Hi Boring. The best I can say is "it wouldn't hurt".
A lot of factors affect the speed of your downloads including the type of service (wire or wireless), the type of service you're using (ADSL2+ for instance), and even the distance you're located from the nearest hub (in Oz, that's the nearest telephone exchange).
If you're router isn't the right one for the service, yes, it will slow you down.
Why not phone your Internet Service Provider and talk to them about it. They can advise you EXACTLY what you can do to improve the speed.
If you have enough interest, Google "How to Geek" and sign up for their newsletter. It's free and comes in five mornings a week with lots of interesting stuff. Here's a link they sent about a couple of weeks ago that will tell you how to minimise the amount of buffering, which may be your problem.
Good link. Plugging into the ether directly would be the best option, but I can't get the router in that location without running new cable. Maybe this new router will be better. My current router is old in tech years. The streaming device says the signal is "poor", so maybe a stronger signal will help.
Did you ever notice one thing always leads to another?
Possibly. Try changing your Wi-fi channel and the settings first. That might help. There's a good chance it wont though. Streaming over Wi-fi isn't really ideal. It doesn't work in practice as good as it is claimed. Ethernet that chit.
I ordered a new router. Roku said the signal strength was "poor". Another Roku closer to the router has "good" strength". The new router "supposedly" has 3x the signal strength. "We'll see".
The ISP was actually charging me a fee because the current router is too old to "maintain". How can they do that? I don't know. So I ordered the "best" one they had.
I can't really use ethernet because of the location of the router and Roku TV. That would involve convincing someone to run coaxial cable under the crawlspace and nobody wants to do that. They are lazy. JUST RUN THE CABLE IDIOTS AND DRILL A HOLE. IT WILL TAKE 5 SECONDS. PUT ON A DUST MASK. I HATE LIFE.
This post was edited by Mr. Bromide at December 5, 2016 3:56 PM MST
Do it yourself. You don't even need to run a coaxial. You can just get long lengths of ethernet cable and run it from the router. Either clip it along the floor and wall or ( what I do) pull the floor molding. There is usually a small gap behind it that you can tuck the cable behind and then put the molding back in place. Drill a hole when you need to cross rooms. Screw relying on "the guy" and having him even coming into your house.
I don't use wifi for anything other than company who asks me to turn it on....and if they are here just to visit or have dinner I tell them it will do them good to put the damn gadget in the basket by the front door. They seem surprised how nice it is to be gadget free for a few hours. What the hell is wrong with people anyway?!?!