What's going on - Netflix Quality? - Page 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

practicalgeek · 2012-08-12, 04:21 PM

Well there are three of us now on Telus with streaming problems from Netflix.

That's hardly a big sample, but I wonder if the problem lies either with with Telus or with Netflix. As a test, I bypassed my router last night and plugged my PS3 directly to my Telus connection. Same problem. SD only, so it can't be my router.

Also, my other video services, from Zune to Crackle, all stream at HD when that option is available.

I would really like to solve this. I think Netflix is a great deal at $8 month, but I am still paying for HD quality I'm not not getting.

North_of_Calgary · 2012-08-12, 08:58 PM

But you said already that you had the same problem at someone else's house via Shaw?

I would try the same device (such as a laptop or a very portable device like a roku) at multiple locations. Really benchmark if it is the same or different with Shaw. Failing that how about logging in temporarily using a friend or relative's account. Particularly if they're reporting that they're getting HD. Or even sign up for a new trial membership using a different email.

Another idea is to triple check your Netflix account's quality setting parameter and then set it to low quality for a day or so and then change it back to high quality. It's not at all probable but possible that what your actual account setting and what it's showing on your profile are out of whack. And I'd leave it turned down for at least 24hrs just on the remote chance that they're having data center change propagation delays.

A final idea is to review the QoS settings of your router. But then again you've said you already have tried bypassing that.

If it turns out to actually be telus then that's where "net neutrality" comes in. I didn't think they had the right to do that in Canada but I really don't know.

Morris · 2012-08-13, 02:02 AM

Looks like my HD quality is back tonight. Finished watching capt American and it was bouncing back btw med and high hd quality. At some points it was drop to high SD but was on HD for most of the time I was watching. So for me I still have no idea if it's telus or netflix that was the problem. Maybe it was both...

practicalgeek · 2012-08-13, 03:04 AM

Excellent suggestions, North.

You're right, as soon as I wrote that, I had forgotten that I had tried it at my parents' place with their Shaw connection. So I've tried my connection with the laptop in two different homes in two difference cities with two different providers with the same result.

I'll see if I can try another location or two. I also like your suggestion of a temporary account.

I called Netflix a week ago and their suggestion was to reinstall all my apps, including Silverlight. I reinstalled Silverlight but that had no effect. I'll call them again one way or another and see what they have for my account as for as quality.

I really doubt it's Telus. As far as I know, they don't offer video streaming services so have no dog in this hunt. There's no reason for them to downgrade Netflix streaming especially when all the other streaming services I use continue to work in HD.

North_of_Calgary · 2012-08-13, 09:33 PM

Telus's TV services is their dog in this hunt. The more you watch on Netflix is the less you watch from their channel packages or PPV. You becoming a cord cutter or cord trimmer is their risk.

If your parents are on Shaw what sort of quality do they get? Try using their account at your house and all of the other permutations.

It's only if you prove from multiple locations that your computer is the weak spot would I bother with the uninstalling/re-installing stuff.

practicalgeek · 2012-08-13, 11:58 PM

Well, lo and behold, without my doing anything, I'm back at glorious HD on Netflix tonight. I'll keep an eye on this, but the one variable I can think of, that I pointed to before, was the Olympics. As soon as the Games started, my Netflix went SD. One day after it concludes, I'm at HD. Could just be a coincidence, as things like this usually are, but I wonder if either heavy streaming of online Game content degraded, if not all services, at least Netflix, which is itself a heavy user of online bandwidth? Could a deal have been made temporarily to switch bandwith around to focus on the Games? Or perhaps just the people on my Telus node, perhaps streaming Games content heavily, caused it? Not sure about the latter scenario though, since my speed tests still showed my usual 14 down.

In any event, I'll take HD now without complaint. Thanks for taking the time to offer help.

Netflix on HD again is really, really nice.

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2012-08-12, 04:21 PM	#31
practicalgeek Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	Well there are three of us now on Telus with streaming problems from Netflix. That's hardly a big sample, but I wonder if the problem lies either with with Telus or with Netflix. As a test, I bypassed my router last night and plugged my PS3 directly to my Telus connection. Same problem. SD only, so it can't be my router. Also, my other video services, from Zune to Crackle, all stream at HD when that option is available. I would really like to solve this. I think Netflix is a great deal at $8 month, but I am still paying for HD quality I'm not not getting.

2012-08-12, 08:58 PM	#32
North_of_Calgary Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Calgary Area Posts: 2,074	But you said already that you had the same problem at someone else's house via Shaw? I would try the same device (such as a laptop or a very portable device like a roku) at multiple locations. Really benchmark if it is the same or different with Shaw. Failing that how about logging in temporarily using a friend or relative's account. Particularly if they're reporting that they're getting HD. Or even sign up for a new trial membership using a different email. Another idea is to triple check your Netflix account's quality setting parameter and then set it to low quality for a day or so and then change it back to high quality. It's not at all probable but possible that what your actual account setting and what it's showing on your profile are out of whack. And I'd leave it turned down for at least 24hrs just on the remote chance that they're having data center change propagation delays. A final idea is to review the QoS settings of your router. But then again you've said you already have tried bypassing that. If it turns out to actually be telus then that's where "net neutrality" comes in. I didn't think they had the right to do that in Canada but I really don't know.

2012-08-13, 02:02 AM	#33
Morris Rookie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5	Looks like my HD quality is back tonight. Finished watching capt American and it was bouncing back btw med and high hd quality. At some points it was drop to high SD but was on HD for most of the time I was watching. So for me I still have no idea if it's telus or netflix that was the problem. Maybe it was both...

2012-08-13, 03:04 AM	#34
practicalgeek Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	Excellent suggestions, North. You're right, as soon as I wrote that, I had forgotten that I had tried it at my parents' place with their Shaw connection. So I've tried my connection with the laptop in two different homes in two difference cities with two different providers with the same result. I'll see if I can try another location or two. I also like your suggestion of a temporary account. I called Netflix a week ago and their suggestion was to reinstall all my apps, including Silverlight. I reinstalled Silverlight but that had no effect. I'll call them again one way or another and see what they have for my account as for as quality. I really doubt it's Telus. As far as I know, they don't offer video streaming services so have no dog in this hunt. There's no reason for them to downgrade Netflix streaming especially when all the other streaming services I use continue to work in HD.

2012-08-13, 09:33 PM	#35
North_of_Calgary Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Calgary Area Posts: 2,074	Telus's TV services is their dog in this hunt. The more you watch on Netflix is the less you watch from their channel packages or PPV. You becoming a cord cutter or cord trimmer is their risk. If your parents are on Shaw what sort of quality do they get? Try using their account at your house and all of the other permutations. It's only if you prove from multiple locations that your computer is the weak spot would I bother with the uninstalling/re-installing stuff.

2012-08-13, 11:58 PM	#36
practicalgeek Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	Well, lo and behold, without my doing anything, I'm back at glorious HD on Netflix tonight. I'll keep an eye on this, but the one variable I can think of, that I pointed to before, was the Olympics. As soon as the Games started, my Netflix went SD. One day after it concludes, I'm at HD. Could just be a coincidence, as things like this usually are, but I wonder if either heavy streaming of online Game content degraded, if not all services, at least Netflix, which is itself a heavy user of online bandwidth? Could a deal have been made temporarily to switch bandwith around to focus on the Games? Or perhaps just the people on my Telus node, perhaps streaming Games content heavily, caused it? Not sure about the latter scenario though, since my speed tests still showed my usual 14 down. In any event, I'll take HD now without complaint. Thanks for taking the time to offer help. Netflix on HD again is really, really nice.