Q: Netflix quality HORRID after update

For the first version of atv3, find and download AppleTV3,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw.

Fire up itunes and connect the atv, while holding down the alt key, press restore and browse to the file you just downloaded and select it. Wait for the restore to complete:)

What does "signing" mean?  And he says he is not back on the old version so his post makes no sense to me.

It was just a typo mistake from my side. I am back on the old 5.3 version, with netflix working just fine again

Signing means Apple allow you to install that version(5.3)

I regret spending $100 on this Apple TV. 3pm in Boston and SD through Netflix. At times, unwatchable. I kind if feel like it's more of an Apple TV issue in how it handles traffic coming on. It's not just during Netflix. PBS constantly bugs out. YouTube. Pausing, scrubbing through time lines. Bugs everything out. And not really only during peak hours. As I says before, I've got a solid 50 up connection and my other devices work perfectly. I was hoping to break free from the bloated PS3 with it's agonizing start up and app toggling but the quality of video throughout all the apps is pristine. Plus the Netflix user experience is light years ahead of the ATV app. Ugh. I was hoping for much more from the ATV.

I will say that over the past 3 or 4 years (can't remember exactly) I have been extremely happy with my ATV.  Honestly this is the first major issue I've ever experienced, and I assume I'll go right back to being happy once it is resolved.

Don't regret the $100 just yet, but if they take a month to fix it.. return the thing :-/

I just reverted back to the 5.3 software as well... Netflix Example Short immediately started playing at 5800Kbps at 2:00pm PST. Will try the short again tonight during prime time hours. Fingers crossed!

Rick Carlton wrote:

 

I'm in the dark here. What is this Example Short 23.976 and how are you guys getting these speeds? If the speeds are from your computer, that shouldn't have anything to do with ATV or Netflix. That would be a provider problem, wouldn't it?

 

Search the thread - you will find

"You can check the Netflix video quality by playing 'Example Short 23.976' (search for this title on Netflix). This title embeds the actual stream kbps you are receiving."

J-F-K wrote:

 

For the first version of atv3, find and download AppleTV3,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw.

Fire up itunes and connect the atv, while holding down the alt key, press restore and browse to the file you just downloaded and select it. Wait for the restore to complete:)

When you say fire up iTunes and connect the ATV - do you mean fire up iTunes on your PC and connect the Apple TV to the PC by USB?

I also note that you say first version of the ATV3 - so I assume people should check which version they have.

Vandergraff wrote:

 

J-F-K wrote:

 

For the first version of atv3, find and download AppleTV3,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw.

Fire up itunes and connect the atv, while holding down the alt key, press restore and browse to the file you just downloaded and select it. Wait for the restore to complete:)

When you say fire up iTunes and connect the ATV - do you mean fire up iTunes on your PC and connect the Apple TV to the PC by USB?

 

I also note that you say first version of the ATV3 - so I assume people should check which version they have.

To restore from an ipsw file, open iTunes on your mac/pc. Connect the atv with a micro-usb to usb cable.

If using a mac, hold down the alt key while pressing restore and then choose the file to restore. If using a pc, hold down the shift key instead.

For the first version of atv3, you need to use AppleTV3,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw

For the second version of atv3, use AppleTV3,2_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw

Best of luck

Just checked again at 3:00pm PST, after having downgraded to 5.3, and the Sample Short was reporting anywhere from 325Kbps to 1050Kbps, way under the 5800Kbps I was getting after downgrading and 2:00pm PST. Curiously, stopping and restarting the stream returned me to a 5800Kbps 1920x1080 Super HD picture, however, I was able to do the same last night with the 6.02 software. The timing would definitely correspond to kids getting home from school and an increase in Netflix usage in my area. I'm really starting to think this is an issue with Netflix, moreso than with the Apple TV, as I hae similar issues with my Roku 2 XS and PS3. I am on U-Verse with 24Mb down and 3Mb up service. Has anyone else with system software 5.3 seen a consistent HD picture?

I was suprised that downgrading the Apple TV version would fix the issue. As I said before I first saw this a few days before my Apple TV upgraded to 6.0.2

As previously reported Apple told me it was related to an update to Netflix App for the Apple TV that broke this and some other issues (limiting the list/queue to 256 entries etc).

You seem to be seeing issues on multiple platforms so may have other issues with your Netflix connectivity.

However in my case it is only the Apple TV (my Chromecast, Rokus, Blu-Ray player) all get Netflix at the highest speed) and only since 11 November.

So does downgrading the ATV software replace or roll back the Netflix app? If not, that suggests that it is =that= update which screwed the pooch here.

-dan

I'm feeling a bit ****** off with updates too.

Here's a slightly amended version of a post I put up on another thread, that's gone unanswered yet, since the conversation seemed to have died a few weeks earlier. This one looks as if there might be a better chance of some helpful person seeing it and coming to my aid.

My Apple TV has hung up, and it's all the fault of the latest update.

I set it up yesterday for the first time. The idea is to allow us to mirror an ipad to a new without having to have an HDMI cable trailing all over the floor.

Problems setting up, mainly because of the literally incomprehensible spoken instructions. Not difficult stuff, just. Impossible to understand the voice. Still I managed it and it was working beautifully. Then up came a screen message offering an Apple TV update and I foolishly pushed the button to download and install. Took a long time, but that's what you expect. But when it had done, instead of letting me get back to being able to mirror the iPad, up came a drawing of an Apple TV with the connection pulled out and a big green note of music. The HDMi cable wasn't pulled out, and nor was the power connection, and I've no idea of what it wants me to do or how to get back to being able to use the thing. I hate "intuitive" diagrams in place of written instructions (and garbled vocal instructions are even worse).

Has anybody got any idea as to what I need to do?

It's telling you that the update failed, and that you need to restore.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4367

Groan, it looks horrid. Cursed updates. (I note that the site appears very geared to avoid over emphatic language. Clearly not a British site!) Next time it suggests an update I'll refrain - though that will probably end in tears too.

Anyway thanks Urban Shocker, that was very swift and helpful. And should enable me to sort things. Touch wood.

I get the impression that Apple TV is a bit less of a well engineered operation than other parts of the Apple Orchard.