Apple TV 2 has big problems homesharing - fixes? firmware update needed!

Yes, did not solve the problem. Also fyi I just got the new 1080 ATV and am havibng the same problem. Tech support at my local Genius Bar at the Apple store thinks it may be realted to the recent Lion update and not itunes itself. Homesharing is an OS feature. So now I have 2 ATV's that won't won't share. Also, don't evem bother considering this to be a network issue. I am certain it is not. All other streming features such as Netflix work just fine. I know there are some posts stating the've had connection problems for over a year......BUT THIS HOMESHARING ISSUE JUST STARTED FOR ME ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO! NOTHING IN MY SETUP OR NETWORK HAS CHANGED. JUST SOFTWARE UPDATES!

APPLE ARE YOU LISTENING. PLEASE MAKE THIS A PRIORITY AND FIX IT!

this fixed mine (windows PC's)

remove Bonjour service through control panel add/remove progs.

reinstall iTunes latest or whatever you want.

as part of the iTunes install, it installs Bonjour again.

Bonjour is the discovery service that allows ATV to find iTunes and STAY connected.

for some reason mine screwed up and i hadn't changed anything. ATV would only see iTunes once i had restarted iTunes, then it would drop out after a few mins if browsing the library or at the end of watching something from cache. if i hit play quick enough.

reinstalling iTunes alone will not affect bonjour, it has to be removed on it's own to force a fresh install.

This may be fine for Windows users, on the MAC side I don't believe we use Bonjour service for our connection.

I'm pleased this worked for you, but I've tried this myself and it didn't help. What's more is that my Windows 7 laptop is very recently bought and I only installed iTunes on it very recently, so Bonjour will be the latest version.

Go to the router set up and enable the 5 Ghz line, the configure the apple tv using this connection and VOILA!

I have an Apple Extreme.

I went in and changed the DHCP Lease Renewal from every day to 365 days.

Problem Solved.

Why it works and what the unintended consequences of this action are I have no clue, but I do have rock solid Home Sharing once more.

I had an issue with the home share dropping out after initial connection.

Strange. It should work without question! (Yeah Right)

I searched (googled it) found this thread, read most of it.

Pondered it and realised my firewall was almost certainly to blame.

Opened 2 ports TCP and UNC. You will find the numbers in posts above.

Fixed my problem without question.

Faith in Apple restored. Problem was all mine.

Changing the DHCP Lease Renewal hasn't fixed it for me unfortunately.

Neither does using 5gHz (I tried that initially and it did seem to work... but then it went back to normal).

I've not tried iTunes 10.6.1 yet, but I don't hold out much hope...

it's not that bonjour is the latest version. for some random reason it can screw up and stop the discovery between devices. it is software after all....

forcing removal is the only way to ensure the discvoery service is working. which is the main reason that ATV can't see iTunes.

My ATV was fine until I updated to 10.6.1. Now ATV keeps dropping out!!! Was fine before???

I've been posting this everywhere I can, I have the same issue. Does anyone know where we can download itune 10.5, I bet if I install the previous version HomeSharing wil function again!

Wow, well that did not work for me. Apple Tech Support claims that should not matter.

Great. So now I upgraded my desktop (WinXP) to iTunes 10.5.1, and guess what: NOW AIRPLAY ISN'T WORKING!! Nothing else has changed, my netowk is the same network etc., and now I can't push movies from my computer anymore. My ATV2 unit just became a very expensive paperweight!!! 😠

APPLE!!!!!!!!!!! FIX THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, my final update on the Homesharing Issue. I spoke at length with a very solid Tech Support person at AppleCare yesterday. First, he strongly felt mine was not a network issue, especially since I am using an Airport Express and I have Fire Wall off! Resetting the renewal date to 365 does nothing. It just resets the Airport. Setting the Airport to a different channel instead of the auto setting also does nothing. If in Auot setting the router gets a bad channel it switches to another one anyway. So he advised no one even bother with that. Homesharing is more a function of iTunes and not the Lion Operating System so he was strongly leaning towards an issue with iTune 10.6.1. and since this is when I started having the issue it makes sense.

Oh, and I know it is not a device issue because neither by ATV2 or my new ATV 1080 unit work with Homesharing.

I did find a site to download 10.5 BUT...... Lion WILL NOT let me install an older version if 10.6.1 is already installed. I am not going to spend the time and effort to reinstall my OS to an ealier version in order to have an earlier iTunes. Apple Tech Support basiclly concurred that he is certain it is a software issue, as my network was ruled out, the ATV's were ruled out. So in my words he agreed "I'm screwed until Apple addresses the issue"

He said that his department moves these issues up the chain at Apple very quickly. I am just hoping that the powers that be at Apple are listening and get on this ASAP.

One final point, my daughter is still runnig iTune 10.6 (not 10.6.1) and her Homesharing works perfectly. I advised her not to run her software update.

When I said 10.5.1, I meant 10.6.1 (ie, the latest version available yesterday 1st April 2012) 😊