Posted on 10/22/2017 9:44:08 PM PDT by EinNYC
I am hoping that some of our techie FReepers could give me some guidance on this annoying issue. I have a Samsung "smart" TV which is a couple of years old, which I use exclusively to watch Netflix movies ( I don't watch TV and have not for at least 35 years. But I enjoy watching family fare movies). It is not the latest and greatest TV with all the cutting edge stuff. I see "1080" appear in a box when it first comes on, if that helps.
I have a cable internet modem with its own wi-fi hotspot. I use that, teamed with an Amazon Fire TV stick, to stream Netflix. Virtually every time I watch, the movie stops to buffer and I have to wait until the percents mount up to 99, then the movie starts again. Annoying! If this doesn't happen, then I get an error message necessitating unplugging the TV and Amazon dongle, waiting 10 minutes, then replugging both in. Annoying!
Since the Netflix movies play fine on my iMac, which is directly connected by cable with no intermediary needed, it seems that the Amazon Fire TV stick cannot handle the streaming. Netflix tech reps suggested I replace it with a Roku "box". I think the "box" means the Roku Premiere+ model. Is that the solution for a 1080 kind of TV? Or would the Roku stick be better than the Amazon stick and be sufficient to eliminate these annoying problems?
I thank in advance anyone who is up on their streaming tech who can bring clarity to this situation, because I am confused.
I have my Sharp Smart TV hooked up to an Ethernet cable instead of using my WiFi.
If your Samsung is like the one I used to have, there’s an ethernet jack in the back.
Use it.
It makes *all* the difference.
use the Roku my self. if you like the real old movies there are a lot of free channels offering movies that are from the 60s and prior for free. only problem is sorting through the real bad ones. still have buffer problems everyonec in a while it usually means heavy use on the network.
I have a roku stick and experience the same problems sometimes. If I were to do it all over again I would go with the roku box.
802.11ac promises blistering speeds, but many consumers are just now getting around to upgrading to 802.11n, leaving many to wonder if the new version is worthwhile.
This outpaces most typical home broadband connections by some margin. Assuming you have the hardware to support this standard (you need it in both your router and all your computers) it means the broadband speed is now the bottleneck, not the Wi-Fi speed.
The major benefit of Ethernet is now gone.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/wi-fi-vs-ethernet-which-should-you-use-and-why/
Long ago, seems like, I bought a PS3 game console. Never use it for gaming. I just use it to run dvd movies or watch Netflix.
No buffering issues at all for me when watching Netflix.
I have a cable internet hookup. Supposed to be 5MEG dl speed, but I only get 3MEG at most. Doesn’t seem to bother the Netflix viewing at all.
I have a cat5 cord from my internet modem to the PS3, and HDMI connector from the PS3 to the TV.
No clue if that’s the best way to go about using those parts and pieces, but seems to work.
We have roku box v3. It works very well.
The cost to get a decent AC-based wireless router, coupled with getting AC-based versions of your Amazon Fire or Roku boxes, is very expensive versus the perfectly adequate wired Ethernet cable you have (and probably bought for $10-$20).
When you upgrade, try to get AC-based cards and router everywhere.
I replaced my router with a new 5 Meg dual band WI-FI model. About $240.
I also got a new smart Blue Ray DVD player 5 Meg model. About $140. I run my NETFLEX through the DVD player.
Now I very rarely have a buffering problem. And it is amazing quick for the initial loading.
The Ethernet cable idea is much cheaper if you can do it and would do as well or better. I can't run a Ethernet cable to my TV. Or you could buy a new smart TV that can handle the higher band width WI-FI.
Clear Amazon Video Application Data
If you’re having trouble watching movies and TV shows from Amazon Video or Prime Video, try clearing application data for the Amazon Video app.
Select Settings from the Fire TV menu.
Select Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Amazon Video.
Select Force Stop, and then select Clear Data.
When prompted to Delete App Data, select Clear Data again.
Tip: Try this step if you’re seeing an on-screen error message, including “Error 13.”
Clear Data for Video Apps
Clearing application data can also help resolve intermittent playback issues with apps you use to stream movies and TV shows on your Fire TV.
Select Settings from the Fire TV menu.
Select Applications > Manage Installed Applications.
Select the application you’re having trouble with.
Select Force Stop, and then select Clear Data.
When prompted to Delete App Data, select Clear Data again.
Restart your Fire TV. Disconnect the power cord, and then plug it back in.
Important: Clearing application data doesn’t delete the app itself. But for some apps (including Netflix), you may need to re-enter your account information after clearing app data.
OK. You plug the ethernet cable into the back of the TV. What do you plug the other end of the cable into?
That’s what I do too. Keeping it simple has carried me through life painlessly, lol. There is such a thing as too many remotes. My dad proved that to me many times, lol.
Just to give you an answer in the meantime...plug the other end of the ethernet cable in to your modem box provided by your internet provider.
Who provides your internet...Comcast? Charter? Another company? Whatever company it is, they have given you a modem that you can plug the ethernet cable in to.
The simple version is, you plug the cable into an open ethernet port on the back of the cable/wi-fi router.
what's an AC-based wireless router?
Compared to what?
AC is the newest type router. The ones before were “N” routers. Can’t remember all the improvements...just google AC routers.
Been in computers and networking for 40 years... The Samsung smart tv should come with the Netflix app built in if it’s just a couple years old. So I am assuming you’re using the firestick with Kodi and third party apps, but please don’t answer that since it’s an assumption only for the purpose of part of the answer that comes next. If so then not too much can be done. Many of those third party apps are flawed.
Barring that, use the hardwire option with CAT5 straight to the router from the TV. Now perhaps you are being intentionally bottlenecked because of your location and/or amount of streaming. You just gripe heavily to the ISP and they magically fix it. Had to do that for my brother last month.
For me, CAT5 cable is best bet to start with and cheaper than replacing hardware. If firestick is touchy, and you only use it to watch netflix, try logging in directly through the TV app to see if it’s better.
802.11 AC gigabit routers are the new protocol for routers. They have better Wifi speeds among other features. I find they don’t last as long as the older N designation routers, but they’re lightning fast compared to them so it’s worth the money. Depending on how many wireless devices you run in your house, you should choose one that has an appropriate number of internal/external antennae.
Your wireless router should have 3 or 4 Cat 5 cable ports.
This is a newer router but they all have something like this. The yellow port is for a cable running from your modem, the other ports can be used for any device you want to plug in. Even multiport hubs which expand your port options.
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