I Transitioned My Smart TV To Ethernet—Herein Lies The Rationale For Its Superior Performance.

I initially believed that streaming via Wi-Fi on my television was adequate; but, I opted to experiment with Ethernet as I had a cable available. It immediately enhanced all aspects, and I now regret not making the transition years earlier.

4. Enhanced Connectivity

One of the most notable enhancements I observed after transitioning my smart TV to an Ethernet connection was a markedly more reliable connection. My internet speed is sufficient for streaming; but, I occasionally get buffering or interrupted broadcasts, particularly with high-bandwidth video like as 4K and Dolby Vision. It occurred infrequently, however it was sufficiently bothersome to be apparent.

Wi-Fi depends on communal frequency bands, rendering it susceptible to interference from microwaves, Bluetooth devices, and adjacent Wi-Fi networks. Ethernet is superior due to its utilization of a direct physical cable connection, rendering it nearly impervious to interference from both other wireless devices and physical barriers such as walls and climatic conditions.

Currently, when I heat meals in the microwave, streaming no longer experiences interruptions as it previously did. The reliability persuaded me to utilize Ethernet wherever feasible, particularly for connecting my remote work configuration to the internet.

3. Reduced Latency

Another advantage I have encountered after transitioning to Ethernet is reduced latency. Latency refers to the temporal interval between the transmission and reception of data. Although it may appear to be a technical nuance, latency significantly impacts daily usage, especially during video consumption. I am an enthusiast of soccer and Formula 1, frequently seeing both live; so, minimal latency is essential, as it is for any live-streamed entertainment.

Utilizing Wi-Fi may result in increased latency or inconsistency, adversely impacting live streaming. Occasionally, I would initiate playback and have a delay of several seconds before the video commenced, or it would become unresponsive, necessitating a reload. It was not only dependent on my internet connection.

The Wi-Fi protocol incurs overhead that introduces latency in data transfer, including encryption, authentication, and collision avoidance mechanisms. While these may appear insignificant individually, their cumulative effect contributes to increased latency.

Upon physically connecting my TV to the router with an Ethernet connection, streaming improved substantially. The lag has practically vanished, and videos commence playback almost immediately upon pressing play.

Fast-forwarding or rewinding is expedited, and the overall experience appears more responsive. The reduced latency enhances the speed of applications such as YouTube, and browsing becomes more seamless, since I experience fewer delays in loading thumbnails or menus compared to my previous Wi-Fi usage.

2. Enhanced Streaming Speeds

Transitioning to Ethernet afforded me enhanced and more reliable streaming speeds. This does not imply that Wi-Fi is incapable of providing fast speeds—it is capable. For example, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) may get maximum data speeds of 9.6 Gbps, but subsequent Wi-Fi standards, including Wi-Fi 7, can achieve rates that are multiples of this figure.

In contrast to Ethernet, Wi-Fi frequently does not provide comparable speeds due to several factors, including signal strength, proximity to the router, network congestion, physical obstructions, and interference from other devices.

Transitioning to Ethernet has considerably enhanced my streaming experience due to constantly elevated speeds. I now experience uniform video quality throughout, in contrast to the past when I occasionally observed variations in quality.

Provided my internet is functioning well (which is infrequent), the direct connection facilitates smoother streaming. Ethernet has distance limitations beyond which signal degradation occurs. Fortunately, my router and television are in close proximity, therefore eliminating any concerns.

If your television is distanced from the router, it is not imperative to extend a lengthy connection throughout the residence. Powerline adapters and Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) adapters can deliver Ethernet-equivalent performance over your home's electrical or coaxial cable, facilitating access to similar advantages.

1. No Further Password Configurations

A tiny yet unexpectedly gratifying advantage of transitioning to Ethernet is the elimination of Wi-Fi password management on my smart TV. Utilizing an on-screen keyboard consistently renders typing on a television cumbersome and prone to errors. If you are similar to me, possessing a commendable practice of creating robust passwords, the situation is exacerbated by the necessity to frequently alternate between lowercase and uppercase letters, as well as special characters.

With Wi-Fi, each time I altered my password, I had to access the appropriate menu, locate the network, re-enter the password, and pray I typed it accurately on the first attempt. However, Ethernet requires no configuration. Upon connecting the cable, an immediate connection is established. Changing my Wi-Fi password does not impact my cable connection.

Transitioning from Wi-Fi to Ethernet has proven to be one of the simplest technological enhancements I have undertaken, yielding a more significant impact than I expected. Streaming has improved in speed and fluidity due to elevated velocities, reduced latency, and enhanced connection reliability. It has alleviated the burden of altering passwords, and I am really pleased. If you are encountering buffering, lag, or disconnections while streaming content, transitioning to Ethernet may be the solution you were unaware of.