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You are here: Home / Tech Questions & Answers / Q&A: Should I connect my streaming device via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet?

Q&A: Should I connect my streaming device via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet?

Posted on May 1, 2022

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Question from Michael:  I just bought a Roku box I have the choice of connecting it to the Internet over Wi-Fi or with an Ethernet cable.

Which one should I choose?

The Roku box is close enough to the router to connect them with a cable and the Wi-Fi signal is strong there.

My question: Is there an advantage to using one method over the other? 

Rick’s answer:  Michael, my rule of thumb for connecting devices to a router is to ALWAYS connect the device via a wired Ethernet connection if that’s an option (and if it’s practical to do so).

In most cases a wired connection is going to be faster than Wi-Fi, and it’s virtually guaranteed to be more stable.

In short, a wired Ethernet connection should help prevent buffering and temporary streaming interruptions due to Wi-Fi signal loss.

There’s also another advantage to keeping streaming devices off your Wi-Fi network whenever possible…

Streaming video requires lots of bandwidth, so connecting your Roku via a wired Ethernet connection will free up all of your Wi-Fi bandwidth for your smartphones, laptops, tablets and other devices that really need to connect via Wi-Fi.

My recommendation: Connect your Roku device to your router via wired Ethernet since you have that option available to you.

You’re virtually guaranteed to have a faster and more reliable streaming connection that way, and the wireless users in your home will receive better service from the Wi-Fi network as a bonus.

I hope this helps, Michael. Good luck!

Update from Michael:  That helps a lot. Thank you.


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