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striker33

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 6, 2010
1,098
2
Bought the ATV 3rd Gen yesteday, to replace my PS3 as a main Netflix streamer and for itunes match etc, due to it sucking up way less power and much less heat.

However, I noticed right off the bat that Netflix content looks extremely poor on it. Its nowhere near HD quality, and would look poor even as a SD stream. My PS3 on the other hand streams perfectly at 1080p at the highest quality possible for the service.

What gives?

Has Apple restricted the quality of Netflix in order to fill their own pockets from HD iTunes purchases, similar to what Micro$oft has done on the 360?
 

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,741
153
For me it looks great on both 24" and 47" HD TVs. It has to be your internet.
 

Mike Valmike

macrumors 6502a
Feb 27, 2012
551
0
Chandler, Arizona

Well, the other poster was making a bad assumption -- it does not HAVE to be your internet. I suspect a setting somewhere either in Netflix preferences or the ATV settings is not optimal. I'm afraid you may have to go digging for it. I use my ATV3 for Netflix every day, and we get beautiful 1080p feeds for the most part. You should expect to be able to get the same results or to have your unit replaced as defective.
 

striker33

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 6, 2010
1,098
2
Well, the other poster was making a bad assumption -- it does not HAVE to be your internet. I suspect a setting somewhere either in Netflix preferences or the ATV settings is not optimal. I'm afraid you may have to go digging for it. I use my ATV3 for Netflix every day, and we get beautiful 1080p feeds for the most part. You should expect to be able to get the same results or to have your unit replaced as defective.

I have a stable 6mbps connection, been streaming at the highest quality since Netflix launched in the UK on my PS3, so definitely isnt my internet.

Is there any individual Netflix settings on the ATV itself? I've been through every option on the main settings screen. Also went into my account on the Netflix site, double checked the quality was set to 'best', and there are no device options etc to tweak.
 

whooleytoo

macrumors 604
Aug 2, 2002
6,607
716
Cork, Ireland.
Looks fine for me. Some older movies in HD (such as Tron) don't seem to be recognisably HD, but they certainly couldn't be called poor for SD.

I'm quite happy with the quality; it's just a pity so much is still SD.
 

Bill.the.Cat

macrumors member
Feb 13, 2011
89
0
Netflix looks great in HD on my 56" LCoS RPTV. Cox cable internet, 25-28Mbps downstream via speedtest.net to ATV2 over hard-wired Cat6.
 

heisenberg123

macrumors 603
Oct 31, 2010
6,496
9
Hamilton, Ontario
I have a stable 6mbps connection, been streaming at the highest quality since Netflix launched in the UK on my PS3, so definitely isnt my internet.

Is there any individual Netflix settings on the ATV itself? I've been through every option on the main settings screen. Also went into my account on the Netflix site, double checked the quality was set to 'best', and there are no device options etc to tweak.

is 6Mbps good?

i get around 30
 

Gary86

macrumors member
Mar 22, 2012
84
0
I have 3 ATV's and a PS3 in my house. I was running two ATV's (daughter was watching the backyardigans and my wife was watching a movie on the other) and I was playing COD online and the quality of all three was excellent all running on the same wifi network.

I would check your internet.
 

DARK N00DLE

macrumors newbie
Mar 27, 2012
15
0
Mili Attoll
Well, the other poster was making a bad assumption -- it does not HAVE to be your internet. I suspect a setting somewhere either in Netflix preferences or the ATV settings is not optimal. I'm afraid you may have to go digging for it. I use my ATV3 for Netflix every day, and we get beautiful 1080p feeds for the most part. You should expect to be able to get the same results or to have your unit replaced as defective.

You could also try looking at the settings in your router, the way ATV communicates to Netflix might be where an issue is. Also what kind of bandwith are you using? a/b/c/g/n? that will also change how it works. I can stream just fine through my AirPort Extreme which uses "n" with the ATV but if I use it at the g/f's place the speed is much slower and has issues with loading because it's on a "g" bandwith and she has crappy internet.
 
Last edited:

vtstarck

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2009
216
7
My Netflix pauses and buffers every minute or so ever since I upgraded from ATV2 to ATV3. I've used other streaming sources like TV and Movies from iTunes and they all stream fine. I also get between 25-30 MBps down. Netflix worked perfectly before I upgraded.
 

striker33

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 6, 2010
1,098
2
Its not my internet, nor is it my network.

Is it really that hard for people on here to acknowledge that there could be some issues with ATV's handling of Netflix content?

----------

You could also try looking at the settings in your router, the way ATV communicates to Netflix might be where an issue is. Also what kind of bandwith are you using? a/b/c/g/n? that will also change how it works. I can stream just fine through my AirPort Extreme which uses "n" with the ATV but if I use it at the g/f's place the speed is much slower and has issues with loading because it's on a "g" bandwith and she has crappy internet.

PS3 = G band = Full HD streaming on Netflix.

ATV = N band = Piss poor SD streaming.
 

Pheo

macrumors regular
Jun 13, 2011
200
1
I'm finding Netflix goes down on ATV while being up on other devices. Very odd.
 

waw74

macrumors 601
May 27, 2008
4,667
938
not sure if this will help or not.

on the netflix web page, go to settings, and in the "instant watching" section click "manage video quality" and set that to high. mine had no setting to begin with.
(this link should take you directly to the correct settings page).
 

DARK N00DLE

macrumors newbie
Mar 27, 2012
15
0
Mili Attoll
Its not my internet, nor is it my network.

Is it really that hard for people on here to acknowledge that there could be some issues with ATV's handling of Netflix content?

----------



PS3 = G band = Full HD streaming on Netflix.

ATV = N band = Piss poor SD streaming.

It's not the we're not acknowledging there could be issues with ATV, we're trying to do a top-down approach of what kinds of issues there could be, the most logical is either internet or network and the most unlogical is the actual ATV itself. Is your NAT open? I've had problems with that before and there have been huge differences between gaming consoles and ATV, also have you reset your ATV yet?
 

striker33

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 6, 2010
1,098
2
not sure if this will help or not.

on the netflix web page, go to settings, and in the "instant watching" section click "manage video quality" and set that to high. mine had no setting to begin with.
(this link should take you directly to the correct settings page).

Also went into my account on the Netflix site, double checked the quality was set to 'best', and there are no device options etc to tweak.

It's not the we're not acknowledging there could be issues with ATV, we're trying to do a top-down approach of what kinds of issues there could be, the most logical is either internet or network and the most unlogical is the actual ATV itself. Is your NAT open? I've had problems with that before and there have been huge differences between gaming consoles and ATV, also have you reset your ATV yet?

NAT Open, static ip with DMZ etc, reset a few times, after each change was made. Still nothing :(

Oh, and once again, apparently 'Netflix is not available'.
 

Nychot

macrumors 6502a
Aug 15, 2011
790
71
ATV2 is Superior to ATV3

I'm returning to the 3 to BB. I have a 2, and a roku. but the 2 has a better picture etc than the 3. my 2 is jailbroken, maybe that makes a difference. but the 2 on netflix just has great resolution, the 3 is dull. anyone else find that or maybe i got a lemon.
 

jetlife2

macrumors regular
Apr 18, 2004
132
11
Cincinnati, Oh
Google DNS?

I have a ATV2 and it is great. Stable HD all the time from US Netflix. I can't comment on the 3, maybe there is a difference emerging.

Anyway, one thing that some 2 owners have found to be useful is to use google DNS servers 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. YMMV. If you have a 3 and have not tried it, it could be worth a try. I use it and it did make a difference for me. I get 30M down on my wifi from the WAN, and the ATV2 connects at 52, wireless b/g/n: but this change still made a positive improvement on Netflix. Good luck.
 

striker33

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 6, 2010
1,098
2
I have a ATV2 and it is great. Stable HD all the time from US Netflix. I can't comment on the 3, maybe there is a difference emerging.

Anyway, one thing that some 2 owners have found to be useful is to use google DNS servers 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. YMMV. If you have a 3 and have not tried it, it could be worth a try. I use it and it did make a difference for me. I get 30M down on my wifi from the WAN, and the ATV2 connects at 52, wireless b/g/n: but this change still made a positive improvement on Netflix. Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestion. Gave it a try, but no improvement. Still streaming in SD only.

I'll give Apple a ring in the morning and see if they have any suggestions. Otherwise it looks like I'm gonna have to fight to return it.
 

Bill.the.Cat

macrumors member
Feb 13, 2011
89
0
Is it really that hard for people on here to acknowledge that there could be some issues with ATV's handling of Netflix content?

Since there are many of with excellent results, yes, it's difficult to make the logical jump that there's something wrong with ATVs in general when it comes to Netflix. The existence of many counterexamples suggests there's either something wrong with your setup or something wrong with your ATV unit.
 

DARK N00DLE

macrumors newbie
Mar 27, 2012
15
0
Mili Attoll
NAT Open, static ip with DMZ etc, reset a few times, after each change was made. Still nothing :(

Oh, and once again, apparently 'Netflix is not available'.

That isn't a problem with your ATV then, I had the same problem a while back and after a lot of googling I figured out it was actually Netflix and their local servers that was the issue, I waited a couple of days, did a reset and it was back to normal.
 
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