Compatibility with DIRECTV wireless streaming

You can check for compatible devices located here

Streaming can be done wirelessly over wireless Wi-Fi on all modern smart TVs and streaming devices, or you can hardwire the internet connection for better speeds and reliability (this is known as an Ethernet connection).

As a note, Samsung TVs perform pretty poorly when it comes to the DIRECTV STREAM app. I suggest, to mitigate these issues you will see as you try to use the app on a Samsung TV, that you go and pick up a cheap and inexpensive Fire TV, Apple TV, or Roku TV for a better experience. 

Thanks, detuch254, for taking the time to respond to my question.

Our main TV (Sony) is hooked up to a wireless Directv box that communicates with the AT&T router. I was told that if I had one TV hooked up to a Directv wireless box, all the other smart TVs in the house could be connected wirelessly without additional boxes through my Wi-Fi.

Not working for my Samsung TV.

So, I am using a Roku device for the Samsung; have downloaded the Directv app and have the TV working in that mode.

I do have ethernet hardwire in the house at our planned TV locations; just haven't had the tech put plugs on the ends of the ethernet cables and connect them to the AT&T router yet.

Thanks again for your help!

Thanks, bcbsncjlj, for the DIRECTV contact information.

Hello @Rsr6, your comment caught our attention. We did the research and found out that your Samsung Smart TV UN65KS800D is not compatible with the application. For more information, try this link https://www.directv.com/support/article/KM1200941

You don't need an Ethernet cable from your router if you meet the suggested internet speed, check this link out for more steps https://www.directv.com/support/internet/article/000093620 If you need anything else, you can contact DIRECTV anytime. Laura, DIRECTV Community Specialist

@Rsr6 - The Samsung app for DirecTV only supports model year 2017 and later, while I believe that is a 2016 model.  (I’m in the same situation.)

I don’t understand your comment implying that one TV’s network setup impacts others. With DirecTV Stream, each TV (or other device) is independent of the others - each requires a streaming device (which could be built in) and each communicates directly to DirecTV’s servers.  Whether the streaming device is set up as wired or wireless is a choice for each device separately. 

Luara @DIRECTVhelp, Thanks for your response; you've removed my uncertainty about my Samsung TV's compatibility with the Directv streaming service.

Roku or ethernet seem to be my only options for that TV (and maybe our other 2 "smart" tvs).

Our Sony TV has a wireless Directv stream device hooked up to it, and the Directv remote is working well with it and the TV; no issues with that one. 

Thanks for the two links. Internet speed is not an issue, as I understand the specs. I have the AT&T Internet 1000 plan, with up to 940M(Edited per community guidelines) simultaneous up and down loading. That's another variable that I now don't have to worry about.

Jrandomuser -- thanks for your response as well.  When the AT&T tech came out to set up our services, including Directv, he said that we only had to have one TV hooked up to a wireless Directv stream device. I really didn't want to pay the high fees for a directv stream device for each tv in the house. He said that all the other "smart tvs" in our home could then link to Directv streaming through that device wirelessly, without needing a Directv stream device for each TV to wirelessly link to the AT&T fiber optic router. 

Was he totally wrong? If my Samsung had been "compatible", would it have downloaded the Directv app and work well with the Directv remote?

I'm not a technie and don't understand all this electronic mumbo-jumbo. I grew up in an age of vacuum tubes, CRTs, and tall, physical antennae outside the house that had to be rotated by hand to "tune in" one of the 3 broadcasting stations.

Hard-wire ethernet, here I come! Thank God I had our builder's vendor install the ethernet cables (co-axial as well) from our A/V closet (where the AT&T fiber optic router is) to all the potential "smart" tv locations in the house. The vendor tried to tell me that I didn't need any of that "old hardwire tech", since wireless was so easy and the way to go today. Turned out to be (Edited per community guidelines); so glad I didn't listen to him.

Still seems to be far too many wireless systems design flaws, device incompatibilities and technology limitations for easy, seamless, wireless streaming from origin to point of viewing on devices in individual rooms.

Yes, the installer was wrong, at least about that. To be clear:

• Each TV needs a streaming device. Supported devices are Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV (most commonly FireStick), and AndroidTV.  These can be separate devices or built into the TV. For example, (fairly recent) Sony TVs have AndroidTV built in.  They also support (though there are reports that it isn’t particularly well) recent model Samsung TVs using the built-in ”smarts”.  (The DirecTV branded streaming device is actually an AndroidTV device, but it uses a version customized for the Stream service.)
• Different “smart” TVs use different “smarts” (built-in devices) and DirecTV doesn’t have apps for all.  It’s basically limited to the list above, so you’d need to know what system your smart TV uses - but there are no native apps for LG, Vizio, or several other fairly common brands. For those you would need to use an external device.
• None of the devices needs to be a DirecTV branded streaming device.  That device has some advantages for use with Stream (mostly because its remote is customized for the service, and the software takes advantage of that - for example, the ability to enter channel numbers using the remote, which none of the other devices allow). It also assumes Stream is going to be the main usage, so it treats that as the “home” app and all other apps as secondary.  Basically, it makes Stream look more like cable or satellite than using any of the other options.
•  Only the DirecTV device can use the DirecTV remote. Each device type comes with a distinct remote, and it can only be controlled by that remote (or something emulating it).  That means if you want direct channel number entry, you need to use the DirecTV streamer. 
• (Perhaps depending on the plan you subscribed to) If you prefer the DirecTV streamer, you may be able to buy refurb units from DirecTV for $50, which makes them more palatable. 
• Wired or wireless is a choice for each device individually.  Some of the devices only support wireless. If you have the option, I would suggest wired - it is more reliable. But assuming a good wireless signal, that should be fine. I have a mix of wired and wireless devices - the only DirecTV branded streamer I have happens to be wireless.