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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 16, 2013 6:12 PM in response to jc1118

Just want to update that APPLE TV IS NOT THE ONLY DEVICE HAVING TROUBLE WITH NETFLIX STREAMING. I have gone ahead and played the test video on most of my devices. As everyone else states, iPad and iPhones are perfect, 3000kbps from start to finish. Apple TV starts starts off at 1750kbps, but the drops to 1050kbps after about 30 seconds and stays there. My Google TV, model number NSZ-GT1, starts off in the 200's, then 300's, and will eventually make its way to 750kbps and stays there. Still have not had time to test the PS3, but clearly this is NOT an issue with the Apple TV specifically.


I will note that the picture does seem to be better today then it has been...

Dec 16, 2013 6:24 PM in response to jc1118

I have had all the problems that are mentioned. But someone said to stream with Airplay from the Netflix app, which I did and after about 10 seconds it went from SD to HD. I had just about givin up, even bought another Roku, which streams Netflix, great. With over 7000 posts, what is taking them so long to come up with an update, this is a major problem with people that own the ATV.

Dec 16, 2013 6:27 PM in response to jc1118

Cory...I concur I also tried the test video on my Blu-Ray player which is Netflix ready when I got home this evening and it started out around 250 and eventually ramped up to 1750 then to 3000 but fluctuates between 550 and 1750...I then tried my sons PS3 and it consistently plays 5800 i believe Netflix is having issues with multiple devices again I sincerely hope Netflix is working the issue

Dec 17, 2013 5:38 AM in response to brucefromwauconda

I think we all know at this point that the Apple TV's are having issues with Netflix, the point that people are making it that the Apple TV is not the only device with issues. As a just mention in a post above, my google tv is having the same issue as the Apple TV, so how can you say it's only Apple TV. It all started with a Netflix update about a month ago, see if your WD has an update available and see if it still works properly, that would be a good comparison.

Dec 17, 2013 6:43 AM in response to CoryArdilio

you are very correct and ive tried to point this out as well (appleTV and my imac both dont work, yet my new sony blu ray player might- all with hardwired connections, all worked fine for years until a month or two ago, all only fail at night). seems alot of people on this post just want to point fingers/champion brands and not get results.


kudos Cory for speaking your mind

Dec 17, 2013 10:54 AM in response to CoryArdilio

CoryArdilio wrote:


I think we all know at this point that the Apple TV's are having issues with Netflix, the point that people are making it that the Apple TV is not the only device with issues.

Of course not but that's not the counter-point.


I (and other people) have a variety of devices to choose from. In my case I have an ATV3, TiVo and PS3 all wired and an iPad Air, iPhone 5S and Nexus (Android) phone all wireless. Sometimes they all have problems. Sometimes none of them have problems. But most of the time only the ATV has a problem. As in 98% the time the ATV fails to get to 5800 even while all the other devices are running at full speed (for the device). Sometimes even concurrently. I've posted network traces other people have posted bandwidth usage graphs. This isn't a naive or simple-minded exploration of the problem.


You can say "well at my house it's clearly a Netflix problem". That's irrelevant. At my house and other houses extensive testing shows a recent ATV3 problem. It's very difficult to make a case that while all devices have problems and sometimes no devices have problems that the ATV isn't the worst of the bunch.


We acknowledge that there are generic problems. That in no way demonstrates that the ATV3 isn't a special case. Is there another explanation? Quite possibly but an overloaded Netflix, ISP throttling, other network issues, wide-spread superHD, Open Connect or the new (non-ATV) Netflix client isn't it.

Dec 17, 2013 6:14 PM in response to Nashslat

I saw all the reports so I immediately had tried myself. My wired Apple TV 3 starts and stays at 5800kbps!! Still need to test the wireless ones, though I can't imagine they would be any different.


On a side note, the Google TV, that I couldn't care less about, is still low resolution, so I guess Netflix is still working out the kinks. Fluctuates between 550 - 1050kbps, mainly staying at 750kbps. Again, this doesn't bother me since I never use the Google TV, just throwing it out there.


And since there was NOT an update to the Apple TV, yet the Netflix app is suddenly working perfectly, that leads me to believe this was an issue with Netflix all along and they have finally corrected the issue, good new finally!

Apple TV 3 Bad Streaming Quality

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