Live Channel Judder (Roku)

[Anonymous User]

Roku Streaming Stick+ 8.1.0, Now TV 4.6 (Build 733)

Ever since the recent Now TV app update on Roku I’ve experienced excessive juddering on the live channels, but only the non-Sky named ones (Gold, Syfy.etc), Sky One.etc seem to be perfectly fine.

It’s exceptionally noticeable on Gold and Syfy, to the point of being unwatchable.

So far I’ve tried:

• App reinstall / update
• Full factory reset
• Removed all post processing from TV and Receiver
• Tried “Auto-adjust display refresh rate” on Roku

Router is sat in the same room and has excellent communication with the Roku, happily plays 4K YouTube with zero issues.

No luck anywhere.

Oddly enough - catchup on NowTV of the very same programmes (for instance Dad’s Army on Gold Live vs Catchup) works perfectly, but the live channel is juddering like mad.

Anyone experiencing the same issue or have any ideas? Only having 4 out of 11 live channels is very disappointing at the moment!

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

On my Roku Stick Plus i haven't manually updated the firmware yet where i am still on version 8.0.1 build 4090 (even though version 8.1.0 showing available for my device when i check for updates).

Think i will hold off as long as possible updating my Roku Stick or if the software update is automatically forced onto my Roku Stick without my interaction.

It's a shame that Roku's and NowTV doesn't offer users a grace period where you can roll back to a previous firmware version for a short time until some bugs and glitches are ironed out (if it's not broke then don't fix it).

Only thing that i could suggest where i doubt it would make any difference is to try another forced software update on the Roku stick by pressing the Home button x 5, quickly followed by pressing the FF button x 3, then quickly pressing the FF button x 2 on the RC to access the hidden secret menu.

Update the software even if you are on the same version.

[Anonymous User]

Could well be the Roku 8.1 update that’s caused the issue.

I’ve tried the forced firmware update to no avail - still massive judder on the non-Sky named channels.

It is a massive shame as I’m finding the Roku Stick+ a fantastic piece of kit and before this problem - worked excellently with Now TV (well, having come from the Apple TV experience of Now TV - anything’s an improvement..)

Fingers crossed a solution can be found

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

Yeah the Roku Stick Plus is a cracking streaming device for the money

I am assuming your Roku Stick is connected directly into your TV HDMI port and not plugged in via an AV Receiver or Soundbar.

There is a few Roku Stick Plus owners on here, maybe they can test the NowTV channels in question on the newer firmware and report their findings.

If my Roku Stick Plus does automatically force a firmware update on my device i will post back what i am seeing on the non Sky channels where i am septable to judder and motion artefacts when watching TV.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve tried both plugging directly into the TV and also the receiver - both with the same result

(reassuring I guess - could do without having to bury myself in the receiver menus!)

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

I will check out the live streams on both SyFy and Gold during the next 24 hours or so just in case it's also happening on the older firmware as well on the Roku Stick Plus.

If i notice any judder i will then try the same exercise on my nowtv smart box just in case it's a streaming / broadcasting related issue rather than the devices themselves.

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

Watched about an hour of Fire Fly live on the SyFy and Porridge live on the Gold channel and both look fine to me with no sign of judder on my Roku Stick Plus on firmware version 8.0.1.

Out of curisoity when you Roku Stick Plus is set to Auto Refresh Rate what frame rate does it show on the Sky live channels and SyFy & Gold channels ?

For me when i select the info input button on my Panasonic TV remote controller it's saying Sky live channels at 25hz where SyFy and Gold are saying 50hz.

Wondering if you are getting the same frame rates as me or for some unknown reason SyFy and Gold are displaying a different frame rate on your device.

[Anonymous User]

Right - just to ensure everything’s as equal as possible I knocked the Roku down to 1080p output, direct into TV (no receiver), no post processing.

Adaptive refresh on too just to make sure!

Showing 60hz on Sky channels (sky one looking very good as usual)

Gold / Syfy / Fox (all non-“sky” channels) showing as 50hz - and still extremely juddery!

*Additional*

The resolution also appears to have changed if I remember “pre-judder life” correctly - the black bars that usually accompanied a lot of content on Gold (due to the general age of the programming) have been removed - the “Gold” logo is much larger than it used to be

Plus of course - judder!

Strange...

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

I know this is defeating the object and not ideal, but what happens if you switch off the Auto refresh rate setting and use fixed at 60hz (in theory it should be worse) ?

Strange that the nowtv Sky live channels on my Roku Stick Plus is saying 25hz which i would expect, where your Roku Stick Plus is showing 60hz ?

[Anonymous User]

Apologies! - I meant 50hz for the Sky channels too (which should be in with Now TV in general and UK broadcasts)

As for switching off adaptive refresh - everything jumps up to 60hz, and as expected, the non-sky channels are still juddering like mad

Sky channels still looking good...!

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

My Roku Stick Plus has just had the update whilst i was watching the Rugby, where i am now on firmware 8.1.0 build 4133~50 which was forced automatically onto my device, together with the NowTV App going from software version 3.*** to ver 4.6.733.

Like you have reported the picture on Gold and SyFy is now stuttering badly and unwatchable, where it was perfectly fine and silky smooth this afternoon before the update :smileymad

Will be interesting to see what other Roku Stick Plus owners are seeing and what build version of 8.1.0 they are showing on their devices.

Anybody on a higher build number than 8.1.0 4133 ?

[Anonymous User]

Whilst i deeply sympathise - I’m glad I’m not going mad and this is a genuine problem!

Fingers crossed a fix will be rolled out swiftly!

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

I will wait and see what other Roku Stick Plus owners report on here if they notice any stuttering of the picture on the non Sky live Channels like Gold & SyFy etc and what firmware build version are showing on their devices.

If they are on a higher build version and notice no juddering then hopefully there is a newer firmware build version out there that me and you perhaps haven't received yet ?

Should they notice the picture stuttering like us, then i will then tag the NowTV Forum Team so they can liaise with both their Tech Team and the Roku Engineers to find a patch fix for the problem.

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User

The Fox channel is juddering extremely badly to my eyes 

One thing that i have noticed since the Roku firmware update and newer NowTV App software version has been rolled out on my Roku Stick Plus is that when watching content either live or on demand on my NowTV entertainment & movie passes that the content is now playing back according to my Panasonic TV at 50hz where before the update all NowTV content was showing 25hz on my TV.

This might be my mind playing tricks on me, but apart from the non Sky live channels that is causing stuttering, everything else looks a tad better with regards to picture quailty (need to double check tonight where most of my movie and TV show viewing is done in lower light conditions with some bias lighting behind the TV).

It's a shame i haven't got a nowtv sports pass to check if the motion has improved during fast moving camera pans when watching sport.

The Auto refresh rate is definitely working on my Roku Stick Plus where watching Netflix or Amazon it displays 24hz when pressing the info button on my TV remote.

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User @commanda6

Just wondering are you seeing any juddering of the picture on the non live Sky channels such as Fox, Gold SyFy etc like me and @Anonymous User on your Roku Stick Plus ?

Also can you confirm what Roku Firmware and build version you are currently on and the Nowtv App software number showing on your device ?

Cheers Guys. 

[Anonymous User]

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@schnapps wrote:

Hi @Anonymous User @commanda6

Just wondering are you seeing any juddering of the picture on the non live Sky channels such as Fox, Gold SyFy etc like me and @Anonymous User on your Roku Stick Plus ?

Also can you confirm what Roku Firmware and build version you are currently on and the Nowtv App software number showing on your device ?

Cheers Guys. 

---

I'll get back to you guys a little later. I've had to have my Stick Plus replaced as the previous one was losing power quite often. When I get some 'me time' later I'll have it set up again for use.

Before the old stick+ went back it had updated to the software @schnapps is now on and my Panny also was showing 50Hz frame rate with a noticeable improvement in the picture quality on Catch Up/Boxsets. I'd managed to catch a short piece of football before my sub run out (football season over) and I'd have to say there was only a slight improvement in the overall picture quality at 50Hz. Still needs more work done on it.

[Anonymous User]

@Anonymous User @schnapps

Roku version 8.1.0 build 4133-50

Nowtv app version 4.6 build 733

Catch up & Boxsets playing fine at 50Hz

Sky branded live channels looking good at 50Hz

ALL other live channels stuttering and showing as 50Hz

The channels that are stuttering live are all playing ok on Catch up at 50Hz

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for helping to confirm - sounds like we’re all having the same issue

[commanda6]

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@Anonymous User wrote:

@Anonymous User @schnapps

Roku version 8.1.0 build 4133-50

Nowtv app version 4.6 build 733

Catch up & Boxsets playing fine at 50Hz

Sky branded live channels looking good at 50Hz

ALL other live channels stuttering and showing as 50Hz

The channels that are stuttering live are all playing ok on Catch up at 50Hz

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Hi @schnapps @Anonymous User @Anonymous User

It looks like I have a different OS build to @Anonymous User mine is 8.1 build 4113 my NowTV app version is 4.6 build 733, I now have auto adjust refresh rate turned on as I think they might have improved function a bit and it hasn't caused HDCP issues like it did before 

I saw motion judder/stuttering when watching sci-fi live channel last night. (I was watching The equaliser) It would go through periods of motion judder/stuttering for 10 to 20 seconds and then be completely fine the next few minutes and the process would repeat. I've only seen this happen with sci-fi channel so far, but the fact that the issue isn't constant and doesn't occur on all channels could well mean that the streaming stick plus isn't the cause of the issue. The cause of the problem could well lie elsewhere .

Either way, this needs to be investigated by the @Anonymous User to try and figure out what's going on. No one should be jumping to conclusions at this point is the what the couse is as this certainly seems to be quite a bizarre issue and may not be a simple thing to sort out

[schnapps]

Hi Guys,

Can you also check out if like me you are seeing terrible judder on the live stream on the Sky News App, where the on demand content looks fine.

Cheers.

[Anonymous User]

Sky News App - Live = a stuttering mess!

50Hz for reference.