Netflix pausing/buffering issues

Things were going just fine for weeks after I'd manually configured the DNS server but last night buffering started about a third the way through the movie we were watching. About every thirty seconds it would pause again. After trying all the standard resets etc fInally we gave up and I finished watching the show on my iPad. Very frustrated that whatever is causing the problem has still been unresolved. Come on Apple, please fix this issue.

Maybe it was something bizarre going on with Netflix/ATV Saturday night because everything was good Sunday night. The streaming was just fine and I didn't change a thing.

I have used my ATV 2 for several months now. I tried manually configuring the IP address but the buffering problem still happens at times. Each time I have the buffering problem restarting the ATV 2 does not help. The movie can pause for 30 seconds to several minutes. What has worked every time is restarting my Airport Extreme. I was wathing Real Steel this Saturday night and the buffering issue started several minutes into the movie. As usual restarting the ATV 2 didn't help. When I restarted my Airport Extreme I was able to resume the movie and never had another issue. It's as if the buffering issue is between the ATV 2 and the wireless station. Possibly a hand shake issue or something. Only my best guest.

Could be interference

This is an Apple problem, plain and simple. I've quit using the ATV2 now for Netflix as it constantly stops and starts during movies and more than a few times has told me it cannot connect to the Netflix servers when every other Netflix device in the house had no problem at exactly the same time. This has been ongoing for MONTHS now.

I have Netflix on my Smart LG TV, my PS3, my iPad and my Panasonic BluRay player. NONE of them has these issues with Netflix on the same network, same router, same 25Mbps download connection (tested any time of day at 24Mbps solid) and all using the default DNS from my internet provider (Telus). All devices are hard wired ethernet with the exception of the iPad and the Panasonic player which are both wireless N and no issues.

I (and thousands of others) went through this same nonsense over a year ago with iTunes movie rentals on the ATV2 that would constantly stop and buffer and as I suspected then and stated so on these forums, it was finally and quietly fixed by Apple after all their denials for months.

Having said all this, chances are good I'll be an easy sucker bet for the new ATV3 expected to be announced tomorrow and ONE MORE TIME hoping that everything is fixed and working on the new device. Sigh....

Not true at the very least it's a combination

Vazandrew, a combination of what? You keep hanging in there for the ATV but the ATV appears to be the main problem in whatever combination you are referring to. As many have stated, Netflix runs fine on all of their other devices while using the same configuration. It's only the ATV that appears to be an issue. As to whether it's affected by something else remains to be seen, but currently, it's the ATV that appears to be the weak link. Since the problem comes and goes for some, and is not an issue for others, it appears that the ATV is sensitive to something going on in the network to which other devices are immune. It still comes down to the ATV.

Combination of Netflix and ATV, has to do with certain servers allocated to the unit and affects some users

I was havin so many problems steaming with Netflix and Apple TV 2 I almost gave up. I tried the DNS change to 008.008.004.004 and it worked for me. Thank you for that info, Fernwooddad.

This is an Apple problem that has been ongoing for some time. We pay a high premium for Apple products because they are simply supposed to work. This doesn't work. Just fix it Apple, clearly enough people have expressed the same problem in these forums and on the web that you have to be aware of it.

I think they fixed the problem with the new update/layout? I'm 20 minutes into a Netflix movie with no problems so far. Fingers crossed

Not fixed here. I have an ATV2 which has been working fine for months with Netflix, but not after the update. Also my new ATV3 has the same problem. Netflix movies sometimes start, but never play more than a minute or two before pausing, buffering and returning to the menu.

How do we get Apple's attention to fix this update?

I don't think you will get APple's attention. The problem been going on intermittently for several years and several iterations of updates. Some people have no problems getting Netflix with Apple TV. Others have lots of problems, as are documented on this and related threads. Like astrology or homeopathy, proposed fixes work for some people, but not others. Apple and Netflix are on a competitive trajectory. Why should Apple make it easy to use Netflix? If you're having problems and you want a reliable Netflix service, I suggest using a different device. ROKU works fine for me. Not as elegant as Apple TV, but reliable enough that I no longer have to guess whether I will be watching television or error messages.

I had the same problem up until a few months ago. It was ALL solved when I purchsed and installed The Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi - problem never came up again. +++ It fixed any and all other concerns in the house with Windows units, XBox's and Wii that we had other hick-ups with before installing this. Just do it and your problems will be no more - it was for me.

this issue is so old now I finally got tired of "wanting it to work". problem seems to come and go. when it comes I reset power on the ATV2 and the router and all is good again - until the next time. I grew tired of that routine so I only use the WDTVLIVE and no more issues. Also able to stream local videos from my NAS via DLNA without iTunes. Love that esp because steam via iTunes can be even more problematic that Netflix. The thread on that issue is even longer than this one. Perhaps one day Apple will take the ATV out of "hobby" status and put some real network engineers on it. Cheers.