ATV2 – Buffering takes forever

[Mac-Rumours]

Whether it's from the internet or a computer / iOS device connected via ethernet / wi-fi, it takes longer to download the pre-buffer than the actual length of video.

Hoping to find a solution all I've found online is other people with the same problem.

Does anyone have any idea how to improve the Apple TV's buffering?

 

[blueroom]

The problems most likely with your ISP or router. My ATV and millions of others buffer fine.

Are you running the latest iOS? Have you tried it without the jailbreak?

 

[The DRis]

Buffer what? Movies in your iTunes? Netflix? Rentals or purchases off the store?

 

[Mac-Rumours]

The problems most likely with your ISP or router. My ATV and millions of others buffer fine.

Are you running the latest iOS? Have you tried it without the jailbreak?

Thanks. That's what I thought at first but I have 12Mb download bandwidth and I can stream full HD with no problems over the internet but not a 50MB video across my home network. :?

I also found a huge thread on Apple's own support pages with many people with the same issue but not one person posted a working solution.

A friend said he's even tried his Apple TV connected direct via ethernet and it still buffers forever.

I've removed the previous jailbreak and updated to the latest firmware so that's not the issue.

 

[The DRis]

Thanks. That's what I thought at first but I have 12Mb download bandwidth and I can stream full HD with no problems over the internet but not a 50MB video across my home network. :?

I also found a huge thread on Apple's own support pages with many people with the same issue but not one person posted a working solution.

A friend said he's even tried his Apple TV connected direct via ethernet and it still buffers forever.

I've removed the previous jailbreak and updated to the latest firmware so that's not the issue.

Ok, have you tried restarting iTunes? Close iTunes and re-open, that fixes the issue for me 75% of the time. If that doesn't work restart your whole computer. Are you using a Mac or PC?

If restarting the computer doesn't work restart your router.

If that doesn't work, unplug and reset your Apple TV, Router, and Computer and turn on in this order,

1) Router

2) Computer/iTunes

3) Apple TV

 

[blueroom]

Is everything wired Ethernet or WiFi? What model is your router? How are you compressing your videos?

 

[Mac-Rumours]

Buffer what? Movies in your iTunes? Netflix? Rentals or purchases off the store?

As per original post ALL video (from iTunes via Home Sharing, Apple's trailers, from iPod etc.).

Audio and pictures play after a few seconds.

 

[yaredna]

Whether it's from the internet or a computer / iOS device connected via ethernet / wi-fi, it takes longer to download the pre-buffer than the actual length of video.

Hoping to find a solution all I've found online is other people with the same problem.

Does anyone have any idea how to improve the Apple TV's buffering?

I have the same issue. Here are the details of mine:
. Netflix: very fine, very fast buffering, no issue
. Youtube: Buffering much longer than other computers or iPads in the house
. Local library in iTunes: Buffering for a minute or two prior to starting a video

The AppleTV2 is connected with a wired ethernet to a gigabit ethernet switch, connected to a Cisco e4200 router. Home internet connection was at 50Mb/s, and recently downgraded to 20Mb/s, both having the same issue with the buffering. Pings are usually in the 75-100ms max

The buffering is much longer that i expect. This must be a bug in the calculation of the buffer size depending on transfer rates and duration of movie. Sometimes, in Youtube, for a clip of 3min, it has to full totally the buffer prior to starting the play. Totally unacceptable.

Fanboys, you can blame me for "user error". However, if you can at least think of something else to try to fix this situation, I'll appreciate. Thanks in advance.

 

[blueroom]

I'm not having this problem on any of my computers (all OSX Lion, all updates)

I can buffer media using iTunes, HomeSharing or AirPlay from any source (local, Synology NAS share) 5GHz WiFi / Ethernet (WNDR-3700) to my non jailbroken ATV3s quickly and effortlessly.

All videos were converted using Handbrake nightly ATV2 and High Profile / ATV3. Typically files with both AAC & AC3 are ~700mb per hour.

 

[Mac-Rumours]

Ok, have you tried restarting iTunes? Close iTunes and re-open, that fixes the issue for me 75% of the time. If that doesn't work restart your whole computer. Are you using a Mac or PC?

If restarting the computer doesn't work restart your router.

If that doesn't work, unplug and reset your Apple TV, Router, and Computer and turn on in this order,

1) Router

2) Computer/iTunes

3) Apple TV

Thanks. I tried this and I can now stream from my iTunes library without the huge wait.

Streaming trailers and trying to AirPlay from an iPod Touch 4G still buffers forever.

Is everything wired Ethernet or WiFi? What model is your router? How are you compressing your videos?

The Apple TV is connected via wi-fi, as is the iPod. The iTunes library is stored on a Collector's Edition MacBook connected via ethernet. Router is Netgear WGR614 v7 (54 Mbps). Videos on the computer (which are playing fine now) are mostly downloaded from Apple's iTunes Store and a few are compressed with Handbrake. The videos on the iPod were taken on the iPod.

I can live without the trailers but I would like to be able to stream video via AirPlay. I tried a 3 minute clip yesterday and it took longer than that to pre-buffer.

--

I just tried to play a 30 second video clip from the iPod and it took 60 seconds to pre buffer. I loaded the same clip on the computer and it took 7 seconds to pre buffer. So I then tried putting the iPod next to the wireless router and it took about 20 seconds, suggesting that the problem is with the iPod's ability to transmit the video or the router's ability to receive that transmission.