network to power plug adapters. Those are not made for super high bandwidth. I would get rid of that and see if the roku works better when its plugged right into the router. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbospec29 Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I don't think I understand what you're asking? Here's a link that shows a box-thing that looks exactly like the box-thing I am using: http://www.ehow.com/how_4662693_use-ethernet-over-power-outlets.html OK I got it. Those ethernet over power outlet things are great for killing bandwidth. Going wifi or direct ethernet would help I'm sure. Test it anyway, I'd like to know the outcome. Test one once with you normal pc connection then again with that wall outlet thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 yea i was wondering if you were using one of the network to power plug adapters. Those are not made for super high bandwidth. I would get rid of that and see if the roku works better when its plugged right into the router. My router is in the basement by the cable box and my Roku is upstairs by my TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I think I will just switch to WiFi and see if that helps. I didn't realize the outlet thing was going to kill the bandwidth. Actually, I thought the exact opposite. This is why I am not in IT and some people think I am an idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergwheel1647545492 Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 My router is in the basement by the cable box and my Roku is upstairs by my TV. Yea i know. I was just saying to test the Roku and see if it performed better down there. When troubleshooting its best to eliminate things :gabe: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbospec29 Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I think I will just switch to WiFi and see if that helps. I didn't realize the outlet thing was going to kill the bandwidth. Actually, I thought the exact opposite. This is why I am not in IT and some people think I am an idiot. Power lines were never designed for data transfer really. If you want the best connection a overall solution would be to install some cat6 ethernet cables from your wall to your router downstairs with something like this. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://pagemill.org/compost/mefi/ethernet/IMG_3622.JPG&imgrefurl=http://ask.metafilter.com/196132/InWall-Ethernet-Woohoo&h=2448&w=3264&sz=2325&tbnid=EJGcXQdFj74FNM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=134&zoom=1&usg=__i7qcxpy1xk280GQLtbq5QYAGT28=&docid=DvUphMYZ5NoEsM&sa=X&ei=0riLUrevGbWn4APY0YF4&ved=0CFwQ9QEwAw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 Yea i know. I was just saying to test the Roku and see if it performed better down there. When troubleshooting its best to eliminate things :gabe: Okay, gotcha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 John, I use a Slingbox (same "ethernet > box thingy > power outlet" concept) from my router to my PC upstairs and have no issues streaming movies from it to my Xbox downstairs. I'm not saying you should buy a Slingbox, I'm saying lack of bandwidth is likely to not be the issue, but still could be. Can you draw a topographical map of your network in mspaint or something? That would help a bit.. probably be entertaining too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Pomade Posted November 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2013 Update: I switched to WiFi and the lag/slow streaming problems went away instantaneously. I am giving credit to CR for this. Testimonial: "I had a really bad problem with my internet connection and didn't know what to do! My wife was ready to divorce me, my kids hated me, and I was about to get canned at work. So I turned to the good people of CR for help. And boy did they! They got my internet problem fixed in no time! Now my family is back together and happy - and, check this out, I just got a raise! Thanks, CR - dreams do come true." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbospec29 Posted November 20, 2013 Report Share Posted November 20, 2013 Update: I switched to WiFi and the lag/slow streaming problems went away instantaneously. I am giving credit to CR for this. Testimonial: "I had a really bad problem with my internet connection and didn't know what to do! My wife was ready to divorce me, my kids hated me, and I was about to get canned at work. So I turned to the good people of CR for help. And boy did they! They got my internet problem fixed in no time! Now my family is back together and happy - and, check this out, I just got a raise! Thanks, CR - dreams do come true." And your porn doesn't freeze part way in showing just the dude. :lolguy: Glad you got it working! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillJoy Posted November 20, 2013 Report Share Posted November 20, 2013 Ditch the DSL and get Cable... :thumbup: KillJoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted November 20, 2013 Report Share Posted November 20, 2013 I wish it had come down to ms paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.