Streaming Speed Issue

[mattspeer01]

I recently bought a Sony 940E television. When trying to stream 4K/HDR content from the built-in apps on Android TV, it stutters and lags severely in low resolution for a while (normally over a minute) until it buffers on Netflix and Amazon. Even then it will lag periodically on Amazon. It won't even do 4K or HDR on YouTube (which the TV app is capable of), it maxes out at 2560x1440 non-HDR every time after buffering. I decided to get a Roku Premiere+ which can do 4K/HDR on all those apps, but I'm having the same issues. Wi-Fi or Ethernet on both the TV and Roku give me 20-40 Mbps down, which theoretically should be enough to stream 4K smoothly. Yet, they are both a terrible, laggy mess.

I have a 300 Mbps plan from my ISP, Cox, and typically average 180 Mbps down on all my other devices: Xbox One and PS4 on Ethernet, and two cell phones, three tablets, two laptops, and two desktops all on Wi-Fi. No issues with any of those. Other than an initial few second loading lag on most devices when I first try to stream something, which I assume is normal.

I am using a Netgear CM600 modem and a D-LINK DIR-880L router which both sit within a few feet of the TV, Roku, and two game consoles. My desktops, clear across the house on Wi-Fi, don't have issues streaming 4K content at all. I checked the firmware on the router and modem and both are current.

Any thoughts on why I might be having issues with the TV and Roku?

 

[ch33zw1z]

the TV seems to be the common denominator.

I would start there, and see if Sony has released any new firmware or software for it.

And ensure you're using quality cable capable of 4k with the roku

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Plug the Roku into your PC monitor and see if the TV is an issue as suggested above. You can also try a different HDMI port on the TV to see if that helps.

 

[mattspeer01]

I'll give those ideas a shot. I have a Cox technician coming out in a bit to check my Netgear CM600 modem. They did some signal tests remotely and were seeing some issues, so that may be the cause of the problems. The 940E doesn't have any new firmware. I am running the Roku through an Sony STR-DN1080 AVR.

 

[mattspeer01]

Well shoot, didn't think about the fact that my monitor is a 3440x1440 21:9 aspect ratio, non-4K/HDR display. Roku shows it as a 1080P capable device, yet strangely, when I go to the YouTube app on the Roku and play 4K/HDR videos, they show as streaming in 4K/HDR rather than 1080P/Non-HDR. The Netflix and Amazon apps only pump out 1080P, as expected, yet the Amazon app is still supper laggy for the first minute of buffering, just like on my 940E's built-in app.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I just played a 4K video on YT and forced 4K to check the statistics. Using the Stats for Nerds function, it shows 46263 kbps (46Mbps). If your wifi is only capable of 20-40 Mbps, then it may not be fast enough.

Edit: bad math

Max Network Activity showed 3300 KB, or 26,400 kbps.

 

[mattspeer01]

Yeah, I can play YouTube 4K HDR fine on my Roku, but not on my 940E app. The Roku is showing a connection speed of approx 33,000 Kbps on Wi-Fi in 4K HDR. My 940E is giving me about 20,000 Kbps on Ethernet and 15,000 Kbps on Wi-Fi in 1440P non-HDR. On my XBox One I see 43,000 Kbps in 1080P. Very inconsistent performance across devices.

 

[mattspeer01]

So I bought a Nvidia Shield and oh what a difference. It actually works and plays 4K and HDR on all apps that support those standards, without issues. My internet was a bit jacked up and has been fixed, but that hasn't had any effect on my 940E's 4K HDR streaming capability or lack thereof.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Good update. Underpowered smart TV FTL. keep checking for firmware/software updates for it