Video streaming quality drops on certain devices over wifi.

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Video streaming quality drops on certain devices over wifi.

Scotty1986

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#184024 7-Nov-2015 03:27

Hello all

I have been experiencing a rather annoying issue. I love netflix, and I love 1080p, but some of my devices won't give me 1080p, in fact it drops to 240p often. So, first here's the details. Xbox one directly to modem, Constant 1080p, Games room soughted. PS4 over wifi is 1080p, lounge is good.

Buts it's the bedroom, where I'm having issues. I have tried a Amazon fire stick, roku stick and most recently Apple TV 3rd Gen. All wifi. Lots of quality drops and sometimes buffering. Have tried 2.4 and 5 frequency. Have tried testing them in the lounge where the PS4 works well with poor results. I know they can work because in my last home using a Asus RT-N56u the Roku worked everywhere at 1080p. The WiFi signal is full according to each device. My modem is a Technicolor TC7210 which I must use because the 100/10mb Vodafone cable plan I'm on only works with this modem. I have used a WiFi booster. I have tried different channels. 2.4 is congested, 5 is not and the modem is literally on the other side of a GIB wall.

I would prefer not to put a hole in the wall to run a cable through.

What have I missed?

hashbrown

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#1422675 7-Nov-2015 06:39

Powerline Ethernet would be the most straightford way to resolve your issue. Just be aware that it doesn't work with everyone's wiring.

You don't need to use your cable modem's wifi. You can buy a separate access point and turn off the modem's wifi if you think that is the cause. If you already have a range booster, see if it has an AP mode.

freitasm

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#1422733 7-Nov-2015 09:52

That's WiFi for you. It depends on the distance, location, congestion (how many other networks in the same channel, etc).

You could either go ethernet, Powerline ethernet or use a WiFi extender like the DLink N300. Mind you, extending WiFi might still not fix the problem for you.

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darylblake

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#1422793 7-Nov-2015 12:19

So its not the devices. If you plug in an ethernet cable it works sweet I take it. Its only over the wi-fi ?

In general this is what I would do.
You say you have a PS4 running wifi in the same room as the modem? I would cable it (if its not going to be ugly and turn off the wifi on the xbox and ps4). Basically taking as many devices off the WiFi as possible will hopefully create less noise.

Everything you can run ethernet to (without it being messy of course) do it.
That will leave you with smartphones/tablets and perhaps devices further away needing wifi.

Then decide if you want to run a cable under the house (if possible) through the roof (if you have easy access). If you can't or dont want to do either of these the next best option is to use some Ethernet over Power adapters. If these dont work due to the circuitry, you could look into getting another access point.

You could do a wifi analysis, using toos like wifi analyser. And see what channels are the most quiet. The problem with wifi is you cant be guranteed much. There was a post on here the other day where someone had their laptop about 1 metre from the wifi apand he had bad speeds on 2.4 and 5Ghz, and couldn't figure out why. Its generally because of the noise of all the other 2.4 ghz devices and 5ghz networks.

FYI for 1080p i think you need about 10~12Mbps free for it to be smooth over netflix.

richms

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#1422845 7-Nov-2015 14:04

If it is really only a meter than try moving it a bit furthur away. Too high signal can cause just as many issues as weak signal.

Richard rich.ms

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#1422857 7-Nov-2015 14:36

One thing I overlooked for a long time is that different devices do different things in different ways. It is not always the connection. I have a computer that buffers and stutters on LAN and another next to it that works perfectly, as does a laptop on wi-fi in a distant room. The one with problems just can't process the data fast enough.

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Scotty1986

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#1422878 7-Nov-2015 15:51

I use Lan wherever possible. I refuse to game over wifi and my desktop is Lan also. Even paid $450 to get new wiring done to get the modem in the games room and install new power point to power everything. Only wifi devices are 2 smartphones and the PS4 and Apple TV. Does anyone know someone in Wellington so could run some cables for me? Would include fishing a cable inside the wall? I just don't have the tools to do it. There is a access under the house.

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Scotty1986

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#1422944 7-Nov-2015 19:46

So I decided that tomorrow I would get the required tools and put holes in the wall to connect via cable. Thought I would test it out first just in case. To my fraustred surprised, the image is a lot worse on the Apple tv than it is over wifi. It refuses to hit 1080p, highest it reached was 720p before dropping back down. At least it would reach 1080p on wifi!