Community discussions

[Netroman28]

I'm currently doing some research and writing an article. I'm researching ehybToku moved away from network cables and to just wifi.

I'm looking for any little insights anyone might have or some good links.

Please let me know if you have any  

[atc98092]

I can only make an uneducated guess, but it's most likely because most homes aren't wired for Ethernet, while virtually everyone with Internet has WiFi available. Same thing when traveling. Hotels have moved away from offering a wired network connection in their rooms, instead going with WiFi access. I was in a Marriott property last week, and it was the first time in several years I had a room with a wired connection. 

My home is 30 years old, and when I had it built I would have liked to have wired it with Cat 5, but it wasn't something you thought about in 1990. But I've added about 10 wired jacks in my home, along with two wireless access points, so I use Ethernet when able but have WiFi everywhere. 

[andyross]

The Ultra still has wired Ethernet as an option.

[Netroman28]

Thats one of the things I was thinking - moving to wifi means no need for cables. Also means you can hide it easier.

That said, my Roku 3 was both wifi and had the network port, I prefered having it plugged in to hard cable as always found more reliable. Wifi is good but has it's issue from time to time

[Netroman28]

I was waiting for the Ultra but they never officially released it in the UK - it went from Roku 3 to streaming stick +.

I would have certainly bought the Ultra.

[atc98092]

There's one more reason for it: cost cutting. Roku is doing everything they can to keep prices low. That means removing features that many of us prefer, such as a wired connection and a RF remote. While my Premiere supports the RF remote, it comes with a less costly IR remote. For my use it's OK, but I much prefer not needing line of sight with the remote. As mentioned, the Ultra is the only Roku available with an Ethernet jack, and it's not available everywhere. It's also not Gigabit, for those of us that stream from home media servers. 

[Boz]

None of my Roku devices currently support ethernet.  I had 4 Roku 2 XS devices that did, but I never used ethernet.

I have found that WiFi is reliable on the 4 Roku Streaming Stick (2016) 3600R and 1 Roku Streaming Stick (2018) 3800R that are currently in use at our house.

I do have a very low-end Tenda mesh WiFi system that provides strong WiFi throughout my house, so perhaps that's the difference.

[boogernose]

My Ultra has Ethernet which I use and before that my Roku 2 and before that my Roku HD.

It has always been a selling point for me. I dont use wifi much at all. Not even on my Phone.

I dont want to. Wifi is very insecure. I myself have hacked it in the past.

Ethernet is much more reliable in quality and reliability. Some of us are fortunate enough to

have pure Net connections with soaring speeds. As opposed to Bundled type connections.

Wifi is somewhat more problematic I believe in ways one wouldnt expect.

But they do use it for communicating directly with the Roku from the remote.

I can deal with that. 

But the Market dictates what it is.

I'm sure Roku intends to always have Models with Ethernet capability.