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Netflix Problems

Anybody else having this problem? I had no trouble signing into my Netflix account (Instant Queue, recently played, etc...) but when I try to play something on the ATV it takes a long time to load then stops after two or three seconds. I tried this over wi-fi and with ethernet. I do not have particularly fast DSL but I watch Netflix on my Mac all the time with no problems. Also, I had no trouble streaming a movie trailer on the ATV. Just a Netflix bug? Any ideas?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Sep 29, 2010 8:25 PM

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793 replies

Sep 29, 2010 8:46 PM in response to CalebG

I am also having problems with streaming Netflix. I can sign in to my account with no problems, see viewing history, browse titles, etc. But when I try to play anything, I see the spinning wheel for a few seconds then get an error message that says, "An error occurred loading this content. Try again later."

I tried doing a reset to factory defaults, which also forces the device to download the latest firmware. No change. I also logged into my Netflix account from a regular web browser and confirmed that I have fewer than the maximum six playback devices currently authorized to play streaming content. And when I run the online troubleshooter, Netflix reports everything is working on their end.

No problems streaming content from other providers like YouTube, although I do experience the same problem others have reported with not being able to see the Favorites list on a particular YouTube account. (A separate issue, probably.)

Sep 30, 2010 5:33 PM in response to CalebG

As suggested, I've tried unplugging/rebooting the device several times, but with no change. Since there is no firmware update available, my Netflix account is in good standing, and the Apple TV can access content via all the other major sources (including an iTunes library on my home network), I'm almost convinced I have a defective unit.

Sep 30, 2010 7:58 PM in response to CalebG

Netflix worked great on the new ATV all day. It was only during the evening hours that the spinning wheel appeared. I actually happened in the middle of a movie and the service has not returned. I get a message the "Netflix is not available at this time." Is it possible the system is overwhelmed with new and extra streaming due to people getting their new ATV's today?

Oct 1, 2010 1:58 PM in response to Vageli

Was on the phone with netflix this seems to be a bandwidth issue.
When I direct plugged in the ATV2 and cable modem it worked.
MY isp is time warner. It may also be a atv network issue.
My xbox, ps3 and ipad work in my network with out direct connecting to my cable modem.
I am not using Wifi (hard wired)

Message was edited by: GaLupo

Oct 1, 2010 1:56 PM in response to GaLupo

I haven't looked at any ATV teardowns, but I wonder where the wifi antenna is inside the ATV? Have you tried putting the ATV out in the open and away from other pieces of equipment and such? I wonder if the problem is just a simple case of wifi interference? (At least, I assume you were using wifi before you tried to directly plug it in - perhaps that assumption is wrong.)

Oct 1, 2010 2:11 PM in response to CalebG

All I can say is even with a 7Mbps connection, streaming is unreliable with my Sony Bravia XBR9 TVs. It works sometimes all the way through a 2 hour movie, when other times it stalls on a 1 hour TV show midway through, and repeatedly thereafter.

DSL normally is less than 7Mbps, so anyone with DSL trying to connect to Netflix, I would attribute it more to the connection speed than anything else, as well as the Netflix programming for the streaming.

I would contact Netflix and let them know not everyone has Cable or Fiberoptic to be able to handle high speeds, and many stuck with 384 kbps DSL still. I would certainly hope that with any streaming device they can handle the minimum broadband speed. Cause if they can't what hope do we have for 3G devices such as iPad 3G? I don't expect dialup to work, but at least minimal DSL shouldn't have that much trouble. Way back when, when I had a 384 kbps DSL, I was able to stream the Quicktime trailers in Mac OS 9 of some movies. No reason Netflix can't talk Microsoft into improving Silverlight to handle streaming better. We as customers who have slow broadband internet just need to let them know when they aren't serving everyone with broadband.

Netflix Problems

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