Rowkuser wrote:Our team was able to isolate the issue...The “LowPeakBitRateDevice” we were able to locate in the analytics from the device show that at some point, the device is being limited, which can result in reduced quality.
At this time, we are advising continuing to work with Roku...We were able to confirm that this particular issue would be out of our control after checking over the analytics.
Apple is full of it. Unless you have a serious networking issue with your Roku, the device itself is not limiting your to HD. I have tested the Ultra, both the original 4640 and the 4800, using fixed bitrate files playing from a USB drive. Roku players can handle about 200 Mbps video streams before there are issues. Streaming providers such as Apple or Netflix use adaptive streaming, and I have observed Netflix providing UHD/4K content with a bitstream as low as 9 Mbps. Netflix maxes out at 16 Mbps, and doesn't stream any higher rates. I don't use Apple as a streaming source (although I do have access to my digital library with them as well as Prime Video, Vudu and Movies Anywhere), so I can't say what their lower and upper streaming bitrates are, but I can assure you it nowhere near the limits of a Roku player.
Now, I mentioned networks. It's certainly possible your network connection is the limiting factor here. First, what model Roku player are you using (model number, not name)? Assuming it's not one of the Ultra models, you must be using WiFi for your connection. How far away is your Roku from your router/access point? What band is your Roku using? How do you know the band? Look at your network settings/about in the Roku. One of the items listed is Wireless Channel. If the channel number is 11 or below, you are using 2.4GHz, which is a very crowded WiFi band and interference could be reducing your connection speed. My Premiere 3920 is only single band, so it's stuck on 2.4GHz. Even though my Roku is only about 4 feet away from an access point in the same room, running Check Connection only shows a speed of 22 Mbps. My Ultra, which is downstairs but also connected to an access point within three feet reports a connection speed of 220 Mbps. The difference? The Ultra is using the 5 GHz WiFi band, which is less crowded and supports higher speeds.
Thanks for the thoughtful, detailed response. My Roku model is 3810R.
After troubleshooting, I've eliminated the network as a possibility. I have 300 Mbps. I recently upgraded my modem/router *and* placed it just feet away from the Roku. No difference. But I didn't expect there to be. If the network had been the issue, then either I wouldn't have been able to stream 4K at all or the 4K movies would have streamed in 4K sometimes and in HD at other times when the network was stressed. That's not the case. The *same* 4K movies always either stream in 4K or HD.
I also checked the wireless channel setting in the Roku, as you suggested, and it's 157.
Yeah, the 3810 is still a reasonable performer, and that channel number indicates you're using 5GHz. If you test your network connection in the Roku Network menu, what speed is it reporting?
Personally, I think this is another case of a provider "crippling" the performance of a competing device. We know for a fact that Apple will stream videos at a higher bitrate (possibly higher quality) to an Apple TV device over other devices. Similar to Google taking functions out of their app/channel for Roku devices that are available on Chromecast devices. And Amazon has some things that just work "better" on a Fire TV.
I suspect you're right. On one of my earlier calls to Apple (their customer support is a nightmare), the rep confirmed the problem was on Apple's end and that others had complained about the same issue. Once it was escalated to the technical team, though, they've acted like I'm the only person in the world with this problem. All they've given me are onerous troubleshooting tasks that solve nothing and denials that it has anything to do with them.
By the way, I checked the Roku internet download speed. 56 Mbps. My nearby laptop, however, is getting 348 Mbps.
Since it's on sale right now for $29, I've ordered the Roku Express 4K+. I'm hoping against hope that it will somehow resolve this issue.
