Can someone experiencing this issue please post photos or videos of what happens? I’d like to investigate this bug but it is not reproducible on any of our TVs.
I have just shot a quick video of the system displaying netflix firstly using the hdmi source, then using the component video source. The display for the netflix interface is fine but as you can see the problem occurs around 52 seconds when the actual video is supposed to play. At 1m17s the hdmi is switched to component and the video resumed plays fine. At 1m50s the video is playing without the flashing snow found when using the HDMI input.
Hopefuly you should be able to see the video ok, if not let me know and i’ll try again.
One comment made was that there could be an issue with throughput (or bandwidth) with regard to the HDMI output. As the Netflix data switches from one resolution to another when the selection transfers to the actual streaming (or at least this has been suggested is the case) I ran a test using a 1080P HD clip playing from the extrenal harddrive. This played without issue on the HDMI output so I would think that if the cable has enough bandwidth for a video file it would have enough for a video streaming from Netflix.
Thank you, this is perfect. This does look like an HDMI handshaking issue.
I have the exact same issue. Phillips 32PFL5332D from 07. Was told by Netflix that it was a HDCP handshake issue. It doesn’t do it on my newer Sammy but needs to work with Phillips. Different cable didn’t help nor did a TV firmware update. Different HDMI settings also no effect. Works fine over component as others have said (although degraded visually).
I almost pissed my pants when I read this post. I just ordered a WD TV Live Plus for the exact same reason (netflix support). I think I’m fine with using the composite cables however, Netflix instant movies weren’t meant to be viewed in 1080p HD. These movies are very low quality making it possible to stream the movies faster. Ya it would be nice if Netflix went 1080p commando on us, but this is going to be a ways away in the future till HD streaming is smooth. I’ll take what I got right now tho, sounds great! Cheers!
I must admit I was pleasantly supprised by the quality of the netflix streaming and the issue with HDMI and Netflix myself and others are having is more a case of an inconvenience than anything else. The quality is still acceptable when using component output because as you mentioned the stream itself is not the highest quality but it does mean using two sets of cables, one for general use (where HDMI is working) and another for viewing Netflix. One can use only component leads only but that degrades the quality for the sake of one feature of the system.
Hopefully you do not have this incompatibility issue and will be fine to view everything through the same output and given the relatively low bitrate offered by the ISP’s compared to other parts of the world the experience is still an enjoyable one.
There is a huge difference between the HD signal that Netflix puts out and th 480P signal forced through component. I have an XBOX 360 sitting next to my WDTV Live that outputs HD Netflix through HDMI to the same TV just fine, but it’s all sorts of noisy so I really wan’t WD to get this handshake working properly for ALL HDCP compliant sets. It’s the main reason why I picked this over the competition and if it is forever gimped through component then no thanks.
My network is fully capable of a HD stream and as stated works beautifully through the XBOX or the WDTV hooked to a different display. The issue is that Netflix won’t allow over 480P on any unprotected output (even though they still implement macrovision on the component and composite outs). The problem is the HDCP handshake implementation on the HDMI out of the WDTV or the way it changes resolutions after the handshake. I’m sure the WD engineers can work it out should they actually take some time.
HD_in_SD: Sorry, I should have quoted my reply. I wasn’t disputing your point, mine was pointed back to the person who said NetFlix doesn’t do HD at all because of network constraints.
I can chime in with a similar issue… my brand-spankin’ new Live Plus HD is hooked up to a crummy old 27" tube TV with a single composite cable. When I start the Netflix “app”, the screen blanks for a second and goes to the “no-input blue screen” with VIDEO superimposed. Then it pops up the Netflix interface. For the record, the Netflix interface is horribly out-of-aspect for my television. I’m missing 10% at the top and bottom of the screen with no way to adjust it. It seems like it’s intended (only?) for a widescreen television. But I can live with that.
When I find something in my instant queue and press play, it flicks back to the blue no-input VIDEO screen. I’ll hear audio once it buffers. I can get the picture back by toggling through the TV’s inputs.
When I stop the movie from playing, it flickers briefly to the blue screen, but this time the Netflix app successfully appears.
I know that… (a) I really need a new TV in the bedroom - someday, and (b) I can work around it by cycling the inputs. But it’s far from optimal in either case.
I hope the WD engineers will test this with a less-than-state-of-the-art television, for the sake of us still hanging on to our antiquated technology.
Patiently waiting, if I didnt have another way of using Netflix streaming I would have returned my box already and waited for a popbox, might as well get a better machine without Netflix than to have one with it and it doesnt work, WD never even replied to my email on this issue…not a happy camper, well my issue is with Netflix not loading at all and erroring out instantly on loading, so any Netflix fixes should be good, there are obviously issues with Netflix on this box
I have just purchased WD TV Live Plus and have the same issue. Details of my experience with this issue are below:
TV: Panasonic, TH-42PX50U
WD TV Live Plus firmware version: 1.03.29_B
Netflix streams the video without any issue to my computer or component connected WD TV Live Plus. If I use component connection, picture and sound comes out okay.
If WD TV Live Plus is connected with HDMI cable, screen turns blank without sound as soon as retrieving is completed (as soon as movie starts playing).
I tried 3 different HDMI cables (two of them were high end). Results were same, blank screen…
Set the screen settings directly (took out of Auto Screen settings). Results were same, blank screen…
Spent an hour with Netflix customer support. They claimed the issue being “licensing issue within WD TV Live Plus.”
Spent an hour with WD customer service. Very disappointed about professionalism of the customer service team.
I just hope that the issue will get resolved with firmware upgrade.
Similar issue with the WD TV Live Plus and my Panasonic 32LX85 HDTV. I connected via HDMI cable. The Netflix 2.0 interface loads just fine and I can browse Netflix and add to my instant queue. The screen blanks for a moment while retrieving the movie and then the video plays but pixelates and is entirely unwatchable. I tried setting the resolution on the Live Plus manually. I also tried several different HDMI cables. No go.
It would be nice if Western Digital would inform the community if this issue is something that can be resolved with a firmware update or if it is a hardware problem.
Not asking for an immediate fix, just like to know if this is an issue that can eventually be resolved with a firmware update or should everybody with a Netflix issue return their Live Plus to the store?
HDTVs that are reported not to work with Netflix via HDMI (so far):
OK I’m with the folks getting impatient for some word of a fix. Netflix streaming in HD (only possible over HDMI) was the main reason I purchased this over competing brands. I’m at the end of the line here and likely going to return the unit. Simply updating the HDCP keys via firmware update should not take this long. If I see a post by tomorrow from WD indicating a fix is forthcoming I’ll stick it out, otherwise I can get an XBOX 360 arcade unit that does proper MediaCenter integration and full HD Netflix for $150 brand new, same price as this box of empty promises.
I just opened up a separate thread on this, missed this one.
Just upgraded yesterday to use the netflix player and same story. I can see the instant play screen but nothing streams. I can play from YouTube, network drives and my PC play fine from the same connection.
