New ATV4: both Netflix and Plex crashing daily; other apps are fine

[Idgit]

Might help to give us some idea of how your network is configured and how the aTV is connecting.

Not that it helps, but I've had a aTV4 since launch and run Plex almost every day and I don't think it's crashed or frozen once. Mine is connected via Ethernet to a switch and through an AE (assigning a static IP) before connecting to the internet via a broadband modem.

I have a Motorola Surfboard modem which shares a split coaxial cable with an Arris internet telephone modem. The Surfboard modem connects to a 4th generation Airport Extreme.

Connected to the Airport Extreme via Ethernet:

• Mac Mini (Core2Duo) running OS X 10.6.8 server
  • Plex Server
  • Time Machine server
  • File Server: AFP and SMB
  • Running NZBGet, Sonarr, Transmission, and Screens Connect
  • Four external hard drives (Firewire 400 and USB 2)
• Synology DiskStation DS115j:
  • running basic file sharing and media server
• ATV 4

The Synology, Mac Mini Plex server, and the ATV 4 all have reserved IP addresses on the Airport Extreme. IPv6 is Link-local only.

 

[Idgit]

Well, my ATV 4 has been stable for several days now. I hope it stays that way. I tried a few things including not having the Plex Media Server running, but I think what fixed the problem was changing the DNS of my router. I was using the default DNS addresses of my ISP. I switched to OpenDNS and I haven't had a problem, yet.

Could my router DNS settings really cause this sort of problem? Strikes me as unlikely, but whatever, it seems to have worked.

 

[satcomer]

Well, my ATV 4 has been stable for several days now. I hope it stays that way. I tried a few things including not having the Plex Media Server running, but I think what fixed the problem was changing the DNS of my router. I was using the default DNS addresses of my ISP. I switched to OpenDNS and I haven't had a problem, yet.

Could my router DNS settings really cause this sort of problem? Strikes me as unlikely, but whatever, it seems to have worked.

Some ISPs don't pay attention to DNS. However we all know DNS has to be updates on daily basis! This why Google and OpenDNS came online because they both saw a need and revenue service! Use google if you use massive amounts of Google online data use the Google DNS. If you want control over your DNS then use OpenDNS.

 

[Idgit]

Well crap. I spoke too soon. The problems have returned to my ATV4.

I'm starting to suspect that the Plex Media Server may have something to do with it. I bought MrMC and enabled the Plex Media Server support. While using MrMC to watch some videos, the interface froze up and wouldn't respond to any remote input except the Home button which took me back to the Home screen. I immediately launched the Plex app and tried to play a video. Nothing. The interface froze. I then tried Youtube and Netflix and they both worked. Eventually, the entire Apple TV freezes and I have to force a reboot.

I was pinging the Apple TV from my Mac the whole time I was testing out MrMC and Plex and not once did I drop any packets. So now I've enabled logs in MrMC in hopes that'll reveal something.