Problem streaming HD Movies to Apple TV through home network

Haveing the same issues... does anybody know if this problem is fixed in the update apple released today?

Just to put in my 2 cents worth and hopefully increase the likelihood that Apple will take note and respond. Any HD content streamed to ATV via iTunes is basically bogged down to zero velocity, and my network is wired gigabit ethernet that worked flawlessly until the ATV and/or itunes updates last week. I successfully played the test trailer posted above, but it took 30 minutes to download 27 seconds of $#&*%$*%$ video!!!!!!!

Just one more thing to add. It does not seem to matter whether I do it from the ATV (using the menu there to request streamed content from itunes on the computer), or to try to stream it from the computer to the ATV via Air Video Server (which is also only streamed through the hard-wired gigabit ethernet network).

I have the same problems as everyone else. I own both the 1st and 2nd generation Apple TV. The 1st generation never gave any problems, works like a dream, and I even prefer the layout over the new Apple TV 2.

Before the update, I was able to see both Apple TVs on my iTunes, now I only see one, Apple TV 1. I can't get hold of my Apple TV 2nd Gen on iTunes, and I keep getting errors on my Apple TV 2 that I am not on home sharing, which I am, that I have no music, no photos, etc. to share, you name it.

Basically, my turnaround when I REALLY want to watch a movie, or like last night that it was movie night with friends was to RENT a movie that I already own in iTunes because the streaming is so much faster.

I really hope Apple, Inc is aware of this huge problem.

try with dolby digital set to OFF on your ATV.

That makes no difference for me.

Same problem for me. I have three new AppleTV's, and all are using Ethernet connections as is new Mac Mini iTunes "Server". Everything worked fine until the last update. I even updated my iTunes, and all my Airport Firmware, restarted everything, and it just won't play. It just sits with a spinning wheel forever. I've tried the scroll to the end trick, and it does make it start playing, but it stalls shortly after and won't start again. Strangely, I can stream Netflix and AppleTV rentals just fine. Unfortunately, I have hundreds of movies in iTunes, as well as shows I purchase regularly to watch later. Now I can't watch any of it. Come on Apple, from the looks of this discussion, this has been a problem for weeks now. My wife and kids already balk at all this gadgetry, now that it didn't work when we wanted to use it for a movie night, they probably won't ever even consider it as an option when they want to watch something or rent something for a very long time.

I'm still having issues. Gigabit network. I can sometimes get it to play by forwarding and reversing through the first chapters. Then use the slow forward and reverse until it starts playing.

Hi, I have had same issue. Reinstalled iTunes. Restored unit. Nothing worked.

Only had problem with rips with AC3 tracks that had all worked previously. Dolby digital out was set to auto. Set to on - no change endless buffering. Set to off and Hd content starts no problem but only with 2 track soundtrack.

So, I think I've fixed the problem with the streaming of home sharing with non-iTunes store HD videos with AC3 5.1 audio tracks. So, yesterday I picked up another Airport Extreme to place in the room with my MBP and ATV 2nd Gen. The idea was to reduce interference and increase throughput and network consistency by not using the built in wi-fi radios of the MBP and ATV and instead, connect to the wi-fi network solely through the Airport Extreme. So the situation I have now is that the MBP, ATV 2nd Gen, and my PS3 are all connected to the Extreme via the gigabit ports. The Extreme itself is then connected over wi-fi to the other Extreme in the living room (the main base station). The HD movies now stream without a hitch via home sharing. My HD movies are around 4-5 gigs each, so they are quite large. What the problem appears to be is how the ATV 2nd Gen streams over wi-fi. The throughput via the wi-fi built into the ATV apparently is not enough for files that are over, I would say, 2.5 gigs. I believe that this has to do with the newer firmware since the original 4.0 did not have these wi-fi streaming issues.

Message was edited by: dookster

dookster, I am glad that solved the problem for you, and I am only replying to keep the thread alive and hopefully raise awareness to the level that Apple does something about this. I and a number of other posters on this thread are already only streaming via wired gigabit ethernet and none of the suggested solutions or workarounds has fixed the problem for us. I even have a TV episode that I purchased from the Apple store that will not stream. It just bogs down with a spinning loading symbol for hours.

What router are you using? I had attempted to see if I plugged the ATV directly into my MBP, if that would solve the issue. It unfortunately did not, surprisingly, it only worked after I had everything routing through the Extreme via gigabit. It could very well have something to do with the way it is handling packets.

Just want to add my voice to say I also have this problem. When I first bought my Apple TV I could stream HD/720p movies from my Mac to the Apple TV. The 4.1 software update broke this ability. Frustrating as it's the primary reason I bought it. I'm hoping Apple doesn't take months to release a fix.

Exact same problems and also Home Sharing has cut out since Monday (last iTunes software update) and I can no longer stream from iTunes on PC to ATV2.
The other issues in this thread regarding HD movies and TV shows I'm also experiencing. I simply stopped streaming HD as SD is better, but only 90%. I figure this way my TV will last longer without an alarm clock, slipper or cat thrown at it! 🙂
The odd time the SD program decides to take a pause and catch up. Just enough for a bathroom break but definitely when not needed.

After experiencing these problems myself and having worked through a variety of setups, I can conclusively say that this all has to do with how you are networking these devices. If you have everything running over wi-fi, you will undoubtedly run into this issue with HIGH BITRATE content (it's really less to do with the material being HD or not and more to do with the bitrate, though HD and high bitrate goes hand in hand). This wi-fi streaming issue is definitely due to some very odd way the firmware is handling the data. The Apple TV I'm sure is doing more than simply streaming the data, it appears that it actually uses some kind of algorithm to figure out the quality of the data transmission in which it then figures out how much to buffer before it will allow the video to play. The ATV also places more emphasis on the quality of the data transmission for the initial load rather than calculate the data transmission quality on the fly. In other words, when it initially tries to play that video and there are hiccups with grabbing that data, it's going to be problematic to get the video started at all.

If you are using the ATV in a mixed environment as in either the ATV or the computer is hooked up directly into the base router of your network while the other device is on the network via wi-fi, you may still encounter the streaming issue due to the quality of the transmission. Now if you have BOTH ATV and the computer hooked up to ONE router you MAY still have issues depending on the router you are using (for some reason, Apple products do not play well with some routers) because of the way the router is transferring the packets.

Just a background on my set up:

The problem files have been my own encodes with AC3 5.1 audio at 5000+ bitrate. Also, the larger the video the more problematic they are. I could get them to play eventually by messing around with the timeline for the video but it's very hit or miss. Now this was when I had everything connected over wi-fi from an Airport Extreme base station at about 70% signal strength. I now have everything hooked up to a second Airport Extreme located where my MBP and ATV resides which is located at the end of the house (the main base station and internet modem is located at the front of the house). They are hooked up to the second Airport Extreme via the gigabit ports. My HD videos now start playing within seconds of starting the video since it's very obvious that the data streaming from the MBP to the ATV is taking place through the second Airport Extreme rather than transmitting via wi-fi to the Airport Extreme in the living room and back.

Now, I've obviously only tested and used this on Airport Extremes so I can't say that things will work like this with other routers but from personal experience, you're better off using the Extremes if you are running essentially all Apple products or a good number of them. The Extremes play nice with Macs and non Macs but the same does not go for Linksys and Netgear which are a bit of a hit or miss with apple products (I've gone through several).

Lastly, there is one additional problem and this has to do with iTunes 10.1.1 (the recently released version). For some reason, two of my files when being streamed via Home Sharing to the ATV will register as having just one second of content. In other words, the timeline shows it as being one second long. It will play that one second and jump back to my library. I have since reverted back to 10.1.

Message was edited by: dookster