bhamguyspecv

Q: airplay drops airport

Devices: iPhone 5S (T-mobile) , iPad Air (T-mobile) , MacBook Pro A1278 (mid-2010) , Airport Express (2x, both 2011)

OS versions: iOS 8.1.1 , Yosemite 10.10.1 , 7.6.4 firmware - software/firmware is always as up to date as possible

WOW! internet service, Arris TG862 (wireless disabled), 1 AX hard wired to cable modem in Bridge mode, 2nd AX set to "Join existing network" (through AX-1)

 

Happy Holidays Everyone!

 

I have been having Airplay issues with my Airports. When listening to iTunes on the Macbook, the music will randomly stop and the Airplay icon will turn orange. It will drop itself after 1-30 minutes of airplay, just depending on it's mood and the day. When listening through the iPhone/iPad, I have to bring up the settings menu (flick up from bottom) and select the airplay device every time it cuts out - every 1-30min as with the Macbook. I have some friends who are suffering these same issues, but with different devices and a brand new Airport Express. I use Airplay religiously for hours a day, so this is a BIG problem for me. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

 

What I have tried:

The disconnect seems to happen more frequently when I am communicating, so I disabled Facetime relay for calls. It still happens even when my communications are idle.

Reset/unplugged everything

Defaulted and set up everything again

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Dec 1, 2014 5:35 PM

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Q: airplay drops airport

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  • by Jay Zip,

    Jay Zip Jay Zip Apr 17, 2015 8:36 AM in response to bhamguyspecv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 17, 2015 8:36 AM in response to bhamguyspecv

    I wish I could find a solution to this issue. I think I've narrowed the cause down to Yosemite.

     

    I have a 1st Gen Airport Express. Had no trouble with Airplay from my iMac prior to Yosemite upgrade. Running 10.3.3, the connection drops after 10-30 minutes of airplay time from iTunes or by setting the Sound Output to the AE.

     

    However, I can play successfully without drops from my iPhone running iOS 8.3.

     

    On the Mac, I've noticed that after the drop, the AE shows up as offline in Airport Utility. The AE's green light is on and it shows up on my phone. After a short time, Airport Utility shows it back online but it does not show up as an Airplay device on the Mac until either the Mac or the AE is restarted.

     

    Very frustrating.

  • by KRDHarris,

    KRDHarris KRDHarris Jun 7, 2015 7:54 PM in response to bhamguyspecv
    Level 1 (34 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 7, 2015 7:54 PM in response to bhamguyspecv

    I have this problem too; playing from iTunes on an iMac via an all-Apple Airport network to a stereo system. This had worked for years without problem, but it appears that Yosemite made the connection between iTunes and the remote Airport Express very fragile.

     

    It does not appear to be a radio problem; I reproduced the same problem when the two Airports were 3’ apart.

     

    I tried disabling all sorts of potential sources of the problem; Calendar notifications, Spotlight, Time Machine backup, screen sleep, screensaver, iTunes wireless synching, etc., and tried various recommended fixes such as deleting network prefs, creating a new network location with MTU=1453, setting Configure IPV6 to Link-local only, etc.

     

    Based on study of console logs, I eventually concluded that there was not one source of the problem; susceptibility to interruption was the issue, as if there was a problem with task priority or interrupt levels. In many cases, there was no entry at all in the console log that was associated with a dropout.

     

    I would welcome any suggestions; in their absence, my next step is to make an appointment at my local Genius Bar…

     

    My configuration:

     

    iTunes is on a mid-2010 27” Core i7 iMac with plenty of spare memory and disk that is running OS X 10.10.3.

     

    The network-creating station is a 5th Gen. Airport Extreme 802.11 abgn on firmware revision 7.6.4.

     

    The station connected to the stereo system is an 802.11bg Airport Express base station on firmware revision 6.3 configured to join the network.

     

    There is one other device on the network, a first-generation 802.11abgn Airport Express on firmware revision 7.6.4 that is used to extend the network. Removing this device from the network makes no difference.

  • by KRDHarris,

    KRDHarris KRDHarris Jun 7, 2015 8:17 PM in response to KRDHarris
    Level 1 (34 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 7, 2015 8:17 PM in response to KRDHarris

    (Unable to edit my post above.)

     

    The revision of iTunes is 12.1.2.27.

  • by KRDHarris,

    KRDHarris KRDHarris Jun 8, 2015 2:08 PM in response to KRDHarris
    Level 1 (34 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 8, 2015 2:08 PM in response to KRDHarris

    I finally found a workaround for my problem, and have been streaming music for several hours without dropouts or disconnections.

     

    I replaced the older Airport Express 802.11bg that was connected to my stereo system with the newer first-generation Airport Express 802.11 abgn.

     

    My problem thus appears to be caused by the inability of Yosemite to properly handle the Airport Express 802.11bg and/or 802.11g.

     

    I suppose Apple had somewhat signaled the dropping of support for this older equipment and/or 802.11bg standards by removing it from the AirPort Utility. (I have been managing the device using an older version of the AirPort Utility on an older iMac running OS X 10.5.8, or from my Yosemite iMac using a patched version of the older utility.) However, it had been working fine for a long time after it was dropped from the AirPort Utility; it was only with Yosemite that the problems started.

     

    I have just ordered a refurbished Airport Express 802.11abgn from Apple, and now I will try to find a good use for my perfectly-good Airport Express 802.11bg; maybe I will connect it to my older iMac…

  • by eindaj,

    eindaj eindaj Jul 31, 2015 10:38 PM in response to KRDHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 10:38 PM in response to KRDHarris

    Did you disable/turn off bluetooth? Seemed to help me. If you are still having problems, try using vox. Before disabling bluetooth, I was using Vox as iTunes just wasn't working but Vox was. After turning off bluetooth, iTunes now works.

  • by eindaj,

    eindaj eindaj Jul 31, 2015 11:13 PM in response to eindaj
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 11:13 PM in response to eindaj

    Actually, 30 minutes in and the drop outs have started again with bluetooth off. I'm moving to Vox full time I think. Last straw for iTunes.

  • by sparetime59,

    sparetime59 sparetime59 Aug 3, 2015 2:00 PM in response to Schickenipple
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 3, 2015 2:00 PM in response to Schickenipple

    I am having the same issue.

     

    Can you assign a static IP? I did this in the past, but can't find a good tutorial to attempt that fix again. 

  • by Tim Harris,

    Tim Harris Tim Harris Aug 9, 2015 6:54 AM in response to Jay Zip
    Level 4 (1,460 points)
    Aug 9, 2015 6:54 AM in response to Jay Zip

    I also happens on other devices.  Have used the 1st Gen AirPort Express for years without problems, but since Yosemite I have has the same issues.  Have now just purchased a AirStream s200 and the exact same issue.  Have disables IPV6 to see if that helps.

  • by Tim Harris,

    Tim Harris Tim Harris Aug 9, 2015 3:20 PM in response to bhamguyspecv
    Level 4 (1,460 points)
    Aug 9, 2015 3:20 PM in response to bhamguyspecv

    As suggested by the workaround is to disable IPV6. 

  • by cfletcher115,

    cfletcher115 cfletcher115 Sep 7, 2015 6:13 PM in response to Whambam2013
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 7, 2015 6:13 PM in response to Whambam2013

    The settings change and turning bluetooth off made a huge difference. I haven't tested them independently to see if it's the combo or one of the two that makes the difference. Just listening to some uninterrupted music for the moment.

  • by lamama28,

    lamama28 lamama28 Nov 27, 2015 4:34 PM in response to Whambam2013
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 27, 2015 4:34 PM in response to Whambam2013

    Thanks so much! This seems to have solved a really annoying issue.

  • by Raph.A,

    Raph.A Raph.A Sep 8, 2016 11:52 PM in response to Whambam2013
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 8, 2016 11:52 PM in response to Whambam2013

    (Changing "Configure IPv6" from "Automatically" to Local-link Only") It works! I did this for the new Airport Express (the one that looks like a white smaller Apple TV) and my MAC. The horrible skipping, stutters, suddenly cutting out is gone!

     

    Sadly I already got a new Airport Express thinking the old Airport Express (WiFi N, looks like a Macbook power plug) was the problem. Oh well. Airport Express for another sound system it shall be.

     

    Both Airport Express devices are on Firmware 7.6.7 (If that is important)

    So the new Airport Express and the old Airport Express (Wifi N, not the Wifi G one) Airplay functionality works without stuttering or skips! Finally!

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