Bad experience with Apple TV

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MaxFusion16

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,512
1
0
sounds like the problem is the slow DSL, 1-2mbps is really really slow.

the movie you rented was likely hidef, 720p, not really that surprising it takes 10 hours to "download" or buffer.

next time, try a stanard def movie.
 

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
5
0
They're not using any DNS service. I'm starting to wonder if it is the router, it's one of those good old Linksys WRT54G routers from back in the day. I'll hookup a new WAP the next time I'm there and see if that does the trick.

That's a DD-WRT compatible router.

Put the DD-WRT firmware on there and never look back.

Makes a worthless router more like a enterprise class device.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,790
1,361
126
BTW, they have DSL and get 1-2 Mbps. Yeah, I know that faster internet would help. But they had no problems with Netflix streaming, and they never had any issue with PQ or SQ if offered.
Netflix autoadjusts to speed. Apple just gives you the HD or SD file, depending upon what you select. So yeah, 1-2 Mbps sucks for AppleTV (and Netflix too for that matter).

Plus, it's a bad idea in general to use WiFi for video streaming. Turn on the microwave to make popcorn and suddenly the movie download stops.
 

alent1234

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2002
3,915
0
0
Netflix autoadjusts to speed. Apple just gives you the HD or SD file, depending upon what you select. So yeah, 1-2 Mbps sucks for AppleTV (and Netflix too for that matter).

Plus, it's a bad idea in general to use WiFi for video streaming. Turn on the microwave to make popcorn and suddenly the movie download stops.

my microwave has a faraday cage inside
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
my microwave has a faraday cage inside

Why do you have Faraday trapped in your microwave? Also, isn't he dead?

On topic, that is interesting. Was that an advertised feature or what?
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,790
1,361
126
I have no problems with streaming from Apple over wifi.
What about when you make popcorn at the same time? ;)

Yeah it will usually work if you have a strong connection with no potential for interference. I just don't recommend it if wired Ethernet is a viable option.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,810
126
What about when you make popcorn at the same time? ;)

Yeah it will usually work if you have a strong connection with no potential for interference. I just don't recommend it if wired Ethernet is a viable option.

I never had any problem even when streaming 1080p mkv over wifi on Apple TV2. Even while making microwave popcorn at the same time.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,790
1,361
126
How do you stream 1080p mkv to AppleTV? XBMC? Real-time transcoder on your server?

My AppleTV 2 chokes with some 1080p m4v. I haven't jailbroken it. I now just encode my videos at 720p, at about 3.5 to 5 Mbps for the video streams. That's fine for the time being since my projector is only 720p, but I would have loved to have been able to get an A5 based AppleTV 3 with full 1080p support.
 
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alent1234

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2002
3,915
0
0
Why do you have Faraday trapped in your microwave? Also, isn't he dead?

On topic, that is interesting. Was that an advertised feature or what?


tonight i might just test how much noise a microwave puts out with the OS X 10.7 wifi tester app

i remember it was a big problem with 10 year old wifi but i haven't seen a problem lately
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,810
126
How do you stream 1080p mkv to AppleTV? XBMC? Real-time transcoder on your server?

My AppleTV 2 chokes with some 1080p m4v. I haven't jailbroken it. I now just encode my videos at 720p, at about 3.5 to 5 Mbps for the video streams. That's fine for the time being since my projector is only 720p, but I would have loved to have been able to get an A5 based AppleTV 3 with full 1080p support.

Yeah, I stream using XBMC. Most of stuff is 720p. I only have little 1080p content but all stream fine over wifi. XBMC just takes the 1080p videos and outputs it to 720p.

I only bought AppleTV2 because of XBMC support. I had zero interest in AppleTV prior to XBMC port. I could never see myself using AppleTV as Apple intended. It would be expensive AirPlay device for me if that's the case.
 

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,686
126
I can guarantee you that it is 100&#37; the fault of their network/router/wifi/whatever and not the AppleTV.

Good luck with any other device you decide to buy because the problem will remain.

MotionMan

That's fine. I don't like that it reset the download when he accidently bounced out to the MM. That's just shitty and 100% Apple's fault.

That's a DD-WRT compatible router.

Put the DD-WRT firmware on there and never look back.

Makes a worthless router more like a enterprise class device.

Interesting. I'll look into this, but I probably won't do it. I generally don't change anything that's configured and working at that house. About 3 years ago I updated Windows XP (which is still running btw) and somehow it broke google maps. My dad got all pissed off and started raging about "that's why I don't update software!!!". So fine. I fix stuff when he asks me and add new things I think he might like, even if I have to bend over backwards to make it work with the old stuff. He's still running the 26 bit WEP encryption that I set up 10 years ago. When I set up Apple TV I had to enter the hex key with that stupid remote. I won't change it to WPA 'cause god forbid it might break something.

Netflix autoadjusts to speed. Apple just gives you the HD or SD file, depending upon what you select. So yeah, 1-2 Mbps sucks for AppleTV (and Netflix too for that matter).

Plus, it's a bad idea in general to use WiFi for video streaming. Turn on the microwave to make popcorn and suddenly the movie download stops.

I didn't mind waiting an hour or three for the movie to download/buffer; 10 just caught me off guard.
 
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