Q: Airplay Mirroring Stuttering

El Capitan Airplay to my Apple TV 3 works fine when playing QuickTime or VLC videos on my iMac... but I've definitely noticed choppy video if streaming video using TVMC or generic Kodi programs on the iMac. Luckily, I still have a Yosemite partition on my hard drive, so I can boot up in that and all is well again. Both the El Capitan and Yosemite partitions use the same firewall settings, streaming software versions, etc., so I've eliminated those as suspects. Somewhere I've read that El Capitan changed its encryption for Airplay but no idea how or if that's the culprit. But something's definitely changed.

I guess I spoke too soon about QuickTime video... I just tried playing an .mp4 file in the QuickTime Player on my iMac via Airplay to my AppleTV3, and the video choppiness was there. In fact, even basic streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube are choppy, too.

One thing I did notice: in El Capitan there seems to be a subtle difference beween turning on Airplay with the menu bar item, or turning it on natively within a program (using the Airplay icon in the program's toolbar, while the program's running). Leaving Airplay turned off in the menu bar and waiting until I'd actually gotten into QuickTime Player, to use its own Airplay button, fixed the choppy video immediately on my TV.

Unfortunately, not every program offers a native Airplay button. Apple programs such as QuickTime Player and Safari do, natch. But TVMC and Kodi, for instance, do not.

There never used to be a difference between how Airplay was turned on... menu bar or native button in a program... but now under El Capitan there certainly seems to be, at least for me.

BTW both my iMac and my AppleTV3 connect to my home network via ethernet, not wirelessly. Both their ethernet cables are plugged into my Airport Extreme tower. I have WiFi completely turned off on my iMac.

Oddly, back when I first tried WiFi sync between my iPad and iTunes on my iMac, the connection frequently failed. I called Apple tech and they actually suggested I disconnect the ethernet entirely and switch over to an all-WiFi scheme in my house, even on my iMac. Said they hadn't really anticipated what they called "mixed networks" (using both ethernet and WiFi) when they came up with the idea of iPad sync.

Now, I'm wondering if El Capitan is disturbed by my "mixed environment" when it turns on Airplay from the menu bar. Hmm...

Agreed, and I've submitted a Feedback report on the issue, for whatever good that might do. Am planning to get the new Apple TV soon and will be eager to see if it handles the issue any better. Or maybe its launch will spur Apple to release a software update for existing Apple TVs that will remedy things. Meanwhile, I've trial-tested AirParrot2, and that works great in El Capitan to mirror the desktop to Apple TV. No choppy video at all. I know it's a workaround but it's not all that expensive ($15), and the free trial might tempt you to at least try it, too. Good luck!

For what it's worth, here are my current stats: Apple TV 4 (new model, with Siri), tvOS 9.0.1 (updated 2nd week of Nov. 2015), Mac OS X 10.11.1. Airplay desktop mirroring still has choppy-video problem. AirParrot2 (version 2.3, released Nov. 10, 2015) desktop mirroring has no video problem whatsoever. In other words, latest hardware and software updates have failed to resolve the issue I mentioned to Apple in my feedback submission three weeks ago.

I have been desperately searching for others with the same issue i am experiencing.  I have a tv in my den that is only connected to an apple tv.  At the time iOS 9 came out i was using an apple tv 3.  I have always been able to use the dishanyware app on my iPad air (1) to watch tv.  It has worked excellent for years under iOS 7 iOS 8.  I can use netflix, hulu, youtube and other apps  and they work perfectly.  After the 1st boot on my iPad running ios9 , when i try to airplay to the apple tv with the dish anywhere app, every 2 or 3 seconds the video and the audio skips for 2 to 4 seconds and repeats.  i have to spend 20 to 30 minutes of closing and opening the app for it to work properly.  In trouble shooting my problem - i have replaced my 2 year old asus $300 router (witch works perfectly for every thing else on every other device) with a brand new ac311 asus $300 router - no help - same problem. 

All devices on my home network are wired using cat 6 and 7 ethernet cable except for the iPhone and iPad of course.  I replaced the switch in the den as well when the new router didn't help and bought brand new network cables for all the devices.  problem still persists.  i purchased the new apple tv (2015) the day it released in thinking this must be the issue.  problem still persists and is actually a bit worse.  ( i love the new apple tv though).  I have contacted apple support - no reported issues - did a reset of the iPad and problem still persists.  (though it did operate for about 20 minutes using the dish anymore app ). 

My mom was coming for a visit one day so i asked that she bring her iPad air on her visit.  She has already upgraded it to iOS 9.  Same issue - she is also a dish anymore user but does not use the airplay feature.   I have a dedicated hopper in my home that she uses on trips, at work, etc.  .   she does not know what airplay is and does not use the feature in any manor.  Tried using our iPhones (also ios9.2 now) same problem.  I have contacted dish - no reported problems though they did not have much data on the airplay feature or its operation in an apple ecosystem.  To be clear - i can use "mirror" with no problems - its only when i change the output to airplay.  I loose features on the iPad and app when in mirroring and do not use mirroring at all .  I have taken my apple tv and iPad to friends house and tried as well - same issue.

I am pointing my finger more to dish at this point - more specifically "sling" witch is the company that made the app.  I have contacted them with
no known issues reply as well.

I also have an iMac (late 2013 custom 27 ") - i use it to airplay to 4 devices with the multiple speaker setting in iTunes in the house witch always worked great.  ever since el capitan was installed - there is a delay from all speakers , they are out of sync , where with Yosemite everything was fine .    I remember back in 2010 there was a similar issue with mountain lion.  if i reboot in Yosemite partition - this problem is non existent with all speakers in sync.

If anyone has run into these issues and has any advise to offer, i would greatly appreciate any feedback.  I am going bald, broke, and grey trying to fix  The dish anymore app as not been updated since 1 September 2015 but they insist that there are no known issues.  I am also reaching out to dish forums as well as sling forums.

Thanks in advance!

I am having the same problem. I have tried all the solutions checking my wireless connections, firewall, upgrades, etc. nothing and nothing from Apple. Is everyone in Cupertino house hunting? WTFO

why no one from apple answer to that topic????