Netflix Problems

I watched stuff on Netflix via AppleTV all day, but early evening started getting the error that it couldn't connect to Netflix. I could stream on my computer. I saw the posting to change the DNS on the ATV to 8.8.8.8. Took a few minutes to change, and was able to continue streaming without any problems.

Thought I would jump on as I am also having issues. Just got my new Apple TV today and am pretty happy with it except the Netflix. I watched Netflix via a Roku box on the TV and my MacBook Pro, no problems. I got my Apple TV set it up and everything was fine, or so I thought.

I watched a TV show and then tried for another and I kept getting access errors. I let it go for a while, went back and the show started to play, then stopped after a few minutes, then access issues again.

Plugged my Roku player back in (had to reset it) and it works just fine so it is not the connectivity, has to do with the Apple TV itself.

I have not tried the other internet options.

Hopefully they will push an update soon!
Patrick

p.s. I am connected via eithernet

Message was edited by: Patrick Stachofsky1

Here's a update on my situation. Tried the fix here mentioned using the Google Public DNS. Tried reseting, unplugging all that a few times. Netflix is still not working. Quits after a few seconds into a show. I called Netflix support. They took a look at what was coming through and said I'm getting 0 megs from the ATV. They checked other tries from a PC in the house and we were getting 5 megs speeds watching Netflix on other computers. So Netflix says it is not their issue, but a problem with the ATV. They suggested calling their support and possibly my ISP. I will try and post back what I find out.

Thanks!

Aside from the DNS issue. There does seem to be something different in the way ATV handles Netflix streams. Because even when I had my original problem, I was able to browse Netflix content and queue just fine. It was only upon launching any title where I ran into the problem. Using Google's public DNS server finally resolved it for me. And apparently for some other folks here in this thread.

For others with Netflix problem, there is definitely something else going on.

I have to say though, for the most part...I like how ATV handles Netflix. There are some things they can polish upon, but for a 1.0 release and aside from the issues some people are having, I like their Netflix GUI the most. Before that, I used Netflix on my iPad, iPhone, PS3, XBMC with Playon and Wii. Funny thing is, the official Netflix apps and interface are always so slow and laggy. I really hated the long load time from initial start, then launching of the Netflix disc, and the logging in and finally GUI load of the PS3. What a horrible experience when they could have easily installed it to the PS3's local HD. However they get a point because their stream always worked. 😉

Since changing DNS for my ATV, my Netflix experience on the ATV has been trouble free. I'd like to also point out that I am hooked up via ethernet cable. As a troubleshooting step, have those of you having trouble with Netfix and making the DNS change didn't help try hooking up directly to your router via ethernet cable. Just to isolate the problem. I know it's troublesome but it would help us figure out what the issue is until Apple issue out an update or something.

Anyways, hoping that you all resolve your issue somehow. Good luck. Keep us reprise of any changes of updates you may have regarding the issue so we can properly help.

It sounds to me you got a lemon. These things happen. Once you have eliminated the probable, the improbable must be true (paraphrasing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Update on my situation. Today I called Apple Support. The rep was very thorough in walking me through some steps to help me resolve my problem with streaming Netflix. He had me change the DNS on my Airport extreme from my ISP's DNS to some faster, secure public ones. That did not help. Everything did not change the situation so he is going to consult with the engineers next week and get back to me. If you read my previous post you'll see that I already tried the DNS change manually on ATV to the Google ones and that and the default doesn't work. I've also been on the phone with Netflix who say I'm showing zero megs speed from ATV but getting 5m on other devices streaming Netflix in the home. So I'm left to wait and see if Apple can help me further next week when the engineers are at work as they are not around on the weekends.

Both support technicians with Apple and Netflix have been very patient and thorough so, I feel like I'm getting some good support. It's just that at this point, it isn't resolved.

I've seen a slightly different problems described here. My AppleTV was streaming Netflix fine until yesterday. Then, while I was able to browse content and read descriptions, as soon as I tried to play anything I got an error message saying it couldn't reach the Netflix server and what turned out to be an Apple error code I believe of 112. Anyway, I talked to Netflix and, while they said they had problems for about 3 hours on Oct 8th with some BluRay players and Apple TVs, that wasn't my problem. He suggested I power cycle (unplug) the thing and it worked fine after.

It never occurred to me to power cycle it since everything else about it was working fine, including streaming other internet content like YouTube.

Thought I would share.

As mentioned previously, the "can't access Netflix" and "extremely slow network" problems are two different things. My problem is the latter.

My ATV2 has no problem accessing things (iTunes store, Netflix, home network), but is unbelievably slow. Like many others, I get a long wait with the spinning daisy, then 3-5 seconds of a Netflix show before it kicks out back to the menu.

Also, when I rented a movie from the store, it took a long time (couple of minutes) before it came up and said "your show will be ready in 925 minutes".

So I plugged an internet cable in directly and the thing was lightning fast.

I finally called Apple and got the usual "it must be wireless interference" line from the first tech, until I told the guy I have 2 desktops, five laptops, a Mac Mini, a Sony Bravia TV with a wireless access point, a Nintendo Wii, 2 iPhones, 2 iPod Touches and an iPad that all access the network (in various combinations) flawlessly all the time, going back several years. All of those devices can stream Netflix any time, no problem, while the ATV2 is dead in the water.

I have a newish Linksys WRT160n router. He handed me over to a supervisor who fairly quickly offered me an exchange, which I'll be doing today at an Apple store. Just for the heck of it, we tried changing channels on the router, and all kinds of other crap. No difference.

So basically, the wireless on the ATV2 has minimal connectivity, and it looks like there are a few defective units out there. I'll update tonight on how the new one works, but if you haven't contacted Apple yet - do it and ask to get your unit replaced. In all likelihood it's a hardware problem.

good luck all,
dave

<Edited by Host>

Same problem as me (see previous post). They are replacing the unit today at an Apple store. Will advise how it goes.

Thanks for that info Dave! That is exactly what happens to us on ours as we are able to stream Netflix from other devices fine. The Apple Support person did not offer me a replacement. Seems like if it's a hardware issue they are going to get a bunch of exchanges. I can't wait to see how your new ATV2 works. Please do keep us posted. Unfortunately, I do not live near an Apple store.

Do you have the same problem with all services, not just Netflix?

I did - renting a movie from the store, it told me "your movie will be ready in 950 minutes".

See my post earlier today - it appears that the wireless on some units may be defective - getting only kb/s - enough to download the menus (slowly) but nowhere near enough to support streaming. As I have about 15 wifi capable devices in the house and they all work, there's no way it's wireless interference. When I plug an ethernet cable in directly the unto works just fine.

Am getting the unit replaced today, and will advise how it goes tonight (should be about 7 pm PDT).

Question: Why are you guys using OpenDNS to begin with and not your broadband providers own DNS?

Update on replacement ATV2 hardware

Result - identical behavior.

In summary, the behavior is this:
All other wireless devices (Mac Mini, 4 laptops, 2 iPhones, 2 iPod Touches, iPad, Wii, wireless printer, wireless access point for TV) work fine - all they needed was the WPA2 password.

ATV2 works fine when plugged into ethernet.
ATV2 will stream internal network video flawlessly on wireless (specifically an HD movie from iTunes library on my desktop Dell.)
Will connect to outside sources on wireless (Netflix, iTiunes store), but at minimal speeds. I can see the iTunes store, Netflix, Youtube but when it comes to playing something, it takes forever and dies after a few seconds. A movie rental at the store said it would be ready to view in 950 minutes.

I've tried manually setting the TCP/IP settings. The router (192.168.1.1) and device (192.168.1.1xx) addresses look OK.

Changed the DNS address to the google server (8.8.8.8): no change

Setup tried:
Changing router (Linksys WRT160N) channels: no change
Removing WPA2 password: no change
Shutting down all other wireless devices in house, rebooting router, ATV2: no change

Something is screwy that's killing bandwidth outside the home network, but there just aren't that many options to play with on the ATV2, so any suggestions from networking mavens out there?

I never used wireless, just Ethernet cabling and had similar 5 second netflix playback and return to netflix menu when using apple airport router. All internet based traffic did not work correctly. Tried resetting, dns change, etc. Nothing listed here worked. I switched to a dlink router and had no problems. The airport does not have the detailed network settings that a non apple router does. Apple needs to take a dlink router and see why apple tv works there but not with their own router. I could do it, but it would take hours to days to figure it out. It is hard to believe that these issues did not appear in internal and home testing prior to large scale manufacturing.

On a side note, what do you think the dns servers like google does with all the network address lookups? They have a list of all Internet access from your router, plus time of time, and location. Don't know about you, but i think that google knows more about us all than your friends and family. People worry about government spying, but what about companies like google, Comcast, Microsoft, etc?

Dave, is this your replacement one? So you've exchanged your ATV2 device and still not luck? If so, this is so sucky. Apple needs to fix this quick. I have not gotten mine problem resolved and hoping the Apple specialist has referred to the engineers. He mentioned calling me Thurs, tomorrow. Hope he does or I'm back on the phone with Apple support. I'd hate to return it as this is exactly what I've wanted in a home entertainment center for my tv, but if it's crappy manufacturing and poor planning, then I will do that in a heartbeat.