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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

Reply
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 27, 2013 7:55 PM in response to home at last

Continuing with my comments of 9 days ago, I've had no trouble for the last 10 days. Everything is razor sharp now. (I'm using an ATV 3 into a Samsung HDTV with Comcast).


I do not understand the comment above: "It has something to do with the Super HD (1080p) streaming. " Really? Is that the only possibility? Seems unlikely, given the 120+ replies in this thread.

Dec 27, 2013 8:09 PM in response to jc1118

Netflix is still broken. Wow!


To top it off, if you open your Netflix app in IOS, you'll get a prompt asking you to rate your Netflix experience. They know what's going on but they don't have the balls to admit this has been their fault. Typical big business BS! Netflix, if you read these threads, you just managed to alienate a large portion of your customer base, when all you needed to do was step up to the plate and give a ****!


For those of you that have called Netflix, only to have them tell you it's your Internet connection, you are not alone and it's not your internet connection, router, or anything else. It's Netflix.


Bottom line is that this has been going on for at least 3 months! Have Netflix credit you for those 3 months. Don't take any crap from them. They don't deserve a pass if they won't even own up that this is their fault.


Going to cancel our account.

Dec 27, 2013 10:55 PM in response to bodosom

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. I noticed the issue only presented itself on my ATV3 as well as two others owned by a family member and a friend in different cities with different ISPs when content labeled as "Super HD" was played. The fix I suggested works for all the ones I have adjusted to 720P. I guess we are just lucky it works for us. Hopefully a proper fix will come from Netflix/Apple soon for those people this fix does not work.

Dec 27, 2013 11:13 PM in response to home at last

I didn't say Super HD was the only possibility. I said it has something to do with it. Bandwidth issues or a bug in the Netflix code for the ATV app could be the cause. It could be the number of subscribers hitting a common streaming server. It could be anything covered by the 120 other posts but it is likely something not covered since no one has fixed it yet. I didn't read all the posts but since I didn't see any other suggestions marked as a solution I posted a fix that has worked for me and a few others.


I don't often post in forums for this very reason - people are quick to ignore a possible workaround because they don't agree with it or because they don't understand the underlying technology. Just because it doesn't work for one doesn't mean it won't work for others. There's no need to be snarky.

Dec 28, 2013 8:01 PM in response to jc1118

Just echoing this problem, which started for me a few weeks ago. I have a 50mb/s cable connection and no cap on bandwidth from my provider, so speed isn't a problem. I can stream HBO go! Vimeo! etc just fine with my ATV3, but Netflix won't work right. I get an HD signal for about 5 seconds then a pause then it reverts to super low quality - less than 480p actually, more like 360p (you can test your streaming speed on Netflix by watching the movie "example short 23.976"). Netflix doesn't acknowledge the problem via customer service or support. It's definitely an issue specific to Netflix with ATV.


Kirby

Dec 31, 2013 7:42 PM in response to jc1118

Echoing the issue as well. Ever since the last update my ATV3 is useless. ALL other devices stream beautifully (PS3, Computer, iPad). I've tried everything under the sun. Google DNS, resetting device... nothing fixes it. EXTREMELY poor streaming quality. Other apps on the ATV3 look fine. It's just Netflix. Ready to toss this POS. Why use it when the PS3 looks better AND has the newer interface? Apple you really know how to drop the ball...

Dec 31, 2013 11:56 PM in response to nathaniel83

Adding my voice to the chorus....


Have had my ATV since last Xmas.......no problems noted til 1 wk ago with long 'Accessing Netflix' followed by ' Netflix not available..try again later'. Also got message' Netflix not connected to Internet'. Checked settings and WiFi - connected and full signal strength. Two iPhones , two iPads and imac fully connected to Internet and Netflix no problem. Unplugged ATV and reset, forgot network and re-entered password. Worked for few days but noticed long loading time and initial hiccup after 10 seconds......more spinning then play began. Part way through show had resolution degradation but after couple minutes resolution increased. Tonight ( 1 AM) ATV could not connect to Netflix. Checked my ipad which was 5 feet away from ATV....it connected right away to Netflix and began streaming HD while my ATV was telling me it was unavailable. Suddenlink is our provider and we have no bandwidth cap and speed is highest available for residential. Router is 6 month old AirPort Extreme which has been and still is very stable.

Jan 2, 2014 11:06 AM in response to eberrong

eberrong wrote:


I have had some success to use my iPad 2 with airplay to ATV...instead of ATV directly.

Yes people have been doing for a couple of weeks. The ATV uses the same content distribution network as the iPad etc. In my case it works when the mobile device connects to the Limelight network but it doesn't help if the connection is to nflxvideo.

Jan 6, 2014 12:55 PM in response to jc1118

I have the same problem too.


When i start a Netflix movie, the first seconds are great after that it starts buffering a few seconds and the quality is awful. Most of the problem starts after 4:00 pm, before that time everything seems ok. I have an ATV 3rd gen. running on 6.0.2. I live in the Netherlands, where Netflix has been rolled out for about 4 months ago. On the other hand, on my Sony smart TV netflix app. everything plays at high quality 24 hours a day.


I have contacted Netflix and Apple a few times about this problem and they promised me too research it and hope for a solution soon. But they said at first that the problem was new for them, i can hardly believe that, according how big this thread and other threads are now.

Apple TV 3 Bad Streaming Quality

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