Netflix quality HORRID after update

Just another person with the same problem. I have Time Warner for an ISP, with their "Extreme" package - 30 down, 5 up. Very consistent. ATV is hard-wired to my network and Netflix has been great for well over a year. Hulu, PBS, Weather Channel are crystal clear. Netflix is now mostly blurry. Sometimes it will stabilize in HD, but that is only temporary. My issue doesn't seem dependent on time of day. Had a day off the other day and watched a movie at 10:00 am and it was still in and out of focus.

Thanks for contributing to this thread. I've been driving myself crazy for the past two weeks trying to troubleshoot this issue. Glad to at least know I'm not alone. Hopefully, Apple and/or Netflix sorts this out soon.

Get a Roku 3 it is much better since they updated there channel.

To think I sold my Roku 3 this summer to get a ATV and the ATV was great for the week I had it and now I bought another Roku 3 because the ATV went from the most reliable streamer to the least reliable streamer in just a week.

Same problem here, I noticed this two weeks ago but until last night I just could not take it anymore, quality of the picture is really bad, does anyone know if there is a fix for this yet?

ANOTHER WRENCH IN THIS PROBLEM

Two weeks ago I updated my Comcast modem because, like the rest of you, I was having streaming performance issues with my Apple TV and Vizio Smart TV.

My Vizio Smart TV was only getting 1/4 of the expected download speeds whether on wireless or wired. I figured that my modem was to blame. Comcast issued me the all-in-one Technicolor modem & wireless router.

After installing the new modem/router, my download speeds were incredible. While my Vizio was still only showing 1/2 of the expected download speeds (12Mbps down) it was significantly better than the 4Mbps I was seeing before upgrading the modem. For approximately 10 days following the modem updgrade I didn't have a single streaming issue on my Apple TV or my Vizio Smart TV. Unfortunately, it all came crashing down a few days ago. Netflix through my Apple TV is very spotty and my Vizio Smart TV is back to 1/4 of the expected download speeds.

Here are my network speeds. Note: wired and wireless speeds are the same.

28 Mbps down on MacBook Pro

28 Mbps down on iPhone 4s (iOS7)

2350 kbps down on Apple TV using Netfilix "Example Short 23.976" tester

4361 kbps down on my Vizio Smart TV using built-in network tester

So I ask you, why would my Vizio Smart TV also show slow speeds (via built-in network tester) similar to the speeds seen on Netflix via Apple TV? Coincidence? Again, my MacBook Pro and iPhone 4s still show 28 Mbps download speeds?

I don't get it ... completely baffled.

mcraiganthony

It looks like you are are seeing the same issue as others here.

Note: Example Short is not a network speed test - it checks which of the Netflix streams you are actually getting up to a max of 5800 kbps.

Some of the Netlix streaming devices max out at 4300 kbps - so it is possible the Vizio Smart TV is behaving correctly. 4300 kbps is still a Super HD 1080P stream and should look pretty good.

The Apple TV should be able to get the maximum Super HD stream 5800 kbps. You are getting 2350 kbps which is actually a bit better than some are reporting - but still much less than the 5800 kbps you should be seeing with a 28 Mbps connection.

I have a question for everyone. Does anyone on this thread with this issue have Cablevision or Google Fiber as an ISP? Please post if you do. These are two ISP's using Netflix's Open Connect. I haven't seen these ISP's mentioned in this forum. I have Comcast and they are NOT part of Open Connect.

Originally I posted that I wasn't having any issues with Netflix outside of ATV3. However, the other day I updated my Roku software. After the update I checked Netflix and sure enough, it is producing the exact same problem as the ATV now. (1700kbps for a second or two then 560kbps then settles at 320kbps)

I am just curious to see if anyone is having this problem with an ISP using Open Connect. If none turn up, I will move my inquiries to a Netlflix forum.

Two observations I've had:

-If I try to watch something and I get this behavior (Super HD for a few seconds, then really low quality stream), and then I restart the Apple TV, after restarting, the first thing I try to stream I am able to get the Super HD stream, full quality, pretty much 100% of the time. But, anything I subsequently try to stream after that first show or movie, the likelihood of getting a good quality stream drops significantly. It's very strange that it works fine for the very first stream after a restart -- that makes me think there's a bug in the Netflix app on the Apple TV.

-Also, if I watch one of the example shorts on another device, like the iPad, I notice that it almost always starts with a low quality stream for a seconds, before "ramping up" to a higher quality stream, which then sticks. On the Apple TV, though, it always seems to start with the highest possible quality stream, and then usually shifts down to a lower quality one after a few seconds (unless I'm lucky and the high-quality stream sticks). It almost seems like the Apple TV is being too aggressive trying to play the Super HD stream right from the very first second -- so it doesn't get a chance to buffer up too much in the background. Just an observation of the different behaviors.

My TV was getting 10 Mbps down after modem upgrade. At work, the same TV gets 14 Mbps down.

Regarding the Netflix test, the number I provided was the highest. The majority of the time if fell well below that number.

When I spoke to a Netflix rep on the phone a month ago, she told me that they have greater requirements than other streaming services - she told me they require 5 Mbps down.

Even when watching Netflix on my MacBook Pro I'm getting HD less than half the time. Speed test shows 28 Mbps down.

Maybe Comcast is throttling up initially and then throttling back after the burst?

It's also happening on my U-Verse 24Mb, so I don't think it is isolated to Comcast. I first started noticing it a few weeks back on my Apple TV 3 (v1). Updated to 6.01 to try to resolve and then to 6.02; the issue has remained. That being said, my Roku 2 XS seems to be doing better than the ATV3, but is far from perfect in prime-time hours. Even the PS3, which most people are reporting as working fine, was only giving me SD 480 when watching The Walking Dead a few nights ago. Before this all began, Super HD was great on all of my devices.

I tried to downgrade the Apple TV to 6.0 v2, but iTunes wouldn't let me, saying it was an unsupported device.

Long story short, I have no idea whose fault this is at the moment. While at first I was sure it was the ATV update, now I'm starting to think that it may be an issue with Netflix as well.

mcraiganthony

If you are seeing it up multiple devices then it is a different issue than the one being described by most in this thread.

You need > 7Mbps sustained download speed to get the 5800 kbps stream (allowing for buffer, audio etc). With the 5 Mbps that Netflix mentionned you will probably get the 3000 kbps stream. Vudu HDX need close to 9 Mbps and works great on my Comcast connection. My Apple TV also has no problem pulling down iTunes video at a steady 16 Mbps on the same Comcast connection.

I am able to stream Netflix at 5800 kbps on my Chromecast without issues on Comcast. My Roku 2's are also doing fine. Only the Apple TV has issues with Netflix and only for the last couple of weeks.

@Vandergraff

Quick question. Are your Roku boxes up to date software wise? Reason I ask is that my Roku was fine until a recent update, which has it performing exactly like my ATV. (1700kbps for a second or two then 560kbps then settles at 320kbps)

mh1978

I too would be interested if anyone with an Open Connect ISP is seeing the issue.

In addition to Google and Cablevision I think Cox is an Open Connect ISP (+many smaller ISPs).

That said my Chromecast seems to have no issue getting 5800 kbps Super HD on my non-Open Connect ISP Comcast.

Only the Apple TV and only for the last couple of weeks....

mh1978

Just seen your other question. I'll check the Roku's SW versions tonight when I get home.

Excellent. Thanks.