Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime movies
pbergeron37
Enthusiast - Level 3

Hello,

I have a Blu-Ray player through which I can stream movies from  Netflix and Amazon.

I have been using this for over a year.  Occasionally I would get messages saying bandwidth

too low...  but it would usually come back.

For the past two months this has been very problematic.

I will often completely lose connection to the internet (where Netflix or Amazon doesn't give a low bandwidth

message,  just blacks out).

I thought this might be a wireless issue  so last week I hard-wired the blu-ray player to the Actiontec modem

via Ethernet.

This has not helped.

I called Amazon and they have the ability to look at errors and bandwidth of individual users.

They looked at the movie I last watched and saw no errors but they said the Bandwidth keeps

dropping off (at times completely)  as if my connection is getting buffered somehow (perhaps

a limitation of the set top box).

I've run Verizon's Speed test and it comes up fine.

I read another post where the user said they would periodically lose all internet connectivity when streaming Netflix.

Should I be requesting an updated set top box?

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Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@pbergeron37 wrote:

Hello,

I have a Blu-Ray player ... I have been using this for over a year ... I will often completely lose connection ... I thought this might be a wireless issue  so last week I hard-wired the blu-ray player to the Actiontec ... This has not helped ... Should I be requesting an updated set top box?  


Your Blu-Ray player is not affected by your STB, although when you connect wirelessly the Actiontec is obviously a possible culprit.  The same is true when you connect wired to the Actiontec, and that's certainly a possible offender.  Both the Blu-Ray and the STB are network clients on your home network and act independently (within certain limits such as IP assignments, etc.).

You need to investigate where the bandwidth issue arises, and one of the first issues to address (after the router) is your Internet connection speed.  What is your subscription?  It's possible (if somewhat unlikely) that your speed is too low and results in the buffering issue.

Also, please describe your wiring layout (completely), as well as the types of connections between and among all devices.  What is the router model, the STB model, etc.?  This helps the analysis.

Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
Hubrisnxs
Legend

on lower tier'd speed plans, if you have another user watching netflix (streaming movies/music in general) or another pc doing torrenting or big downloads, it will affect your blu ray performance. 

so make sure you have very little network traffic in your house going on, while you are doing this testing, and then introduce normal every day elements in, to see what is causing it. 

Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
pbergeron37
Enthusiast - Level 3

Hello Armond,

My FIOS is 15/5  (15Mbs Download  15Mbs Upload)

Every speed test I have done   is approximately  25\5.

My router is an Actiontec MI424-WR Rev F.

The router connects to the Verizon "Back-up" unit via 3ft coax.

The "Back-up" unit has a 3ft coax to Verizon "box" outside.

My main STB is a Motorola QIP7232 2   (this is the one I primarily use and have been trouble shooting)

I now have an Ethernet from port 4 of my router to the Ethernet connection on my  Blu Ray player (Panasonic DMP-BDT210).

The cable is 40ft.

My 2nd STB is  a Motorola HD QIP 7100 1

This uses a wireless connection to the router.

My desktop PC connects to port 1 of the router.

I also have  a laptop with a wireless connection.

Last night when this problem last occurred I don't believe there was "much" activity on any of the items other than the Blu-Ray  but I did not verify.

One reason I suspect some sort of packet overload condition  on the router  is because prior to connecting

the blu ray via Ethernet I had a wireless connection.  With the wireless I would frequently get messages from

Netflix or Amazon  that it was "testing connection speed"  and it would either start playing again  or keep trying

until I gave up and stopped it.

With the Ethernet it now appears to completely disconnect (Netflix or Amazon blacks out with no connection or warning).

I did not check to see (which I will next time) what the state of other internet connections are when this occurs).

The Amazon tech told me he could see an almost repeatable amount of time where the BW drops  then picks up

and then the eventual "total loss" of bandwidth.

Thanks for the suggestions.

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Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
pbergeron37
Enthusiast - Level 3

Thanks fot the suggestion.  Will make sure to check other activity next time this occurs.

Any idea what bandwidth is required  to stream an HD or Standard  movie if "nothing" else was going on?

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Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
xfactor
Enthusiast - Level 3

you can play with slow start up, and SD and possible buffering with as little as 500 to 1.5 mbs.

Without buffering and HD? 3 mb should be absulute minimum and usually, 7 -10 preferably.   

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Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@pbergeron37 wrote:

 ... FIOS is 15/5  (15Mbs Download  15 [sic] Mbs Upload)

... router is an Actiontec MI424-WR Rev F.

... have an Ethernet from port 4 of my router to the Ethernet connection on my  Blu Ray player ...

... 2nd STB is  a Motorola HD QIP 7100 1 ... This uses a wireless connection to the router [?] ...


I've marked your reply with a question mark, so let's go there first.  As far as I'm aware, the 7100 STB cannot connect wirelessly to the router or elsewhere, and in fact should be connected via coax, perhaps through a splitter, to the ONT ("outside box").  The connection may pass through your battery backup device depending upon model supplied.  This applies to both STBs and the router, with all three  devices typically running off a VZ-supplied splitter.  I assume that this is just a slight error in your reply.  If there is a wireless STB, I'm not aware of it.
Based upon what you've written, I suspect a cabling issue.   I'm including all cables between display devices and STBs, between display devices and the Blu-Ray player itself (very suspicious), and perhaps all coax cables and fittings, including connections at the splitter(s).  The STBs do not enter into the equation because they're not used to stream online content.  The router is not in the equation because you've eliminated the wireless Blu-Ray connection.  That just leaves the TV itself and the Blu-Ray (which at least for the present we assume is working).  In fact the Blu-Ray player may not be operating properly, but I'm not sure how one tests that hypothesis in your network.
Take a careful look at all the cables, and try disconnecting and carefully reconnecting your devices, looking carefully at all components as you go along.  Usually in situations like this, the answer is not the devices themselves but how they're connected to each other.
Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@armond_in_nj wrote:

@pbergeron37 wrote:

... router is an Actiontec MI424-WR Rev F ...

... have an Ethernet from port 4 of my router to the Ethernet connection on my  Blu Ray player ...


... The router is not in the equation because you've eliminated the wireless Blu-Ray connection ...
Obviously my statement here is not exactly correct.  I should have specified that the wireless function of the router is not involved.  However the router itself could indeed be faulty, as I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread.  Yet since you have indicated that your other Internet devices are functioning properly, it still seems to hinge on either the cable setup, or the Blu-ray player itself.
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Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime movies
walt178
Specialist - Level 3

pbergeron37

 

If you haven't already, try streaming Amazon onto your notebook. Wireless.  If that works, the problem will be the Blu-Ray. I'm ignoring the cable to the TV because that would not cause the connectivity problem you are having.

 

If you can't stream to either of your computers, that would imply the router or input to the router (cable or signal) is the cause.

 

 

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Re: Problems streaming Netflix & Amazon Prime
pbergeron37
Enthusiast - Level 3

Hi,

<armond wrote>

>As far as I'm aware, the 7100 STB cannot connect wirelessly to the router or elsewhere, and in fact should be connected

>via coax,

You are correct, it is connected via coax.  I meant to say I have another BluRay player connected to this STB which

is wirelessly connected to the router.

I experience the same poor connectivity issues with this BluRay but since it is upstairs and the router

downstairs I'm not  so surprised.

I've tightened all my coax connections (inside and outdoors) and will see how it goes this weekend.

If the issue occurs again I'll switch to my PC (ethernet to router) and see if the issue is there as well.

Thanks for the suggestions.

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