Netflix Buffering

When I use it with my hotspot (LTE), I get some occasional buffering, but not often.

When I use it at home with my Xfinity connection, it never buffers.

What device are you watching it on? Using a Roku with a 50 meg cable connection I haven't had any issues.

Also, who is the provider? They may limit speed on connections to netflix.

I use a Samsung TV that has the built in Netflix device. Provider is Crapcast. It never seems to do it other than in the evening.

Do you have anything else to use to stream netflix as a test? It could be the netflix app in the tv. I normally use a PS3 but also a Roku. For 5 years I was DSL with maybe 10 down and didn't have buffer issues as a general rule. I'm 100 down now occasionally I can see the quality dip for a few minutes in the evening.

I do think the number of folks on NETFLIX is part of it with 50MB service, you shouldn't have a regular issue. Have you done a speed test to see what your actual download speed is?

With a 50m cable connection, I am surprised you get any buffering at all and it should be in HD. My first thought is the cable connection quality - they may be "throttling" usage at certain times, and sometimes cable internet simply can get bogged down during high usage times by everyone in the surrounding area.

Are you actually getting 50m speed? Have you tried speedtest.net to check the cable internet speed?

If you are willing to do the merry-go-round, call your cable company and double check about your contract to see if it has any kind of speed limit included. Also, if your speed tests are showing you aren't getting the speed your are paying for, is your cable modem updated? If it is out of date, the cable company might replace it for "free" as part of your contract ("might" is the key word...). It is also possible that there is an issue out in the street connections for your cable internet. That has to be determined by a cable tech coming out and testing it - they won't do that until all other options are exhausted.

Good luck! and try to keep a good attitude in calling the cable company!!

I have a Samsung Smart TV and it buffers non-stop with Netflix and Amazon. I only have a 5MB download speed. What I have found out though is the Samsung app is much to be desired. My Roku streams it just fine. I don't even use the smart features on my TV anymore.

az99 wrote:
I use a Samsung TV that has the built in Netflix device. Provider is Crapcast. It never seems to do it other than in the evening.

Gotta ask the obvious - are you running an ethernet cable to your TV, or is it using WiFi to connect to Netflix?
The only speed test that really counts is if you have a browser on your TV that can get you to a speed testing web site. Then compare it to the same test on your computer done at about the same time - just make sure that both are using the same kind of connection, either WiFi or ethernet. If the TV is a lot slower, then there is your problem. It may not be receiving the signal very well, if on WiFi - or it could just be slow.
If both your TV and computer are slow (and Netflix should buffer on both, if it does it on one in this case), then it may be your router, cable modem or Comcast itself. If on ethernet, bad wiring can also be a cause....

As far as Comcast: everyone else in your area is doing the same kind of thing - your cable connection speed is shared, as everyone is drinking from the same pipe, and if there are lots of others at home in the evening, then everyone's speed goes down, leading to buffering. Then the only solution is to talk to Comcast about some kind of premium service and/or find another provider that either doesn't share, or doesn't share with so many at once!

NiasWagn wrote:
I have a Samsung Smart TV and it buffers non-stop with Netflix and Amazon. I only have a 5MB download speed. What I have found out though is the Samsung app is much to be desired. My Roku streams it just fine. I don't even use the smart features on my TV anymore.

We had same results with Sony smart tv & DSL. Even ran direct ethernet cable from router to smart tv. After getting a Roku, problems were solved. I think it's your smart tv giving you the problem.

Fred

We have had lots of problems too - and found it depended on the device. We have cable service for our internet with ethernet cable. We used to have a computer hooked to the TV to stream and that worked very well. We then got a Sony DVD player that included streaming. Didn't work - lots of buffering - especially in the evenings when there were more cable users. Then we got a Samsung DVD player with exact same results.

Then we got a Roku. No more problems at all...

Another vote for a Roku; we stream Netflix and Hulu all the time on a Verizon 4G connection and rarely have any buffering issues. IMHO Smart TV's are gimmicks for consumers who don't know that that they can get far better capability from a dumb TV and a Roku.