Addressing Lagging Internet Speeds Caused by Streaming Devices
If you’ve ever experienced slow internet speeds while binging your favorite shows, you know how frustrating it can be. Recently, I encountered a peculiar issue with my television that resulted in a significant drop in internet performance throughout my home, especially while streaming on Netflix.
My setup includes a TV connected directly to my router using an ethernet cable, just like my PC. However, every time I activated Netflix on the TV, my internet connection would slow down drastically, resulting in ping times skyrocketing to over 9,000 milliseconds on my computer. This was unacceptable for any online activities, from gaming to browsing.
In an attempt to resolve the problem, I enabled the Quality of Service (QoS) feature on my Linksys EA6900 router. Unfortunately, this adjustment didn’t make a noticeable difference in performance. After consulting with a technician, I can confidently say that the issue wasn’t related to my internet service provider; they confirmed that my connection was operating at an impressive 800 Mbps download speed.
After some experimentation, I discovered that switching the TV’s connection from ethernet to Wi-Fi significantly reduced the internet drain while streaming. While it still occasionally affects my connection, the overall impact is far less severe than before.
If you’re experiencing similar issues, consider the following potential solutions:
-
Adjust Connection Type: Sometimes, switching from a wired connection to Wi-Fi—or vice versa—can alleviate bandwidth hogging by devices.
-
Use Quality of Service Settings: While my experience with QoS was mixed, optimizing these settings can prioritize traffic based on your preferences, ensuring more bandwidth is allocated to your PC when needed.
-
Limit Streaming Quality: Reducing the streaming quality on your TV can decrease the amount of bandwidth it consumes, leaving more available for other devices.
-
Upgrade Your Router: If the problem persists, it might be time to consider upgrading to a more robust router that can handle multiple high-bandwidth devices efficiently.
With a little trial and error, it’s possible to find a balance that works for everyone in your household. I hope sharing my experience can help others facing similar challenges optimize their internet use while enjoying seamless streaming.
Share this content:
