Detailed Analysis of Nvidia SHIELD TV WIFI Slow issues, After update to Oreo I have reported to Nvidia shield support.

by GregC85

After buying a new shield TV a week ago. I experienced very SLOW WIFI speeds on my SHield tv, ALmost a 1/3rd of my Full speeds. Here is the detailed investigation and tests i conducted. A Shield Tv support person is now looking at the issue.

TESTING / INVESTIGATION Steps and Results.

Speed-test app - Speedtest.net Ookla (Sideloaded from apkmirror) Url -> https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/ookla/speedtest/speedtest-4-3-1-release/speedtest-net-4-3-1-android-apk-download/

Shield TV version – Android 8 Oreo with 7. With - Shield Experience Upgrade 7.2.2

WIFI channel on router set to 10, 2.4 Ghz

TESTING + RESULTS / Confirmation of Issue

Current shield TV speed test is 25/26 Mbps

Test Steps + Results

  1. Factory Reset. (After Android Oreo update).

a. After Factory Reset – Wait for all apps to update.

b. Result -> Run Speedtest.net – FULL Speed 65-70MBPS

  1. Test Streaming App – Open Netlfix.

a. Result -> Netflix Smooth stream at Full HD.

  1. Re-run 3 consecutive Speedtests after above Netflix test.

a. Result -> WIFI speed now back down to 25MBPS, AFTER Netflix stream (Almost as if throttled)

  1. Test Phone and Laptop Speedtest ( 3x Consecutive ) to compare with Shield TV Slow 25 MBPS Wifi speed**.**

a. Result -> PHONE and LAPTOP speeds - both constantly hit 65-70 MBPS, almost 3x Slow Shield speed

  1. Check + UPDATE Router firmware. – Reboot Shield TV + Router

a. Result -> Router Firmware updated successfully

  1. Run Post Router firmware update + Reboot Shield TV Speedtest.

a. Result -> 3x Consecutive speedtests – All resulted int FULL 65-70 MBPS speeds as per all other devices in the room.

  1. With FULL speed result from Test #6 above, Open Netflix / Amazon Prime / Youtube, Stream anything for a minute and then exit the streaming app.

a. Result -> Netflix + Amazon both streamed flawlessly in Full HD.

  1. Re-run Speed test 3x Times.

a. Result -> Wifi Speeds Post Netflix / Amazon / Youtube Now back to SLOW 25 MBPS.

  1. Open Settings Menu -> WIFI -> SIGNAL STRENGTH and Monitor changes in status.

a. Result -> with throttled SLOW 26 MBPS speed , Signal strength continually changed from EXCELLENT TO FAIR TO GOOD every 3 seconds.

  1. Final Test – Restart Shield TV ,

10.1 perform 3x Speedtest after restart WITHOUT streaming any Media.

Result -> Full WIFI Speed at 65/70 MBPS

10.2 Exit / close Speedtest app, Reopen speedtest and rerun**.**

RESULT -> Full WIFI Speed at 65/70 MBPS

  1. Run any Netflix / Amazon Prime / Youtube stream and then rerun one last speedtest.

a. Result -> WIFI back to SLOW throttled Speed of 25 MBPS

Test Results Conclusion / Finding

- After a restart, the Shield TV is able to get FULL WIFI Speeds of my internet connection at 65/70 MBPS.

- These Speeds are immediately lost after any streaming app is opened and content is streamed. (Netflix / Youtube / Amazon Prime) Wifi speedtests remain at 25MBPS unless the Shield is restarted.

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Complete Testing Document - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kHVtXBcJmwstNfhouIAh7yKLdNbGudC8

PalebloodSky

I use hard wired so haven't had any issues but you should post all these results here:

https://forums.geforce.com/default/board/159/shield-tv/

strifev1

In my experience, the Shield TV has an issue with 5ghz auto-channel select. It will default to 2.4ghz and throttle your speed. The only thing that worked for me is to change your 5ghz wifi channel to a static channel. I believe I changed mine to 48. After this change the Shield connected to 5ghz and stayed connected.

vicelversa

This is great and all but testing these speeds to servers and a network you don't control is a huge variable. I suggest installing an iperf server on your Lan then an iperf client on the shield and test for more reliable results.

Roedrik

Maybe this is the issue with Plex streaming from my NAS. Sporadically get the dreaded not fast enough to stream this content message once an hour or so.

ecureuil

OP forgot to mention he has a TP-link N only specification (no AC) and use only 2.4GHZ.

I know that the Shield can be picky and prone to WiFi interferences. I had a wrt300n when I bought my shield in 2015. The problem is the router. I upgraded to a better router and have worked flawlessly since.

Midranger4

Just an FYI. Have (3) shields in the immediate family all running the same (3) problem apps (Netflix, Amazon, Youtube) and I have not experienced this issue. Also excuse me if I may have missed it by you performed speed tests from other devices on the same network but I don't see where you replicated the scenario and then pulled a speed test from your phone. Have you fired up netflix on your phone then tested your speed on that device?

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grafpaper1987

Experiencing the exact same thing... Haven't had time to look into it, but appreciate you taking the time. This has been driving me nuts.

doommaster

I am on my 5 GHz 802.11ac WiFi and get 244 Mbits/sec up to the shield and 92.7 Mbits/sec
which @-66 dBm is very much ok.

I used iperf3 to test the actual link speed.

But usually I am using Ethernet anyways… way better :-)

Midranger4

It sounds like ISP throttling to me. Have you tried testing with VPN tunnel active to see if after starting any of the mentioned streaming apps you observe a drop in speeds?

Guzzleguts

I'm experiencing a very similar situation on my Shield tablet. I recently switched ISP, and didn't notice the issue before. I'm now using EE (UK company), and I'm planning to ring them soon.

jeepnjo6

I use a LAN cable to my shield, but I have been having slow loading issues after the latest update. Some programs load extremely slow.

hartleyshc

Great info. I've had issues using gamestream and iptv (both of which use higher than normal bandwidth) on the shield in the bedroom, while the hardwired one in the living works flawlessly.

Never thought to try WiFi speed testing, as I have a good router(s), and all other devices are fine.

Will go through your testing today and give some of my own verification.

FiiireTV

Instead of speedtest, could you also consider comparing this test with the Geforce NOW network test.

I always get great and true speeds when I test this.. I also like this feature since it allows you to switch which servers you would like to connect to.

newtonfb

I have the same issue as you. I have 2 shields...1 is wired and the other is on wifi. I have Google wifi mesh network and it connects via 5hz. The one on wifi will buffer and occasionally slow down. Its the only device in the house that does so. I have also factory reset and still happens. The one wired has no issues at all.

meet2x4

I, personally, would try narrowing it down further. Take the device to a different location on a different ISP if possible? Find a WAP/router with a different chipset manufacturer in it as some brands do not play well with others despite design.

But FWIW the Oreo update on both my Nexus Players and Shield TVs yielded plenty of networking caveats that were not there in Nougat releases. I can not set a static IP address on either type of device without connectivity problems, WiFi went spotty on me like this, and I'm no longer able to view my local files via Kodi if the internet goes down. Could be my elaborate networking setup. Could be Google keeps releasing beta software at best. Best of luck getting it sorted out.

rod19more

My Shield stopped see the WiFi completely after the update. Did a factory reset. Shield connected but then lost WiFi again before any updates started. Gave up and moved the TV closer to the router. Connected the Shield directly to the router.

Doddsville

I've never had an issue.

twofaze

I don't think I have ever entered wifi credentials for my streaming devices in the livingroom.

Chrizzl3

It's got to be your router, doesn't it? It todays world, a $25 N router just doesn't cut it. "Should" you be experiencing these issues? No. Is it annoying? Absolutely! But you've got to narrow it down a bit further.

GregC85

Incase you guys are interested, this is the last final TESTING I'm going to do on this thing before I give up and buy a new router.

My issue for going this far was that if my router is cheap, then it should be able to do the basics at short distances. Instead speed / streaming after 15-20 minutes pretty much halves th speeds without fail. Any other device on the same network has no such slowdown and yes this is using Iperf3 testing.

This last test document was now uploaded and sent to Nvidia support. Hopefully they find something.

I have a feeling newer better routers have no issues because they can cope with this being much faster, maybe going in noticed?

Anyway what do I know! Good luck to anyone having WiFi issues:) this is my last jab at testing this!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=19j_s9R8hEBCMZVLuQI8p98KabCzi56tY

cindy2xx

Ever since the new shield update 7.2.2 my shield is running slow when streaming it is hardwired. I used the fire stick which runs on Wi-Fi and streams flawlessly. What is going on with shield it is supposed to be a better device than a fire stick but the fire stick is out streaming it.