Netflix - News & Discussion
#151
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
I wasn't intending it as an insult. I was just surprised that Lorenzo would rather watch a show from over 50 years ago than say Nikita, Arrow, Strike Back or the new season of 24. I mean to be perfectly honest, if I was seeking to watch something older, Dick Van Dyke wouldn't be first on my mind. I know that thousands of hours of new stuff comes out each year and it's almost impossible to keep up with everything new.
I used to be fairly active in the TV Forum watching and creating threads for current shows but I started not watching them in real time and just keep them stored in my DVR for long periods of time. That's the reason why I don't create threads anymore. I have so many different ways to watch shows now (DVDs, Blu-rays, Netflix and Hulu+) that I usually watch shows that are not easily accessible or I'm intent on purchasing.
P.S. I have Nikita and The Walking Dead on my fairly large backlog of shows.
#152
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Hope anyone can help with this. I signed up for Netflix after a few years away & am really disappointed in their picture quality. I have AT&T U-verse with an average download speed of about 11 mbps. That should be enough right?
But the picture quality varies from hideous to almost barely watchable on the 'Super HD' titles. I'm watching primarily on my Sony BDP-S590 & have tried on other devices as well, with the same result.
I got on their help chat & changed the setting to 'best' and re-booted everything. Other than that they were no help.
Is Netflix really just that bad? I have great streaming results on VUDU & Amazon Prime.
But the picture quality varies from hideous to almost barely watchable on the 'Super HD' titles. I'm watching primarily on my Sony BDP-S590 & have tried on other devices as well, with the same result.
I got on their help chat & changed the setting to 'best' and re-booted everything. Other than that they were no help.
Is Netflix really just that bad? I have great streaming results on VUDU & Amazon Prime.
#153
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Watch this video. It will tell you the bitrate and resolution. You'll see it starts out around 200kbps/320x240 and works it's way up. Mute the sound because it does some weird audio signals.
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Ex...3.976/70136810
Sometimes during prime hours Netflix gets clogged. I just ran a speed test and clocked in at 33 Mbps. But this Netflix test video isn't reaching HD. Usually it takes me less than a minute to reach 1080p.
#154
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
It also depends on your streaming device. Your Sony is not indicated but here is the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...atible_devices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...atible_devices
#155
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Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Hope anyone can help with this. I signed up for Netflix after a few years away & am really disappointed in their picture quality. I have AT&T U-verse with an average download speed of about 11 mbps. That should be enough right?
But the picture quality varies from hideous to almost barely watchable on the 'Super HD' titles. I'm watching primarily on my Sony BDP-S590 & have tried on other devices as well, with the same result.
I got on their help chat & changed the setting to 'best' and re-booted everything. Other than that they were no help.
Is Netflix really just that bad? I have great streaming results on VUDU & Amazon Prime.
But the picture quality varies from hideous to almost barely watchable on the 'Super HD' titles. I'm watching primarily on my Sony BDP-S590 & have tried on other devices as well, with the same result.
I got on their help chat & changed the setting to 'best' and re-booted everything. Other than that they were no help.
Is Netflix really just that bad? I have great streaming results on VUDU & Amazon Prime.
Last night, I watched an ep of Being Human on Netflix, with its normal soft, wavering, unfocused PQ. I then watched the same ep on Amazon, and the PQ was perfect.
Netflix' library has a lot of things exclusive that I want to see. But I'm considering just dropping it, it's so bad.
#158
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Thanks for the input everyone, I tried watching an entire movie & did notice the picture quality improves after a while. But it never reaches the same quality of VUDU or Amazon streaming. And it continually randomly degrades and then improves. This same result across about six different devices (laptop, blu ray players, smart TV's, tablet, cell phone, etc).
At any rate, I've got a free first month so I guess I'll just cancel if this is what Netflix has become. I though since their primary business model is now streaming that they would do it better than this.
At any rate, I've got a free first month so I guess I'll just cancel if this is what Netflix has become. I though since their primary business model is now streaming that they would do it better than this.
#159
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Last night when I was running tests, both the Roku and PS3 would max out at 1000kbps/480p. When I tried the Apple TV 2, it went straight to 3000kbps/720p and remained steady. I wonder if the ATV2 forces 720p (which is the device's max resolution)? Maybe there's a way to override adaptive streaming on the other devices?
Anyways, about 2 hours later (11pm EST) I ran the tests again and it went to 4000kbps/1080p within a minute on Roku and PS3.
Right now, I'm running the tests a 3rd time. The Roku got 720p in a few seconds and reached the highest setting within a minute. The PS3 is struggling to achieve/hold 720p. And the ATV2 once again starts out at 720p and holds steady.
Anyways, about 2 hours later (11pm EST) I ran the tests again and it went to 4000kbps/1080p within a minute on Roku and PS3.
Right now, I'm running the tests a 3rd time. The Roku got 720p in a few seconds and reached the highest setting within a minute. The PS3 is struggling to achieve/hold 720p. And the ATV2 once again starts out at 720p and holds steady.
#160
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Last night when I was running tests, both the Roku and PS3 would max out at 1000kbps/480p. When I tried the Apple TV 2, it went straight to 3000kbps/720p and remained steady. I wonder if the ATV2 forces 720p (which is the device's max resolution)? Maybe there's a way to override adaptive streaming on the other devices?
Anyways, about 2 hours later (11pm EST) I ran the tests again and it went to 4000kbps/1080p within a minute on Roku and PS3.
Right now, I'm running the tests a 3rd time. The Roku got 720p in a few seconds and reached the highest setting within a minute. The PS3 is struggling to achieve/hold 720p. And the ATV2 once again starts out at 720p and holds steady.
Anyways, about 2 hours later (11pm EST) I ran the tests again and it went to 4000kbps/1080p within a minute on Roku and PS3.
Right now, I'm running the tests a 3rd time. The Roku got 720p in a few seconds and reached the highest setting within a minute. The PS3 is struggling to achieve/hold 720p. And the ATV2 once again starts out at 720p and holds steady.
The PS3 should be at 1080p. I'm not very familiar with Roku but if you have Roku 3, it should be set at 1080p.
#161
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
In regards to Netflix, has anyone been experiencing problems connecting with their ATV3 today? I'm unable to connect at all and I know is not my connection since Hulu+ and other apps work fine.
I restarted, unplugged it and all other trouble shooting steps and still giving me the message that "Netflix is unavailable. Try later.". I called and the CSR are not much help.
I restarted, unplugged it and all other trouble shooting steps and still giving me the message that "Netflix is unavailable. Try later.". I called and the CSR are not much help.
#162
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Yep. ATV2 is 720p and Roku3/PS3 are both 1080p devices. But Netflix reacts differently on each device. It seems that ATV2 doesn't use adaptive streaming and just goes straight to max resolution (720p). The other two devices use adaptive streaming and can be hit or miss on reaching max quality.
#163
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Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Yep. ATV2 is 720p and Roku3/PS3 are both 1080p devices. But Netflix reacts differently on each device. It seems that ATV2 doesn't use adaptive streaming and just goes straight to max resolution (720p). The other two devices use adaptive streaming and can be hit or miss on reaching max quality.
That adaptive streaming that Netflix uses is BS. Why do they do that? It's crap. Everything else I use on the Roku (Amazon, Vudu, M-Go, PBS, a lot of others) that doesn't use adaptive streaming is great.
#165
DVD Talk God
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Netflix plays great on the new Roku 3. I also own the old Roku 2 XD and it plays fine on that as well.
I tried playing it on my Sony BD and the picture quality is definitely inferior on that. I think Netflix works better on dedicated streaming devices and looks like crap on devices that have it as an app.
I tried playing it on my Sony BD and the picture quality is definitely inferior on that. I think Netflix works better on dedicated streaming devices and looks like crap on devices that have it as an app.
#166
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Generally I have a couple seconds of poor video quality at the very beginning of a show/movie but it goes to crystal clear within seconds.
#167
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Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Allows people with unreliable internet connections to watch movies without constant stalls and buffers. Are you running over Wireless? That tends to be a big factor in Netflix running in less than optimal conditions.
Generally I have a couple seconds of poor video quality at the very beginning of a show/movie but it goes to crystal clear within seconds.
Generally I have a couple seconds of poor video quality at the very beginning of a show/movie but it goes to crystal clear within seconds.
My internet connection is rock solid reliable, so obviously adaptive streaming is not for me. I've decided to drop Netflix and stick with Amazon, M-Go, Warner Archive Instant and Vudu, which don't exhibit these problems.
#168
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
In regards to Netflix, has anyone been experiencing problems connecting with their ATV3 today? I'm unable to connect at all and I know is not my connection since Hulu+ and other apps work fine.
I restarted, unplugged it and all other trouble shooting steps and still giving me the message that "Netflix is unavailable. Try later.". I called and the CSR are not much help.
I restarted, unplugged it and all other trouble shooting steps and still giving me the message that "Netflix is unavailable. Try later.". I called and the CSR are not much help.
#169
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
And then?
Also, some ISPs *cough* Comcast *cough* has been known to intentionally deprioritize Netflix traffic.
Also, some ISPs *cough* Comcast *cough* has been known to intentionally deprioritize Netflix traffic.
#170
Moderator
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
The worst thing in the world is googling a problem, finding a thread on some forum where somebody had the exact same problem, and then getting to the bottom and find a note from OP along the lines of "Nevermind, fixed it."
Relevent xkcd: http://xkcd.com/979/
Relevent xkcd: http://xkcd.com/979/
#171
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
The worst thing in the world is googling a problem, finding a thread on some forum where somebody had the exact same problem, and then getting to the bottom and find a note from OP along the lines of "Nevermind, fixed it."
Relevent xkcd: http://xkcd.com/979/
Relevent xkcd: http://xkcd.com/979/
#172
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
I haven't heard anything about legacy devices supporting Netflix 4K. I assume you need a device that support new codecs?
#173
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Not many devices support 4k resolution, I assume that'd be a must.
#174
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
Is there any fix for the Comcast issues? It seems I'm capped to 720p @ 3000kbps even on a wired PC with the Blast (50/10) plan. A couple months ago I was getting superHD no problem. It's been frustrating watching tv and movies that are usually coming in at under DVD quality, and neither Comcast nor Netflix will admit wrongdoing.
#175
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Netflix - News & Discussion
It's Comcast, and it seems to be very prevalent in the Chicago/IL area right now.
http://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/comm...he_midwest_us/
http://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/comm...he_midwest_us/