leemonk

Q: Apple TV library connectivity

Hi,

 

I have an older Apple TV unit that is not working very well.

 

I have always had problems with it connecting to my iTunes library. It really is potluck if it will connect to my library when I turn it on.

 

It's the inconsistency of the problem that bothers me most. If it never connected I would simple purchase another however sometimes it works well. It can run without a single problem for a week and then, as it has now, will not connect for nearly a month.

 

It's been relegated to simply playing Netflix which it has no problem with at all.

 

I have different internet suppliers from my old house and the home I'm currently in. I don't think (though I am clearly no expert) that it is a network error on the part of the unit as Netflix plays well.

 

Any ideas? Anymore information needed?

 

Regards

 

Lee

Windows 8

Posted on Mar 16, 2015 3:23 AM

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Q: Apple TV library connectivity

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  • Helpful answers

  • by brenden dv,

    brenden dv brenden dv Mar 18, 2015 9:47 AM in response to leemonk
    Community Specialists
    Mar 18, 2015 9:47 AM in response to leemonk

    Hello leemonk,

     

    I'm sorry to hear you are having these kinds of issues with your Apple TV; I know that can be frustrating. If you are having intermittent but reoccuring and persistent shared Library connection issues with your Apple TV, you may find the information and troubleshooting steps outlined in the following articles helpful:

    Setting up Home Sharing for Apple TV (2nd generation and 3rd generation) - Apple Support

    Troubleshooting Home Sharing - Apple Support

    Apple TV: Basic troubleshooting - Apple Support

     

    Sincerely,

    - Brenden

  • by leemonk,

    leemonk leemonk Mar 22, 2015 11:19 AM in response to brenden dv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2015 11:19 AM in response to brenden dv

    thanks. Ill have a read of these tonight.

     

    Sorry for late reply. Lost the post and took forever to work out how to find my own posts........

  • by leemonk,

    leemonk leemonk Mar 26, 2015 2:59 AM in response to leemonk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2015 2:59 AM in response to leemonk

    Hi,


    Had a look through all of those help links but sadly it didnt help.


    Had the same problem last night. It couldnt even find the library let alone have problems playing it. It does appear to be a sharing issue as I copied some shows onto my iPad and then played them through Airplay which worked fine. I can not recall if this always works but it did last night.

     

    I don't mind doing this for my stuff as I know in advance what I want to watch but it's the kids that get upset when they want to watch their stuff and I can not get it.


    Is it likely to be a hardware issue? I thought about purchasing a new unit but obviously I do not want to do this if its unlikely to be a hardware issue.

     

    Any advice is most welcome.


    Regards

     

    Lee

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Mar 26, 2015 6:37 AM in response to leemonk
    Level 10 (103,693 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 26, 2015 6:37 AM in response to leemonk

    I couldn't rule out a hardware issue, but believe it to be unlikely.

     

    Intermittent problems are often a result of interference. Interference can be caused by other networks in the neighbourhood or from household electrical items.

     

    You can download and install iStumbler (NetStumbler for windows users) to help you see which channels are used by neighbouring networks so that you can avoid them, but iStumbler will not see household items.

     

    Refer to your router manual for instructions on changing your wifi channel or adjusting your multicast rate.

     

    There are other types of problems that can affect networks, but this is by far the most common, hence worth mentioning first. Networks that have inherent issues can be seen to work differently with different versions of the same software. You might also try moving the Apple TV away from other electrical equipment.

     

    The following article(s) may help you.

     

    Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections

    Recommended Wi-Fi settings

    Sources of Interference

    Wifi Diagnostic Software (for Mac users)

     

    You may also find some help on this page, where I’ve collected some of the more unusual solutions to network issues.

  • by leemonk,

    leemonk leemonk Mar 27, 2015 2:42 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2015 2:42 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thanks.

     

    Just had a quick scout through all of those things as I'm at work. Ill have a closer look later.


    Most of them seem to deal with WiFi interference. Do you think this might be an issue? The reason I ask is that at the same time Apple-TV wouldn't connect to my library I was able to airplay from an iPad to it.

     

    To me, completed uneducated in this respect, it suggests that its not a WiFi issue and is a library issue. Though, there seems to be very little documented around this issue?!?!


    What do you think?

     

    Regards

     

    LAM

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Mar 28, 2015 6:46 AM in response to leemonk
    Level 10 (103,693 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 28, 2015 6:46 AM in response to leemonk

    I'D say it's most likely a network problem