PS3 + Streaming Netflix = FAIL (in a lovely shade of red)
December 26, 2009 1:55 PM Subscribe
Anyone else encountering difficulties using Netflix streaming on their PS3? I re-joined Netflix after a long hiatus so I could take advantage of PS3 streaming, but it's been a very bumpy ride and hasn't worked in over a week.
While the streaming was a bit flaky over the past 2 months (I'd have to authorize my console multiple times a week, but that's not a big deal), at least it worked. All week long when I launch the Netflix software, it just sits and churns with a circular progress indicator beneath the Netflix logo and never gets to my Instant queue. I let it run for about an hour this morning with no change.
I've tried the following, with no success:
• removing everything from my queue
• rebooting my DSL box/wireless router/PS3
• deactivating my PS3 from my Netflix account page
• putting the IP of my PS3 in my router's DMZ
While the streaming was a bit flaky over the past 2 months (I'd have to authorize my console multiple times a week, but that's not a big deal), at least it worked. All week long when I launch the Netflix software, it just sits and churns with a circular progress indicator beneath the Netflix logo and never gets to my Instant queue. I let it run for about an hour this morning with no change.
I've tried the following, with no success:
• removing everything from my queue
• rebooting my DSL box/wireless router/PS3
• deactivating my PS3 from my Netflix account page
• putting the IP of my PS3 in my router's DMZ
That said, I just did a quick search of A) news and blog via Google and B) avsforum, and found no chorus of people with the same problem.
posted by intermod at 2:34 PM on December 26, 2009
posted by intermod at 2:34 PM on December 26, 2009
Response by poster: In the past few months, there were a few days when I couldn't connect to my Instant Queue. Trying it the next day usually worked, but things are currently looking grim. Going to leave Netflix early next month, as this is a joke. Peer-to-peer DIVX generally has better image quality, and since I'm on budget DSL, I can't tap the HD streaming (there's no option for a longer buffering time).
posted by porn in the woods at 2:54 PM on December 26, 2009
posted by porn in the woods at 2:54 PM on December 26, 2009
It was working fine for us as recently as Wednesday of this week. Pop in the Netflix disk and go.
However, we never had the de-authorization problem you have been having "several times a week." Something is clearly borked in the basic handshake between your PS3 and PC and Netflix. Are you running the most recent PS3 OS / firmware?
posted by MattD at 2:56 PM on December 26, 2009
However, we never had the de-authorization problem you have been having "several times a week." Something is clearly borked in the basic handshake between your PS3 and PC and Netflix. Are you running the most recent PS3 OS / firmware?
posted by MattD at 2:56 PM on December 26, 2009
Response by poster: Are you running the most recent PS3 OS / firmware?
Yes, very latest and greatest. Also synchronized my PS3's clock via Internets according to a tip I saw on afterdawn.com, no change. Back to torrents for me, I guess.
posted by porn in the woods at 3:03 PM on December 26, 2009
Yes, very latest and greatest. Also synchronized my PS3's clock via Internets according to a tip I saw on afterdawn.com, no change. Back to torrents for me, I guess.
posted by porn in the woods at 3:03 PM on December 26, 2009
Best answer: My Mac mini cannot do Netflix streaming, while the PS3 can, which I put down to the Microsoft Silverlight plug-in, since I can stream Hulu through Flash on the mini. Everything is going through the same wireless network. Ultimately, it's down to Netflix providing poor service: call their tech support to complain, and if they don't fix their service, cancel your account.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:04 PM on December 26, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:04 PM on December 26, 2009
Have you tried a wired connection? IME the PS3 wireless transfer rate isn't the greatest.
posted by wongcorgi at 4:19 PM on December 26, 2009
posted by wongcorgi at 4:19 PM on December 26, 2009
Response by poster: Have you tried a wired connection? IME the PS3 wireless transfer rate isn't the greatest.
Wired, via a Belkin wireless->wired bridge. There's plenty of bandwidth to go around; pulling demos from the PS3 store maxes out my AT&T DSL connection (256KB/sec).
Looks like this dog just won't hunt. Netflix just doesn't want me to get legit. I'll try back in six months or so. Quality and selection were never great shakes to begin with.
posted by porn in the woods at 4:55 PM on December 26, 2009
Wired, via a Belkin wireless->wired bridge. There's plenty of bandwidth to go around; pulling demos from the PS3 store maxes out my AT&T DSL connection (256KB/sec).
Looks like this dog just won't hunt. Netflix just doesn't want me to get legit. I'll try back in six months or so. Quality and selection were never great shakes to begin with.
posted by porn in the woods at 4:55 PM on December 26, 2009
Netflix over PS3 with a wireless connection (router + Seattle's wireless Cascade Link internet) has been great for us, especially HD programs.
Maybe speed is an issue? 256Kb/s seems very low. I'm currently in Houston, TX with an AT&T DSL connection and download speeds average 3Mb/s: maybe it's time to call AT&T? Netflix streaming works perfectly here as well.
posted by halogen at 6:41 PM on December 26, 2009
Maybe speed is an issue? 256Kb/s seems very low. I'm currently in Houston, TX with an AT&T DSL connection and download speeds average 3Mb/s: maybe it's time to call AT&T? Netflix streaming works perfectly here as well.
posted by halogen at 6:41 PM on December 26, 2009
as with halogen, my netflix over ps3 with wireless works flawlessly for me (i use it all the time!) and 256kb/sec does seem rather low. do you have problems streaming other content?
posted by lia at 6:55 PM on December 26, 2009
posted by lia at 6:55 PM on December 26, 2009
Response by poster: kilobytes per second not kilobits. I can stream anything at high speed, it's just Netflix that's screwing up. It's not an issue of being able to connect to Netflix's servers then getting stalls on the streaming - the thing won't even handshake or get past the intro splash screens. It's a dud for me, but it once worked as advertised.. Funny.
posted by porn in the woods at 7:39 PM on December 26, 2009
posted by porn in the woods at 7:39 PM on December 26, 2009
Response by poster: After all that Netflix trash talking yesterday, it started working again this morning. Service seems inconsistent at best here in Nor Cal.
posted by porn in the woods at 6:04 AM on December 27, 2009
posted by porn in the woods at 6:04 AM on December 27, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Note that this could account for pre-Christmas delays too -- people buying theirs before Christmas and going ahead and setting it up.
There's a parallel here, from an earlier Christmas and some other popular gadget, but I can't recall it ...
posted by intermod at 2:28 PM on December 26, 2009