metriks

Q: iTunes constantly disconnects from ATV3

I've seen this question posted before but none of the answers have solved my problem.

 

First, my wifi is excellent.  The ATV never disconnects from wifi and plays cloud or internet based stuff without a hitch.  I have restarted wifi just in case and it makes no difference.

 

What happens is that iTunes disconnects entirely from the ATV3 units.  Sometimes it does so just whenever.  More recently I'll be watching and 5 minutes in it drops it.  According to the ATV I have NO sharable computers!  Even more recently if I wait three minutes sometimes it reconnects.  It is just getting worse and worse to the point that it is unworkable.

 

I have tried:  (1) rebooting the machine with iTunes.  Sometimes that brings it back.  (2) I have tried turning the machine with iTunes network connection off and on, and/or iTunes sharing off and on.  Sometimes that brings it back.  (3) One of my wifi routers is not literally 2 inches away from the iTunes machine.  No help.  (4)  I have installed an app called "Keep Drive Spinning" designed to not let my external drive go to sleep (as it has my iTunes on it).  That doesn't stop it from disconnecting but when I installed it, that started iTunes reconnecting on its own...so there was some effect.

 

The machine with iTunes is an iMac running El Capitan 10.11.6. It's a generation 2009 so it's not a youngster but literally everything else works stupendously on it....but not iTunes connectivity.

 

Any ideas before I attempt to replace it only to find the new machine has the identical problem??

 

Thanks!

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), ATV3

Posted on Aug 24, 2016 7:08 AM

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Q: iTunes constantly disconnects from ATV3

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  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Aug 24, 2016 7:58 AM in response to metriks
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 24, 2016 7:58 AM in response to metriks

    Any ideas before I attempt to replace it only to find the new machine has the identical problem??

    I'm fairly certain that that's exactly what will happen as I don't believe it's the Apple TV. What about if you restart your router does that also fix the problem.

  • by metriks,

    metriks metriks Aug 24, 2016 1:29 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 24, 2016 1:29 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    Nope.  Restarted the router a thousand times.  All the other ATV stuff connected to wifi works great.  HBO, Hulu, etc.  The wifi itself never goes down.  When I go to the computer, it is still connected with a strong signal etc.  Only the iTunes is no longer being shared (although on the computer it looks like it is.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Aug 24, 2016 1:36 PM in response to metriks
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 24, 2016 1:36 PM in response to metriks

    Does it help at all if you change the network location setting on the Mac.

     

    Do you have any other devices that use home sharing.

  • by metriks,

    metriks metriks Aug 24, 2016 1:41 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 24, 2016 1:41 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    Nope.  No change.  However...new info.  There does seem to be something going on with sleeping drives.  I read this in other posts.  Even though I have my settings in El Capitan set to never go to sleep, I think the external drive is "relaxing."  The new little app which keeps my drives active has changed the parameters.  iTunes still disconnects, but now it seems to connect again seconds later.  This active drive app is the only variable I have changed so I am really thinking it is glitch in El Capitan - the sleep off command is dysfunctional.  Any other ideas?

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Aug 24, 2016 2:09 PM in response to metriks
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 24, 2016 2:09 PM in response to metriks

    My library is on a couple of RAIDed internal disks but my settings are to put my computer to sleep after 10 minutes and hard disks to sleep whenever possible, my Apple TV's are able to wake it.

     

    I also was wondering if the issue wasn't on your computer somewhere, which is why I was asking if you had other devices.

  • by metriks,

    metriks metriks Aug 24, 2016 6:21 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 24, 2016 6:21 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    By location services I need a little help.  I have ensured that only the proper network is there. Since I installed the "KeepDriveSpinning" app I effected one positive change.  Now, when iTunes just cuts off in the middle of a program, within a few seconds it is back.  I have to restart the tv program I am watching but I don't need to reboot etc the machine.  So at least based on this it suggests to me that something is happening with the drive.  Am I off?  I only have the iMac and the one USB connected external drive.  No other devices except a printer are connected to the computer.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Aug 25, 2016 1:52 AM in response to metriks
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 25, 2016 1:52 AM in response to metriks

    You might create a test library with just one or two movies on your internal drive to test this.

  • by metriks,

    metriks metriks Aug 25, 2016 7:16 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 25, 2016 7:16 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Great idea.  Will report.  Thanks!