APPLE TV DROPPING ITS CONNECTION TO MY WIRELESS ROUTER

Both of my ATV's have been doing to same thing since early Feb. this year. Until I saw this forum, I thought it was only me that was having this problem. I have replaced my Linksys router with an Extreem N Dual and when the problem continued, I added a wireless access point. I then connected my both of my ATV's up via cat 5 wire and the problem continued. So now I'm pretty sure the problem is in an Apple TV update or in iTunes. You might try something I've found to work. Once you have your ATV showing in iTunes and have quickly identified what it is you want to upload, hit the sync or apply button and then go to the "help" link at the top of iTunes and start the diagnostics. For some reason, it locks in the ATV and won't let it drop out until you hit next or cancel on the connectivity tests.

POSSIBLE WORK-AROUND:

Like everyone else, I've seen this problem with my ATV. My connection is through a Linksys wireless router. After I noticed what a drain a wireless sync puts on my MacBook (and ATV, for that matter), I put them both on a wired connection. Anyway, for the possible work-around, I noticed that the problem seemed to go away when I started putting my ATV in Standby after use. I'm not convinced that this will fix it, however; only time will tell. I realize that Standby doesn't really shut anything down, but maybe it places the ATV in some sort of software suspend mode.

Please try this and tell me if any of you find success.

Joe

Message was edited by: joe.stolid

Actually, now that I think of it. My entire wireless network works a lot better after I restart Time Capsule. Not for long mind you. We have a high speed cable internet connection, but you would think that we have an old 58k modem the way our internet and the rest of our wireless system grinds to an unbearable tortoise pace. I think Time Capsule does have its part in this problem, but my uneducated quess still thinks Apple TV is bad boy. I will try leaving it on from now instead of putting it into sleep mode when I am not using it. It is going to get SO HOT.

I thought it was my ATV with the problem but after resetting back to factory settings made no difference.
I later reset my time capsule wireless config back to factory settings which means the firmware returns to version 7.4.1 and so far so good the ATV and other wireless kit works a charm now the way it was originally.

Look very much like the time capsule wireless update is to blame. I also have an airport express which works just fine now as version 7.4.1

I have the same problem. The Apple TV connects to my wireless network (1GB TC, WPA2, 802.11n with b/g compatible for my iPhones), but after a few seconds of full ATV signal strength it just drops out completely. I've tried many different TC settings, and I finally gave up with trying to connect ATV wirelessly. My solution to this problem was to buy an airport express, get it connected to my wireless network (TC), plug it in to a power strip close to the apple TV, and then connect the apple TV to the airport express with an ethernet CAT 5 cable. Now my apple TV thinks it is on an ethernet, and I am still wireless between my airport express and TC. I never have any more problems with apple TV connectivity. At the end of the day that is what I really want is not to have 50' of CAT5 cable running across the house. So I am happy with this solution. Downside is it cost 100USD for this work around. For an Apple product, this is really disappointing.

Well... this thread has been open for over 2 weeks without an solution to the problem, while the number of users experiencing this issue continue to grow.

This evening, I decided to contact tech support. It seems that I'm out of luck. My warranty expired, so I'm guessing I purchased ATV over a year ago. What irritates me the most is that this issue is most likely the result of a software update, wether it be ATV, iTunes or a Time Capsule update. Most likely an issue of newly updated software not playing nicely with others. <sigh> My ATV worked like a charm up until about a month ago.

HOWEVER, Apple's tech support will speak with me if...

"You may purchase a single-incident of phone support for Mac, Apple TV, or consumer applications for $49.00 USD. Software support includes support for iWork, iLife, Mac OS X, AirPort, Safari, iChat, etc."

I think I will pass. I'll also pass on the purchase of a 2nd ATV that I was considering for a different room in my home.

since we all are suffering from the newest software updates, is there a way to forward this thread on to the head honchos at MTN. VALLEY. I just put more money into my APPL stock thinking this little media server is the new ipod on steroids. I have been futzing with these things since they came out. But much like other companies they release firmware and software release without "REAL WORLD" environments. a controlled lab isn�t going to fix nor expose real issues. In theory this is obviously a security upgrade that has all our firewalls in a uproar, either ports have been ignored like 3689 that should have been opened with the upgrade OR webport have been inadvertently closed or blocked traffic. MAYBE its the HULU hack and they have conspired to suck our brains out in our sleep. in any case i will continue to fiddle and supply "REAL WORLD" testing, OH APPLE PLEASE PUT A DVD/BLUERAY DRIVE ON THE THING. Make it import when CD's and DVD's are inserted. Kaleidescape can teach you a thing or two here.....DONT GIVE UP PEOPLE! We are on the precipice of the new iPod!!!!!

NOTE: The procedure below IS NOT a fix but another work-a-round. It has been working reliably, thus far, however.

This is the procedure I now follow to ensure my ATV plays video when I want to watch something:

1. Make sure my MacBook is not in a Power-Save mode.
2. See if ATV is listed as a device on iTunes. If not, I close iTunes and then re-launch it. ATV should then show up as a device, after a moment or two.
3. Take my ATV out of Standby (I placed it in Standby after previous viewing).
4. Watch video.
5. Place ATV in Standby when done.

Note, if your MacBook/iMac/PC/... goes into Power-Save while you're watching video and the video wasn't located on the ATV harddrive, you will lose your stream.

Thoughts?

Joe

This seems to work..... so far...

I noticed while entering the wifi details yet again the ATV picked up the IP details via DHCP as usual but I was distracted for a moment and while the Apple TV had the IP details on screen all the IP configs disappeared right in front of my eyes.
I thought that was odd then it requested another DHCP and it came back so what I did after it established it's DHCP config I went to TCP/IP configs and made the IP entries in manual mode.
This was yesterday and all the configs seems to still be there.

It seems, although it's not conclusive, that DHCP lease may be a problem at times so make sure the IP configs have been made permanent via the TCP/IP section of the config.

Worth a try it seems to have made a difference on my ATV-time capsule setup for now anyway.
cheers
M..

I am still experiencing this dropout issue, and believe it is high time for Apple to resolve it once and for all, but in the meantime, I have a possible workaround which I have been testing for about 24 hours.

Basically, I am simply pinging the IP address of the AppleTV from a Mac on my network using Terminal. I have left the terminal window open on the Mac and the pings have been running for 24 hours straight, and guess what? No dropouts. I will keep this going to make sure it's not just coincidence, but this might perhaps be a way to keep the AppleTV on the network.

I'll update to this thread later.


Rusty

I've got a D-Link 655 as well and am having identical problems. It also started occurring after the latest iTunes update. I can access U-Tube, but streaming keeps cutting out, so that makes me think it's the iTunes update at fault. One difference is that Apple TV doesn't disappear from the device list, it just stops streaming.

OK, I am following up on my previous post about a possible workaround. I have now been pinging the IP address of my AppleTV for just under two days, and the AppleTV has not dropped its wireless connection.

So it looks like this might actually work to prevent the dropout issue until Apple fixes it.

Next, I am going to experiment with decreasing the frequency of pings (ie: ping -i 10 x.x.x.x) and see if pinging with a 5-10 second delay will still be enough to keep the AppleTV connected.

Wow Rusty. This is a great troubleshooting idea. Please keep us posted on your findings. I am going to test out your work-around tomorrow and I'll log in with my findings.

SInce Apple supposedly does not read the forums here, I suppose we are are on our own for now, until enough customers call tech support about this issue.

It's such a shame that the ATV is not a higher priority within the Apple organization especially with Steve Job's last public mention of it, calling it Apple's hobby project. <sigh>

The original ping is still going. So it has now been over 48 hours with no dropouts. I think we have a winner. I have not yet tried increasing the ping delay, but probably will do that tomorrow.

Rusty, this is great news but does ATV re-negotiate after a power reboot or placing it into stanby???