TV choppy/streaming issue since ATV4 v3.1.11

Channels Apple TV Troubleshooting
#1

We’ve been using the Channels app with a HDHomeRun (HDHR) for over a year, and we love it. Flawless. That is up until the other day. I’ve noticed on our 2x ATV4, TV has been choppy and takes longer to start the TV channels. As if the reception was poor.

The HDHR reception is high 70’s % and the Signal and Symbol are 100%.

HDHR is ethernet cabled to our Orbi mesh network.

Through my testing of watching the same channel on our ATV4’s vs the HDHR macOS app, the issue is only present on the ATV4’s (Channels app). Works fine on the macOS app.

Checking the HDHR stats when testing, I can clearly see what is happening. The data rate between the HDHR is flapping when using the Channel app on our two ATV4’s, but is fine on the macOS app. That is the Mbps is around 0-1 when it’s using Channels app, when using the macOS app it’s 6-11Mbps.

This is some what of an isolation to the issue being the channel app. I can see in the version history the 3.1.11 was only released the other day, which matches up to when the issue started.

Hoping to have this fixed please in the next update? Please let me know if I can provide you with anything to help - this is the first time on here to submit a problem (as I said, been using it for over a year without a problem until now!).

Thanks

#2

This is an issue with your Wi-Fi mesh strength. You can try the free apps InstaTV and VLC to compare on the same Apple TV.

#3

With respect, I have to disagree. Both ATV4K’s have full strength reception to the mesh network.

Remember that up until a few days ago, this has been flawless. Also, as mentioned, my macOS HDHR app, which is also part of the mesh network (wireless, not wired) has no issues.

One added behaviour I’ve noticed, is if the HDHR -> Channels app streaming starts being choppy on the ATV4K’s, I jump onto the macOS HDHR app and it’s perfect. But here is the kicker, if I keep the stream going on the macOS, and then change channel on the Channels app on the ATV4K, the stream is no longer choppy. As if the Channel app by itself no longer is able to keep a solid stream from the HDHR by itself.

#4

This is a classic symptom of the network dropping packets. I’ve seen multiple people report this happening randomly, and that it got fixed when they rebooted their orbi gear.

Nothing has changed inside the Channels app in the code where it talks to your hdhomerun. That’s why it sometimes still works fine for you when you vary traffic on the network.

You can verify this for yourself by either downloading a speedtest app onto the Apple TV, or downloading another HDHR viewer app to confirm that it has the same behavior.