Netflix Problems

JohninDenver, you say that:

A speed test shows 12 to 25 mbps which should be more than enough but when downloading netflix with apple tv I only get a very low speed with comcast due to restricting the speed.

How does one test for the exact speed that Netflix is downloading over apple tv?

Laurence:

1. Netflix content in a browser uses a different sever to Netflix on ATV (or there is local network cache?)

This is true. Netflix confirmed this to me. They use different servers to support computer and mobile downloading (as opposed to TV).

Thanks dh2015,

so it could be that Netflix have prioritized computer and mobile over ATV. Then it would be up to Netflix to fix this rather than Apple. The plot thickens...

A client called me in this AM with a Netflix streaming issue. Some movies would stall at the 99% loading while others played fine. I took out all the wifi/router portions of the mix and found exactly the same issue persisted. I then substituted the OpenDNS DNS server IPs for the one the router was obviously getting from the ISP (TimeWarner, El Paso, in this case). Problem solved. Evidently some of the videos on Netflix are hosted on servers TW's DNS servers can't get a lock on. Not surprising as TW's hardware bites.

To save anyone the need to look up the OpenDNS server IP's: They are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

All I had to do was add them into the appropriate screen (in each Mac's Network System Prefs) for DNS while still using DHCP otherwise.

Hello Barry Levine,

I just tried this on my AppleTV. I just used manual network settings and used your OpenDNS IP address instead of my home router's for DNS server. It seems to work really well, but the test will be tonight when the whole planet is using netflix. I will let you know, but thanks, this might just be the answer! 😁

I don't really have these problems but some movies that I look up on netflix apple tv isn't on apple tv netflix but when i type the movie name into the computer it says that it is on netflix. How do I make the movies that appear on the online netflix show up on apple tv netflix? What's up with that?

😕

That should not be the case, make sure your location is set correctly in the settings.

I am having the same issues everyone else is. Have changed the DNS first to 8.8.8.8 then to 8.8.4.4. Now I'm back to just resetting the ATV2. Pretty annoyed with ATV2 and am fairly confident that this is an issue on their end and not one on netflix as I don't see the issue on either my ipad, my airbook, or my gf laptop. Wonder if apple will step to the plate. But highly doubt it.

I'm using the OpenDNS servers (208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220) and it has completely resolved the Netflix issues. The problem is that Netflix content comes from different servers; some are connectable without a problem whereas others are located (logically) where AT&T, TimeWarner (maybe others) can't find them (due to their DNS servers being really poor, bad, cheap, poisoned, you name it).

Hope this helps.

Barry, is this the DNS on the ATV2 or your router? I'm on TWC.

I do not have an ATV2; this is on my Macs and clients' Macs. I use ATT (Uverse) and some discussions I've read on the web indicate that mucking about with the DNS in the Uverse router doesn't work (although I haven't tried it).

Using the OpenDNS servers also resolved a goDaddy eMail issue where, periodically, Apple Mail would fail to connect to their POP server ("timeout").

Hello nmballa,

I have used the 208.67.222.222 as the DNS setting on my ATV and I have had no problems since making this change. Go not network setting, select he manual option and accept them all as they are until you get to dns.

I works!

Tried the OpenDNS servers and it didn't work. .8.8.8.8. server worked this evening. First time I've been able to stream without interruptions every 10-14 seconds in about 2 weeks. Would love to know what the problem is!

This DNS 208.67.220.220 worked for me....after being on the phone with Apple TV, Netflix and Netgear support the support communities came through for me again.

The open DNS servers did not work for me. The issue with the buffering occurs mostly in the evenings. I am using Apple TV with software 4.4.4

I called Netflix support and they did not acknowledge an issue with their streaming. We made speed test from both, the Apple TV and the PC, we tested the streaming with the PC and the issue does not occur in it. We reboot Apple TV and the router.

Since the issue does not occur in the PC, Netflix support said it could not be their issue. Nevertheless, they sent me an email with the steps to try to correct it, which basically were the same we had tried. I do not agree with not having the issue in the PC releases Netflix from the issue in the Apple TV. It is very anoying to watch a move when the buffering occurs constantly.

I live in Mexico, Netflix just opened doors here. Not sure if that may be related.