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Apple TV 3 Bad Streaming Quality

I have been streaming Netflix with my Apple TV 3 and, more often then not, the quality is horrible and blurry. I have checked my Wifi signal streangth in the Apple TV's setting and I have full bars. Then I checked my internet speed using both my Macbook and my iPhone (www.speedtest.net) while standing next to the Apple TV I consistenly get [>20Mbps Down] and [>4Mbps Up] and [~17ms Ping]. When I stream Netflix with my Macbook Pro I stream in HD without any problems.


As far as I know I have no way of running a speed test directly with my Apple TV so I have to assume that since my laptop and phone are getting sufficient bandwidth for HD streaming and the Apple TV has full signal strength, that there is some other problem here that I am not experienced enough to see.


Any suggestions? Are there any network settings that could be contributing to this that only affect Apple TVs and not Apple's Laptops or Phones?



Possibly relevant information:

Comcast internet with wireless N combo modem/router

Apple TV runnnig at most current update (as of 11/20/2013)

Speed Tests done using Macbook Pro Retina (late 2013 model)

Speed Test done using iPhone 5S

Apple TV (3rd generation)

Posted on Nov 20, 2013 8:31 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 23, 2013 3:10 PM

Hey jc - I have the same problem. A little history here. I recently as two months ago I watched every episode of Breaking Bad on Netflix on my Apple TV 3. No hickups, beautiful (which I would call HD) quality no problems every episode perfect. Same with Battlestar Galactica a month or two prior to that.


Now since last couple to three weeks I cannot stream ANYTHING in any decent quality.


So for me what has changed - Comcast upgraded my old Cable modem from a DOCSIS 2 to a DOCSIS 3 modem with built in Wifi (which I dont use) and doubling my speed to 57Mb download. This is the only major change to my environment which EXACTLY coincides with the drop in quality on my Apple TV 3.


Interestingly my Apple TV 2 works perfect. All my devices are hard wired on Gig network links usually to a hub/swicth then off to the cable modem which has 4 ports built in.

I tested by direct connecting my Apple TV 3 to the back of my cable modem and still had horrible quality.

I ran the streaming test movie and it started out at 5800kb for 5 seconds looked awesome - then it kicked down to 275kb and looked like garbage. Very frustrating.


I got the Apple TV 3 to use in my home theater thinking it would be better than the verison 2. And it has been. Until now.


Not sure where to go with this but sure seems to me like it MAY be a comcast issue / cable modem issue. Seeing your post you may also have the same modem - mine is a TC8305C (Technicolor).


Everything else on my network is screaming fast. So maybe its something with Apple TV 3 communication through this particular cable modem/router. Firmware update?


I may try to turn off the router portion of the cable modem and revert that function back to my old router and see if that does anything interesting.


Let me know if you have found anything.

150 replies

Dec 8, 2013 6:01 AM in response to jc1118

Same problem as everyone else is having

start netflix

good stream for about 3 secs then goes to a beyond worse 1982 singal

Called Netflix who "isnt aware of this and blames apple and comcast"

Called Apple who blames netflix

Called Comcast who says there singal is fine


I'm getting a hard wired 57/down 12/up singal so its not that

netflix does work during the day but at night is crap


heres some point that i have found that arent mentioned in this forum

- netflix doesnt work on my Apple TV OR my imac at night (so its not just apple tv)

- I have found that if you exit out of the movie and resume playback about 6-12 times it picks up a singal that it stays with finally. its a crap fix, but its the only thing that has worked for me and is about as annoying as watching horrid quailty that we are paying for, but at least you can watch the movie at some point

Dec 9, 2013 7:27 PM in response to jc1118

In my case, I don't think it's my ATV3. I have Comcast, new modem, which has been rebooted, and my ATV is plugged into my AEBS via ethernet. I've rebooted my router as well.


I'm getting very poor vidoe quality (hardly watchable) while watching Netflix movies via both my "wired" ATV and my MacBook Pro wirelessly.


When I view Netflix's "Example" test video, it hardly ever goes over 750kbps on both the ATV and MacBook Pro. Most of the time it sits at 275 -540.


Dale.

Dec 9, 2013 9:53 PM in response to jc1118

This may actually be an issue between your ISP and Netflix. Netflix recently rolled out Super HD which seems to be causing quite a bit of issues for their customers. It appears that some ISP's aren't playing well with this new feature from Netflix. Check these out:


http://www.inquisitr.com/970127/netflix-super-hd-streaming-now-for-all-but-does- your-isp-support-it/


https://blog.blockless.com/category/service-reviews/#.UqanZGSxNXU


It might be worth a shot to call your ISP and inquire about this. Keep escalating until you get someone that knows the answer.


Hope this helps.

Apple TV 3 Bad Streaming Quality

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