How to create adhoc Wifi Hotspot with iPhone to connect Apple TV for Mirroring and Airplay?

The apple TV can be configured to connect to your netgear router through the settings realatively easy. However I would not want to be doing this just before a presentation. Make the connection from home first and then just turn everything on at the presentation. It saves on stress and any last minute technical issues 🙂

Thanks mate,

I actually went out and got one today. Works better with the g router than I thought. I can't wait to start doing power point presentations to a projector. Now I just need to find a decent PowerPoint creator that doesnt have terrible reviews. ::cough:: docstogo.:)

Just out of curiosity, and since apple ruined my 30-pin to composite adapter by switching to lightning (used to connect video for my toddlers in the car to give mom some sanity), if I were to buy an Apple TV and an HDMI to composite adapter (I know, defeats the point of an HD device) and use a wifi+LTE iPad or iPad mini, do you think I would be able to use its personal hotspot instead of a router? Compromise: one less device for $120 extra upfront on the iPad. And, technically with this setup, I don't think you even have to pay for the data plan or even a single month. If you turn on the LTE, you should just be able to use the hotspot, without any data connection and have an ad-hoc network. I know this doesn't help people without LTE but it's just a thought. And in case you were curious, I now use my iPad+LTE as a phone, so I don't pay for a phone, phone plan, or data plan for a phone == my idea is cheaper ;-) thanks for your thoughts if you know.

While there isn't an easy universal way to enable an adhoc network from iphone for AppleTV there is another simple solution. There are numerous wireless travel Access Points/ travel routers. They range from the Apple Airport Express or the device I use a TP-LINK TL-WR700N.

These devices are the size of an Apple TV so travel routers are easy to carry. They plug into an AC outlet and broadcast a wireless 802.11n signal. They are easy to configure with as much, or little security as required.

I do not need to access the Internet for my business presentations I just need to have AirPlay or mirroring between my iPad and a flatscreen TV.

An added benefit is these wireless travel routers like the Apple Airport Express or TP-Link can also be used if your hotel room only offers a wired Internet connection so you can use your wirelss devices anyway

The TP-Link does not require Internet connection to be useful. I use it to provide a wifi connection between my iPad and flatscreen TVs or projectors with my AppleTV3. My presentations run on my iPad and through AirPlay are shown on the large TV or projector. Also an Apple Airport Express would work as well but is more expensive than the $25 cost of a TP-Link pocket travel router (TL-WR700n).

These pocket routers are also handy when your hotel room only offers a wired Internet connection and you want to use your wirelss devices. They then become Access Points and routers.

Best regards

I'm confused by how complicated all of these posts have become... And WHY are there no instructions out there about how to do this? Does Apple just REALLY want you to only use this thing in places where there is an internet connection available?

I am preparing for a presentation this week at a business where I know that the internet connectivity is iffy-- so tonight, I paired my Apple Tv with an old router I had laying around, paired my iPad with the same router, and used airplay.

All of my keynote presenter tools worked, all of the videos played seamlessly... Everything was magical...

So then I started to sort of worry, because surely nothing could be this easy.
Next, I set up a personal hotspot with my iPhone, and did basically the same thing. Haven't gone through the entire presentation yet to test the speed of the videos, etc.

I did have to restart the iPad a time or two-- it was a little confused by my lack of internet connection-- and my switching back and forth between different wifi networks.

I am NO expert.

But.

Why is this so complicated?

Is there anything I'm missing?

I don't disagree with you-- I think that Apple DEFINITELY has a long way to go to make these products more functional, and to improve connectivity.

I just think that they should also provide the information that these (relatively simple) solutions are available if you're willing to choose a solution that precludes internet service.

Also... most routers are pretty small. And they are getting smaller all the time. Surely there is room in your super spiffy motorcycle bag for one, if it means an easy (if not ideal) solution to the issue.

Just sayin'.

Simplest answer yet:

To allow airplay or mirroring from an iPhone, iPad using its own internet connection, (3G LTE, etc - not wifi) turn off DHCP on the LAN side of any router. The AppleTV will need to be configured for a static IP since the router will not be handing them out. This is great for those of you trying to stream netflix to your appletv from your unlimited data plan iphone or ipad in rural areas.

You can even use your old hotspot card if you know how to disable DHCP on it.

My application was a tailgate truck with 3 video screens on it and they did not want to buy a cellular card. The power inverter feeds the appletv, the 3 tvs, the onkyo receiver and wireless router. The wireless router SSID is broadcasting as an advertisement for the company. Xyzcompany.com is the SSID of the cisco router with an easy password listed on the truck. The apple tv is connected via ethernet to the router for stability, but can be wireless as well. Set it to a static IP: 192.168.1.100 / 255.255.255.0 / 192.168.1.1 / dns - 192.168.1.1

The last step was to disable the cisco wireless router's dhcp server, save and restart it.

Now you can connect to that wifi only to stream to the appletv from your device using its 3G or LTE.

I'm trying right now to get my tplink pocket router to create a local network in my hotel room to at least mirror to the Apple TV. Seems I can't configure it without an Ethernet cord and a computer. Is this the case with most routers? I thought I could still reach it wirelessly with the IP address. Sorry for digging this up and changing direction, I've been researching this for HOURS.

thanks

Wes

With most routers I think you have to setup first with the ethernet cord. Only one that I have seen was the Airport Express and probably the other Apple routers that you can setup out of the box from wifi.

I turned on the Express new out of the box and it showed up on my iPhone I think under WiFi and was able to set it up with my phone. I was impressed.

Maybe they have an app to setup the router as well in the app store or something to do the same? You would have to be connected to the router through wifi and have an IP I would assume to be able to connect with it and know the ip of the router and see if you can connect to its webpage.

I have read through the posts and want to know if anyone knows if a Sierra Wireless Overdrive cellular hotspot would work as an adhoc network for the ATV. I no longer have the cellular service from Sprint, but it seems that the hardware could be used as an adhoc wifi network like the Airport Express or TP-Link above. It has a battery, which is another plus for simplicity of set up. It has about the same footprint as the ATV though thinner.

I am considering purchasing the latest version of ATV, but would like to avoid purchasing other hardware. I also have an iPhone 5S.

Like some of the folks above, I simply want to have a portable, flexible, reliable system for presentations on the road. No need for internet access, but I regularly use embedded videos. I would prefer to use my iPad(4?, retinal) for the presentations (mostly PowerPoint built), but it seems that I could use my IP5S just as well.

If the Overdrive or IP5S can be used for the network, all I need is the ATV (and HDMI-VGA adapter), right? Unless connected to the projection system via HDMI, I assume I'll need to connect the audio through my iPad audio port. Anything else I should know or think about?

Thanks

I would like to also re-iterate the SAME question Michael asked:

Can someone please explain why when I "Create a Network" with my MBP, my AppleTV doesn't even see it?

Before anyone else responds...please no-one respond with "Why don't you just connect it to a router?" If you are getting ready to respond with that, please STOP. Just answer the simple question above as my goal is to create a 'wifi' connection from my MBP that multiple devices can use to connect to the Apple TV where NO INTERNET IS AVAILABLE.

Thanks in advance!!

A little demanding are we? Do a little research. Fruitless? Well maybe there is your answer. Write apple a letter and ask them why it doesn't work. But I can tell you I've wasted days trying to get it to work or at least get an explanation. Bottom line is it doesn't work. Do you really need to know why?

Wedelk first and foremost, demanding, yes but only to get competent answers. As your was, but only one single line. Telling me to do a little research...first incompetent part of your reponse, I already did. Second incompetent part, recommending I write apple a letter when it appears you already know the answer. Third incompetent part, asking if I really need to know why. If I know what an Ad Hoc network even is, you can probably assume I am the type to want to know. So...thank you for your reponse and the only part that mattered "It doesn't work." Should you feel so inclined to explain, as of course I want to know, then please do so.

Otherwise Apple....is anyone there??