Comments on: Netflix on Why Your Streaming Might Suck

By: Will

Will — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:20:06 +0000

I have regular problems streaming Netlix content on a Roku player. They include: regular total disconnects from my DSL service requiring a reboot by turning off the Roku, the router through which the player is connected by ethernet cable and the modem occuring once a month or so; and intermittent mild to severe buffering problems. The buffering problems are usually limited to one instance every 10 or so videos. But for a period of several days last month, they occurred multiple times (every few minutes) on every video I tried to watch. I suspect the problems are related because the buffering problem finally subsided after I did a reboot.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:23:21 +0000

FIXED !!!

Choppy netflix silverlight playback?

I DISABLED the screen saver in win 7, now laptop plays entire movies without a hiccup!!!! That did it for me. Enjoy, Mike

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:42:54 +0000

I have many different devices that are netflix ready (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, Sharp Blue-Ray DVD player, LED-LCD TV) I prefer to use my Xbox 360. However, i have my wireless router in another room but on the same floor as all these. I get a horrible connection by going wireless with the Xbox, even if i plug in a wireless adaptor (i have the new xbox 360 with wi-fi built in). So i went and bought a powerline ethernet adaptor so the signal will run through the powerlines in the house so i dont need to have a ethernet cable running through the whole house. And even then i still do not get a very good connection and my movies on netflix do not run very well. Could this be just the router? Should i upgrade the router to a more of a gaming/media router? I have the Linksys E2000, which i have read is not the best router for media streaming. Please help me out with this, it is very frustrating to not be able to watch netflix or play on Xbox live. Thanks.

By: JJ

JJ — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 06:11:48 +0000

I was using my new samsung laptop running vista for a while and had absolutely 0 problems with netflix streaming but once i started leaving that at the office and using my old toshiba satellite I started experiencing some issues. I think it’s just because this computer is about 3 years old and I think computer years are like dog years in terms of how quickly a machine becomes obsolete. I’m currently working on finding out what exactly i can do to make this laptop run with netflix. BUT WHAT’S REALLY WEIRD… movies are choppy but when i stream documentaries they run fine. and on top of that sometimes a movie will be running fine but if there’s an explosion or any kind of sudden movement it’ll start to chop up. does that make any sense? i’m going to try and update the drivers because i’m pretty sure that hasn’t been done in about 3 years maybe that’ll have an effect.

By: Steven Hamori

Steven Hamori — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:28:03 +0000

I'm having problems but I suspect it is related to QOS settings on my home network. I only mention it for other people who have problems; don't forget to check that too.

By: kelley

kelley — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:44:31 +0000

I use xbox 360 to stream netflix and I rarely have more than two bars of picture quality! We always have to stops in the middle of the movie and sometimes it takes thirty mins. just to load a movie. It sucks!

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:22:45 +0000

When I first got the player around X-Mass 2009 netflix was fast and movies downloaded fast and were typically in HD. There have been a few player updates with my LG Blu-Ray player and either due to those or on Netflix end movies take longer to load, and sometimes load at such a poor resolution that I hit stop and reload. I have had zero movies load at the HD setting in a very long time. I thought it was on my side, so I ran some speed test and I'm at 18MBps so that is not the problem. Either Netflix has slowed the service down, Comcast has slowed netflix streaming down, or the updates did something. I would think Netflix would look into this, and if ISP's are slowing down netflix streams I would think Netflix would work with them to keep those up. After all I hope to see all netflix go to streaming, getting a disc int he mail is old technology now...plus Netflix would save so much by not actually needing to deal with mailing, handling, and damaged disc.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:17:25 +0000

The Netflix watchnow service in Vista Media Center was outstanding. Then we were forced to update the netflix movie player to Silverlight. Ever since Silverlight, Horrible Tearing, Macroblocking, smearing and pixelation is the results. Netflix watchnow in media center has become utterly useless. Same happens with Windows 7 media center.

My network is not to blame, the same movie that plays poorly in Vista MCE plays perfectly (near DVD quality) on my XBOX 360. 360 does not use the silverlight player, unless I'm mistaken.

The XBOX 360 is connected to the same router, on the same network, etc. Its not my HTPC hardware either.

Microsoft either needs to admit that Silverlight is currently a failure or complete a solid software validation test plan against the silverlight player.

By: Lou

Lou — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:13:36 +0000

I've been experiencing the poor quality video also. Streaming video from Amazon HD is crystal clear for me. Streaming an SD video from Netflix is very pixelated and also has horizontal breakup. Not sure why the video is so bad, I'm guessing it's Silverlight compression/player? Or Netflix is locking down the bandwidth on their side, therefore limiting the quality no matter how good the user setup is. Just another disappointed customer. The DVD's in the mail are still great, streaming is a joke though.....

By: cyb1851

cyb1851 — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:31:18 +0000

Sparafucil, I can't get the Stream Manager on my Mac with your instructions. Any thoughts on how to get it?