jc1118

Q: 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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Q: Apple TV 3 Bad Streaming Quality

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  • by TheRevRuss,

    TheRevRuss TheRevRuss Nov 26, 2013 6:28 PM in response to Vandergraff
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 26, 2013 6:28 PM in response to Vandergraff

    Vandergraff wrote:

     

    Many people are seeing this - and yes you can check the Netflix speed from your Apple TV

     

    'You can check the Netflix video quality by playing 'Example Short 23.976' (search for this title on Netflix). This title embeds the actual stream kbps you are receiving.'

     

    See https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5565870?tstart=0

     

    It may be better to consolidate all the comments in one thread - that way we may get more attention from Apple / Netflix.....

    Thanks for the tip on the video test. I've been having issues as well and it's very annoying. I first noticed it within the last week or so while watching "The Killing" on Netlix.

     

    ISP: Charter

    Most Recent Speedtest (using testmy.net): 25.2 Mbps

     

    Using the "Example Short 23.976" video mentioned above, I had the following results:

     

    1. Apple TV - Max: 750 kbps; Consistent: 560 kbps
    2. PS3 - Max: 3850 kbps; Consistent: 3000 kbps
    3. Wii U - Max: 750 kbps; Consistent: 375 kbps
    4. MacBook Pro - Safari 7.0 - Max: 750 kbps; Consistent: 560 kbps
    5. Roku 2 XS - Max: 750 kbps; Consistent: 750 kbps

     

    While far from an exhaustive test, I think it's safe to conclude the following:

    1. It's not an ISP issue
    2. It's not isolated to the Apple TV (as others have noted, HD content works fine on other apps like YouTube and Hulu Plus)

     

    It seems to be an issue with inconsistent quality of Netflix's apps on various platforms. It would seem to be that it's a fault with Netflix since there are several platforms affected especially Netflix's own website (though I haven't tried IE or Firefox.) That's just my assumption as I don't know who's responsibility it is to fix issues with the apps - Netflix or the platforms themselves. Again, it would seem like it's Netflix since only 1 out of the 5 platforms I tested was actually able to stream HD content. Perhaps some lack of optimization with how they buffer the stream?

     

    My only other thought was we're using OpenDNS and I wonder if that might be the issue. Though still, I don't know why that would affect everything but the PS3. I'll try the default DNS from our ISP and report if there's any difference.

     

    I guess for now I'll just watch on my PS3 until this gets sorted out.

  • by James Elliott1,

    James Elliott1 James Elliott1 Nov 26, 2013 9:42 PM in response to TheRevRuss
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Nov 26, 2013 9:42 PM in response to TheRevRuss

    I'll and one more report of the same issue.  I'm not sure of my ATV generation (though it's 1080p capable)' I'm a Comcast customer and when I check on my iPad I see >25 Mpbs down load speeds.  All the while the Netflix picture quality is awful.  This started for me in the last week or so.

  • by Realcheck5,

    Realcheck5 Realcheck5 Nov 27, 2013 12:27 PM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 27, 2013 12:27 PM in response to jc1118

    I have Also had issues with netflix streaming with my Apple TV. The bit rate starts high then quickly drops.  The only fix I have found so far is to use the netflix app on my ipad 2 and use airplay to send it to my tv. When I do this, the picture quality is awesome. I have no idea why this would work, but it does.

  • by brucefromwauconda,

    brucefromwauconda brucefromwauconda Nov 29, 2013 11:35 PM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 29, 2013 11:35 PM in response to jc1118

    Ok So more data.  This is impacting most but not all devices on my network. 

    Apple TV 3 (Wired or Wireless) -> 235kbps

    Apple TV 2 (Wired) -> 1750kbps

    Macbook Pro (Wireless) -> 750kbps

    PC (Wired) -> 560kbps

    iPhone 5 (Wireless same access point as Apple TV 3) -> 3000kbps

     

    In fact I can Airplay from my iPhone to my Apple TV 3 @ 3000kbps.  As Realcheck5 says above it looks awesome way better than using Netflix app on AppleTV 3.

     

    I chatted with Comcast one evening last week - they reset my cable modem (actually they said something about resetting user data and optimizing the video data) I think they just rebooted it.  When they did that my datarate on my MacBook Pro when to 3000kbps.  I thought the problem was solved but alas a few days later Im back in the same boat as before. Also it doesnt matter what time of day.  Bad performance all day. By the way my Apple TV2 looks great - would never have noticed that there was an issue.  I assume this is because its 720p - no Super HD. 

     

    Very frusterated that this point. 

  • by Hugh Kremer,

    Hugh Kremer Hugh Kremer Dec 4, 2013 2:46 PM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 2:46 PM in response to jc1118

    Same here. Last few weeks Netflix looks like 1990s internet video. Comcast 50 meg, new airport extreme, new motorola sb6100. Talked to Netflix today and they said they are getting a lot of calls and are "working with Comcast" on it.

  • by iRonManNCSU,

    iRonManNCSU iRonManNCSU Dec 4, 2013 5:32 PM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 5:32 PM in response to jc1118

    Based on this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/message/24021001#24021001

     

    It looks like an issue with the AppleTV's software. Considering that on the same network, between 2 apple devices based on the same softare, that only the ATV has issues, it looks like the ATV's OS might be the problem.

     

    Hoping Apple gets wind of this, and a fix is released.

  • by cgbarrett,

    cgbarrett cgbarrett Dec 4, 2013 8:50 PM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 8:50 PM in response to jc1118

    I've had the same issue recently. I can barely even see the screen the quality is so low. I have Comcast 100+ Meg Xtreme service and am having issues on PC, Win 8 App, Apple TV 2, and Apple TV 3.

     

    I am fairly confident that this is Netflix (and platforms affected by it). They released their new upgraded 'platform' about 2 weeks ago which overhauled how the service looks on all platforms (except Apple TV, but they released an update at the same time, obviously to correspond with the Netflix update).

     

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/markrogowsky/2013/11/13/meet-the-new-netflix-the-mor e-things-change-the-more-they-become-the-same/

  • by mpr123,

    mpr123 mpr123 Dec 4, 2013 9:25 PM in response to cgbarrett
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 9:25 PM in response to cgbarrett

    Netflix performance on my Apple TV took a nosedive after the recent update that added progress bars for previously viewed content.  I use Comcast as my ISP.

  • by cgbarrett,

    cgbarrett cgbarrett Dec 5, 2013 12:07 AM in response to cgbarrett
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2013 12:07 AM in response to cgbarrett

    Update - on my PC using Chrome with Silverlight - I get the worst stream possible and it never improves.

    Using the Windows 8 Netflix App (with Silverlight uninstalled) started poor and then was able to stream up to full HD quickly.

  • by SuperKirby,

    SuperKirby SuperKirby Dec 5, 2013 8:54 AM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2013 8:54 AM in response to jc1118

    As another poster mentioned, it looks like I get the blurry streams during primetime (evenings). In the mornings and very late at night it is super HD. Maybe when Netflix gets slammed during primetime they can't keep up with something on their end with ATV?

    My ATV3 always has 5 bars for WiFi, wether it's in the primetime or early mornings.

     

    ISP is U-Verse with 16Mbps DL.

  • by mark koldys,

    mark koldys mark koldys Dec 5, 2013 9:10 AM in response to SuperKirby
    Level 1 (95 points)
    Dec 5, 2013 9:10 AM in response to SuperKirby

    I had an AppleTV update waiting to be installed this morning. No indication of what it's for of course. After installing I checked Netflix and it looked like real HD (the same program was mediocre SD last nite). However it looked HD this morning even before I did the update so the real test will come during primetime.

  • by Hugh Kremer,

    Hugh Kremer Hugh Kremer Dec 5, 2013 11:46 AM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 5, 2013 11:46 AM in response to jc1118

    Netflix on Sony Blu Ray player and Samsung SmarTV both getting HD. But on AppleTV it's unwatchable. Like others in the forum, I get about a minute of moderate quality on ATV (though still not HD), then the video stops momentarily and switches into ugly mode. I prefer the UI of the ATV, so hoping for a fix soon. Until then, I've switched the cat5 cable to my BD player on which I can use both Amazon and Netflix.

  • by kamtra,

    kamtra kamtra Dec 6, 2013 8:23 PM in response to jc1118
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 6, 2013 8:23 PM in response to jc1118

    Same here. Was using AirPort Extreme n class- same setup for two years then about two weeks ago netflix quality went to crap. Went out and bought extremely fast dlink router last night and same issue. Tried restarting everything multiple times, signing out of netflix..  Netflix works fine on iPhone and MacBook- only atv3 is affected and only netflix. iTunes streaming is great. Driving me crazy- I'm getting over 50 Mbps. I did run an atv3 update around that time- that may have caused it.

  • by Markus Wernig,

    Markus Wernig Markus Wernig Dec 6, 2013 11:06 PM in response to Hugh Kremer
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Dec 6, 2013 11:06 PM in response to Hugh Kremer

    Hugh Kremer wrote:

     

    Netflix on Sony Blu Ray player and Samsung SmarTV both getting HD. But on AppleTV it's unwatchable. Like others in the forum, I get about a minute of moderate quality on ATV (though still not HD), then the video stops momentarily and switches into ugly mode. I prefer the UI of the ATV, so hoping for a fix soon. Until then, I've switched the cat5 cable to my BD player on which I can use both Amazon and Netflix.

     

    Netlix on Apple TV is broken right now - basically every Apple TV user is experiencing the same issue - substandard video streaming quality. However, few people actually contact Netflix and Apple about this issue directly. Posting on this forum is helpful for others, but will do little to convince Apple or Netflix to move this issue up the priority chain.

     

    So, everybody here, please call Apple tech support http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

    send bug reports via their feedback page: http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

     

    Call Netflix or chat with them online https://help.netflix.com/help and let them know that streaming works fine on other devices but is broken on the Apple TV (be prepared - they'll try to blame it on your internet connection or a faulty device, which is nonsense in this case). Tell them to send a report to their tech department. They need to hear from as many users as possible.

  • by SuperKirby,

    SuperKirby SuperKirby Dec 7, 2013 12:40 PM in response to Markus Wernig
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 7, 2013 12:40 PM in response to Markus Wernig

    Good suggestion, Markus Wernig thanks. Did you also suggest this on the other thread yet? https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5565870?tstart=0

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