Netflix unusable in the evenings

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Netflix unusable in the evenings

granada29

57 posts

Master Geek

#171670 27-Apr-2015 11:32

I'm in Glenfield, North Shore. My connection is Spark VDSL, currently 33Mbps, no packet loss and generally runs well.

Playback is via AppleTV over ethernet, i.e. no wireless network.

However, I have noticed that in the evenings, after about 8:00 PM, that Netflix (NZ) is unusable. The stream either just doesn't start and times out with an error, or it will play for 20 or 30 seconds then stop. At earlier times (i.e. off peak) it is fine and works well with no hiccups.

Not sure what I can do about this, other saving my money and cancelling Netflix, although I feel that is probably penalising the wrong party and that Spark are probably responsible for the poor performance.

Jiriteach

1119 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1292182 27-Apr-2015 11:58

Its not Netflix. We have two Apple TV's streaming content off Netflix at the same time on most evenings and haven't had one drop or connectivity issue.
Slightly different setup though as I am on Fibre with another ISP but should help in trying to diagnose the problem.

I would say that its most likely Spark and heavy demand from users watching Netflix.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

MattD

663 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1292240 27-Apr-2015 14:04

We have AppleTV and notebooks connecting to USA Netflix from Spark and do not have issues with Streaming.
Likely to be Spark and local service (can't say much about Spark DNS which is having issues right now)

myfullflavour

896 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Full Flavour

#1292261 27-Apr-2015 15:10

If Spark haven't yet implemented OpenConnect within their network, it's possible their Sydney handover to Netflix is being congested.

MadEngineer

4274 posts

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Trusted

#1292270 27-Apr-2015 15:23

In before Netflix hasn't paid their internet delivery tax to your ISP

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1292304 27-Apr-2015 15:56

It's really important to understand if it's ONLY Netflix you have issues with in the evening, or if all traffic is affected.

Certainly Netflix as a high bandwidth service will show up issues before other services, but have you tried running some speedtests when you have the issue? Both to the Spark speedtest.net server in Auckland, and a speedtest server in Sydney?

For the avoidance of doubt when I last checked there was no issue with our link to Netflix (excluding last night - Ugh!)

Have you tried looking at the diagnostics in Netflix to see what's happening? Try (on PC) pressing Ctrl-Alt-Shift-D and you'll get something like this on the windows browser client.

https://i.imgur.com/xnHnp7i.png

I don't know how to get this data on AppleTV.... Also, is the playback also bad on a PC?

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#1292308 27-Apr-2015 16:02

I've noticed there has been a drop in performance with Netflix on spark also in the last couple of weeks. I saw another thread in the last couple of days talking about sparks dns servers. No idea if it's related.

granada29

57 posts

Master Geek

#1292322 27-Apr-2015 16:32

I tested again this afternoon, watching the same show that failed last night. All working perfectly.

I can rule out Spark's DNS servers because I don't use them - I run my own name server and Spark are not involved in DNS transactions other than carrying the traffic (well I hope thats the case anyway).

I did run speedtests last night when the problem was occurring with Netflix and received full bandwidth from Sparks server.

I'll take another look tonight and see if there is any change.

Yes, web browsing also seemed slower last night but that was pretty subjective and I was probably being overly critical after the problems with Netflix. Again, I'll take another look this evening.

Thanks

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Talkiet

4792 posts

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#1292324 27-Apr-2015 16:35

granada29: I tested again this afternoon, watching the same show that failed last night. All working perfectly.

I can rule out Spark's DNS servers because I don't use them - I run my own name server and Spark are not involved in DNS transactions other than carrying the traffic (well I hope thats the case anyway).

I did run speedtests last night when the problem was occurring with Netflix and received full bandwidth from Sparks server.

I'll take another look tonight and see if there is any change.

Yes, web browsing also seemed slower last night but that was pretty subjective and I was probably being overly critical after the problems with Netflix. Again, I'll take another look this evening.

Thanks

Ignore last night... there were... problems... (Specifically between 8:30 and 9:45pm, and slight degradation until about 11pm)

Let us know what the results are tonight.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Jase2985

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#1292384 27-Apr-2015 18:34

granada29:
I did run speedtests last night when the problem was occurring with Netflix and received full bandwidth from Sparks server.

netflix isnt within sparks network, so that test tells you nothing except the speeds within sparks network is fine.

You need to test to an overseas server in the likes of sydney that is outside of sparks network, like one of the vodafone ones in sydney

this helps to diagnose weather its a netflix issue or a spark issue

granada29

57 posts

Master Geek

#1292588 27-Apr-2015 21:39

Netflix was OK tonight - briefly stalled at the beginning of the show I watched then played through to the end (1 hour) successfully.

Jase2985 - point taken on the international bandwidth, but testing download speed from Spark tells me that the local loop is not congested/oversubscribed. Surely best to eliminate that as an issue, after having determined my in-house network was OK.

There are any complaints in other threads about international performance and I guess I'm just seeing the effect of oversubscribed international links that havn't been provisioned to allow for the uptake of Netflix and other streaming services.

Talkiet

4792 posts

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Trusted

#1292591 27-Apr-2015 21:42

granada29: Netflix was OK tonight - briefly stalled at the beginning of the show I watched then played through to the end (1 hour) successfully.

Jase2985 - point taken on the international bandwidth, but testing download speed from Spark tells me that the local loop is not congested/oversubscribed. Surely best to eliminate that as an issue, after having determined my in-house network was OK.

There are any complaints in other threads about international performance and I guess I'm just seeing the effect of oversubscribed international links that havn't been provisioned to allow for the uptake of Netflix and other streaming services.

Glad to hear it was (largely) ok tonight... I (and others) have been monitoring both international and the specific links that gave issues last night and while usage is sky high today and this evening (Bad weather and a weekend combined always does that) there hasn't been anything visible from an overall network point of view of concern this evening...

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.