Q: Dropouts using Airplay on iPad

A few fixes that worked for me on the definite Dropout problem Apple won't acknowledge. 

1) Load up Itunes 9 and watch everything work flawlessly.  10.2 is awful and has way too many bugs.

2) Change security settings from WPA/WPA2 to WEP.  This fixes all issues with dropouts completely but can create some issue if you use apples and PC's on the same network regarding hashing of passwords for the WEP protocol.

3) Turn off security to your network.

Or wait for Apple to fix the issue which they won't, because to them there is no problem.

I don't know which is more annoying, the dropouts using WPA security, or the "join tracks" feature that no longer works in 10.2

The list goes on and on for iTunes 10.2 problems. 

I'm posting here just to let it be known I too have this problem. Airpla randomly decides to stop working from my iPod touch to my airport express speakers. Replaced my WiFi router, that didn't work. Gave everything static IP addresses, that didn't work either. I really hope they release an update because this is driving me crazy.

Same problem here - just purchased a ipad 2 (wifi only). I'm using Airport Express as a router with Airport extreme hooked up to a powered speaker for airtunes (express is set up as wifi extender). Airtunes from a Iphone 3gs will play without problems, from ipad will drop out and revert back to the ipad's speaker.

I have the same problem, only it just started.  I have a 27 iMac 2009 and a WDS network via Express as the main and the Extreme UFO base station as the repeater, for years I was using the express perfectly fine no drop outs, then I got apple tv, same thing and it never started dropping out until yesterday first time I heard it do it.  The airport express and the apple tv are physically plugged into my 2wire uverse hub and its just my mac over G wireless to the network.  What I don't understand is why this started just two days ago?  We have network downloads, watching uverse on another room and it never skipped.  I was going to replace the express with just the Extreme since the apple tv takes over the audio and video now for air tunes, I'm going to call apple and ask.

Here is what I've been able to figure out about using AirPlay and getting it to work properly.

I sometimes need to turn Bluetooth off to make it work properly iPhone requires this but iPad2 doesn't seem to have the same problem for me.

Extending your network will cause skips whenever you roam between base stations. Only use extended network if you really need it. I would go to the trouble of running between the base stations and then set up without using extend or wds. Each station gets a different channel but you can set the same name for roaming between stations. If roaming causes skips, you can set up different names to prevent roaming. Powerline network adaptors can be used to brig the devices if running wires is not practical.

My microwave can mess with my wireless network. Switching channels didn't help, however switching to 5ghz N did help.

I have ask to connect on, but understand others might experience different issues depending on their unique wireless environment.

That's running wires between base stations.

I have isolated the problem to Bluetooth on the iPhone 3GS when using Airplay from the iPhone to the AppleTV2. My AppleTV2 is connected via ethernet cable to my wireless-N Billion router.

I get no dropouts using Airplay from my iPad1 or iPad2. However, my iPhone3GS suffers a dropout every 2-5 minutes for a second or two. This happens only when Bluetooth is "ON" on the iPhone. If I select Bluetooth to "OFF" then Airplay works perfectly.

I am glad I have isolated the problem. However, it is unacceptable to me because I need Bluetooth to stay "ON" for handsfree use. Interestingly, selecting Bluetooth to "ON" on the iPad has no detrimental effect - the only difference that I can see is the iPad is not paired with any devices, but my iPhone is paired with several devices.

I've had this problem too. The only solution now is to temporarily turn off Bluetooth when using AirPlay. I have tried pairing a keyboard with my iPad and that still does not cause problems with the iPad. Since I've always got the iPad at home, I usually stream audio from it instead. It could be an issue with the proximity of components on the iPhone that the larger iPad does not have, but it does not effect wifi usage noticeably other than AirPlay.

Just used the Sky News app and TV Catchup app with audio streaming over AirPlay, watched for a good few minutes, no dropouts.  Tried the iPad music app, dropouts within 10 seconds of the song starting...

I had issues with AirPlay from my iPad, especially when the microwave was running... It wold drop out until the microwave stopped.  I upgraded all my airport expresses and airport extreme to the 7.6 firmware that was released earlier this week, and the microwave problem is gone. 

Does not help people who have multiple expresses with a mixture of g and n standards.  The only fix for airplay dropouts for those who have older expresses is to bump the security down to WEP.  Apple continues to ditch support for slightly older products and leaves those of us who take care of our products behind with no updates for major problems.

topperdog wrote:

 

Does not help people who have multiple expresses with a mixture of g and n standards.  The only fix for airplay dropouts for those who have older expresses is to bump the security down to WEP.  Apple continues to ditch support for slightly older products and leaves those of us who take care of our products behind with no updates for major problems.

Actually, there is a lot of truth in this.  I had an older AEX (802.11b/g model with version 6.3 firmware) that would drop out a lot when using Airplay.  Very annoying.  To make matters worse, I could not upgrade the firmware since it was an "older" model.  Last week, I replaced it with a brand new 802.11n model with 7.6 firmware, and the dropouts stopped.