Robert J McInnes
Level 1 (18 points)
Apple TV

Q: Apple TV movies rental download stops after a few minutes

Am furious with latest Apple TV, every time we explore, see and get enthusiastic about renting and down loading a movie to watch now, the down load starts, and after a typical count down delay; "will begin to play in two hours, in 30 minutes, in five minutes, in one minute" begins to play, but for only two minutes.

Abandon the attempt, and try again next night, with exactly the same behaviour?  Maddening...

The rental behaviour has been stuck like this for three days now? 

Am really angry, this service is USELESS...

My wife rages off the planet "bloody waste of time, money, may as well borrow a DVD from the Library, etc, etc, etc..."

 

My download speed (via ADSL2+) measured buy the Ookla Apple TV App, is 9.7Mb/s, is quite adequate.

The movie trailer starts and plays immediately, other apps like Redbull play fine...

 

So what gives Apple.  Very disappointing, very sad, feel like throw in the thing out the window.

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), Airport Extreme, LinkSys NAS200, RDC to Sony PCG XE17

Posted on Jul 29, 2016 5:42 PM

by Winston Churchill,Solvedanswer
Winston Churchill Winston Churchill
Level 10 (104,506 points)
Apple TV
A:

IF the issue eminates from Bluetooth, you might want to avoid the 2.4 GHz spectrum.

Posted on Jul 31, 2016 2:13 AM

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Robert J McInnes

Q: Apple TV movies rental download stops after a few minutes

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  • Helpful answers

  • by vazandrew,

    vazandrew vazandrew Jul 29, 2016 7:45 PM in response to Robert J McInnes
    Level 6 (19,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 29, 2016 7:45 PM in response to Robert J McInnes

    Make sure DNS is set to auto (settings - general - network)

    If on wifi try ethernet

    To see a current status of the network get a report from istumbler, netstumbler or similar.

    Test on another network

  • by Robert J McInnes,

    Robert J McInnes Robert J McInnes Jul 30, 2016 12:35 AM in response to vazandrew
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 30, 2016 12:35 AM in response to vazandrew

    Thank you for responding...

    Apple TV DNS is on auto, and I am connected via ethernet.

    My network is working just fine, I can watch the movie trailer, and other trailers (which play instantly), but the movie "Lady in the Van" refuses to start playing, or only play for a few minutes and freezes.

     

    Very frustrating.

     

    Will see if I can get credit from Apple, and buy it again for "download and play later".

  • by vazandrew,

    vazandrew vazandrew Jul 30, 2016 6:35 AM in response to Robert J McInnes
    Level 6 (19,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 30, 2016 6:35 AM in response to Robert J McInnes

    There is a big difference between streaming a small trailer and an HD movie. If it is freezing that indicates buffering due to an issue with the local network. You would need a network report or to test elsewhere/with Apple.

     

    The watch later option simply means it won't cache right away, but Apple TV is a streaming device so it won't download/store content.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 30, 2016 7:20 AM in response to Robert J McInnes
    Level 10 (104,506 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 30, 2016 7:20 AM in response to Robert J McInnes

    Intermittent problems are often a result of interference. Interference can be caused by other networks in the neighbourhood or from household electrical items.

     

    You can download and install iStumbler (NetStumbler for windows users) to help you see which channels are used by neighbouring networks so that you can avoid them, but iStumbler will not see household items.

     

    Refer to your router manual for instructions on changing your wifi channel or adjusting your multicast rate.

     

    There are other types of problems that can affect networks, but this is by far the most common, hence worth mentioning first. Networks that have inherent issues can be seen to work differently with different versions of the same software. You might also try moving the Apple TV away from other electrical equipment.

     

    The following article(s) may help you.

     

    Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections

    Recommended Wi-Fi settings

    Sources of Interference

    Wifi Diagnostic Software (for Mac users)

     

    You may also find some help on this page, where I’ve collected some of the more unusual solutions to network issues.

  • by Robert J McInnes,

    Robert J McInnes Robert J McInnes Jul 30, 2016 8:20 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 30, 2016 8:20 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston,

    Thank you (and vazandrew) for your help,

    Must be getting old, I had forgotten about the comprehensive WiFi Diagnostics built into the macOS, I will explorer that over the next few days.

    I worked my way through the "Recommended WiFi Settings" guide, and all looks to be OK, I did change the Channel selection from my own assessment of the best, 2.4GHz on 1, and 5GHz on 157, to Auto and logically, when you look at the congestion in my area,  Auto mode selected the same channels.

    Attached is a snap shot of WiFi Explorer, my network is APX (Base),

    BA:01 and BA:02 is an Airport Extreme 5th Gen, in my Study, next to my iMac,

    FC:OC and FC:OB is my Time Capsule 4th Gen, down stairs in the sitting room, the Apple TV and macmini are connected to it via ethernet.

     

    From what I can see, the 2.4GHz channel should be quite adequate for an Apple TV movie download.

    Attenuation on 5GHz is understandably higher (20% versus 41%) considering the WiFi has to penetrate a concrete floor and two brick walls.

    I note using Ookla Speed test on the macmini that the performance is OK at around 9.5Mb/s for the first 20-30%, then tapers off quickly to 1 to 2Mb/s for an average of say 2Mb/s.  Not good enough?

    From my iMac, Ookla will report a consistent 9Gb/s download.

    Note my ADSL2+ connection is limited to 1.2MB/s download, and 125kB/s upload.

    I am not sure what to conclude from these observations, or where to look next.

     

    This is the view of WiFi from my upstairs study. 

    The view of WiFi from the macmini reveals similar attenuation, but I do not see anywhere near as many WiFi networks from down there, understandably.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-07-31 at 09.44.45.png

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 31, 2016 1:30 AM in response to Robert J McInnes
    Level 10 (104,506 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 31, 2016 1:30 AM in response to Robert J McInnes

    You appear to be using your base stations as network extenders, is that correct.

  • by Robert J McInnes,

    Robert J McInnes Robert J McInnes Jul 31, 2016 1:54 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 31, 2016 1:54 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston,

    Thank you again...

    I have finally cracked it: thank you again for your help...

    I purchased a Brightech BlueTooth DoublePlay audio transmitter, some time ago, to provide two bluetooth audio outputs from our Sony TV, (amazing as it is, most TV makers, including Sony, still do not provide Bluetooth audio output).  The result is really great audio, full surround sound, hifi, and individual volume controls on the two Bose bluetooth enabled head sets we use to watch movies and TV programs.

     

    When I disconnect the DoublePlay bluetooth transmitter (powered from a USB port on the TV) WiFi connectivity works as expected.

    When I connect the DoublePlay bluetooth transmitter, WiFi performance goes pear-shaped.

     

    I have moved the Time Capsule as far away as I can right now, and performance is improved.

    The movie down load speed with the DoublePlay bluetooth transmitter unpowered is twice real time (five minutes to down load ten minutes of movie).

    With DoublePlay bluetooth transmitter powered up, the movie down load speed is real time (ten minutes to down load ten minutes of movie).

     

    Robert.

  • by Winston Churchill,Solvedanswer

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 31, 2016 2:13 AM in response to Robert J McInnes
    Level 10 (104,506 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 31, 2016 2:13 AM in response to Robert J McInnes

    IF the issue eminates from Bluetooth, you might want to avoid the 2.4 GHz spectrum.

  • by Robert J McInnes,

    Robert J McInnes Robert J McInnes Jul 31, 2016 6:49 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 31, 2016 6:49 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston,

    A million thank you's,

    I confirmed again this morning that the culprit is the  Bluetooth Double Player Audio Transmitter.

    Next I named the 5GHz network on my AirPort Extreme (upstairs),

    then disconnected the Apple TV ethernet cable from my TimeCapsule (the WiFi Network Extender down stairs), 

    and connected Apple TV directly to the 5GHz Wifi network...

    Aokla SpeedTest (an AppleTV app) shows a steady 9.7Mb/s down load, with the Bluetooth Double Player powered up.

     

    Interesting, I was not able to setup the TimeCapsule as a WiFi Extender for only the 5GHz network, it defaults to the main WiFi network, extending both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.

     

    Thank you once again.

     

    Robert

    PS: I should probably invest in two new AirPort Extreme...

    The TimeCapsule down stairs is 4th Gen, and the AirPort Extreme upstairs is 5th Gen.