Roku or other streaming devices...

**huh?** · 06-11-12, 10:31 AM

Over the weekend, I picked up the Sony streaming device and returned it immediately because it would just hang and sit there when I tried to load up Netflix. After returning it, I picked up Roku HD, which is on sale for $48 at Walmart this week. The installation was easy. It took about 20 mins from opening the box to watching Netflix and listening to Pandora.

I am wondering if anyone uses Roku or other streaming devices. I have searched the forum and found one from 2010, which is outdated. What's everyone's experience with it these days?

Couple things that I found out. Occasionally I ran into wifi not found issue and I would need to reboot my modem and router. Also, while my wife was watching Netflix and I was playing CSS, I noticed that my ping would occasionally bump up from 30s to 40-50s and then dropped back down. I supposed that was when Netflix was buffering.

So, in order for me to really commit to Roku and cut off my cable TV, how does people work around the ping issue? I believe currently I have 12mb download speed. Would bumping it up to 25mb download speed help? The route that I am using is Linksys WRT54G2-RM Wireless-G Broadband Router IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g. Perhaps I should throttle control the Roku or my desktop? Or both of up my speed and throttle control?

Any suggestions? Thanks!

**Phyrelight** · 06-11-12, 10:36 AM

I ran cat 6 cabling into my living room for this very reason. wifi is a resource hog and with dropped packets it will bounce back and forth in demand causing the wired connection ping to fluctuate.

**visuvius** · 06-11-12, 01:27 PM

Yeah ideally for these applications you need to run cables. I've been using a Western Digital Live Plus for the last year or so and the thing kicks ass. Play every file type there is and has all of the additional bells and whistles as well. I was going to go with some kind of full blown HTPC but there really is no need for that these days. A 5" square box will do it all for like $70.

But yeah you need to run ethernet cable. At my place, I can stream 720p stuff over wifi and its mostly okay, anything past that and it stutters. I have a lot of 1080p and it just won't play over wifi without stuttering every 5 seconds. I haven't really noticed issues with ping while playing.

**WileECyte** · 06-11-12, 03:36 PM

I handle all my streaming via my TiVo Premiere. It's hard wired to my router.

**Kanati** · 06-11-12, 06:51 PM

I have had a WDTV, WDTV Live, and now use a WDTV Live Hub. I never stream anything. My wifi sucks even using 802.11n. When I can get an 802.11ac setup I will do so and hopefully that will clear up all wifi issues.

But currently I have the 1TB drive in the WDTV Live Hub and another 1TB drive in an external USB dock. I copy the files over wifi and watch them off the hard drive. I don't have any trouble with netflix really but streaming from my other computer generally results in a mess. Not entirely sure why there, but that's my experience anyway.

**deputyfestus** · 06-11-12, 07:49 PM

I have the WDTV live as well hardwired to my router.

**huh?** · 06-12-12, 09:53 AM

Hmmm, this Roku I got is wifi only. Maybe I should consider one with internet port, but I don't have my house wired for internet. So many options but not many that's feasible for my situation. I think I will keep trying it out for a bit. At least wife is getting used to Netflix. I can see the little light at the end of tunnel of NO CABLE TV.

**Phyrelight** · 06-12-12, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by huh?

Hmmm, this Roku I got is wifi only. Maybe I should consider one with internet port, but I don't have my house wired for internet. So many options but not many that's feasible for my situation. I think I will keep trying it out for a bit. At least wife is getting used to Netflix. I can see the little light at the end of tunnel of NO CABLE TV.

its a beautiful day when you cut that tether. I made the switch 2 months ago and I have a HTPC and a playstation3 in the living room both hardwired to the router. The PS3 does amazon prime, hulu plus and netflix and blueray/DVDs like a champ. I use the HTPC for network sites like CW.com and Hulu Content that is web based only and any other content I can't do on the PS3. The very few shows that I can't watch either on Hulu or the network sites I buy the season on amazon for instant streaming. I went from $90 a month for satellite ($1080 a year) to all streaming. Even if I spend a couple hundred in the coming year on amazon content or netflix I will still come out way ahead.

I am really looking forward to the day when Amazon finally realizes there is a market for an actual online cable provider and offers an on demand streaming service where shows are available immediately when they air.