Contributor
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7 Messages
DIRECTV streaming box won't function when ethernet used for other Apps
My DirecTV streaming box receives its signal via Wifi from my router. Everything has worked flawlessly from the beginning. I also use streaming apps for Prime Video, Discovery+ and Paramount+. These have also been sent via Wifi from my router directly to my LG smart TV. The Discovery+ and Paramount+ Apps frequently freeze during buffering. I've verified good internet speed leaving the router. I've temporarily relocated the router closer to the TV (placing it 4 feet below the TV with only a wood floor in between). I've deleted and reinstalled the Apps for the two services. Nothing has stopped the buffering. I've decided to hard-wire the TV to the router via ethernet cable to positively eliminate any effects the Wifi signal might have on the buffering. When I made the ethernet connection, I left the DirecTV streaming box exactly as is, still connected to the router via Wifi.
The two dodgy apps are working better but I am not able to view anything from the DirecTV stream. I have the proper input selected on the TV (it is an HDMI port that hasn't changed). I just get a blank screen and no controls on the DirecTV remote do anything.
The only change I made to the TV itself was to enable the ethernet connection, which had been disabled in Settings. I did not disable or make any changes to Wifi in Settings.
Realizing that the DirecTV streaming box can also get its signal via ethernet, this morning I connected the ethernet cable directly to the DirecTV streaming box. The TV screen was blank and I could not access channels by directly entering their numbers. The only thing I could do with the remote was bring up the Guide. I could see the list of programs but clicking on any program did nothing. On the Guide screen, I was able to move the cursor to the far left and click down to the Settings icon. Wifi was still "on" and the ethernet connection showed. As a test, I turned Wifi "off." That did allow me to see the Guide and to access all of the channels. However, I was NOT able to see my list of saved programs. Clicking on List just got me a blank screen. I unplugged the ethernet cable and set Wifi "on" again. I then disconnected power from the DirecTV streaming box, waited 30 seconds, and powered it up again. Things went back to normal: I can see any channel AND I can access my saved programs. Things work as they did before I started all of this.
I need to keep ethernet connected to the TV to make the dodgy Apps work but I obviously want to keep my access to DirecTV streaming. Doesn't matter to me whether the DirecTV box gets its signal via ethernet or via Wifi. I'd very much like any suggestions on how to proceed.
Thanks in advance. And please let me know if I can provide more info.
Accepted Solution
Tiger593
ACE - New Member
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1.6K Messages
3 months ago
I am glad what I suggested to you helped. But just in case you did not know you can access both the Paramount+ and Discovery+ apps from your Directv box. That way you only have to use the ethernet cable to one device and it will make it easier than toggling between your Directv device and your TV apps.
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Accepted Solution
Ludwick577
ACE - New Member
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3.5K Messages
3 months ago
Are you using apps on your TV? If so, why not use those apps on the Dtv Stream box instead? I keep my Dtv Stream box hooked up via ethernet and never have any streaming issues.
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Tiger593
ACE - New Member
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1.6K Messages
3 months ago
There were some issues with the Directv Stream service with blank screens and not being able to use the guide or view recorded shows yesterday. Doing a reset to your box should fix the issue if it was being caused by that. I would reconnect your ethernet cable to your Directv box and then do a red button reset and see if things work as they should. It sounds like your issue might have just been the glitches that some people were experiencing yesterday when you were playing with the ethernet connection. So I would try again and see if there is a difference with the connection.
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georgiapeach
Contributor
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7 Messages
3 months ago
Tiger593:
I did as you suggested: plugged in the ethernet cable and pushed the red Reset button. Waited about 5 minutes and hit the power button on the DTV remote. Everything works, including the list of my saved programs. I then went to Settings to verify the condition of Wifi and ethernet. Wifi is "on" and ethernet is "connected." So I now have full functionality back.
One caution: At the moment, I have a single ethernet cable. I can connect it to the DTV box or directly to the TV but not both. I've ordered an ethernet splitter which should arrive tomorrow. The next test will be using the splitter to feed ethernet to both the DTV box and the TV at the same time. If I can access the dodgy apps (Paramount+ and Discovery+) on the TV and access DTV programming without hassle, my problem will be solved. I will post again with results once the splitter arrives.
Thanks for your help.
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georgiapeach
Contributor
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7 Messages
3 months ago
Tiger593 and Ludwick577:
Wow. No, I definitely did NOT know I could do that. It certainly simplifies things.
I'll try to make that happen later today and get back with results.
Thanks to you both.
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georgiapeach
Contributor
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7 Messages
3 months ago
Tiger593 and Ludwick577:
Complete success. I found the Apps I needed and successfully signed in. No more fiddling around with the TV and its quirks; everything will come through the DirecTV streaming box. With the box successfully connected with my router via ethernet cable, I hope buffering delays are gone. If some do occur, the problem will not be with my router-to-TV connection.
I subscribed to DirecTV satellite service for nearly 20 years before switching to their streaming service a couple of years ago. I was so accustomed to getting only my standard TV channels via DirecTV that I didn't fully explore the capabilities of the DTV streaming service and its box.
Thanks to both of you for helping. It is much appreciated.
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