Direct TV Stream device

Restart your device and environment (modem and router).

Thanks but I have tried all the usual troubleshooting tricks.  Unplugged, restarted, reset, called Direct TV reps, etc.

Wi-Fi or Ethernet?

Wi-fi

I would try Ethernet to verify connectivity. Even boosters can improve performance.

Unable to go that route unfornately, thanks anyway

Definitely sounds like a Wifi issue. You may have a weak signal at your device. You can have a fast Internet service coming into your home, but when you convert it to wifi a lot of factors can affect your signal. If your device is to far away from your wireless router you can have a low signal. Every door or wall it has to go through reduces the strength of the signal.
A good thing to do is to go to your app store and download a signal testing app into your DirecTV box and check the signal strength at your device. I use Speed Test and Analiti, on my DirecTV devices.
If you see your signal is weak, you may need to purchase a wifi extender to place in the vicinity of your DirecTV box.

I'm not following you with how to check the signal strength of my Direct TV Stream box.  I know how to test my AT&T wifi with a speed test.  But confused when you say "a testing app into your Direct TV box."

On your DirecTV box go to Menu/Apps, then open Google Play Store. Search for Speed Test and download it to the DirecTV box and run it. That will show you exactly what your Wifi speed is on the box.  Some people think running it on a computer will tell them what their speed is for everything on their entire system, but it only tells them what it is on the device they are running it on. It has to be downloaded and run on the device you are checking for speed. 

Perfect, thank you, will do. A Direct TV rep has suggested an optical audio cable so I will try that too

The test shows 279 Mbps download and 99 Mbps upload, also mentions pings but no clue what any of it means 

Looks like your Wifi speed is good. Usually a spinning wheel, in the center of the screen is a sign your device is not getting a strong enough signal, but yours seems OK. If possible try another input on your receiver, to see if the one you are using is bad. 

When I used the optical audio cable I got the sound working but only out of one speaker. Called Sony, as it’s a Sony receiver, and they couldn’t figure it out. I’m exhausted at this point so would happily pay an AV tech to come out buy can’t figure out how to look for one. Would rather not go through Best Buy. Any suggestions for that?