Official Roku HD/XD/XDS Owners Thread - Page 13

It's definitely false. If their intention is true, it is terrible firmware. I tried it with and without 1080P in the file name. There is no different in playback. My problem is not just playback the HD MKV, it happens the same way as when I streams HD video over the net. It is playback fine when the internet stabled or during low peak hours. Again all these problems I have with the XDS, it is playback and stream fine on the other HD playback sources.

XDS should not reboot itself when internet connect is lower. It should setup very similar to others HD media players. The other HD player scales down to lower version video without interupting the movie whenever the internet connection is low, and it automatically increases to higher video format when internet connection increases.

I understand your frustration over your USB playback issues -- that sucks.

When you say "reboot itself" when your internet connection is slow, is the box just rebuffering the stream or is it actually completely rebooting? If it is indeed rebooting and not just rebuffering occasionally, then you may have a faulty box. It shouldn't do that.

The Roku box does support adaptive bitrate streaming (which is what you described in your last paragraph), but the content provider must provide the stream in the proper format for it to work, which is HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) for Roku's boxes. Most of the Roku channels that make use of HLS are the "live" streams (NHL, MLB, UFC, etc.).

I don't believe you ever specified which channel was causing your HD streaming problems, but if it's from Netflix, you have to consider the fact that Netflix provides different streams to different devices. This makes a direct comparison of stream quality and stability between devices difficult. So even if Netflix on the PS3 is working fine for you during peak internet hours, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Roku Netflix channel will perform the same. The streams are probably different bitrates and likely coming from a different CDN.

I thought that I have been very clear on it. It happened on both USB and HD streaming.


I thought that I'm very clear on this too. Reboot meaning XDS is rebooted and it different from streaming rebuffed.


I worked with low level Roku technical support and high level technical support. They said that XDS is fine, and they said my internet connection is at fault. I talked to COX communication. They said my internet connection is fine, because it streams HD video fine on my other HD media sources. They verified the signal, and it is fine. In this case, I think that COX communication is correct. I think that XDS has bad firmware in it. I hope that Roku can provide solution with new firmware soon. The player should be able to scale down to lower video format without rebooting XDS and without interrupting movie playback.


It is mostly streaming HD Netflix and some HD Amazon VOD and HD MKV. Again, it's fine on my other HD media sources.

Yes, the box should be able to rebuffer down to a lower bitrate stream (if one is available) without rebooting your box. That's why I'm saying you may have a defective unit. If this were a problem with the firmware, it would be much more widespread, and you'd see a large number of complaints in the Roku forums about the box rebooting all the time. I haven't really seen that many. A slow internet connection causing your Roku to reboot is not normal behavior.


This is not possible with the current streams that are provided to the Roku by Netflix and AVOD. It's not a limitation of the Roku as much as it is a limitation of the streams provided by Netflix and Amazon. You can't blame Roku for that.

Let me rephrase it again, I don't think it is normal but Roku technical supports think so. I don't think that it is hardware issue either. If there is a problem with electronics hardware or hardware limitation, it’ll reboot all the time. If the firmware limitation or if it is set to work at a certain spec, it can reboot when the spec is met. It happened to me during high peak time, which it is likely to be firmware issue more than anything else. And in case you ask, everything is setup correctly according to the manual and it is confirmed by their high level technical supports. They said it is my internet connection that makes XDS reboot. I don’t think so because the other HD sources work fine on the same network.


It is limited to XDS or not, but the same HD video on Netflix and Amazon works fine on my other HD media players. I don't expect the same video to playback better on XDS, but at least playback the same bitrates as the other HD media players and playback at lower bitrates when internet connection is low. For example, I streamed and playback HD “Unthinkable” on Netflix using PS3. It streamed and playback flawless on PS3. When the internet connection is fluctuated, PS3 automatically played movie according to internet connection speed without interrupting (or stopping) the movie. With XDS, it rebooted itself and I have to manually re-stream the movie from the beginning.

Prospective owner here:

Can an owner please explain the difference between the following?

Specs for the Roku XD :
802.11n Wi-Fi (b/g/n compatible)

AND

Specs for the Roku XD|S :
802.11n Wi-Fi (b/g/n compatible)
Dual-band 802.11n (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz)

I know in routers dual band, dual radio means you can connect at both G and N without the N side dropping down to G speeds. What does it mean for streaming devices? If the XD is "b/g/n compatible", then isn't it by definition "dual band" because it can connect at G or N depending on whatever the router provides?

How many here have cut there cable and gone all streaming

Amazon, hulu & Netflix

OTA with an antenna DVR (no monthly fee) and lots of streaming on my PS3 and Roku. Very happy.

Ota antenna dvr

What is all that?

I know what a dvr is but why do u need it

Is it a tivo

In short, the XDS can connect on the 5Ghz frequency. Whereas the XD can only connect on the 2.4 Ghz. If you have a lot of local "clutter" on the 2.4GHz band, accessing the 5GHz frequency can be beneficial.

-Suntan

Cut the cord (10+ years ago.) Today's options just increase the convenience for me.

I DVR OTA (Over The Air - aka Broadcast) plus use Netflix and Hulu (not plus.)

-Suntan

Because having to watch a show when it is broadcast is a major inconvenience. Having to watch commercials is even worse.


Tivo is one type of DVR, but that is not the only option, there are some other consumer hardware based DVRs, and computer based options.

-Suntan

I'm thinking of cutting tie with DirecTV, but where can I watch Bizarre Food, No Reservation, TNT and ESP in HD? I don't think that there is anything that can beat the HD video/audio on DirecTV either. I can record HD shows and sport on DirecTV DVR from a cell phone, and it can playback flawless on PC too. If there is a cheaper alternative, I'll be happy to cut it!

For now, Roku XDS is not there yet. If it can play HD video without rebooting, it'll be a good start.

With my work schedule a DVR is a must, timeshifting is the only way I can watch my favorite shows every week. I have a Channel Master CM-7000PAL and I absolutely love it. It records TV shows off an antenna signal. It's not as refined as a TIVO but it has no subscription fees. It also has an awesome 30 second commercial skip feature. Here is a link.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com/HD...cm-7000pal.htm

Ah, thank you for clarifying it for me.

It normally plays HD streams just fine. I still think you have a defective unit, but I think we've covered that ad nauseam...

That other apple tv thread is not getting that much play

Maybe i should of gone with a roku

I dont get why apple tv doesnt have hulu or amazon

Is in everybody's best interest for those companies to join forces

It's a win win

Now you're getting my point, and maybe I can send it to you so you can hackle with Roku technical support for me!

I messed around with so many HD media players for several years, and this is the first HD media player that does this to me. I told them that there must be something wrong with it, but they blamed it on my internet connection it's a bunch of BS. Which none of it makes sense to me? If it is my internet connection, I should have experienced it with my other HD media players.

Most people that look to "cut the cord" do so to save money. Those people that try to do it without expecting to change their viewing patterns *at all* are mostly disappointed.

That said, a quick look at Netflix shows that they have episodes of both Bizarre Food and No Reservation are available streaming from Netflix. They're also available on AmazonVOD.


People looking to use a roku to play significant local content are mis-purposing the box, imo. It's not meant to be a local network streamer.


-Suntan

Just imagine how giddy you would be if your system would scan the show as it recorded it to flag commercial breaks so you could just jump directly over the entire break and right back to the show...

-Suntan

You do know that Apple and Amazon are competitors? Yes?

I knew they have the older Bizarre Food and No Reservation on Netflix for a long time. I watched it so many times. They are not as good as the newer HD contents. The newest No Reservation in Cambodia and the newest Bizarre Food in Hong Kong in HD are great stuff. The video and audio are superb.

To me, the best HD video/audio shows are Samantha Brown Asia: Asia. Travel channel is better quality than most channels.

With that said, it is closer to cut the tie.




The sad thing is it happens to me both USB and streaming. It happens the same way. I'll try to hackle with Roku again today. I hope that they will replace it.

Theres enough money for everybody

What about hulu ?

What's the beef there

Nirvana.

Would it surprise you to know that you can do it today with a couple of computer based DVR systems?

I haven't had to deal with the 30 second skip for some time.

-Suntan

Was the roConnect post that appears to have been deleted from this thread pure spamming last night? I'm subbed to this thread and it's still in my email notification. It was posted around 1:45 am ET. Is there anything to it or does anybody have any knowledge of it?

Hulu does not fit with the Apple/iTunes business model. Why allow an 'all-you-can-eat' TV buffet when you can charge 99 cents a show? Although they may change this business model in the future there are no indications of it happening anytime soon. For more Apple TV + Hulu rants check out their Apple Forum.

http://discussions.info.apple.com/th...64970&tstart=0

There was a separate thread announcing roConnect that was deleted as spam as well. It's unfortunate because it appears to be a legit product with some promise. If you want to read more about it and interact with the developer, you can do so at the Roku forums here: http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=38291

There's also a Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roku-C...86947194676928

Thanks for the reply, I had looked on the roku forums, but didn't find anything.I like the idea behind it, from what little I've figured out. I don't really care if it transcodes or not, I've never really liked any of the transcoded streams, they usually require way too much processing power and haven't been very impressed with the quality of them.

One of the Roku engineers has confirmed that an active network connection is NOT required for USB playback. The tech support person gave you incorrect information. See the following thread:

http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php...252159#p252159

I know that doesn't solve your problem, but at least it rules out one possible cause. If your box is still under warranty, I'd push for a replacement as much as possible. With all the rebooting you're experiencing, I would suspect you have a defective unit. It's definitely not supposed to behave that way, that's for sure.