ATV2 can't see iTunes shared library

Question

Level 1

0 points

ATV2 can't see iTunes shared library

I have spent hours reading forums and trying many different settings and am about to return my AppleTV. I have tons of movies converted for viewing on the AppleTV but I feel I have wasted to many hours of my life and am about to give up.

Here is my setup:

Dell XPS Desktop connected to router by ethernet, Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop connected via WAN - both running latest version of iTunes (10.2.1) Both running Windows 7 Professional (32 bit)

AppleTV2 (connected wireless - current firmware)

iPod Touch (3rd generation - current iOS)

Home Sharing enabled on all devices with the same user/password

D-Link DIR-655 router

McAfee Security-as-a-Service Firewall/Anti-Virus

Right now, I have been only working on my desktop PC - I figure if I get that going, I can do the same to my laptop to get it going as well...

I have opened up the recommened ports on my software firewall.

I've briefly opened the ports on my router. (closed them again as I don't want those ports open to the 'world')

I've checked that iTunes is allowed to access internet through firewall

I completely uninstalled McAfee and tried with windows firewall turned off.

I have reset my router to factory conditions with minimal user settings

I have reinstalled iTunes

I have reinstalled Bonjour service...

Can't think of anything else to try

My iPod is able to communicate with the ATV2. I can 'stream' from iPod to ATV2 no problem. However, I keep the movies on my desktop and want that to be the main media source. Also - on the 2 PC's, I haven't ever seen the other's Shared Library in iTunes. If I turn off iTunes and reload, I can briefly see my library on the ATV2 and iPod... but only for a minute or 2 and then it disappears. Does anybody see any glaring thing I have forgotten? I'm at my wit's end... please help!!!

Dell, Windows 7

Posted on Apr 16, 2011 10:41 PM

Reply

Answer 1

hestaman Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2011 5:15 PM in response to hestaman

Wondering what the odds are that my problem is in my router. Any ideas?

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 18, 2011 5:26 PM in response to hestaman

Quite possibly. Power-down the router for a few minutes, then try again. Also make sure it has the latest firmware. You might also try turning Home Sharing OFF on all devices, then turn it back on for your home iTunes library first, then the other devices.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 18, 2011 7:30 PM in response to hestaman

I had the same probelms as you. I broke down and went with a wired connection.

Also I have the same router that you have I made a change on my router that helped as well. I placed my ATV2 in the Firewall DMZ (Open Firewall webpage under Advanced - Firewall Settings - DMZ Host I enabeld DMZ and added the ATV2 IP) .

Good Luck

Reply

Answer 4

neilsak

Level 1

4 points

Apr 19, 2011 6:58 AM in response to hestaman

I too have not been getting any sleep because of this. The main reason why I bought ATV2 is because everyone told me it's plug and play, always works. That is bull !!! I hope you can help me out, and that I can get some decent sleep for once, long hours troubleshooting this !!!

Turned Home Sharing On and Off many times on both ends

Hardwired both HTPC (running iTunes) & ATV2 to my router

Router is a DLINK DIR-615

Added IP for ATV2 to DMZ in router for unresticted access

Tried Home Sharing with and without DONE button pressed

Have latest iTunes 10.x

Tried enabling/disabling "Share Library on Network" under Preferences

Only 2 things left to try:

Open the recommended ports 3689 (TCP) & 5353 (UDP) in XP on my HTPC (running iTunes)

Replace my D-Lilnk router with another model

I really hope someone out there can help me out. I was hoping this would be plug&play easy

Thanks so much for your time !!!
Neil

Reply

Answer 5

Apr 19, 2011 7:12 AM in response to neilsak

If you are using a dlink and wired network, the appletv will not see the homeshares. This problem began last month after the update. I have two appletvs and the one that works has a 4 port 10/100 switch in front of it to the router. That one works fine on ethernet. The appletv direct into the router does not work wired. I even swapped the units to see if it was isolated to one unit. Problem stayed with the connection to the router. When i run it wireless it works. Since this setup witn wired had worked sine october and it failed with the update, i can only assume it was something n tne update that introduced the issue. I have the DIR615. It likely affects some other dlinks when using wired. You will know you have the problem if it works using wireless.

Reply

Answer 6

neilsak

Level 1

4 points

Apr 19, 2011 7:46 AM in response to tmksnyder

Problemn solved. Looks like opening those 2 ports in XP did it. I also had 10.2.1 I think and noticed there was a 10.2.2 update, so took that as well. I am still wired straight into my DLINK router, but I also have a DLINK switch connecting both the ATV2 and HTPC downstairs, so my guess is that the switch helps keep the direct connection between the 2 without going thru the router.

I am so glad this is working now. Now we'll see how long the library stays up....

Thanks !!

Reply

Answer 7

May 2, 2011 6:05 PM in response to tmksnyder

I've noticed exactly the same thing. As soon as I move the Apple TV to wireless everything works just fine. WTH Apple. Fix this..

Reply