Q: Netflix quality HORRID after update
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Dec 10, 2013 3:12 PMby HUIYAH,bodosom wrote:
skywlkrsnd wrote:
I think the issue somehow seems to be more prevalent on ATVs, but I don't know if that's real statistics or just perception, but I still think the underlying issue is at Netflix.
It neither statistics or a perception. It's a fact. This thread is about the fact that it's a recent change. It's a new problem. I don't know what "the underlying issue is at Netflix" means but for more than person (and that's all it takes) the problem is clearly a software issue uniqe to the ATV3. Either Apple or Netflix could be at fault.
Presumably almost anyone posting here can run Netflix on a computer if they want to make a comparison.
ATV3 is definitely the worst of my bunch, but I am having very similar issues with my PS4 and Xbox One. In fact, I first noticed it at a friend's house on his Xbox One, so we switched over to ATV3. Same problem. I thought it was just his network, but when I got home I was having similar issues. Typically I enjoy a 5800 bitrate within seconds on ATV3, thanks to my rock-solid 3-year old 50/5 TWC connection and Netflix opening up the birates again this year. But lately, my experience is as follows:
iPad 3rd gen: reaches steady 4300 kbps within seconds (and seems the best way right now to watch via ATV airplay)
PS4: reaches 5800 kpbs some of the time, but hovers around 3000
iPod Touch 5th gen: reaches steady 3000 kbps within seconds
Xbox One: reaches 5800 rarely, and hovers around 1050 kbps
ATV3: total crapshoot (I have 2, one connected via wifi, and the other via ethernet and no difference between their performance), but often stays in the 235-560 kbps range, and I've not seen it above 1750 since I started checking at all hours.
^ All of them (other than my iDevices), are far too frequently hanging between 1050 and 1750 (or lower). Neither of which is even 720p.
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Dec 10, 2013 3:22 PMby bodosom,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.
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Dec 10, 2013 3:33 PMby bodosom,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.
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Dec 10, 2013 3:35 PMby bodosom,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.
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Dec 10, 2013 3:54 PMby Zarach,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.
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Dec 10, 2013 4:20 PMby Matthew Brownstein,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.
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Dec 10, 2013 4:36 PMby HUIYAH,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.
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Dec 10, 2013 4:37 PMby boylan,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.
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Dec 10, 2013 4:51 PMby DustyStorm,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.
