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Can i connect Apple TV to my iMac via USB?

Hi,
i have been having many issues with my apple tv recently.
Origianlly i managed to sync everything fine via wifi, then i was unable to connect my apple Tv to my network and then was unable to get my imac to recognise it. i finally sorted that problem by unpluggin my Wii (very wierd that one would interfere with the other).
So now i am able to get my Apple TV on the network and it shows up in my iTunes.
The problme i have now is that it takes forever to tranfer anything from my iMac to the apple TV (like over 1 hr for 1 film) and quiet often gets cut off and has to start again.
Is there a way of connecting the appleTV directly to my iMac to transfer everything all at one? By USB? ethernet? anything??
Or does anyone know why it is taking so long to sync via wifi??
Thanks

iMac 27", Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 4, 2010 12:52 AM

Reply
17 replies

Jan 4, 2010 12:54 AM in response to 4bp

4bp wrote:
Is there a way of connecting the appleTV directly to my iMac to transfer everything all at one? By USB? ethernet? anything??


the USB port ont the appletv has no end-user function.
you can connect the appletv to your imac via ethernet, but you would need to configure your imac to allow you to do that (network sharing etc).

if you have a router then you would connect the appletv via ethernet to that preferrably.

Jan 4, 2010 6:02 AM in response to 4bp

I would not attempt to connect the Apple TV to your Mac or (or even the other kind of computer) as you could damage both devices.

The USB port on the Apple TV is powered as is the USB port on a Mac. These full-sized ports are designed to be connected to peripheral devices and not other computers. This is why most USB cables have a device end and a computer end with different-sized connecters.

You can certainly improve sync time by connecting via ethernet as well as improving streaming reliability if you are having network issues.

I've recently 'gone wired' and quite a few niggly problems have gone away. I think the Apple TV version 3.x software is a bit more sensitive to network fluctuations.

Jan 4, 2010 7:02 AM in response to 4bp

i do have a router, but that is located in the cupboard under the stairs cos if i place that in my TV cabinet i cant for some reason get on my network on my mac (the mac sees the network but cant connect to it) and if i have my router upstairs then my apple tv dosent connect to network either. the only place in my house where both apple tv and mac can connect to network is when the router is under the stairs!

are you suggesting for me to just connect the apple tv to the router via ethernet without it being connectted to a tv? or should i connect it to the mac via ethernet?

Jan 4, 2010 7:20 AM in response to 4bp

4bp wrote:
are you suggesting for me to just connect the apple tv to the router via ethernet without it being connectted to a tv? or should i connect it to the mac via ethernet?


i would be suggesting getting a really long ethernet cable and connecting it the router whilst the appletv is still connected to the TV.

just a temporary connection, even route cable out windows if necessary.

having your router in a little cupboard under the stairs probably isn't the ideal location for it, and the poor wifi you have could be due to that location.

Jan 4, 2010 8:16 AM in response to 4bp

the problem i have is that i have 3 phone sockets near a power source. one by the computer, one under the stairs and one by the apple tv.
the only one of the 3 of them i can use where i can get a decent signal for the network over the whole house is under the stairs.
if i use the one upstairs by comp i cant get the apple tv to get on network, if i use one downstairs then i cant get the mac on the netwrok - very weird i know but thats what happens...
unless you can tell me a better way to get everything online then i am stuck with my current setup! thanks

Jan 4, 2010 8:27 AM in response to 4bp

4bp wrote:
i do have cordless phones, and i have tried changing the channels on the wifi and dosent seem to make much diff....
should i always try 1,6, 11 on the channels or is ti worthwhile trying all of the other channels as well?


depends what channel the cordless phones are on to be honest.
also, if you have other wifi networks in the vicinity then that is also something to consider, as you may not want to use the same channel as they are on.

Jan 4, 2010 8:48 AM in response to 4bp

4bp wrote:
any way to find out what cvhannel the cordless phones are on and what channel the other netwroks in my immediate area are on?


phones - you might have to look at the manual. or some have a little switch that lets you change it.

networks - there are plenty of network scanning apps that will show you all the detectable wifi networks and what channel they are using (for windows netsumbler and mac istumbler).

Jan 4, 2010 8:51 AM in response to Easybourne

What you can do if you are using Snow is to Option-Click on the WiFi menu item, you'll get expanded info about your network connection plus others in your vicinity.

For other networks info, you'll need to Option-Click and hold over an item for a short while, then you'll get a yellow tool tip showing you which channel the various networks are on plus other stats relating to interference and strength. Very cool and negates the need for iStumbler.

Can i connect Apple TV to my iMac via USB?

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