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@Arthur so as noted, I did all those things, none of which resolved the issue. I'm also running the app on the 2nd generation Firestick 4k Max, with the maximum processing power and memory of any Firestick.

You didn't address my question. Since you seem to be admitting that the most capable model of Firestick available isn't sufficient to run your new app reliably, will you commit to long term support of the app version that actually WILL run reliably on the hardware that most of your customers are using??

Well, the crap continues. The VOD part of the new app has been totally inoperable for me for the last 3 hours or so. Across multiple series & movies, absolutely nothing but the "dancing dots." I've (of course) cleared the cache, force stopped the app and reset the Firestick, tried it with and without VPN - all of which did nothing. I reported it to support chat, told Aaron everything I had done, and also told him we were watching VOD episodes just fine on the other TV with 1.6.3 installed on an identical environment. He asked me to change the VPN to Miami, which also made no difference.

His next instructions we're to just uninstall it and install 1.6.

So, my question at this point is, how long will you continue to support the 1.6 app, since we're now months into this and 2.0 is still obviously not working with any kind of acceptable reliability? I ask this because it looks like I'm going to have to now go spend my time reverting 20 or more devices for over a dozen friends and family I've recommended - and helped set up - CatchOnTV. I'm NOT happy with the many hours this is going to take me, but I'm not willing to tell them to continue suffering through this any longer.

@Rick said:

@caboguy
I understand your concern. However, this is the default function of our new app., so there is currently nothing that needs to be fixed.

Navigation buttons on the remote for the most popular platform for your app are non-functioning (even though they used to on the older app) and you feel there's nothing that needs to be fixed???

More to try to explain to all the 15 or so people I've sold on your service.

@Rick said:

@caboguy
To pause, press the OK/Select button twice. For fast-forward or rewind, press the "OK/Select" button once, then press the "Down Navigation" button, and use the "Right/Left" Navigation buttons to adjust playback direction.

Understand, thanks. But I hope it's planned to fix the app so the dedicated buttons work. They have always worked on the old app, as well as every other app I've ever used on Firestick.

@Arthur said:

@joef Are you talking about MY LIVE section position beside the Search bar in the Homepage ???
If yes, I can't say for sure if that's going to be changed on the next update. And we don't have an ETA for the next update.

In addition, the Firestick navigation buttons on the remote don't work during any VOD activity - play/pause, fast forward and rewind.

@Nyle3019 said:

3. Device Resource Usage
   The MOA app includes enhanced UI and backend processes which may use more system resources. On some devices, especially Firestick environments, this can occasionally lead to buffering if the system cache or background processes are not optimized.

My assumption is that the large majority of your user base uses Firesticks. Is my assumption incorrect? If not, then that is the device specs you should be building your app around. If the new app is too resource-intensive for the majority of user environments, I'd say that's a bad business move.

4. Ongoing Optimization
   Our development team is actively working on improving performance and stability in the MOA app. Updates are being rolled out progressively to address issues like buffering and playback consistency.

I think 2.0.11 is almost a month old already, so those "progressive app updates" appear to have slowed significantly?

We appreciate your detailed comparison—it’s actually very helpful for our team. If possible, please share specific channels or content where buffering occurs so we can investigate further.

As mentioned, more on movies/series as opposed to live channels - but pretty widespread.

Thanks for your patience while we continue improving the experience.

@Hawk said:

@Arthur said:

You can get the 1.6.2 version with the short code 4185818
http://aftv.news/4185818

What do you mean by doesn’t play properly?

If it’s a buffering issue, try this process to help fix buffering issues from MoaTV’s main website:

@Jack-Thripper said:
This attempts to explain different causes of/for buffering and actually does a good job of it.
https://channelmoa.com/what-is-iptv-buffering-and-how-to-fix-it.html

So, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, while that does do a pretty good job of explaining quite a few reasons for buffering and what to do about it, it totally ignores one (common right now) reason - the app itself.

As I've noted before, I have two identical Firestick 4kMax (2nd generation) devices configured identically and connected to the same internet service using the same wifi router. One runs 1.6.3 and the other runs 2.0.11 MOA. The one with 2.0.11 is closer to the router (2 ft) with a stronger wifi signal. Literally the ONLY difference between the two is the MOA app version. Yet I have times where a series episode or a movie I'm trying to stream on 2.0.11 is almost unwatchable due to constant buffering. Yet I can walk into the other room, fire up the 1.6.3 device and watch the same stream with no buffering. Assuming the two versions are connected to the same server (is this true??) the only difference is the app itself. The app is either not able to keep up, or the app is overloading my latest generation Firestick 4kMax. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's literally no other possible cause, my identical setups have removed all the other possible explanations/causes.

@Arthur said:

@javaguy216 There is no URL or short code for the 1.6.3 version. You can get the 1.6.2 version with the short code 4185818

@Arthur said:

@javaguy216 There is no URL or short code for the 1.6.3 version. You can get the 1.6.2 version with the short code 4185818

Why not post a download site for 1.6.3?Surely your team still has 1.6.3? Its working well for me, is there some reason you think 1.6.2 is better?

@Hawk said:

Has it been working well on that 2.0.11 generally besides this instance?
Have you tried working with the Chat Support team?

@arthur said:
By following proper troubleshooting, the buffer issue can certainly be fixed. For that, you must follow the instructions correctly from our Support Team.

To be quite frank, I gave up on the support team a while back. Their apparently scripted answers don't change. "Clear your cache. If that doesn't work please reboot your Firestick and your router. If that doesn't work please uninstall and reinstall the MOA app."

Sorry, but I'm a retired Electronics & Network Engineer and probably know more about it all then they do. I went through that entire 30 minute scenario a couple of times with no discernable difference. As I've noted, I also keep another identical Firestick, configured identically and connected identically (but farther away) via wifi to the same router. That one, with 1.6.3 running, continues to be significantly more reliable and WAY less frustrating than the 2.0.11 app. It's not my router, it's not my Firestick, and uninstalling/reinstalling 2.0.11 over and over again has proven to be a waste of time. Not interested in doing it, but that's support's answer, every time.

@Hawk said:

@caboguy
How far away from the WiFi router is the FS that was having the buffering? Is the one in the den closer to the WiFi router?

LOL nope! The router sits on a shelf directly under the TV with the 2.0.11 Firestick. MAYBE 2 ft away, but probably not. The den TV/Firestick with 1.6.3 is on the far side of the room away from the router and on the other other side of a cinderblock & concrete wall!

Last night, we were attempting to watch an episode of the series "Scandal" (Season 4,Episode 4 although I don't think that matters) around 8pm Pacific time. On 2.0.11 we were constantly getting buffering - the dancing dots. Easily a dozen or more times during the 45 minute episode. It was so frustrating that we adjourned to the den and fired up 1.6.3 on the other TV and watched 2 more episodes - without a SINGLE instance of buffering. Identical Firestick 4kMax, configured identically, using the same IPVanish VPN. Same fiber internet service, Wi-Fi from the same router, same band. Unfortunately 2.x has STILL not hit the stability and reliability that we've enjoyed over long periods of time with the 1.x app.

Also, the dedicated "pause/play" button on the Firestick doesn't work. To pause a playing movie, you have to push the large "enter" button which then gives you a pause/play on the screen which can be operated with the enter button. You really need to be able to use the correct button on the remote.

@Hawk said:

@Raejck
Was the 1.6.3 on your Onn device stable for most of the time? Are you using WiFi or an Ethernet cable from a router?

I'm using 1.6.3 on a Firestick 4kMax, using Wifi. It's quite stable.

@NT said:

@Arthur how do I do that

Good question - I see no way to "DM" (direct message) anyone here.

First, credit where credit is due - 2.0.11 has been much more usable & solid in the last few days. I still think my device on 1.6.3 is better, but it's getting closer.

I just started adding a few movies to Favorites to start a watch list. The scroll list of the favorites is there now, but the category "Favorites" does not show up at a top (left) to select. So I can only see a single scrolling row at present.

@Hawk said:

Please make sure your VPN is off when you download a code on the Downloader browser and try and install the app. There’s known issues when you try to do it with a VPN on.

@Arthur said:

@bhannay It's Downloader app issue. Use a VPN while downloading the app. This should fix the problem.

Yikes! Nothing like directly conflicting info from support!

"You can't use a VPN to download."

"You must use a VPN to download."

@Arthur said:

@Hawk Unfortunately no, you can get version 1.6.2 by contacting Live Chat Support.

Did you guys somehow "lose" 1.6.3? Its working well on my secondary TV/Firestick and I'd like to revert a couple of friends this weekend. Can't a link be put up for it, as the latest 1.6 release??

@Nyle3019 said:

In the meantime, setting up and regularly updating your Favorites can still help speed things up a bit while we improve the layout.

Indeed! I'm one who had invested multiple hours doing that - for myself and at least 10 others I helped set up. Unfortunately, those were all totally wasted hours when you did the update to version 2 and we all lost EVERYTHING!

Major "feature" request/recommendation - please make our user configuration a file that can be moved from one device to another AND can be restored after you nuke it with an update! Not only favorites, but history - if I'm in the process (I am) of watching a series with 7 seasons of 20 episodes, it's very frustrating to totally lose what episode of what season I was on!

Ideally, configuration should be synced across multiple devices on an account.

@Trams said:

@CaboGuy Thanks for your feedback—we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

The recent update was made to introduce several important improvements. We’ve added enhanced security features and expanded integration through new plugin capabilities, which will allow us to offer more features and flexibility moving forward.

The main reason for the slowness was the new watchdog system for real-time updates, which initially made the app feel heavier.
We’ve already released an update to improve performance, so it should be faster now than before.

The main reason for this update is that the previous system had clear limitations in terms of scalability, so we had to redesign and upgrade the system as a whole.

If these issues continue, we’re also considering releasing a much simpler version focused only on live channels. For now, though, we’d like to monitor the situation a bit more before making that decision.

We’re aware that there are still some bugs being discovered, and our development team is actively working on fixing them as quickly as possible. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding while we continue to improve the app.

Thanks again for your support!

"which will allow us to offer more features and flexibility moving forward" except that you're currently offering LESS features, and have said that the missing ones (music & karaoke) "may or may not return." I have a couple friends pretty livid about that!

"We’ve already released an update to improve performance, so it should be faster now than before" Are you referring to the 2.0.11 release? Because on my Firestick 4kMax it's still so bad with freezing and buffering that I find myself turning it off and using the 1.6.3 instead..

"we’re also considering releasing a much simpler version focused only on live channels" PLEASE don't do that! You already HAVE a much simpler version which provides all the functionality, not a very stripped down subset.

@Hawk said:

@gb6000
I did it once and everything seemed fine but someone else mentioned that they had a glitch. YMMV.

If you’re having streaming issues with the new MoaTV app (2.0.9 or 2.0.11) there’s always the option to switch back to the last CatchOnTV app (1.6.2) using the Downloader app. http://aftv.news/4185818 is the one to search for and then don’t update the app each time when asked if you’d like to update.

FWIW, 1.6.2 was not the last version, my 2nd Firestick is running 1.6.3. Is there a reason why you're steering everyone back to 1.6.2 instead of 1.6.3 (which seems to be working well for me?)