Netflix pausing/buffering issues

Yes, but call Netflix to confirm your bandwidth. I also run an Airport Extreme. I have tried every solution with Apple, my ISP, and Netflix. I'm convinced it's a software issue.

You may have 6mbs dsl, but is your Apple TV connecting at this speed? It should be connecting at 6mbs, so call Netflix to find out. I have yet to see anyone over the 1.5 mark.

I can guarantee you that it isn't a network problem but rather the way the Apple TV manages its connection to Netflix.

I have this problem and am using FiOS (fiber to my condo unit). It is a constant 15 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up with very low latency. The Apple TV is connected to this service on a wired network, also very low latency. Other devices (e.g. Macbook Pro, iPad) wirelessly connected to the same network playing the same content have zero problems. Only the Apple TV has this problem.

The previous post regarding the connection speed to the Netflix servers being different for Apple TV vs these other devices is the key. It has something to do with the way the Apple TV is managing the connection. Apple should be able to fix this if we arm them with our data.

For those people NOT having problems, I am also interested in your connection speeds to Netflix. Netflix will track your connection speed on all devices used for the last 24 hours. Call them and ask. They are very quick to respond to calls.

Fair enough, but I was also referring to the poster who was having issues with the other services. I'll call them up just out of interest, being out of the group not having any issues.

Ok, I actually watched 3 TV episodes on Netflix last night without any pausing issues. I called Netflix today and asked what my connection speeds were and they were all between 1 Mbps and 1.8 Mbps. So... I called Apple and left a message with a senior advisor that I spoke to about this issue in mid-February. Presumably, I will get a callback next week and he will be able to escalate the issue.

You guys really need to call Apple about this! Just tell them you don't need support but just want to report a bug. Even if you don't have AppleCare they will let you talk to a senior advisor. Tell them about this forum and how there are at least 20 pages of posts. Send them the message! I'm sure if enough of us call with the same issue, they will fix it for us.

The issue is that the Apple TV connects at a very slow speed. Other devices on the same network trying to view the same content at the same time have a much higher connection speed.

My Netflix stream worked liked like charm till the new firmware..........please fix the problem......

I read this, tried it and i am glad to report, this solved all netflix buffering issues. Your routers DNS is the problem. This is not spam.

http://www.compunoodle.com/fix-apple-tv-2-netflix-streaming-problems/

omnibusfilms wrote:
I read this, tried it and i am glad to report, this solved all netflix buffering issues. Your routers DNS is the problem. This is not spam.

http://www.compunoodle.com/fix-apple-tv-2-netflix-streaming-problems/

This might have fixed your problems temporarily, but others have tried it and it did not. The author also updated that the new iOS update solved his issues and the DNS solution was no longer required. One size fits all answers compound issues for many due to changing settings that were not the cause. Just my two cents....

I'm happy to report that the latest ATV2 update fixed my problem. I have been unable to reproduce any pausing/buffering issues since the update, even with HD content. The buffering time at the beginning is longer, which I believe is a good thing. That indicates that the software is now buffering more video content to accommodate internet congestion and retransmission delays.

If you are experiencing problems, my advice is to do the upgrade. I don't believe the ATV2 has much memory to use for buffering, so if you still have problems, check your network or internet service. The speed or quality of the bit-rate delivery to your home from Netflix may not be high enough to maintain the buffer depletion.

For those of you claiming that it is an ISP issue or a DNS issue or that the update fixed it, I guarantee you this is not the case. I'm happy it's working for you, but many of us are still having the issue. In fact, we have figured out the problem. I urge you to read through all of the posts in the last month before commenting.

I had problems again last night so I called Netflix this morning for a connection speed recap. (Recall I am on a 15 Mbps direct fiber connection). Here is what I was connecting at:

4/3/2011
6:36:56 pm 1.33 mbps
6:44:54 pm 0.16 mbps
6:51:56 pm 0.87 mbps
7:25:05 pm 0.0 mbps

was streaming a netflix movie thru the ATV2 and about 30sec in it paused like it always does, doing its normal buffering thing. i never have this problem with anything other than streaming from netflix thru the ATV2. i can rent a movie thru itunes, works fine. streaming netflix to other wired + wireless computers, iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, works like a charm. the ATV2 is hard lined to the FIOS router, and constantly buffering at prime movie watching times (Friday, Saturday nights), which was the whole reason we bought an apple tv, so that we could watch netflix on a tv, what a novel idea right?

so i did some calling around to my ISP (FIOS) and netflix to get to the bottom of this streaming buffering issue, what a waste of time, but here are the results.

i have a FIOS 25MB up/ 25MB down plan. netflix was clocking my streaming thru the ATV2 @ .06MB. thru the iPad2 1.3MB, this is hovering right at their cut off for HD streaming. it doesnt make any sense if i have a 25MB plan. netflix suggested that ISPs are not providing them with the best streaming speeds to force people into onDemand rentals. i called FIOS and they did speed tests and i was getting +/- 30MB up and down speeds. they suggested that i called apple. so the blame game continues. i didn't have the patience to call apple, cause its likely they will just blame the other two partners in this buffering bermuda triangle.

anyone else having similar issues? any advice?

I called Apple without AppleCare and escalated the issue through a senior advisor. The more people that do this and specifically state that the issue is connection speed from the Apple TV, the more likely that this will be fixed.

I don't think Apple will play the blame game if you give them this data. You should try to connect with another device (computer or something that works properly) and get that data to compare.

Btw, this is the first I've heard that the iPad is an issue as well, but that's really helpful. We should mention that to our apple advisors.

yeah i will try to get the netflix data from a hardwired computer for streaming, and then call apple. thanks.

kbamrick wrote:
was streaming a netflix movie thru the ATV2 and about 30sec in it paused like it always does, doing its normal buffering thing. i never have this problem with anything other than streaming from netflix thru the ATV2. i can rent a movie thru itunes, works fine. streaming netflix to other wired + wireless computers, iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, works like a charm. the ATV2 is hard lined to the FIOS router, and constantly buffering at prime movie watching times (Friday, Saturday nights), which was the whole reason we bought an apple tv, so that we could watch netflix on a tv, what a novel idea right?

so i did some calling around to my ISP (FIOS) and netflix to get to the bottom of this streaming buffering issue, what a waste of time, but here are the results.

i have a FIOS 25MB up/ 25MB down plan. netflix was clocking my streaming thru the ATV2 @ .06MB. thru the iPad2 1.3MB, this is hovering right at their cut off for HD streaming. it doesnt make any sense if i have a 25MB plan. netflix suggested that ISPs are not providing them with the best streaming speeds to force people into onDemand rentals. i called FIOS and they did speed tests and i was getting +/- 30MB up and down speeds. they suggested that i called apple. so the blame game continues. i didn't have the patience to call apple, cause its likely they will just blame the other two partners in this buffering bermuda triangle.

anyone else having similar issues? any advice?

The speed tests from FIOS, Comcast, etc. are BURST speed test and bear no resemblance to constant throughput. I'd believe Netflix before the others.... There was an article about Level 3 having interconnect issues with the big carriers a while back. Level 3 is Netflix's carrier. Google traffic shaping for another way to control traffic. Comcast did it to Bit Torrent users and were fined.

I get 30/5 on the burst test, but when I download the combo update for 10.6.7, I'm lucky if it hits close to 2 constant. So much for Net Neutrality....... eh?

There may be a discrepancy between burst and sustained download speeds, even on FiOS which I haven't encountered, but that does not account for the same content being viewed at the same time on the same network and having significantly different viewing experiences.

According to Netflix: iMac download: 20 Mbps, Apple TV download: 0.9 Mbps

This is not an ISP issue.