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NetFlix Snaps Into Standard Def
- Thread starter aaronvan
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tonyr6
macrumors 68000
I only had the ATV for a week and it was flawless then I got a new HP Gigabit switch on Nov 9th and the first HD program I loaded buffered and dropped down to fuzzy SD. I reloaded the program and it was fine. Then tried to watch something else and within 10 seconds it dropped down three times to lower quality.
I disconnected the switch and used my old Monoprice Gigabit switch with no improvements. This was all with v6.0.1. It got bad that I went back to the power hungry PS3 and then I bought myself a new Roku 3 because I stupidly sold my last one to buy a ATV. Roku 3 for the most part streams Netflix great any times.
I did get the v6.0.2 update and then I tried in the afternoon streaming two programs the first one Babysitters a Vampire crapped out and just buffered 2 minutes unit it. I then watched it on the Roku no problems. Iron Man Adventures towards the end dropped down to SD but did ramp up. Now this was in the afternoon not during peak hours. Before the 9th everything streamed great anytime.
I since then reconnected my HP switch and the Roku 3 still streams great anytime and to think I was going to return it. Well now I have not touched my ATV except for watching my subscribed YouTube channels.
I still can't believe the ATV went from a reliable streamer for Netflix to the worst of the bunch in only a week. BTW I am on TWC 15/1.
I disconnected the switch and used my old Monoprice Gigabit switch with no improvements. This was all with v6.0.1. It got bad that I went back to the power hungry PS3 and then I bought myself a new Roku 3 because I stupidly sold my last one to buy a ATV. Roku 3 for the most part streams Netflix great any times.
I did get the v6.0.2 update and then I tried in the afternoon streaming two programs the first one Babysitters a Vampire crapped out and just buffered 2 minutes unit it. I then watched it on the Roku no problems. Iron Man Adventures towards the end dropped down to SD but did ramp up. Now this was in the afternoon not during peak hours. Before the 9th everything streamed great anytime.
I since then reconnected my HP switch and the Roku 3 still streams great anytime and to think I was going to return it. Well now I have not touched my ATV except for watching my subscribed YouTube channels.
I still can't believe the ATV went from a reliable streamer for Netflix to the worst of the bunch in only a week. BTW I am on TWC 15/1.
Dan, if it matters, I can confirm that this issue was present in 6.0.1--in fact, I upgraded to 6.0.2 in hopes of correcting it.
I believe most have stated that the issue originated when 6 was released or thereabouts.
I believe most have stated that the issue originated when 6 was released or thereabouts.
Also confirmed and sent apple feedback
I've also noticed a significant dive in netflix performance on the Atv. There may be a couple factors like time of day but there is definitely something specific to the Apple TV. Last night I ran the example short video repeatedly to display the real time bitrate and resolution. It starts very briefly out at 5800 Kbps 1080 then drops down to as low as 200-750 Kbps sd or worse, then staggers around in various qualities but never recovered past 3800. I ran my ipad concurrently and it starts out at max (4300 1080 for mobile) and is rock solid the whole time and never changed. Other devices are fine, my internet is fine--something's up with recent atv for sure.
I've also noticed a significant dive in netflix performance on the Atv. There may be a couple factors like time of day but there is definitely something specific to the Apple TV. Last night I ran the example short video repeatedly to display the real time bitrate and resolution. It starts very briefly out at 5800 Kbps 1080 then drops down to as low as 200-750 Kbps sd or worse, then staggers around in various qualities but never recovered past 3800. I ran my ipad concurrently and it starts out at max (4300 1080 for mobile) and is rock solid the whole time and never changed. Other devices are fine, my internet is fine--something's up with recent atv for sure.
Is it necessarily an ATV problem? Maybe it's a bandwidth issue on the Netflix end.
I've been noticing it, too.
[Added later: I see there's another thread on the issue that proposes it's a Netflix issue.]
I bet it's a limitation of the deal they made with their content providers.
I've been noticing it, too.
[Added later: I see there's another thread on the issue that proposes it's a Netflix issue.]
I bet it's a limitation of the deal they made with their content providers.
I've noticed the issue with content being in SD as well. Noticeably last night while streaming the Red Dawn remake. Maybe Netflix was trying to save me from watching that terrible remake of a classic. Avenge me!!!
It seems many people are having issues with Netflix HD streaming. I did also realize it is also hitting on the Mac but another thing I noticed was Hulu Plus, I just signed and it is very laggy and only few of my movies in queue is showing up. What I am noticing is that the latest ATV update is very glitchy and I am hoping Apple is getting many complaints for this and have a fix soon.
Also another thread I was told it could be my ISP throttling me which could be possible but was never told from my ISP they will do that because on Hulu Plus have no problem watching in HD. But if they have to throttle why drop it to 480 SD and not just to 720p? It makes no sense to me to drop it to the lowest resolution where it is not watchable at all and what would be the point for Super HD at all?
Also another thread I was told it could be my ISP throttling me which could be possible but was never told from my ISP they will do that because on Hulu Plus have no problem watching in HD. But if they have to throttle why drop it to 480 SD and not just to 720p? It makes no sense to me to drop it to the lowest resolution where it is not watchable at all and what would be the point for Super HD at all?
In my case, it is only my ATV that downthrottles to SD. I can run Netflix off other sources on my same wireless net at full HD without problems. It's either ATV itself, or netflix fubarring with ATV and throttling the stream. Either is completely unacceptable. ATV goes back to Bestbuy in a week at the end of my 30 day return if this isn't fixed.
Just wanted to chime in here.
I´m using Unotelly´s DNS service to change to different Netflix regions. The issue of poor quality as described in this thread only affects the US netflix. All other regions shows perfect image quality. So far I´ve tried UK, Sweden, Netherlands and they all work as they should. As soon as I try to watch something from Netflix US I get blockiness and pixelation, way below proper SD even...
Tried this on 3 different ATV3 and its the same...
I´m using Unotelly´s DNS service to change to different Netflix regions. The issue of poor quality as described in this thread only affects the US netflix. All other regions shows perfect image quality. So far I´ve tried UK, Sweden, Netherlands and they all work as they should. As soon as I try to watch something from Netflix US I get blockiness and pixelation, way below proper SD even...
Tried this on 3 different ATV3 and its the same...
If you are in Europe and stream from the USA then it goes through the undersea fiber cable. No way you will get enough bandwidth for decent quality
Mine is streaming at lower than SD. It's like an abstract painting it's so bad. Has anyone called applecare? I can't as my warranty has expired. This definitely is update related as it used to work great, and all my other devices including ipad and ps3 work fine. Frustrating...
To clarify, I´ve been using the US version of Netflix for almost 2 years with DNS services and its always been pixel-perfect up until now when everybody else started to experience this.
Netflix do have servers on more places than just in the US (multiple places here in Europe).
Netflix do have servers on more places than just in the US (multiple places here in Europe).
wow, im glad that i found this thread. i was going crazy with my ATV. the PQ keeps dropping to SD on Netflix, and iTunes takes forever to initiate(auth/download) content since the latest update. as always, my PS3 works just fine. 🙁
JoeShades
macrumors 68000
Update? 😕
I wish there was a update for this issue but this is not only a problem on Apple TV but also watching through my iMac and on both devices does not stream HD anymore. Yesterday my ISP tech came over checked my cable and modem he said the signals are all fine I also talked to Netflix 3 or 4 times all they ever tell me it is my ISP.
I am calling this BS it is clearly Apple or Netflix behind this and neither one is going to admit this problem. I wish we can send a mass message to Apple about this serious streaming issue everyone is having with Netflix either on the iMac or Apple TV.
if you have a neighbor with a smart TV and the same ISP ask to see the same netflix shows on their TV
Just wanted to chime in here and say that this definitely is an issue with me as well and it has only been happening ever since the latest update. Before that, Netflix quality was absolutely beautiful. And SuperHD looked
well super HD-ish. But ever since the update, it looks like muddy water colors on the Apple TV, it's so freakin' bad.
And it's DEFINITELY JUST the Apple TV. On my computer, it's fine. On my old Roku, it's fine. Heck, I can even stream from my iPhone and use AirPlay to put it on the Apple TV and it looks crystal clear. Hoping there's an update to fix this and soon.
And it's DEFINITELY JUST the Apple TV. On my computer, it's fine. On my old Roku, it's fine. Heck, I can even stream from my iPhone and use AirPlay to put it on the Apple TV and it looks crystal clear. Hoping there's an update to fix this and soon.
I can confirm I got an update as well, but the version number stayed the same. It seems my Netflix works fine so far.
I just got an update as well. 6.0.2 6646.81.1
Didn't check the version number before I updated.
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