Netflix, Apple TV, Vodafone VDSL and Unblock US constant error messages.

Forums › Online streaming services › Netflix, Apple TV, Vodafone VDSL and Unblock US constant error messages.

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#154188 20-Oct-2014 17:24

I have an ethernet cable connection from my Asus DSL N66U router to my Apple TV. Then an HDMI cable from the Apple TV to the Samsung Series 5 46" LCD TV.

Voda VDSL unlimited data plan, Speedtest readings now are: download speed 9.68 Mps, upload 9.68 Mbps ping 58ms. When the Chorus tech came to install the modem he was urprised to get a 33Mbps download reading in our area on the day. Usually its around 15-20 Mbps.

Every time I go to watch something on Netflix I get "Error loading this content, try again later".

So, there I am sitting down ready to watch something and I always get the above error message. Then, every single time I will need to restart Apple TV, or go out of the Netflix App and select it again. Usually I need to do this three times before it lets me in. This adds around 5 minutes before I can start watching anything. Its very frustrating, and I thought this was to be expected for a service that is not supported here.

Once I'm on and viewing its generally OK, but sometimes the movie will stop and "refresh", especially if other internet users in the house are active.

To make matters more confusing for me, I recently took my Apple TV to my mothers house in Waikato. She is signed up to Spark broadband, and I was surprised to find that Netflix launched straight away first time, every time. This was a revelation as I had never seen it working so effortlessly.

What if anything am I doing wrong in my own house in Lower Hutt? Is it just the combo of Voda VDSL + Apple TV + Netflix that just doesn't play well together?

BTW, I (perhaps foolishly in hindsight) signed up for a 24 month contract with Vodafone for unlimited data, back in May before I had gone down this route.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

Duffuss

113 posts

Master Geek

#1159113 21-Oct-2014 11:16

I'm also starting to have the same problem. I'm on unlimited naked with appletv
Most common occurrence is in the middle of a program "The Bridge" may be the subtitles are causing it hehe but it will occurr a couple times an episode. Though on rare instances it has happened loading the program at the start.
Must check as this is on UK Netflix I don't seem to recall(maybe wrong thou) it happening on USNetflix.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13769 posts

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#1159122 21-Oct-2014 11:31

1) Why is your download rate so low and ping so high when the tech was getting 33Mbps ? Are you running a Speedtest against a US site ?
2) Can you try on a desktop/laptop system to see if the error occurs there ?

I'm running on V/fone VDSL (40/10) and use Netflix via Unotelly and never have any issues - a variety of devices are used for it - Windows 7 desktop/laptop, PS3, XBox One.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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alisam

834 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1159175 21-Oct-2014 12:24

Re: Every time I go to watch something on Netflix I get "Error loading this content, try again later".

I was having the same problem (on the weekend) with a Samsung Smart TV (Netflix app), Unotelly and Vodafone.
I googled it and found out that there is an error reference on the screen (which I had previously failed to notice).
I found a site which gave instructions on key strokes and then Logging off Netflix (and back on again).
I don't remember all the details, but immediately, the problem was gone.

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bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#1159196 21-Oct-2014 12:57

xpd: 1) Why is your download rate so low and ping so high when the tech was getting 33Mbps ? Are you running a Speedtest against a US site ?
2) Can you try on a desktop/laptop system to see if the error occurs there ?

I'm running on V/fone VDSL (40/10) and use Netflix via Unotelly and never have any issues - a variety of devices are used for it - Windows 7 desktop/laptop, PS3, XBox One.

These are good questions that I don't have the technical expertise to answer myself.

I went to Speedtest. net this morning and ran three separate tests using different servers appropriate to the previous ping test.

1: Down 11.41 Mbps; Up 7.03 Mbps; Ping 50ms
2: Down 17.99 Mbps; Up 7.84 Mbps; Ping 51ms
3: Down 18.34 Mbps; Up 8.36 Mbps; Ping 49ms

These tests were done from the desktop.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#1159631 21-Oct-2014 21:19

alisam: Re: Every time I go to watch something on Netflix I get "Error loading this content, try again later".

I was having the same problem (on the weekend) with a Samsung Smart TV (Netflix app), Unotelly and Vodafone.
I googled it and found out that there is an error reference on the screen (which I had previously failed to notice).
I found a site which gave instructions on key strokes and then Logging off Netflix (and back on again).
I don't remember all the details, but immediately, the problem was gone.

There is no error reference unfortunately, just the message the there is an error downloading the material.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

Davout

111 posts

Master Geek

#1160801 23-Oct-2014 16:24

We are also having problems with Netflix, on the 500gb Telecom plan.

The issues first surfaced with the PS3 about a month ago, I had to keep restarting the app or PS3 to get things working; I have given up trying to use it on the PS3 tbh and use only Amazon Prime.
Our Apple TV has also recently started having problems, sometimes it works fine other times restarting several times doesn't even help.

I have found this: http://help.unotelly.com/support/solutions/articles/195646-netflix-doesn-t-work-on-apple-tv-roku-playstation-other-channels-work-

Unfortunately, I don't think I can do this on my router. Maybe you guys can give it a try?

overkill

222 posts

Master Geek

#1160824 23-Oct-2014 16:50

We get the "Error Loading" screen at least once a day with our AppleTV (Spark 30/10, wired to switch and using Unblock-US). After a couple of restarts, we get service back and for the rest of the night. When we have been having issues with the AppleTV, I can log into Netflix from the PC and stream not a problem, go back to the AppleTV and still get "Error Loading". I brought this issue up with an App developer friend of mine and he basically said (with a lot of jargon that made a lot of sense but went in one ear and out the other) that this is what he would expect from an App based machine at present and for me to get an HTPC and be done with it :)

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Davout

111 posts

Master Geek

#1161731 24-Oct-2014 20:36

I brought this issue up with an App developer friend of mine and he basically said (with a lot of jargon that made a lot of sense but went in one ear and out the other) that this is what he would expect from an App based machine at present and for me to get an HTPC and be done with it :)

I don't think there is any decent option for Netflix on an HTPC, you would always need to use a browser to play netflix; while there are a bunch of dirty tricks people use to pretend they're not using the browser, but I'd pass.