ronen333

Q: HD Stream using AirPlay doesn't work

Hello,

 

For the last year I stream HD content from my ipad to my apple tv 3rd generation and everything is fine.

I recently purchased apple tv 4th generation and now I cannot stream HD content, only SD content.

When i try to airplay HD channel to the apple tv 4, the picture freezes after a few seconds and only the audio continues.

The same HD content still works fine on apple tv 3, but not on 4.

Any ideas why this happens and how to fix it?

 

Thanks!

Apple TV, tvOS 9.2.2

Posted on Sep 13, 2016 8:01 AM

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Q: HD Stream using AirPlay doesn't work

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  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Sep 13, 2016 11:50 AM in response to ronen333
    Level 4 (3,807 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 13, 2016 11:50 AM in response to ronen333

    Hi. I assume you're using basic AirPlay (not mirroring) to stream content from an internet server. Does the new ATV 4 have exactly the same internet connection as ATV 3? In particular, does it use the same DNS, VPN, unblocker, etc.?

  • by ronen333,

    ronen333 ronen333 Sep 13, 2016 11:03 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 13, 2016 11:03 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    Yes, all settings are exactly the same.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 14, 2016 1:29 AM in response to ronen333
    Level 10 (103,845 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 1:29 AM in response to ronen333

    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 ronen333,

    ronen333 ronen333 Sep 14, 2016 2:12 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 2:12 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thanks, but the ATV is not connected through Wi-Fi, it's using a wire.

    The ATV 3 & the ATV 4 are in the same location, same settings, same network and yet the ATV 4 doesn't stream HD Airplay while the ATV 3 does.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 14, 2016 2:15 AM in response to ronen333
    Level 10 (103,845 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 2:15 AM in response to ronen333

    And your iPad is also connected by ethernet.

  • by ronen333,

    ronen333 ronen333 Sep 14, 2016 4:39 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 4:39 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    But if there is Wi-Fi channel interference it will affect both the ATV 3 & ATV 4. Why ATV3 works great and ATV 4 fails in the same environment?

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 14, 2016 4:48 AM in response to ronen333
    Level 10 (103,845 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 4:48 AM in response to ronen333

    You can't assume that, however I have to agree it's probably not your issue.

     

    Try the following steps, check whether things are working after each step where appropriate, before trying the next.


    1. Check AirPlay is turned on on the Apple TV (turn it off and on if it already is)
    2. Restart the Apple TV (Settings > General > Restart).
    3. Restart the Apple TV by removing ALL the cables for 30 seconds.
    4. Restart your router. (Also try removing it’s power cord for at least 30 seconds)
    5. Restart your mobile device or computer.
  • by ronen333,

    ronen333 ronen333 Sep 14, 2016 5:11 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 5:11 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thanks, I tried all these steps, no luck yet.

    I'll upgrade to tvOS10 later and see if it helps.

     

    I wonder if it really matters how the ATV is connected to the Internet for my scenario given that AirPlay is sending traffic from the iPad to the ATV in my home network.If I understand it correctly the source of the stream is the iPad and not the Internet server (of course the iPad receives the data from the server), but from the ATV point of view the source is the iPad. Is that correct?

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 14, 2016 5:17 AM in response to ronen333
    Level 10 (103,845 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 5:17 AM in response to ronen333

    You've got data coming via wifi from the router to your iPad (from the internet), you've also got data coming via wifi from the iPad to your router and you have data travelling between the router and the Apple TV over ethernet. So yes it matters about your internet connection because without it there is no data at all.

  • by ronen333,

    ronen333 ronen333 Sep 14, 2016 5:53 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 5:53 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    That's clear.

    I'm trying to identify the root cause of the issue I have:

    The ATV4 plays HD video from the internet fine (youTube for example).

    It also plays HD video from my Plex server at home with no problem.

    It plays SD video over AirPlay.

    When playing HD video over AirPlay the image is freezed after 10 seconds but the audio continues fine.

    It doesn't happen on all HD videos I play, only some TV channels. Can it be related to the specific TV channels? Is it possible that these channels are streamed in a different way over AirPlay, or does AirPlay stream all content in the same protocol?

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Sep 14, 2016 7:09 AM in response to ronen333
    Level 4 (3,807 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 7:09 AM in response to ronen333

    Hi. When you AirPlay (not mirroring) video from the internet, the URL is sent to ATV which then streams the video direct from the server. So it is essentially the same as using an app on ATV. So your problem with HD on some channels is related to the server and the ATV connection to the internet. That's why I asked whether your ATV 3 and ATV 4 were accessing the internet in the same way, same nameserver, etc. The fact that the audio continues is a little mysterious since it implies the stream is coming through fine. We now have tvOS 10, and the AirPlay implementation has been updated, so that may affect your results.

  • by ronen333,

    ronen333 ronen333 Sep 14, 2016 10:18 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 14, 2016 10:18 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    Last night all channels were streamed fine without any changes in my environment, so let's park it for now.

    Thanks for your help.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 15, 2016 1:05 AM in response to ronen333
    Level 10 (103,845 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 15, 2016 1:05 AM in response to ronen333

    That to me indicates a strong possibility it is your own network environment, only the environment can change itself without you changing anything.