Forum Discussion

BewilderedBob's avatar
BewilderedBob
Reel Rookie
25 days ago
Solved

Download speed explanation request

My Roku Ultra streaming device appears to work well with the current router and modem but the ISP download speed varies a lot. Spectrum is the ISP and appears to be very slow to improve the published download speed even when it is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. Using Roku connection checking results when the download speed drops below 5 Mbps ("good" according to the results shown), streaming is extremely poor on my HD TV. When I test download speed on my desktop PC using TESTMY.NET the speeds are consistently better than those shown on the TV at the same time. I cannot understand why there is a big discrepancy between the two speed checks.

Also can I safely assume that when the Roku network connection check shows very low download speed that the probable cause is the Spectrum equipment (not Roku or my devices) ?  Unfortunately Spectrum apparently does not publicly acknowledge their role in frequently poor streaming performance. Also Spectrum does not provide billing credit for the time that streaming is not acceptable due to reduced download speed. VERY SAD & EXPENSIVE.

Bewildered Bob

 

 

app discussion
  • RokuTakashi's avatar
    RokuTakashi
    25 days ago

    Hi, BewilderedBob​ 

    Welcome!

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the current setup of your Roku Ultra and network connection.

    Roku devices have a built-in speed test feature that measures the internet download speed. This test is useful for a quick check of your connection, but it's not a definitive measure of your maximum internet speed.

    For further assistance, you may want to contact your ISP directly.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks,

    Roku Community Team

3 Replies

  • Strega2's avatar
    Strega2
    Roku Guru
    25 days ago

    Are both tests on Wi-Fi and in the same spot? Wi-Fi can vary by moving just inches or pivoting a device.

    Oh, I reread and you said Desktop PC - this is likely to be wired and and probably gets speed much closer to what Spectrum is giving you.  Just as an example, at my wired desktop, I get 1Gps, at a laptop in the room with the Roku (but not the same place) I get around 450Mbps.  Phone and tablets in the same position as the laptop, get around 150-250Mpbs.  The Roku Express 4K+, which is somewhat buried in a rack of equipment gets around 100Mbps.  This is all on 5GHz wi-Fi.  (Except the desktop of course.)

    Back when I had a 2.4GHz-only Roku Express, it started by getting 5Mbps - most of the time, however, I was able to get it up to 8-10MGpbs by changing the Wi-Fi channel.  

    So there's lots of variables here but in general:  wired > wi-fi, 5Ghz > 2.4Ghz (unless distances are great or walls are many). My Wi-Fi devices rank like: Laptop > Phone > Tablet > Roku, but that is also the ranking of their price tags.  

    I don't think any ISP is going to give you credit for slow wi-fi - if it's ONLY Wi-Fi that has the problem.

  • JWS9518's avatar
    JWS9518
    Roku Guru
    25 days ago

    BewilderedBob​ 

    Spectrum is notorious for service issues at least where I live anyways.  I had issues with consistent speeds and it took 2 years to get it straight.  It turned out that Spectrum had a broken pin in one of their ports that served my area.  I would suggest reaching out to Spectrum and have them test your line for noise and keep on them until they check the area you live as well, as the problem could be blocks away that are affecting you.

  • RokuTakashi's avatar
    RokuTakashi
    Community Moderator
    25 days ago

    Hi, BewilderedBob​ 

    Welcome!

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the current setup of your Roku Ultra and network connection.

    Roku devices have a built-in speed test feature that measures the internet download speed. This test is useful for a quick check of your connection, but it's not a definitive measure of your maximum internet speed.

    For further assistance, you may want to contact your ISP directly.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks,

    Roku Community Team