Both devices are hard wired to the same network and hard wired to the same TV, so the problem must be with the Roku.

The device is hard wired so wireless network is not an issue

I have this connected on hard wire ethernet (instead of WiFi) and it works perfectly

Mine is hard wired to my

With the Roku on a hard wire those problems are gone

Then constantly dropping network connection even though on a hard wired connection

My Sony BluRay player is older and never would recognize my wire, but worked fine on Wifi

The fact that it routinely cuts outs (lights start flashing, audio connection start "popping", video freezes) even though I have it on a hard wire network connection, THAT I cannot live with.