The single most effective change most people can make to their streaming setup is how the device connects to the router. This short guide explains why a cable so often beats Wi-Fi for live television, and what to do when running a cable is not practical.
Why live streams are sensitive to Wi-Fi
On-demand video services can download well ahead of what you are watching, so a brief dip in speed goes unnoticed. Live streams are different: the video is produced in real time and the player can only buffer a few seconds ahead. Wi-Fi speeds fluctuate constantly as neighbours’ networks, microwaves and walls interfere, and each fluctuation risks a pause.
The wired option
An Ethernet cable gives the device a steady, dedicated connection. Most Android TV boxes and Apple TV models have an Ethernet port; Fire TV sticks accept an Ethernet adapter; many Smart TVs have a port on the back. A flat cable can run along a skirting board with minimal disruption, and powerline adapters carry a network signal through household wiring when a cable cannot be routed.
Making Wi-Fi work better
- Place the router high up and away from thick walls, metal and large appliances.
- Use the 5 GHz band for the streaming device; it is faster and less congested than 2.4 GHz.
- Move the router or add a mesh access point so the streaming device has a strong signal.
- Avoid cheap range extenders, which halve throughput and add delay.
- Reserve bandwidth for the streaming device with the router’s quality-of-service (QoS) setting if it has one.
How to tell which you need
Run a speed test on the device three times over a few minutes. If the results vary widely or fall below what HD streaming needs, the connection is the problem and a cable or a better access point will fix it. If the results are high and consistent yet buffering continues, look at the device and the player settings instead. Our buffering checklist covers those steps.
Questions about whether your setup is suitable? Our support team is happy to advise before you subscribe.