Stryker3k

Q: Apple TV 3rd Gen Freezing/Buffering constantly

Hi,

 

I have a 3rd gen ATV which has never really given me any trouble, but for the last 6-8 weeks or so, it has been stalling when trying to load movies where it never used to have any problems at all. I have checked and rechecked my network and conducted numourous speedtests at numourous times of the day and night and my speed tests are all pretty consistant at 21Mbps Down and 1 Mbps up and with a 20ms ping.

 

My ATV is connected to a Netgear D6300 via ethernet and HD video streaming is fine on other medium such as youtube via my iPhone/iPad/PC etc.

I will say though, i have noticed downloading from itunes to my iPhone or iPad has slowed recently too.

 

I have reset my ATV back to factory and that did not seen to fix the issue's either.

 

My ATV sits on a shelf under my TV and in between a XBOX360 that is not connected to power and a PS3 that is on most of the time as it is my PVR and above a Wii U that is connected to power but not turned on. I am not sure if it's location makes a difference, but it as always sat there.

 

Any ideas that could perhaps help me out?

Apple TV

Posted on Sep 16, 2013 3:57 PM

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Q: Apple TV 3rd Gen Freezing/Buffering constantly

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  • by ricke17,

    ricke17 ricke17 Oct 24, 2015 9:33 AM in response to Espressohead
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 24, 2015 9:33 AM in response to Espressohead

    How weird - have you factory reset your apple tv?

  • by Morro88,

    Morro88 Morro88 Oct 24, 2015 1:31 PM in response to Stryker3k
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 24, 2015 1:31 PM in response to Stryker3k

    THe whole reason i purchased atv3 was to watch films and i am totally disapointed . Worked fine for a while now its starting to pause all the time and keeps going out the film . Even when streaming from my phone its the same .... Hence the reason mine is now up for sale . Starting to get really p****d off with the constant problems surrounding all apple products . This is including my iphone 6 and ipad mini . looking for atleast a responce from apple to resolve this or something . Lost all faith in apple products .

  • by lexvo,

    lexvo lexvo Oct 25, 2015 2:13 AM in response to Morro88
    Level 1 (87 points)
    Mac App Store
    Oct 25, 2015 2:13 AM in response to Morro88

    I like my Apple products, but I have given up on homesharing and streaming from iTunes. In the past years I have tried too many things to get this right. Maybe it is my specific situation, maybe this technique isn't mature yet.

     

    Anyway, I now stream my movies from my NAS.

  • by Tom Meade1,

    Tom Meade1 Tom Meade1 Oct 25, 2015 11:44 AM in response to lexvo
    Level 2 (293 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 25, 2015 11:44 AM in response to lexvo

    Happened on this thread - sorry to hear - my streaming issues

    usually clear with re-start of all network gear . .

    Good luck, Tom

  • by Espressohead,

    Espressohead Espressohead Oct 27, 2015 7:31 AM in response to ricke17
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2015 7:31 AM in response to ricke17

    I have just done a 'restore' and...so far, so good!  All seems to be working again.

     

    I will put the CDs back in the loft!

  • by vakaminskiy,

    vakaminskiy vakaminskiy Jan 31, 2016 8:21 AM in response to Espressohead
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 31, 2016 8:21 AM in response to Espressohead

    Restoring the device helped me as well!

  • by NeedsumHelp!!,

    NeedsumHelp!! NeedsumHelp!! Jan 31, 2016 11:48 AM in response to arnettdorr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 31, 2016 11:48 AM in response to arnettdorr

    I was in the same boat as you guys.  For years my atv3 worked fine streaming from my computer to the tv.  Then one day it started the buffering and play loop.  I would restart,reset, and even reboot till it was running fine for days or a week and then the buffering would start again.  I also have a western digital media player running Plex...it is right next to the Apple TV....for years it too played everything fine from my computer to tv.  Now it is stalling (buffering) on playback. 

     

    So I came here to this forum and I found some answers to maybe the "why" this is happening.  One member suggested to download a free software program that checks all the users in my area modems/routers to see what wifi channel they are on.  Over the years when I had to reset my Apple I would see the list of available wifi networks to connect to grow and grow...my neighbors were joining the wireless community.  Anyway, that software showed me that the channel my wifi was on was being used by 10 of my neighbors(channel6).  So I switched to channel one...had to go into router settings and for the most part that fixed my buffering issues.  I say the most part because it would buffer briefly at the beginning on some files and then play fine....the rest would play fine from start to finish.  Either way it was almost back to what I was used to before my problems started.

     

    The next thing I decided to do was connect the Apple directly to ethernet.  No more wifi...have it hardwired instead.  WOW!!  What a difference that made.  Everything on my computer streams fast to the Apple...no more buffering issues.  If you have exhausted all options perhaps buying a power line or running a wire to your Apple TV might solve the buffering problems.  I totally agree that it is not right that the Apple fails to work properly using wifi..we shouldn't have to hardwire it to get it to work properly.  Well...hopefully my experience with this issue helps someone else.

  • by Emailkatrina,

    Emailkatrina Emailkatrina Mar 11, 2016 10:07 PM in response to NeedsumHelp!!
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 10:07 PM in response to NeedsumHelp!!

    Rebooting my Apple TV, modem, router all did absolutely nothing. BUT what did help was going into my router settings and unchecking box that said 'auto scan channels'. Also, I changed the channel it was on manually.   ..my wifi has never been faster - Apple TV is working amazing!!  Thanks for providing  me with a base to start from!

  • by nbyerly,

    nbyerly nbyerly Mar 13, 2016 5:43 PM in response to offskooring
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 13, 2016 5:43 PM in response to offskooring

    It is happening continually on 3 apple tvs

  • by Tom Meade1,

    Tom Meade1 Tom Meade1 Mar 13, 2016 7:47 PM in response to nbyerly
    Level 2 (293 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 13, 2016 7:47 PM in response to nbyerly

    Doesn't that suggest it isn't an issue with the devices?

  • by nbyerly,

    nbyerly nbyerly Mar 14, 2016 5:31 AM in response to Tom Meade1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2016 5:31 AM in response to Tom Meade1

    Or does it indicate a software/hardware problem with the devices?  What you don't know is that I have taken the following steps to try to resolve the buffering.  The first is a replace my Airport Extreme with the latest and greatest router available.  The second is I have tested the Internet speed numerous times when I find the Apple TV buffering.  Internet speed is fine.  I have put the units on their own band 2.4GB and moved all other devices to the 5GB band.  Still happens.  Checked the signal strength on the devices and they are 4 bars or better.  Network connection has not been an issue as all other devices work when this is happening but the Apple TV.  I realize the Apple does not put into their devices the best wireless hardware and maybe that this the problem.  Everything on the network works great but the stupid Apple TV.  They are the only device which has issues.

  • by lexvo,

    lexvo lexvo Mar 14, 2016 9:47 AM in response to nbyerly
    Level 1 (87 points)
    Mac App Store
    Mar 14, 2016 9:47 AM in response to nbyerly

    I think there is not a single cause of these problems, but more a complex combination of firmware/iTunes/network settings/router/Homesharing/etc... Like you I tried many things, some helped but only for a few days. I also noted that the firmware version can make a difference.

  • by Tom Meade1,

    Tom Meade1 Tom Meade1 Mar 14, 2016 9:54 AM in response to nbyerly
    Level 2 (293 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 14, 2016 9:54 AM in response to nbyerly

    It sounds like you've done a good job troubleshooting the

    system - now the devices themselves deserve scrutiny.

    Are they possibly identical? Do they all choke at the same

    time on the same content? Does it make a difference if

    you only connect one at a time (in case there's a modem 

    throughput issue)? As many can attest, the device has

    proven to be stable - at least earlier generations. Most

    issues can be eliminated by resetting or possibly the

    more drastic restoration using the micro D connector

    (or at the Genius Bar). As with any systems problem

    remove as many elements as possible to isolate the

    issue - thus you might want to focus on a single unit

    up to and including swapping in a proven one from

    the  Store (you can always return it) or a friend.

    Good luck, Tom

  • by nbyerly,

    nbyerly nbyerly Mar 14, 2016 10:52 AM in response to Tom Meade1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2016 10:52 AM in response to Tom Meade1

    I have never tried to run all three devices at the same time.  However it is happening on all three devices.  I agree that the device has been stable in the past but this has been happening since October 15.  I have tried to restart the device and that works about 50% of the time.  I then usually reset the device but I hate doing that as I have to enter all the user name and password, network stuff etc. 

     

    I have an IT background but to be honest I have not keep up on all the latest the last 6 years.  I have been doing business consulting of late and that is where I spend all my time. 

     

    I purchased the Apple devices because I wanted a trouble free experience and need something that is easy for a non-techy spouse to use. 

    I have not changed anything on the network other than the router to try to fix the issue.  I would hard wire them in if I was able to, to try to eliminate the wireless as the problem.  I may hard wire the one in the living room and try that one to see if that helps. 

  • by nbyerly,

    nbyerly nbyerly Mar 14, 2016 12:42 PM in response to nbyerly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2016 12:42 PM in response to nbyerly

    Deep down I can't help but think that Apple did this so that people would migrate to the new Apple TV.

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