Poor Netflix Playback on Roku 3

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weelzSA

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Hi all.

Just received my Roku 3 and loving it so far. My only problem is the poor playback quality of Netflix. I am running an uncapped 4mb line and when I do a speed test I average between 4.5 - 5.5mb/s download. I have also looked at my settings in Netflix online and my video quality is set to Best Quality (should this maybe be set to better quality - I want to stream in HD tho). Anything else I need to change maybe on the Roku itself?

If someone who is running a Roku please advise that would be great.
 
How long have you let it run? Netflix on my WDTV Live starts off horrid, and then ratchets up the quality as the line allows over the space of 90 seconds or so.
 
HapticSimian said:
How long have you let it run? Netflix on my WDTV Live starts off horrid, and then ratchets up the quality as the line allows over the space of 90 seconds or so.
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HAHAHA... A dumb moment there by me... I just figured that out. The video starts off like a 240p Youtube video but after a few seconds clears up quite nicely. Out of curiosity, is the only place to change the video settings in the account section online in the Netflix website? I have it set to best quality, that won't affect anything will it?
 
Only place as far as I know, yes. I've mine set to the middle option - better quality, I think - as I regard it as perfectly acceptable, and I don't see any reason to ride my ISP for 500GB per month if I don't need to.
 
How much did you pay and where did you purchase the Roku 3 from? Ta!
 
TirNaNog said:
How much did you pay and where did you purchase the Roku 3 from? Ta!
Click to expand...

Got mine from Amazon.com (USA). You can also get it from Amazon.co.uk - but there is a difference in price as well as the Roku software ( I am lead to believe) To play it safe I would suggest the USA one.

I have seen ways of getting round the Roku software on this forum - so that might not be an issue. . . .

Postbox -Courier will ship from both regions anyway.

Sorry, price was $79.99
 
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I've been running a trial netflix account on a 4mb line and streaming is just a pain. The connection is unstable and even the max quality on netflix is only 3000 kb/s my connection jumps between 2000 - 300 never using my entire connection. Netflix isn't worth it.
 
image132 said:
I've been running a trial netflix account on a 4mb line and streaming is just a pain. The connection is unstable and even the max quality on netflix is only 3000 kb/s my connection jumps between 2000 - 300 never using my entire connection. Netflix isn't worth it.
Click to expand...

I suggest you shop around for another ISP - I am doing the same, "on line streaming" on a 2MB Gold package with Openweb. And that is working well for me. I get the odd buffering for about 30 minutes in the morning(07:30 - 08:00) and again at in the evening (from about 16:00 -16:30)

For the rest of the time - no buffering at all.
Just as a matter of interest, I was unable to get an Axxess account to do the same. So do some shopping around before your ditch the netflix thing ;)
 
image132 said:
I've been running a trial netflix account on a 4mb line and streaming is just a pain. The connection is unstable and even the max quality on netflix is only 3000 kb/s my connection jumps between 2000 - 300 never using my entire connection. Netflix isn't worth it.
Click to expand...

It's probably your ISP.

Everyone else has had wonderful Netflix experiences in SA>
 
What vpn/dns service are you guys using and are you streaming it off your pc and at what quality?
 
image132 said:
What vpn/dns service are you guys using and are you streaming it off your pc and at what quality?
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Using Unotelly and streaming to my Plasma via the Roku 3. Not into watching on the PC, but the option is there.
I like to watch my movies on my back in the bedroom ( and catch a forty winks if the movie gets boring!!) :erm:

Using the "middle" setting on Netflix settings - not sure what that is. Also got PlayOn TV which is loaded on the PC streaming to the Plasma via the Roku 3. That opens up a whole lot of extra content as well. (Hulu,Fox, CW etc)
 
TirNaNog said:
How much did you pay and where did you purchase the Roku 3 from? Ta!
Click to expand...

I ordered mine directly from Amazon US and got them to ship it directly to me too so no use for extra charges using third party suppliers. I paid $99 for the Roku 3 and about $30 for shipping which arrived in two weeks (this was due to there being no stock and orignal waiting period was 1-3 weeks but managed to get it earlier) and dropped off at my door. Total amount was R1270 more or less.
 
Tango said:
Using Unotelly and streaming to my Plasma via the Roku 3. Not into watching on the PC, but the option is there.
I like to watch my movies on my back in the bedroom ( and catch a forty winks if the movie gets boring!!) :erm:

Using the "middle" setting on Netflix settings - not sure what that is. Also got PlayOn TV which is loaded on the PC streaming to the Plasma via the Roku 3. That opens up a whole lot of extra content as well. (Hulu,Fox, CW etc)
Click to expand...

Can't you get hulu anyway? I'm doing a trial account on both hulu plus and netflix without playon.

I'm a stickler for quality and technically my line should be able to do it (hulu streams HD fine) with a 1mb to spare but it just refuses to use my connection. I asked Afrihost and they said they have contacted netflix directly to see what is going on as other streaming services are fine but they have yet to receive a reply.
 
Tango said:
Got mine from Amazon.com (USA). You can also get it from Amazon.co.uk - but there is a difference in price as well as the Roku software ( I am lead to believe) To play it safe I would suggest the USA one.

I have seen ways of getting round the Roku software on this forum - so that might not be an issue. . . .

Postbox -Courier will ship from both regions anyway.

Sorry, price was $79.99
Click to expand...

Nice price! Looks like it's $99 now, unless you don't mind it coming from China for $10 less. I prefer getting it directly from Amazon myself.
 
TirNaNog said:
Nice price! Looks like it's $99 now, unless you don't mind it coming from China for $10 less. I prefer getting it directly from Amazon myself.
Click to expand...

Ja, I ordered mine from the first batch - before they ran out of stock. Think the second batch were selling for $99
I remember I tried to order direct from the Roku website - but couldnt process my order because I didn't live in the USA!! They had a special on it as well.
 
image132 said:
What vpn/dns service are you guys using and are you streaming it off your pc and at what quality?
Click to expand...

I use Overplay. No problems at all. Came recommended from my friends in Europe. Very easy to change your location as well using that.
 
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