KFCgabriel wrote:

 

So now I don't understand what we're supposed to do. Do I call netflix and spend an hour with someone who will have zero idea what I'm talking about? Or just twiddle my thumbs and assume netflix will get to my area or update the apple tv app eventually?

Don't bother calling Netflix. They will just waste your time. Twiddling your thumbs will do just as much good.

Seriously, there isn't much to do but just wait for Netflix to fix this. A couple of weeks ago we had lousy service in Minneapolis. See many posts above from our area. Suddenly it's fine (5800 kbps at evening prime time), with no Apple TV update or anything else being done in my home. Perfectly reliable now.

Netflix rolled out their new high bandwidth Super HD streams a couple of months ago, without ensuring they had the right business deals with the ISP's to provide a bigger pipeline for the higher flow. Little by little it seems to be working itself out. It's not your home system. It's not Apple. It's Netflix's to solve. It's just business deals.

Netflix software changes are hidden from us and only those with the means and know-how to track server sources and IP addresses can study that data. So there are plenty of unanswered questions.

I think the following Ars Technica article about streaming and the greed-driven, behind-the-scenes battles over ability to "transit" privately owned networks on the Internet is the real answer, and explains why some think the problem is "fixed" and others do not. It also suggests that the problem comes and goes on purpose - to prevent customers from concluding that a particular content provider or ISP is to blame.

http://bit.ly/1cezJ6K

If the bitly link triggers your caution flag, go to Ars Technica and search for their July, 2013 article headlined,

Why YouTube buffers: The secret deals that make—and break—online video

-dan

Yes it is a bit more complicated than "It's Netflix's to solve" like the guy above keeps saying.

I've never heard of an app needing an area-specific fix before. Shouldn't it be just platform-specific?

And I'm still unclear as to how apple has no culpability in all of this. I'm using their brand new streaming device with their brand new router and the results are garbage.

And how does netflix know that my area is a problem if people don't call and spend the hours trying to work their way up to the level 2/3 tech people?

I mean it's a little hard to believe that netflix has solved this issue in Yorba freakin Linda and not LOS ANGELES. 

Is it possible that the specific problem with the ATV was fixed and that those still having issues are unrelated to this one problem? About the same time as many other people, Netflix on the ATV started working fine for me. It was like one day it was horrible the next day fine and been that way ever since.

Many people here reported multiple issues so perhaps the Netflix-ATV issue is gone (for now) but other issues have yet to be resolved. Comcast seems particularly problematic in many ways so I wouldn't be surprised if they are actively messing with Netflix streams.

More bad news. HBOGo started having quality issues on my atv last night. Not as bad as netflix but quality dropped 3x for short periods of time during prime time. Before last night, all atv apps worked fine except netflix. More fuel for the fire.

I have to wonder if the reason you're not seeing an improvement in LA is that the traffic level is so high that the fixes that work in less populated areas aren't working for you.

It does seem like a combination of two things: Netflix isn't delivering the content from the right places quickly enough, and the app isn't properly asking for it fast enough.

I don't think that Apple has "no" culpability, but they simply may not be able to fix the code, if it's delivered by Netflix (and all indications are that it is.) There's no reason to assume that Apple isn't doing what it can, talking to Netflix and making this right for as many people as possible.

How do they know it's a problem? Certainly talking to tech support helps, but it's also clear that Netflix is collecting data on speeds on their own. They should be able to see that AppleTV users in your area are uniformly downloading at lower speeds than other users, or that users in your area are downloading more slowly than in other areas. They have to actually look at that data, of course.

And finally, I think I understand the pride you have in your hometown, but please do remember that roughly 98% of people in the US do not live within in LA city limits, and there are other nice places in the world too... "Yorba freakin Linda" included.

Interesting -- also in Los Angeles here. Is it a region-specific problem?

I tried resetting the ATV as well, attaching it to my mac and restoring it from there -- no dice. 

Take a look at the overview of this thread: 50,000 views so far... it's definitely a real problem.

Kirby

I'm in Los Angeles and on a 50mb/s connection (which normally yields 70 mb/s in realtime) -- HBO GO and other services stream fine, this problem is specific to Netflix with ATV and isn't related to cable modem speed.

Kirby

I have as much problem with itunes rentals as I have with Netflix. Stop and starts, Spinning wheel forever. I have reset or replaced ethernet hubs, restarted my router and the ATV. All to no avail. I have had Comcast come out to house and check my system. Still no luck.

I get 56 mb/s by the way.

jimpal wrote:

Netflix rolled out their new high bandwidth Super HD streams a couple of months ago, without ensuring they had the right business deals with the ISP's to provide a bigger pipeline for the higher flow. Little by little it seems to be working itself out. It's not your home system. It's not Apple. It's Netflix's to solve. It's just business deals.

This is clearly not true and repeating it doesn't make it a statement of fact.

As has been said many many times this problem started in November.  Weeks after the national superHD roll-out.

What really ticks me off about Netflix on the ATV is that when I go to load something it takes over 5 seconds to buffer. The packets are coming in great and fast then 10 seconds later it still buffers and drops down to nauseating low def junk. The other day was the last straw when it did it around 3 1/2 minutes during Fringe.

The adapt dumb streaming is way to sensitive on the ATV as other devices can handle congestion but the ATV a little blip or congestion and it drops the quality to unwatchable quality.

shuffleq wrote:

 

I have as much problem with itunes rentals as I have with Netflix.

You have different problem.  I rented an iTunes movie Saturday and it downloaded at ~ 30Mbps for the requisite 19 minutes and stopped.  Netflix streams via nflxvideo are usually slow but streams from llnw are usually fine.  The TiVo and PS3 clients are usually fine (5800 superHD).  The ATV usually isn't.

If you think you're having a Netflix problem at the very least you need to check using other clients.

bodosom wrote:

. . . This is clearly not true and repeating it doesn't make it a statement of fact.

 

As has been said many many times this problem started in November.  Weeks after the national superHD roll-out.

bodosom, bless your heart! As usual your comments are not so tactful.

My comment is not "clearly not true." The SuperHD roll-out took some time to gather steam and get going. This problem happened once it was entirely up and running. It's the only explanation that makes sense across the board.

DanH and Middle-Aged Hack (above) both have it right, and their comments are entirely consistent with mine.

We are all offering our best opinions. Sooner or later we will all find out who is right. Since I've been on this thread for quite a long time I can say that it has turned out that mine have shown themselves to be as valid as yours. Considering others' opinions is a good way to learn.

Happy New Year!

High traffic level doesn't explain the performance as it relates to the airplay work around, or the fact that I can get better quality by going through even terrible stream machines like my sony blu ray player. 

I'm honestly baffled at how this could be a problem since November, all through the Christmas shopping season when Apple TV's were being hocked like crazy as the best tool for netflix.