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Do not use ATV2 for Netflix

No issues here as well, prefer this over ps3 or xbox 360 any day... Not to mention everything else the unit does I.e. Streaming from my iMac.
 
I'm on FiOS and my APTV2 is hooked up wireless N. The router is upstairs and the APTV2 downstairs. Absolutely no problems with Netflix or streaming of any kind. Excellent picture quality. Thinking of getting another for the kids bedroom:D
 
I use ATV2(and iPhones, iPod 4, iPad 1, PS3, and a Wii) for Netflix all day long no issues. ATV2 seems best of all. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the ATV2 holding an 8GB NAND flash storage inside? Wouldn't this be used for buffering? Granted the software determines how much of that is allocated to certain apps, etc, but I would imagine with a decent connection, it shouldn't be an issue. Which again, points right back to the 'CHECK YOUR DAMN NETWORK!' issue before you start posting about 'broken' products.
 
I'll add +1 to the works perfect for me.

I have a Wii and a Samsung TV with the Netflix app too. The ATV2 works the best. No video quality issues, no buffering issues. I'm on 5GHz "N" with a Netgear WNDR3700 running dd-wrt.

I would have to say that the OP may not know as much as he thinks about networking. A little searching and a lot less cocky goes a long way.
 
Tons of issues since day 1 for me as well. ATV2, 2 Airport extreme's , 2 ap express. Uverse 24mg down, Main airport is 14 foot in line of sight w/apple tv; but streaming is unwatchable on Netflix.

Wife just gets pissed, goes upstairs with her MB.

This thread just reminded me that I have to go return it, as it's basically useless for our needs.

BTW, I did just stream using AirPlay a movie from safari on the iPad to apple tv w/o issue at all; yet netflix is a no go.

So strange.
 
As one of the ones who had trouble with my ATV2, but not any other device, I upgraded to the new firmware last week, and finally got around to trying to watch it last nite. With no other changes other than the firmware update, I watched 2 episodes of the Tudors last night without a single pause. I'll try and watch a few more things before I'll declare my problems over, but this is how I expect it to work.

Anyone else notice an improvement in the stuttering with the new firmware update?
 
Apple TV 2 works fine for Netflix....with some proviso's....

I bought two Apple TV 2's the day they came out. I think they're awesome boxes, and with the latest update - being able to use Air Video to stream any file is incredible.

I have used Netflix on both this machine and a Roku XD - I have to say the Roku really fails in comparison to the Apple TV. Initially I thought it was because of the distance to the Wireless Router (I use an Apple Airport Extreme) - but when I moved the Roku closer for a test, it didn't seem to help much.

A couple of things I have noticed, however. First of all, I use the "Network Test" a couple of times a week - I indicate the speed I should be experiencing, and the Network Test seems to fix any "freezing" issue I might experience.

Secondly, I have found discrepancies with different Netflix shows. Sometimes, whatever encoding Netflix has used on a show is so bad, it doesn't matter what box you're using !

However, I can watch HD movies on Netflix most of the time without any freezing. I wish there was some way to increase the buffer for Netflix - but there doesn't seem to be a way. However, I'm very happy with the Netflix performance on Apple TV 2, and REALLY, REALLY happy with the way Air Video works on Apple TV2 as well. I'm surprised that other solutions (VLC for example) haven't caught up to the 4.3 Airplay yet.
 
Add me to the the long list of people not experiencing any problems whatsoever with Netflix on the ATV2. And like many others I am in fact finding the ATV2 to be the best Netflix streamer out of all my Netflix enabled devices. Before the ATV2 I used to stream with a Wii and PS3.

I've been on 6mbps DSL for years but this weekend I just upgraded to Uverse 12mbps but haven't tried it with the ATV2 yet. I'm hoping it speeds up the NBA streaming because that's the only area I've been experiencing slow streams. The NBA stuff seems to take a while for the initial download but once it starts it plays perfectly. So hopefully a faster download speed will resolve that.
 
ive got dsl and i stream fine better than my ps3 and xbox it just buffs in the begininng once in a while it will stop and buff in the middle but just takes a few seconds
 
ATV2 for MLB

Just ordered ATV2 to watch MLB games (I'm new to this). I'll post update as soon as I am up and running.
 
wiredup72 said:
All been tried.

I don't think FIOS would be weeding out traffic on ATV's when I can get 20mb/sec on my laptop and 12mb+ on my iphone. I don't even know if FIOS even has the capability to read the specific packets that say what device was connecting to Netflix. They would only see packet headers and encrypted data.

Apple Care and I even ran the same show on all three devices at once and Netflix said I had over 10mb on the laptop, 8mb+ on the iphone and still a measly .5-1.0 on the ATV.

I am not doubting anyone that says they aren't having pausing issues.
As of now I do doubt anyone who claims they are getting HD streaming from Netflix with their ATV. Again, the only way to know is to call Netflix and ask them what their connection speed was for a specific show. I want to hear of proof that people are actually getting 5mb+ connections on their ATV2.
Click to expand...

OK took the test. I'm getting 0.8 mbps to Netflix. :)

I had the Wii running at the same time and it was getting 3.5-4 mbps.

Not sure how much the ATV was affected by the Wii. The Wii will drop my network to wireless G and is next to the router while the ATV is upstairs in a bedroom and with wireless G could possibly have an effect.

My picture with the ATV upstairs is probably not HD if I had to call it. But hard to tell HD from DVD in older movies much of the time especially in close ups.

I watch netflix on my 360 and Tivo sometimes and I never say oh the picture is much better. And never complained about the ATV picture.

The Netflix guy said I am well below their 1.5 mbps threshold though.

I said well shouldn't I be having problems and he said no. Obviosly the 1.5 mbps rate is to make sure you have enough headroom, but still can't believe it is working at 0.8 with the quality as good as it seems to me.

So maybe you're on to something. Maybe it's just a narrow range of bandwidth that separates the doesn't work crowd from the works crowd.

The Netflix guy did say he has measured 5+mbps streams coming from atvs. And downplayed my notions that perhaps there is a problem with the ATV and Netflix.

I also suggested that perhaps it is measuring rates wrong since I'm getting 0.8 mbps and have no stutters and quality seems pretty good. He nixed that notion.

He didn't give any good recommendations though. Cycle your router is all he said. And didn't seem to want to ponder why folks are having these low bit rates even though their other devices aren't. and even though, in my case, I had next to zero complaints about Netflix on my ATV. What I hate more is when you back out to your instant queue after viewing a movie description it brings you back to the beginning of the queue.

I will try another measurement in a few minutes when my son goes to bed and the Wii isn't streaming simultaneously.
 
2nd call to Netflix yielded a measurement of 1.41 mbps.

so yes my ATV isn't having problems, but my streams don't appear to be much better than those having stuttering problems. And the streaming rate is lower than Netflix's recommended threshold of 1.5mbps.

Meanwhile Wii is between 3.5/4 mbps.

Looks like bug is affecting me too, just not enough to cause stuttering, but enough to keep quality lower.

Never noticed much. Never said oh 360 or Tivo or Wii even are so much better looking picture-wise. ATV seemed good enough for me.

Maybe it's because it is in my bedroom. Wife uses it more than I do.

Interesting stuff.
 
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I have two Apple TV's in my home. One for myself in the living room and one for my daughter in her bedroom. We can both watch movies simultaneoulsy from my Netflix account on both ATV2's and they both play beautifully.

No complaints here!
 
Freis968 said:
I have two Apple TV's in my home. One for myself in the living room and one for my daughter in her bedroom. We can both watch movies simultaneoulsy from my Netflix account on both ATV2's and they both play beautifully.

No complaints here!
Click to expand...

Call up Netflix and ask them what the connections speeds are to your ATVs.

They have a record of this from the past few days. Just click "Contact US" at the bottom of their webpage and click the bottom option, Call Customer Service.

Enter the code that pops up for faster service.

Takes a few minutes.

I have no problems either, but turns out I'm getting very low bit rates to my ATV. Not much different from those having problems.
 
You are getting low bit rates probably because of where you have it positioned in relation to your router or you have it close to something that can overpower or affect the signal. I've also heard of people setting it on metal surfaces and it causing wifi signal problems. I get 5+ with my ATV2 and you need about 4 or 5mbps to get the highest quality Netflix offers. I have mine connected by ethernet but even when I have it on wifi I still get 5+. Still, connecting it by ethernet eliminates any chances for signal problems.
 
nearlycomplete said:
not sure i agree. i have the atv2 and i don't have any issues with buffering and netflix. My internet connection is 12meg on att uverse and i have more trouble loading podcasts from itunes then i do loading movies from netflix...
Click to expand...

Hmm... not sure that is good news. But at least it shows the Apple TV2 is consistently piss poor.
I have the same service and speed you do and found it extremely frustrating to try and watch Netflix although it works just fine when streaming a movie or TV show rental from Apple. I did not try the podcast thing so I can't comment on that. There is definitely something interesting going on with the Apple TV2 though. For now, I disconnected it and put the original Apple TV1 in its place. Not sure I like ATV2 for a variety of reasons, but those discussed in this forum are at the top of the list.
 
laurim said:
Works great for me, too. Funny how people think if they have issues, everyone else does too. Getting tired of telling people to troubleshoot their setup.
Click to expand...

Well thanks for being God's gift to the, (in your view),technically incompetent.
I am afraid its a little more pervasive than, "if you have it working then all is well".

If you read this and other posts online there are a variety of users experiencing the problem. I too have experienced the problem and confirmed that it is unique, specific, and consistent to the Apple TV2 when using the Netflix option. Others have indicated issues with viewing Podcasts as well although I personally have not tried that. As it relates to a Netflix movie, I have further confirmed that it does not occur when streaming rentals of movies or TV shows from Apple.
In addition to the above, I have installed a packet sniffer on the network to monitor network activity during each of the above events and the pattern of activity for the same movie is considerably different when a streaming event from Apple is active. I did not take it any further than to say enough is enough and went back to using the Apple TV1. I mean, after all, how much time are you going to spend trying to get a $99 gizmo working. I make more than that in an hour.
In summary, try thinking outside the box and look at some of these issues from other people's perspectives sometime. It might give you a refreshing view of technology in general. :rolleyes:
 
newagemac said:
You are getting low bit rates probably because of where you have it positioned in relation to your router or you have it close to something that can overpower or affect the signal. I've also heard of people setting it on metal surfaces and it causing wifi signal problems. I get 5+ with my ATV2 and you need about 4 or 5mbps to get the highest quality Netflix offers. I have mine connected by ethernet but even when I have it on wifi I still get 5+. Still, connecting it by ethernet eliminates any chances for signal problems.
Click to expand...

That's not quite true with regards to Netflix speed. I do think you need at least 5Mbps internet service in general, but as far as the speed Netflix will tell you they are getting, it's not necessarily required to be that fast. I did the test on an HD movie and they said they were only getting 1.32 Mbps and yet my picture was great and no hiccups throughout. My ATV2 is on top of a wooden credenza connected to my airport extreme with ethernet. The signal is wireless between the Time Capsule in another room and the AE. I don't know why my signal to Netflix is so slow but it doesn't cause me any problems. This issue is very complex and people just have to keep trying things to find out what works. Internet service speed in general is the first hurdle, then dns settings, how many devices are on the network at once, placement of the ATV, capabilities of the TV, etc.
 
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