Freezes when playing Netflix after 2.06.10 update [ Edited ]

[Medservr]

My Live Hub seems to be freezing even more frequently with the new firmware.  I can't watch even five minutes of something on Netflix without having my Live Hub completely freeze, to the point where I have to unplug the unit.  I'm in the same boat as a couple other people who have posted on this thread.  One of the main reasons that I purchased the Live Hub is for Netflix.  I have a Wii in my kids play room which never has a problem playing Netflix media.  WD, please do something, this is ridiculous.

[Giro413]

Just adding my voice to this call for action from WD.

I recently started experiencing freezes, which requires me to pull the plug on my Hub and reconnect it.

What's strange is that I get freezes in titltes that I have previously had no problems with (Toy Story 3 for instance) and I haven't updated firmware or anything.

Can the problem be due to sudden fall outs in my internet connection? In any case I don't think that should cause the Hub to freeze (forever).

Kasper.

[djsaitta]

I'm on the same boat.  My Live Hub streamed Netflix quite well, with the occasional freeze requiring a reboot by unplugging.  However, at some point over the last week or so, I can no longer stream anything from Netflix without my box freezing up within the first few seconds.  Extremely frustrating, given that this is the primary purpose that I purchased the device.

[Bill_S]

I closed the other thread you were a part of and move you all into a new thread.  We want to track this differently.  

There may be a couple of issues to consider here that may not have anything to do with the firmware. 

1. Check to make sure that your fan is still running.  If the fan has failed, then overheating could cause the Hub to start freezing up.  If that's your issue then you will need to RMA the device.
2. Not enough bandwidth.  I have tried watching Netlix on my Laptop via a wireless connection.  It freezes up on me immediately.  I have no such issue using My Live Hub because it's wired.  Make sure that  you network connection has the bandwidth to handle streaming.
3. Quality of service.  Does your internet service provide enough bandwidth for Netflix streaming?  Especially if the shows/movies are in HD.

If you can hear the fan running, and you are wired to your router, and you are getting at least 2 MB's of download bandwidth from your internet provider, then we may have to look at other possibilities.

[DUuDE]

Thanks for replying to someone else's plea for help as mine is still left unanswered.   

1.  Fan is still running.

2. Already RMA'd device and replacement unit does the same thing.  No issue however, with the PS3 or laptop using Netflix.

3. Already checked with service provider.  there are no bandwidth throttling or any other ISP imposed restrictions in effect for my line.  As a matter of fact, I am using Verizon FIOS -  I am subscribing to the 20MB/20MB (up and down) so bandwidth is not an issue for me.

**** FYI -  the last time it froze and I unplugged the unit and it no longer recognized the internal storage which contained all my movies / pictures ...etc...  I got tired of the run around from WD Tech support especially when they would not  even hear about trying to assist with data retrieval.   Loss of data  from hard resets appparently is a risk you take when you  unplug the device.  For me this was not an option so I opened up the unit and retrieved data myself.  Apparently there is a disconnect between the OS and the Storage media  -  I have learned so much about  the media hub by having such a bad experience with it.  So I ask WD.......do you want to work with me to figure out  this Netflix Freeze issue or just keep ignoring me?

[djsaitta]

Bill - thank you for responding.

1) The fan is still running when the Hub freezes during Netflix streaming

2) I am able to stream Netflix on 2 other wireless devices (one Win7 notebook, one Win XP notebook) in the same room without interruption.  A Sony PS3 at the complete opposite end of the house is also able to stream Netflix uninterrupted with a significantly decreased WiFi signal.  I am  able to stream 720p .mkv files from my home server to the Hub without interruption, so my wireless network's bandwitdth should not be an issue.

3)  I am a Verizon fios subscriber with plenty of download bandwidth.  As mentioned in point #2, every other device in my house streams Netflix uninterupted.

Thanks again,

Dan 

[BBBBBrandon]

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DUuDE wrote:

Thanks for replying to someone else's plea for help as mine is still left unanswered.   

1.  Fan is still running.

2. Already RMA'd device and replacement unit does the same thing.  No issue however, with the PS3 or laptop using Netflix.

3. Already checked with service provider.  there are no bandwidth throttling or any other ISP imposed restrictions in effect for my line.  As a matter of fact, I am using Verizon FIOS -  I am subscribing to the 20MB/20MB (up and down) so bandwidth is not an issue for me.

**** FYI -  the last time it froze and I unplugged the unit and it no longer recognized the internal storage which contained all my movies / pictures ...etc...  I got tired of the run around from WD Tech support especially when they would not  even hear about trying to assist with data retrieval.   Loss of data  from hard resets appparently is a risk you take when you  unplug the device.  For me this was not an option so I opened up the unit and retrieved data myself.  Apparently there is a disconnect between the OS and the Storage media  -  I have learned so much about  the media hub by having such a bad experience with it.  So I ask WD.......do you want to work with me to figure out  this Netflix Freeze issue or just keep ignoring me?

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What router are you using?  Can you turn off the UPnP option in the router and see if the issue persists?

[BBBBBrandon]

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djsaitta wrote:

Bill - thank you for responding.

1) The fan is still running when the Hub freezes during Netflix streaming

2) I am able to stream Netflix on 2 other wireless devices (one Win7 notebook, one Win XP notebook) in the same room without interruption.  A Sony PS3 at the complete opposite end of the house is also able to stream Netflix uninterrupted with a significantly decreased WiFi signal.  I am  able to stream 720p .mkv files from my home server to the Hub without interruption, so my wireless network's bandwitdth should not be an issue.

3)  I am a Verizon fios subscriber with plenty of download bandwidth.  As mentioned in point #2, every other device in my house streams Netflix uninterupted.

Thanks again,

Dan 

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What router are you using?  Can you turn off the UPnP option in the router and see if the issue persists?

[hdavidb]

I had a similar problem myself, and I had determined that it was the DNS being forwarded from my router.  You may want to try entering a manual DNS entry on the WDTV in the network settings such as 208.67.222.222 or 8.8.8.8.

The first is OpenDNS and the secondary is Google DNS.  After testing one of those on my WDTV, retrieving data from Netflix and streaming seemed to speed up considerably.

Another thing you may want to check, depending on your actual ISP download speeds, is the quality setting on the Netflix site.  You can adjust your bandwidth usage there.  I have mine set to highest and I'm having no problems with watching HD titles on the WDTV after those minor changes.

[rimondi1]

I am having this same issue and it has continued for almost 2 weeks. I have to unplug the WDHub in order to reset it after it freezes while watching Netflix. I do not have this problem on any of my other Netflix streaming devices (My Sony TV and Sony Blu-Ray player).

I have also lost all of my music files stored on the LiveHub by puling the plug on it (I had no other choice). Luckily I have it all backed up, but this is rediculous. WD PLEASE FIX THIS! Don't make me have to return this and resort to Sony's LiveHub option!