Help Controlling Apple TV with Wired Ethernet Connection

The Remote app should work if your ATV is connected by Ethernet cable as long as both are on the same local network. If you can use it with the iTunes library on your iMac it should also work with your ATV. The ATV network connection shouldn't matter.

Connect your ATV by Ethernet cable and run the Ethernet setup in the ATV network settings to make sure it's connected properly. If that's not the problem, you might try rebooting either your ATV or your iTouch or both and see if that helps.

My suggestion would be to pony up for a combination wireless/wired router. I picked one up from linksys for under $50. That way I can also use the wireless functions on my iPod for getting on the internet etc. around the house. I have 2 AppleTV's (wired) and speakers (wireless) all around my house inside and out. I absolutely love being able to control music and movies anywhere using the iPod. Not only is it a more capable AppleTV remote, but sitting outside on my patio and being able to control iTunes music with out getting off my lazy butt is priceless. You will easily get back your $50 investment. I hope this helps.

I have my ATV connected by Ethernet cable and the Remote app on my iPhone and my iPod touch work just fine. Select your ATV in the Remote app setup first, then complete the process on the ATV.

None of the features of an ATV, including the Remote app, depend specifically on wifi, everything goes through the network. The specific method of network connection doesn't matter. Many of us have found that an ATV performs better when connected by Ethernet cable, so there's no real reason to use wifi beyond the convenience of not having to run a cable.

I agree, but back to the original posting. You still need wifi to control it with your iPod/iPhone.

You still need wifi to control it with your iPod/iPhone.

You need a wifi router for the iPhone/iTouch, obviously, as they can't be connected with an Ethernet cable, but the ATV itself does not need wifi for the Remote app to work. I missed it in the OP's original post that he doesn't have a wireless router. He needs at least a wireless access point, a la your recommendation of an AirPort Express.

Happy to hear you got it resolved.

I believe the reason your Belkin setup at first did not work was because your wired router was on a differen subnet than your Belkin. The wireless router on the Belkin was probably creating a separate DHCP server than the wired router setup. By putting the ATV on the same router as the Ipod touch, they were then on the same subnet, and voila, everything works. Some wireless routers (like the Airport Extreme0 will act as a "passthrough" DHCP server and use your main router's DHCP server. Then it would not matter if the ATV was hooked up directly to the wireless router. This is commonly known as bridge mode. Your Belkin may support this mode. Of course if you're good with your existing setup, then stay with it.