Wired vs wireless for IPTV: real-world comparison with results

KevinNet

KevinNet

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Joined
Oct 24, 2018
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I ran a week-long comparison between wired Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6 for my IPTV setup. Here are the actual numbers and conclusions.
 
Ethernet wins every time for stability. Wi-Fi is convenient but IPTV demands consistent throughput.
 
Wired had 0 buffering events over 7 days. Wi-Fi 6 had 3 micro-stutters per day on average.
 
Wi-Fi 6 is very capable but multi-device congestion kills it during peak family usage times.
 
My partner streams on a tablet while I stream on TV. Wired TV + Wi-Fi tablet works perfectly.
 
I ran CAT6a through the walls last year and it completely changed my streaming experience.
 
CAT5e handles gigabit just fine. The cable standard does not limit typical home streaming bandwidth.
 
The limiting factor is the port on your router and device, not the cable spec at home distances.
 
Powerline adapters are a good middle ground if running ethernet cable is not feasible.
 
I had mixed results with powerline. The quality depends entirely on your home wiring.
 
MoCA adapters over coaxial cable are more reliable than powerline in most homes.
 
MoCA is underrated. If you have existing coax runs it is fast and very stable.
 
Wi-Fi 6E finally closes the gap but it requires a new router, new device adapters, and costs more.
 
For dedicated streaming devices, wired is still the recommendation even with Wi-Fi 6E available.
 
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