Best wired TV streaming devices of 2025: Roku, Google, Apple, etc.

If the streaming video is interrupted, it may be because Wi-Fi is not strong enough. One way to fix this issue is to instead connect your Smart TV or streaming device directly through a CAT 5 network cable with Ethernet port access. This allows you to free up wireless for other devices such as laptops and tablets. Also, Ethernet is more stable than Wi-Fi, usually faster and doesn’t have any issues with walls, interference, distance (well, not home). This means that you will not encounter the same lag or signal interruption using a streaming device or smart TV with Ethernet port availability, only on standard Wi-Fi streaming apps or unused devices.

The bad news is that you need to run wires from routers to TVs for streaming, but if you’re stuck at home, it’s a good weekend project, Ethernet cables are cheap. When using, it may be okay to run a temporary wire that can be removed later. If you can manage your projects, streaming hardships could disappear.