Smart TVs need a Wi Fi connection to work properly. When you are watching something and it starts to load or the picture gets bad the problem is usually not the Smart TV or the app you are using. There is a Wi Fi setting in a lot of homes that can cause these problems without you even realizing it. If you know about this setting you can make your streaming better without having to buy a Smart TV.
Setting Is Called Band Steering
The setting is called Band Steering. This Band Steering thing is actually pretty simple. Band Steering is a technique that helps your wifi network. The idea behind and is to make sure your devices connect to the wifi band available.
Smart TVs Struggle
Smart TVs struggle with this setting because it is just not something they are made to do. They are made to connect to the internet and play movies and shows. This setting is something different.
Streaming Needs Stability
You need streaming to be stable. Stability is more important for streaming, than speed. If streaming is not stable it can be very frustrating. So stability is what matters most for streaming, not speed.
Appears During Peak Use
The problem is something that we see during this time. Peak use is when most people are using the thing. That is when the problem often appears. The problem often appears when we are using something a lot.
Band Steering Is Enabled
To see if band steering is turned on you need to check your wifi settings. Band steering is a feature that helps your wifi router switch devices between wifi bands. Look for the band steering option on this page.
Fix the Issue Easily
You can turn off band steering. Then connect your TV to one Wi Fi band.Many people prefer the Wi Fi band because it is more stable. The stronger Wi Fi band often fixes buffering problems with your TV quickly.
Fix Helps Right Away
There are fewer pauses and I do not have to change anything else. The streaming apps on my TV get a signal and the video quality of the streaming apps is better.
Does Not Affect Other Devices Much
Phones and laptops are really good at switching between bands. So you can just leave the band steering setting on for your phones and laptops. Then you can set up the connection for your TV manually if your router lets you do that.
Consider a Wired Connection
If Wi-Fi issues keep happening, using an Ethernet cable is the way to go. This is because Ethernet cables do not have to deal with Wi Fi interference. Wi-fi interference can be really bad.
Small Setting With a Big Impact
Many people overlook this Wi-Fi option and adjusting it takes only a few minutes but can greatly improve smart TV streaming. Sometimes the best fixes are the simplest ones.
