Entropee

Q: Best way to stream Netflix from iPad to hotel TV

I'm going to be traveling for a few weeks and I'd like to stream Netflix from my iPad Pro to a hotel TV. I looked into the Lightning Digital AV Adapter but, according to the reviews, video is quite degraded. Therefore I've been considering other options. Since a 3rd generation Apple TV can be had for not much more than the cost of the AV adapter, I was thinking that perhaps I would try AirPlay instead. I'm wondering if others have traveled with Apple TV and whether it's necessary to use wifi with Apple TV. In other words, can I connect my iPad to the hotel wifi and then use AirPlay to stream video to Apple TV, which will be connected to the TV using an HDMI cable? Does anyone have any other creative solutions for streaming video to a hotel TV? Thank you very much for your help.

iPad Pro, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jul 16, 2016 6:17 PM

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Q: Best way to stream Netflix from iPad to hotel TV

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  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Jul 16, 2016 8:44 PM in response to Entropee
    Level 5 (4,522 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 16, 2016 8:44 PM in response to Entropee

    For Airplay, the Apple TV must be on the same network as the iPad. Wired Ethernet or Wifi, your choice. The streaming between the iPad and the Apple TV is done on the wifi network, NOT between the 2 devices wirelessly.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 16, 2016 9:58 PM in response to Entropee
    Level 6 (13,626 points)
    iPad
    Jul 16, 2016 9:58 PM in response to Entropee

    Who posted that video is degraded in Nextflix on iPad?

    I call B.S. on those reviews.

    I am going to try my digital AV adapter on my large iPad Pro to my 54 inch screen HDTV and let you know the quality.

    Also, if you didn't know this, AND I am sure a lot of Netflix users don't, if you go into your Netflix account from a web browser or a web browser on your computer, and log into your Netflix account, you CAN change the streaming quality of Netflix to all of your devices to have it stream to a higher quality.

    There are lower, standard, medium and high (full HD) quality.

    Note, the higher visual quality means using more Internet data bandwidth.

    Check your Netflix quality settings in your Netflix account.

     

    I am going to test the streaming quality of Netflix from my iPad Pro, right now.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 16, 2016 10:12 PM in response to Entropee
    Level 6 (13,626 points)
    iPad
    Jul 16, 2016 10:12 PM in response to Entropee

    I have just done a test with streaming a movie from my iPad Pro a few seconds, ago.

    The movie appears in full screen and the on my 54 inch screen plasma HD and the picture looks wonderful.

    I standing right up to the screen.

    I see no resolution issues when streaming from my own WiFi network.

    This is what it comes down to, also.

    Make sure you have Netflix set for a high or higher than standard streaming rate and make sure the WiFi signal in your hotel rooms can handle it.

    3-4 Mbps is the mimimum standard streamimg rate for a non-choppy, buffer free streaming experience.

    For better quality the Hotel Wifi in your room would need to be able to handle the extra bandwidth from its Internet servers to handle better quality video at say 8-9 and 10-12 Mbps for HD quality looking video on screen.

    I will go into my Netflix account, shortly to see/confirm  what my streaming speed/quality is.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 16, 2016 10:30 PM in response to Entropee
    Level 6 (13,626 points)
    iPad
    Jul 16, 2016 10:30 PM in response to Entropee

    Netflix playback quality settings are Auto (based on current Wifi speed and connection), Low, Medium (standard video quality definition, 0.3 GBs/hour), High (high definition, up to 3 GBs per hour for HD, up to 6 or 7 GBs per hour for Ultra (4k) HD definition).

    Netflix playback is set for High (HD)

    We pay Netflix for 2 screens at once with up to HD level.

    We pay for 25 Mbps Wifi streaming service and our local Home Wifi with normal video streaming and other devices on the Internet doing whatever, never exceeds 20-22 Mbps of our paid monthly broadband Internet service.

    So, the streaming quality is going to vary based on your Netflix playback quality settings and the quality and speed of the Wifi network in the hotel or hotel chain you are staying at.

    This will still be a factor even if you purchase an Apple TV box as it still relies on a broadband connection, too!

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 17, 2016 12:24 AM in response to Entropee
    Level 6 (13,626 points)
    iPad
    Jul 17, 2016 12:24 AM in response to Entropee

    Netflix quality settings

     

    Auto            (based on internet and WiFi speed settings and data usage)

     

    Low            (up to standard definition 0.3 GBs/hour or 5.5 Mbps.)

     

    Standard    ( for standard definition video, 0.3 GBs/hour or 5.5 Mbps)

     

    High            ( HD video, up to 3 GBs/hour or 14 Mbps)

                        ( Ultra HD (4k) video, up to 28 Mbps)

     

    If you pay Netfix for any of the two HD only monthly subscriptions, in the hotels of your choice, try the best setting based on the hotel/s Internet/Wifi speeds.

    This is THE big factor when streaming video and its quality.

    Also, make sure the hotels you stay at have new enough TVs that have an HDMI input connection.

    My wife and I have stayed a places where the flat screen TV were either older or cheap or both and had no TVs that had digital HDMI connections.

    This factor won't change if either if you purchase a streaming box from Apple or Roku.

    You might not always be able to stream at the High setting, but you might be able to get by on streaming Netflix at the lower Standard definition setting.

    This setting will still give you a good picture onscreen. You'll only notice the lower quality difference at close visual range. At normal viewing distances the streamed picture should still look fine at the Standard definition setting.

    ONLY use the Auto or Low settings IF the Standard definition settings is a complete and total failure to stream.

    If you stream Netflix from your iPad at Standard definition and you get occasional blocky picture or intermittent stutter or buffering 1-3 times during the length of a full feature movie, leave the Netflix playback quality on Standard.

    If you can't get Netflix to stream out of your iPad to the hotel TV at all in High or Standard video definition, you will have no choice, but to try Netflix's Auto or Low streaming settings which may yield a less than ideal picture on the TV.

    The streaming quality issues will be the same with an Apple or Roku streaming box.

    VIdeo streaming is dependent on the available bandwidth and speed of the wireless network in the hotel.

    Any wireless internet access is at the mercy of the hotel's own Internet and wireless networks.

    Using a streaming box like Apple TV and using Airplay won't change those factors if Wifi speeds on the Hotel's Wireless network are at peak use by guests and creates limited WiFi speeds/bandwidth/bottlenecks.

     

    Good Luck!

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Jul 17, 2016 9:48 AM in response to LACAllen
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 17, 2016 9:48 AM in response to LACAllen

    Hello LACAllen,

    Actually, you can use peer-to-peer AirPlay by turning on Bluetooth on the iOS device. See How to use AirPlay on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support. The device locates ATV over Bluetooth and they establish a direct link on channel 149, independent of the network. The ATV may not be happy with no network connection, but it ought to work. The catch for the OP would be if the Netflix app blocks AirPlay. Certainly, the cleanest solution would be a direct HDMI connection.