Q: Apple TV HD Rental Streaming Problem

We purchased an Apple TV a few months ago and have spent alot of money on movies that took anywhere from three hours to two days to watch. We are very disappointed in this product. I have checked with my Internet provider, rebooted, reset, done everything and anything possible with no success. I just now saw all the messages in regards to this products shortfalls...

I had tried most of the suggested items in the discussion and exactly what you have just indicated as well.  What I did this past weekend was booked an appointment at the Apple Store and took the Apple TV box into the store.  The technician plugged the box into a lap top and connected to iTunes and reset the box to factory defaults.  I then reconnected it and tried to down load a movie from Apple TV and was able to do so in less than 30 seconds.  Also able to download a TV show from the TV show feed and took no time at all and NetFlix has no delays now either.  Has been working well for last three days (fingers crossed)

Hi Guys / gals.  After a  ton of troubleshooting and no help from Apple (I emailed support with no luck).  I was finally able to reliably get my Apple TV2 to work properly.  It has been up and running smoothly for 2 weeks now including over the holidays with only a few minor hickups (buffering).  Prior to this, it became absolutely useless.  I could not stream a movie purchased through iTunes or stream Netflix for more than 10 seconds at a time.  Now that it is working, I have a sneaking suspicion that it was related to my ISP trying to block Apple TV use.  I use Rogers Internet in Toronto.  It's strange because Netflix was working properly through my Blu-Ray player which I can't explain. I had tried using a wireless and a wired ethernet connection and it didn't make a difference.  So what I did was change the network settings to NOT use Rogers DNS servers and use Google's instead.  Once I applied these changes it worked perfectly both wireless and wired.  So here's what I did (going from memory through the menu settings so bare with me):

General tab

Settings

Network settings

Change from Automatic to Manual

Leave the settings the same as the default settings (IP address, Subnet mask etc.)

For primary DNS server, change to 8.8.8.8 (google's DNS)

Secondary (if there) leave what is there

Save settings

Hope this helps.  Apple TV is great when it works!

I had reservations about purchasing this piece of technology after initialy reading this discussion thread, but decided to proceed anyway, given that I could merely return the unit for a full refund if I experience problems. I've had it hooked up for just over a week, and have had no problems whatsoever with any of its features (HD movie rentals, playing from iTunes library, using airplay, etc.)

Whether the problem that everyone appears to be experiencing is associated with the actual device, or is with the wireless router being used, or even if its simply 'perceived' (a.k.a. user is a technology neophyte) ... it doesn't matter !! ... TAKE IT BACK.  Even if its a user problem that translates to a lack of simplicity built into the unit, And simplicity is something Apple is supposed to be famous for.  The only language a manufacturer understands is "volumes" (i.e. $$).  That said, I see few people in this 188,000 comment thread that have said "I took mine back".  That tells me one thing: there are a lot of people here who merely want to see their opinions/words listed in an opinions thread.

Update to my posts in November, 2011.  Well, it's been two months now and a few movie purchases and a ton of YouTube and Vimeo videos later and not one issue since I changed my DNS settings.  I am using the OpenDNS servers (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220).  Looks like OpenDNS and GoogleDNS seem to have fixed this issue for a couple of us.  Give it a try and let us know if it works for you.

None of the fixes work for me. I just waited the 42 minutes to watch my film and after authorising it said "Your apple tv is not authorised to play this content".

Well it is, and you're not fit for purpose Mr Apple TV.

AirPlay is the only good feature, the rest is counterintuitive cack.

Fix this Apple.

I had the Not authorized issue as well.  It appeared the aTV had lost the wireless settings.  Make sure your Apple id is still embeded. 

If you are wired ... make sure your network is not maxed out with other traffic.  Like other computers or machines downloading movies or something like that.  If you don't have bandwith ... you it will be like you are sucking and elephant through a straw.

MR.Toaster - could you reiterate how you managed the change to your  DNS settings?  We have been watching a couple of movies over the weekend and the experience has been frustrating to say the very least. Stops and starts galore. Thanks so much.

I had issues using AT&T DSL with a Linksys wireless router. I didn't want to and still wouldn't have messed around with its settings. But as luck would have it, I was awaiting installation from AT&T Uverse through all of this. I now have the Uverse internet, phone and HDTV package. It came with it's own wireless router. The Apple TV works great now. An HD movie is ready to play in a minute or two. I couldn't believe it. I think my internet is only the mid range speed. Uverse has the worst HDTV signal I've seen, but I can live with it because the rest of the service is great. I'd still get Roku over Apple TV though unless Apple TV gets more content. But I am happy to use Apple TV because the last Blockbuster in my area just shut down. Guess I have to buy BluRays now if I want to see my TV live up to its potential.

I am holding my breath, but I believe that I've fixed it!  First, the ATV2 menu has a signal strength indicator — mine had all of the bars.  So I believed that there was not a signal problem — and my DSL runs at a confirmed 10.6 Mb.  But using the iPad in the area of the ATV2 showed slow and hesitant loading of web sites.  So I bought an additional Express airport to extend my wireless network from the Extreme airport.  That's two Express and one Extreme.  The last addition is placed near the ATV2 and connected to it with an ethernet cable.  Genius at the Apple  Store thought it was overkill but worth a try. Now everything streams instantly and without hiccup, stall or delay.  The last attempt to use an iTunes stream prior to the new Express addition gave me over a 200 hour delay to watch a movie.  IMHO, after following this thread for a very long time, there may be a variety of different problems that produce poor functioning of the ATV2 — most related to signal.  In this regard, I found it interesting that if I had a movie on the iPad, I could steam it flawlessly to the TV throught the ATV2 using Airplay. Sooooooo, to eliminate one potential issue, be sure that you have a strong signal, with no intereferernce from cordless phones, etc., to the ATV2 if you are using wireless.

Forget the Apple TV, I am having thi issue with My PowerBookPro 17 with 8 gigs memory and 3ghz. Everything has been fine for the last 2 years, then last week it started occurring?

What I sent to Apple:

I am able to d/l Movies and Music no issue. When an HD movies are to be downloaded I have an Issue where the HD part downloads to 1.x megs and then Stops? I seemingly can not d/l HD content? what has occurred here? I have seemingly tried everything.

Now I have 3 HD movies that are not Downloaded? Is it me or U? All has been fine for years this just started occurring.

Things I have tried:

Different System on external disk

New iTunes library

Different copy of iTunes

Redid Network

Deleted Downloads folder as / Apple instructions 20X

all same symptom

Help

MBP 17 5,2

Latest OS

What am I missing

gene

Im presently in Ecuador and all has been well till the last few weeks. A 3 MB connection for what I used to get 30 MB onnection in the US. I still have my US account so I have had access, one mile up in the Mountains in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. I'm glad I'm not the only one, that means it will actually/hopefully get fixed sooner than later, My provider, Vilcanet, sent me here so I see Its not him. Wow I feel better, but wait for the return of our HD movies. As I said I get HD TV from Apple and regualr def moies and Music no issues. Only HD vies fail.

Now I see its an Apple Issue!!! I was in touch with Apple's iTunes help System and sent all this to Apple. They said they had sent it up the chain to investigate, and I should waut a few weeks. They did Credit me for the 4 HD movied that would not D/L. These have been Purchases Not Renta, well One Rental...l so the Issue is Larger than you  know

They started strong, then, before 2 megs the D/L dropped. In a few minutes the time was saying 100 hrs till completion. The Standard resolution d/led just fime along with the iTunes Extras, But the HD part was Hopeless. I Got the refund But Now I have 4 Lo Rez movies that don't have the HD which I need? I'll Have to re-d/l all the movies all over again, when/if they fix it.

They should have a complete your Album deal on the movies. If they had HD thats what I would get, often HD is NOT available. Sometines a year later the HD comes out. SO with , Avatar, I already own the low rez piece, so why can't I pay just for the HD piece now to complete the set? A Shame!!  Making us Pay Twice...hmmmmm very Un Apple Like, a missed opertunity to please thier cutomers. Maybe soon they will offer us that service we need.

Video streaming is not as reliable as other methods for watching movies.

Remember, video streaming depends on a complex and fragile infrastructure that is subject to the demand of others.

Personally, I like AppleTV for watching missed TV shows and music. But for movies (especially HD movies) I find it is far more reliable to put in a DVD or Blu-ray DVD and watch a movie uninterrupted with rocksolid reliability.

Someone blogged about it here.

http://granniethegeek.com/2012/01/14/apple-second-generation-tv-unit-just-doesnt -work/

Too bad other tech sites did not follow suit and/or jump on the bandwagon.

Come one, Apple. Please fix this. This never used to be a problem for mine. Now it is. The changing of DNS Servers helps, but it does not permanently fix the problem!

It was my Providers Fault, Not Apple's!!