Netflix quality HORRID after update

Zarach wrote:

I've also indicated that my Apple TVs work flawlessly on non peak hours, which is the actual point of this thread which blames the Apple TV update explicitly. I forgot to mention I too run the latest software on mine. I'm not trying to get off point too far but in my case and many others in this thread it's seemingly time of day / regional.

That may be the case but a closer reading will show that at the same time an ATV is struggling to get 1750 a PS3 or TiVo will get 5800. At all times of day. So if you're having time sensitive problems you're not having the problem noted by the OP and by extension what this thread is about. Don't hijack someone else's thread. Start a new one. Not that degraded Netflix performance during prime time is new or noteworthy.

Zarach wrote:

I guess my next question would be, why are a handfull of people having problems with Netflix after updating their Apple TV software, and other people don't have an issue with the same Apple TV software except for on what seems to be Netflix / ISP related peak times?

I can get 5800 on my ATV3 too. Just not reliably. I can even get 3000 for extended periods of time in the evening. I suspect many people are unaware of the problem once they get above 2500.

By the way:

Zarach wrote:

Times of good / HD quality (early in the day) produce speeds from Netflix to me at around or above 5Mbit.

I get peak rates much higher than that streaming superHD to my TiVo.

Well I just bought my ATV3 and if it can't ge Netflix right I don't know if I should bother. Should I return it and get a Roku?

HUIYAH wrote:

ATV3 is definitely the worst of my bunch, but I am having very similar issues with my PS4 and Xbox One.

Okay. I'm not having similar issues with my PS3 and TiVo.

HUIYAH wrote:

iPad 3rd gen: reaches steady 4300 kbps within seconds (and seems the best way right now to watch via ATV airplay)

When you're using AirPlay the stream is going directly to the ATV. I suspect it's also a different stream since it's (potentially) 5.1 + 2.0 rather than stereo.

BostoneRob wrote:

Well I just bought my ATV3 and if it can't ge Netflix right I don't know if I should bother. Should I return it and get a Roku?

I'm sure Apple and/or Netflix will sort it out. Perhaps not for a while but eventually. Of course if you got the ATV only for Netflix then other factors may apply.

bodosom wrote:

That may be the case but a closer reading will show that at the same time an ATV is struggling to get 1750 a PS3 or TiVo will get 5800. At all times of day. So if you're having time sensitive problems you're not having the problem noted by the OP and by extension what this thread is about. Don't hijack someone else's thread. Start a new one. Not that degraded Netflix performance during prime time is new or noteworthy.

Perhaps you're being oversensitive. There's really no need to be rude as I addressed several issues in my post that were relevant to this thread. Throughout this thread we can see a few problems whether they be directly related to OP or not. I outlined my troubleshooting steps to try and help out some of the other people who are experiencing issues. I personally see none of the issues relating to the ATV3 and the new software update that are described in this thread or that you were kind enough to re-elaborate. I tested several other devices to confirm this was not related to the ATV3 and all behave in similar fashion. It's very possible that people are tearing their hair out blaming their Apple TV when they simply have a local / regional issue that I likely have. Not everyone has the number of devices we have or experience with networking / bandwidth troubleshooting. I want others to know there are people like myself out there whose Apple TVs are working "as intended" after the 11/11 update. My sincere apologies to anyone if I wasted their time posting my information / conclusions.

Well said! I also do not understand why some people are getting upset about "thread hijacking." This is a discussion board and while the original post does specifically call out the Apple TV, I as well feel that posting about individual user experience and testing is more than relevant.

I for one am having the same issues across all of my devices (Roku 2 XS, PS3, etc), after about 3:00PM, on ATT U-verse 24/3. I have also tried downgrading the ATV 3 to 5.3 in order to test if it was in fact Apple's update to 6.01 or 6.02 that introduced the issue. I was originally getting a wonderful SuperHD picture when it was first introduced to the Apple TV... now I get a terrible picture. It should be noted however, that if I stop and restart the stream, I will eventually get an HD picture that remains and does not degrade (as an example, when watching The Walking Dead).

In my opinion, the Netflix app needs to be updated on all of these devices to better handle how it negotiates resolution and bandwidth during peak hours on ISPs not subscribed to the Open-Connect system, that SuperHD was first available on.

If you (and I am speaking to the community) are not having issues on your other devices, well then you have an alternative until it is sorted out on the Apple TV.

Just to rule this out, is anyone having these problems on a cable provider OTHER than Comcast?

Yes, I am seeing the exact same issues with 50/25 Verizon FiOS.

Yup, Netflix stream quality problems as described with Mediacom Cable and Apple TV 3.

bodosom wrote:

HUIYAH wrote:

ATV3 is definitely the worst of my bunch, but I am having very similar issues with my PS4 and Xbox One.

Okay. I'm not having similar issues with my PS3 and TiVo.

Okay. Neither am I, with my iPad and iPod. I'll take a look at Netflix via PS3. Thanks for the heads-up.

bodosom wrote:

HUIYAH wrote:

iPad 3rd gen: reaches steady 4300 kbps within seconds (and seems the best way right now to watch via ATV airplay)

When you're using AirPlay the stream is going directly to the ATV. I suspect it's also a different stream since it's (potentially) 5.1 + 2.0 rather than stereo.

That's correct. 2.0 on iPad. And, 5.1 when pushed to ATV3 (depending on the source, of course). 4300kbps, always. I wish we knew what's affecting the all of these other platforms, when I've had no issues like this before. Even my Mac and PC web browsers is currently taking ages to reach 3000kbps. But again, you are correct: the ATV is by far, the worst of the lot. Good luck being patient until it's fixed.

BostoneRob wrote:

Just to rule this out, is anyone having these problems on a cable provider OTHER than Comcast?

TWC 50/5

I suppose it is some comfort to know that the issue is spread across multiple networks...

Matthew Brownstein wrote:

Well said! I also do not understand why some people are getting upset about "thread hijacking." This is a discussion board and while the original post does specifically call out the Apple TV, I as well feel that posting about individual user experience and testing is more than relevant.

I for one am having the same issues across all of my devices (Roku 2 XS, PS3, etc), after about 3:00PM, on ATT U-verse 24/3. I have also tried downgrading the ATV 3 to 5.3 in order to test if it was in fact Apple's update to 6.01 or 6.02 that introduced the issue. I was originally getting a wonderful SuperHD picture when it was first introduced to the Apple TV... now I get a terrible picture. It should be noted however, that if I stop and restart the stream, I will eventually get an HD picture that remains and does not degrade (as an example, when watching The Walking Dead).

In my opinion, the Netflix app needs to be updated on all of these devices to better handle how it negotiates resolution and bandwidth during peak hours on ISPs not subscribed to the Open-Connect system, that SuperHD was first available on.

If you (and I am speaking to the community) are not having issues on your other devices, well then you have an alternative until it is sorted out on the Apple TV.

The Apple TV devices have always tended in my experience to perform worse than other options in terms of maintaining streaming quality. I replaced my ATV2 with a Mac mini and while I've been using an ATV3 for a lot of streaming applications because I like the interface better it's performance is barely there as is evidenced by the bandwidth numbers people have been reporting on this thread.

I have not used the latest Roku hardware, mine is an XD or HD, but I'm not a fan of the Netflix interface on that generation.

It's well documented that Netflix is the biggest portion of internet traffic in the evenings and that there is a time of day performance problem because of it.

Clearly there is some on-going issue with Netflix and (at least) Comcast that's relatively recently. There is a very long argument on dslreports.com discussing who's at fault (both in my view).

I have not had time to try this yet but I believe that I can circumvent the Comcast/Netflix pi**ing match in mpls/st. paul by using the Hide my A** VPN service and just routing the stream through Chicago or somewhere that measures fast.

There are a whole bunch of configuration mistakes one can make that'll cause streaming problems which is what Netflix customer support spends 99% of its time doing and assuming. Trying to stream over a wireless connection probably being the most common problem - totally fraught with peril that is.

DustyStorm wrote:

Well today I called Netflix yet again and spent nearly an hour on the phone. They we rt through their usual spiel and I refused to power cycle my modem again as I knew that was NOT the issue. I directed the tech to this forum and she claimed to be reading this thread as I was talking to her. I was transferred to another rep and was told this is not a known issue. I said I wanted credit since November 11th and until this issue is fixed because the quality is unacceptable. She put me on hold for nearly 15 minutes I was informed I have a 3 month credit for my "troubles" as it is indicated in my account that I have called several times. A "senior" tech is supposed to be calling me tomorrow. We'll see.

I advise everyone to call then and be rather insistent they fix this.

Appreciate you posting this - I ended up hanging up on the (&(&(*&(*$%##$# rep from Netflix when she completely denied there was any streaming problems with Netflix and said she couldn't give me a refund. When I'm feeling incredibly patient I might try again.