Netflix quality HORRID after update

Looks like macworld wrote about it on the 15th

http://www.macworld.com/article/2063358/bugs-and-fixes-dealing-with-iphone-flash -low-quality-netflix-and-outlook-junk-issues.html

mh1978

I checked one of my Roku 2's - it hasn't updated since August

SW 5.1 build 1195

Both Roku 2's are wireless and set to output 720P to 720P TVs - so the max stream they'll get is 3000 kbps (highest quality 720P stream).

I ran 'example shor't on one of them it started at 235 and ramped a little slowly (about 90 seconds) up to 3000 kbps and stayed there - so seems to OK even if the ramp was a little slower than I recall.

Chromecast still getting 5800 kbps and the Apple TV struggling along in last place at under 1750 kbps - as it has for the last couple of weeks.

All done around 6PM PST day before Thanksgiving - so a pretty busy period for Netflix one would think.

I just bought a Roku 3 tonight at best buy. How do you conduct the test you referenced? I'm going to keep whichever is consistently better over the next few days and return the ATV or the Roku depending which is worse. For reference I have time warner with 20mb down, usually around 17-19 so it should be plenty fast and hard wired.

The article on MacWorld and the one it linked to make it sound like this is a Netflix problem, that they can't handle the bandwidth to get HD to all it's customers at times of highe usage. That sounds reasonable to me.

I've had Netflix for almost 4 years on my PS3 and on my LG TV and had never had this problem. Only Apple TV.

James Elliott1 wrote:

The article on MacWorld and the one it linked to make it sound like this is a Netflix problem, that they can't handle the bandwidth to get HD to all it's customers at times of highe usage. That sounds reasonable to me.

The MacWorld article is wrong. The problem "most" people are reporting here and in the AVS ATV thread is specific to the ATV. Many folks have done extensive testing and the problem is clearly isolated to the ATV with a recent iOS update. Other people are reporting any number of other problems but they are UNRELATED. Someone just reported upgrading to 6.0.2 and the problem came with the update.

My TiVo and PS3 connect to the same Netflix IP address as my ATV(3,1) and get consistent superHD at all times of the day. Usually at the maximum reported rate of 5,800 Kbps. My iPads also get better performance than the ATV at 3,000 versus 1,750 (at best). But the ATV can download iTunes content at at least 16Mbps.

So all my devices wired or wireless fetch data from Netflix faster than my ATV while the ATV has no trouble with iTunes and apparently none with HBOGo.

My Netflix on the AppleTV (gen 3) has been crappy as of the last few months. It was working fine then it went to utter crap.(right about the time they introduced Super HD is when it went off the rails) Now HD hardly ever locks in, I have to stop the movie, then start it back up again and sometimes it locks in HD. Or it will start up at HD then two minutes in go really blurry and never come back to HD.

I have tried using Google's DNS, then Time warners direct DNS, then various other DNS providers and nothing has helped.

Then I decided to switch over to use my Google Chromecast and it's been flawless. I don't know why it would suddenly be better on that device but it is. So for now until Apple and Netflix can figure out what is going wrong I have decided to switch to the Chromecast. I would recommend others who are having the same trouble spend a few bucks and get one. Kind of mad I had to stop using the AppleTV since it's so much easier to control from all my iOS devices.

Let me finally add that I am seeing really high ping times from my place (Dallas, TX) to Netflix. They are bouncing up to as high as 300ms which means somewhere someones slowing down the traffic.

James Elliot1 I agree with bodosom

In my case my Chromecast and Rokus can get the highest quality streams - my Apple TV (for the last two weeks) can't.

So Netlix can handle the bandwidth to get HD to my other devices.

Others have reported, either in this thread or another one in this forum, that they have experienced the problem cross platform and others have reported it being intermittent. So far I haven't seen anything that proves the MacWorld article and the article to which it links to be wrong.

Also, I have read reports that people who have not upgraded their ATV have had the same problem.

Has anyone ever had this problem using Verizon FIOS? I have AT&T UVerse in Houston and have had the same problem, but brought my ATV to Dallas to try on my Dad's Verizon FIOS service and it had worked in full HD for 2 days now with no problems any time of the day streaming Netflix. Back home on UVerse I had similar issues in this thread, ESPN, HBOgo, everything worked except Netflix which would go to standard definition after a few seconds on everything I played both wired and wireless, but so far not on my Dad's Verizon FIOS. We both have similar 30Mbps plans just different providers, I am using the same settings in both locations with 6.0.2 firmware update. My problem also started a couple of weeks ago, but worked great for several months before that.

Wanted to offer my experiences. Apple TV 3 has been streaming extremely slowly/poor quality for the past two weeks. Switched to the PS3, and am having no issues. Not sure what the problem is...

James Elliott1

Certainly there are many people who see cross platform issues - but that is a different issue to the one we are discussing here.

My Apple TV always got 5800 kbps until 2.5 weeks ago - now it never does - not even close.

My Chromecast continues to get 5800 kbps consistently - my Roku 2's (set to 720 output 720P) always get 3000 kbps (the highest quality 720P steam)

We are not trying to prove the MacWorld article as being wrong - rather it isn't relevant.

I agree it isn't proven that any firmware upgrade caused the problem - in fact I am pretty certain the problem started before my Apple TV upgraded it's firmware,

However I am certain something broke the Apple TV / Netflix playback arround 11 November - as above my Chromecast continues to get 5800 kbps

I concur on the timeframe.

3:22am - I am getting a solid 5800kbps with Netflix on ATV3. Tried it multiple times. I have a feeling this will not be the case tomorrow. We shall see.