Wireless G or hard line best for Netflix?

5370 Views 26 Replies 15 Participants Last post by aaronwt, Nov 3, 2011

Torino

Discussion Starter · Oct 29, 2011

I have a series 3 with Netflix. It works fine but a little slow loading compared to watching a show on my PC. The series 3 is connected with a Wireless G. Would I get faster loading running a hard wire from my router instead of the Wireless G. Or would the Wireless N work better? I have a Netgear n600 dual router.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

aadam101

· #2 · Oct 29, 2011

For Netflix, Amazon etc I had no problem with Wireless G. For PyTivo, Tivo Desktop etc. you definitely want to hard wire.

Of course it all depends on your network setup and how far away the Tivo is from the router.

dianebrat

· #3 · Oct 29, 2011

You will be better off wired as opposed to G, N is better, but I still prefer wired.

MeInDallas

· #4 · Oct 29, 2011

I have one on the adapter and it constantly buffers on Netflix, but the one thats wired never stutters. The pyTivo works great on both, no problems there.

Resist

· #5 · Oct 29, 2011

When I had Netflix, I had a terrible time using it with my Tivo wireless network adapter. Once I went hard wired ethernet, it was smooth as silk.

Chris Gerhard

· #6 · Oct 29, 2011

I don't have Netflix but I have started streaming, Amazon Prime and several others using TiVoHD and Google TV and Wireless-G is working fine for me. Speeds are well above the Netflix requirement throughout the house. I purchased a Wireless-N router but I dread installing it, I have a bunch of wireless devices, TiVos, laptops, Blu-ray players, HD DVD players, Google TV, and tablets. I have a dozen different devices connecting to my network most days. Running ethernet wire isn't something I could do so I am glad wireless works as well as it does. I just started using Comcast Xfinity cable internet with a DOCSIS 2.0 modem after using DSL for 5 years here, so having the latest and fastest isn't important to me.

I certainly accept wired is preferred but convenience wins out and this time without any real negative impact I can tell.

aadam101

· #7 · Oct 29, 2011

Amazon Prime isn't streaming. It's network requirements are different from Netflix. Amazon downloads to the Tivo. Netflix streams and requires a more stable/faster connection to do this.

turbobuick86

· #8 · Oct 29, 2011

If there's a choice, wired beats wireless every time in every instance.

jeff92k7

· #9 · Oct 29, 2011

It totally depends on your network setup. Since you are always limited to the speed of your slowest link, then you want to make sure that the stuff inside your home isn't that slowest link.

Most Netflix HD titles stream at approximately 6Mbps. So, you first need an internet connection that is faster than 6Mbps. Once that is taken care of, then we can look to the connections inside your home. Wireless "G" runs at a maximum of 54Mbps half-duplex. However, with overhead, even a strong signal will only get sustained throughput of around 35-40Mbps. Poor signal quality and interference will slow the connection, but as long as it isn't slowing to 5.5Mbps or less, you should be fine for the Netflix stuff. The wired 10/100 jack on the TiVo runs at 100Mbps full-duplex maximum. So, as you can see, wired is much faster, but really shouldn't matter for Netflix streaming. As was already mentioned, wired will make a dramatic improvement in pyTivo or TTG/MRV transfers, but not in Netflix streaming.

That said, wired won't have interference problems like wireless, so running wired is always preferable.

Jeff

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rainwater

· #10 · Oct 29, 2011

In general it just depends on the quality of your router and it's location from your TiVo. Most people don't realize that a lot of their network issues come from having crappy wireless routers. Lot's of G routers just don't do good at streaming lots of data.

turbobuick86

· #11 · Oct 29, 2011

It sounds like the OP has an option to run hardwired. Why buy a new wireless network? How many walls, floors, ceilings, or the distance the signal is travelling? So many things can make wireless crappy regardless of the hardware.

Mike-Mike

· #12 · Oct 29, 2011

turbobuick86 said:
If there's a choice, wired beats wireless every time in every instance.

this

jfh3

· #13 · Oct 29, 2011

If it's reasonable for you to used wired, do it, especially if your wireless is only G.

Chris Gerhard

· #14 · Oct 29, 2011

aadam101 said:
Amazon Prime isn't streaming. It's network requirements are different from Netflix. Amazon downloads to the Tivo. Netflix streams and requires a more stable/faster connection to do this.

Amazon Prime is streaming, I use Google TV to stream it.

SNJpage1

· #15 · Oct 29, 2011

It really isnt hard to run a wired network. The time it takes is well worth the increase in speed.

rainwater

· #16 · Oct 29, 2011

Chris Gerhard said:
Amazon Prime is streaming, I use Google TV to stream it.

Not on TiVos. It is the only Amazon Instant Video device that doesn't support streaming. This is why there's no ability to watch "Prime" videos on TiVos.

Chris Gerhard

· #17 · Oct 30, 2011

rainwater said:
Not on TiVos. It is the only Amazon Instant Video device that doesn't support streaming. This is why there's no ability to watch "Prime" videos on TiVos.

I understand that obviously, my point is I stream Amazon Prime using Wireless-G. I also have a TiVoHD connected streaming YouTube over Wireless-G. I am not seeing problems with any streaming or downloading using Wireless-G.

rainwater

· #18 · Oct 30, 2011

Chris Gerhard said:
I understand that obviously, my point is I stream Amazon Prime using Wireless-G. I also have a TiVoHD connected streaming YouTube over Wireless-G. I am not seeing problems with any streaming or downloading using Wireless-G.

TiVos do not stream higher than 360p streams so it shouldn't be hard to stream short content on YouTube. TiVos are also very susceptible to network issues in the Netflix app. It doesn't take much of a network issue to drop you out of the Netflix app on TiVo.

WizarDru

· #19 · Nov 1, 2011

I have Netflix on two Tivos, one wired and one wireless. I also use it wired on the Xbox, wireless on the PS3 and wireless on my BD player. It performs equally well on all of them. The issue is more to do with your network equipment and your environment.

All things being equal, wired will always be better as it less likely to be affected by your environmental factors or signal fluctuation.

aaronwt

· #20 · Nov 1, 2011

You shoudln't be having any signal fluctuation if the Wi-Fi network is setup properly.

Proper coverage for the area in use and for the number of devices that will be accessing the Wi-Fi. Most people erroneously only use one access Point which can cause issues depending on the distance and the number of devices.

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