Netflix Streaming --- AppleTV vs. Roku

I'll download the speedtest and see what it yields.

With regard to netstumbler, I installed it but it is not working on my Windows 10 machine --- I am getting a "no wireless adapter found." Researching this condition, I see that troubleshooting it may be at the edge of my technical abilities, or interest, or time available, or a combination of all three.

I appreciate your reply. However, the issue remains that whatever environmental conditions might be affecting the ATV's ability to stream Netflix content in my particular setting, those same factors don't affect Roku in the single example. The boxes are located physically right next to each other.

Update to this thread.

Downloaded the speed test and installed. Just used it so far on the existing infrastructure (ATV connected via WiFi). I doubt I'll go to the trouble of moving the ATV to a place where it could be connected via ethernet (still not sure what info relevant to the problem at hand this connection would yield).

The Roku does indeed "step all over" the ATV4's download speeds. With Roku powered up and connected to the network, ATV4 is barely able to maintain connectivity at .1 to .2 Mbps. Unplug Roku, and ATV4 screams along at a respectable 40-50 Mbps, more than enough for any streaming I will ever do.

With regard to physical positioning, I've moved Roku as far from ATV4 as is possible in my media room, which is about two feet within a cabinet -- placing two intervening cabinet walls, and a PS3 in between Roku and ATV4. This makes no difference in the effect Roku has on ATV4.

There seem to be no ill effects going the other way --- ATV4 adversely affecting Roku.

This Roku generated interference was not an issue before we replaced the ATV3 with ATV4.

I'm just getting started figuring out if I can better manage the WiFi spectrum, having installed the home version of Inssider. One thing I know that could be contributing is the dual band signals of my Comcast Modem, which I was told (on installation) could not be turned off. My WiFi is provided by an ASUS Router but the Comcast modem just blasts away with its signals as well. Need to check with Comcast and see if that problem has been fixed. It's only been about nine months.

I have acceptable streaming now on all devices. Where signal strength was adequate, I put all the devices that would never be used at the same time on my 5GHz band (if they were capable). The Apple TV in the basement is too far from the 5GHz source to be assigned there, so I left it on 2.4 GHZ; Roku doesn't have a high band capability. Roku puts out --- apparently --- quite a significant signal in that band on its own, and this was the culprit, I believe, in hindering ATV streaming. I separated these two boxes physically as much as I could given the limitations imposed by the home theater cabinetry. ATV carries four bars for signal strength; Roku reports signal strength as "fair." However, both boxes stream OK with these reported signal amplitudes; the physical separation, with several cabinet partitions intervening, seem to be enough to let ATV do its thing without stumbling or hiccuping.

Back at the router, I moved the 2.4GHz channel assignment to one that had less conflicts with the neighbor. In looking over the WiFi environment in the neighborhood, i have only one strong signal to contend with, and that is from the nearest neighbor's unsecured 2.4GHz Wifi that appears to be the signal from his Comcast modem/router. I'll never understand people who don't encrypt.

I was able to get the Comcast modem/router into bridge mode simply by re configuring the cable and Ethernet connections. Although I did contact Comcast because there website says they must turn off the WiFi signals on their supplied modem/router, that turned out NOT to be true. As soon as I had fired everything up in Bridge Mode, their WiFi signals were down. Illogically, though, the lights on the front of the modem/router for 2.4GHz and 5.0Ghz stay lit.

I was never able to get the Roku stick to work on any TVs I had on the second floor (most distant point from WiFi signal in my house). Each of my flat screens in those locations only has USB ports on the rear of the TV, and the mass of the screen itself was enough of a barrier such that WiFi signals were just not strong enough. All of the boxes, however, do a fine job streaming.