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Apple TV 1st Gen. Ethernet

Apolgies if this has been asked before, but I've seached without success.

I want to connect my ATV 1 to my network via ethernet, whilst retaining airplay to my AEs. However when I plug in the ethernet cable I lose connection with the AEs! Surely it must be possible for both to operate at the same time?

I want to have the stability of ethernet for streaming from my PC and for internet access but to play music wirelessly from the ATV to the AEs

Thanks.

iPod touch, Windows 7

Posted on Aug 17, 2012 5:41 AM

Reply
9 replies

Aug 17, 2012 6:42 AM in response to beachboy999

Hi,


Only the latest AirPort Express model have an ethernet output. Your AirPort Express only have an ethernet input for a modem to be pluged in for your wi-fi internet.


Plugin an AppleTV in your AirPort Express doesn't make sense if your got an AirPort Express broadcasting your network. A proper setup will be to setup your AppleTV to join your wi-fi network and this will enable all of your AirPlay devices.

Aug 17, 2012 8:06 AM in response to SeaBeast

Thanks 'Seabeast' but perhaps I didn't explain my problem clearly enough.

I don't want to connect my AEs via ethernet as I'm quite happy that they operate wirelessly via Airtunes on my ATV (I mistakenly called this Airplay in my OP).

I want to connect my ATV to my network via its ethernet port, but when I do this it connects OK BUT Airtunes ceases to have wireless conection to my AEs.

My question therefore is, is it possible to have the ATV connected to my network via ethernet and at the same time have Airtunes still connecting to my AEs?

It seems rrediculous that as soon as I plug the ethernet cable into my ATV, Airtunes' connection to the AEs drops out.

Thanks again.

Aug 18, 2012 12:37 AM in response to Rudegar

Thanks 'Rudegar', but my Airport Expresses DO need wireless!!

In the ATV menu I connect to them via Airtunes (not Airplay), but the problem is, as soon as I connect my ATV to my network via ethernet, Airtunes disconnects from all my Airport Expresses which DO require wireless.

As I said in my previous posting, I can't believe it is not possible to have my ATV connected via ethernet to the network for stable internet access and at the same time have Airtunes to my Airport Expresses.

Aug 18, 2012 1:34 AM in response to beachboy999

beachboy999 wrote:


Thanks 'Rudegar', but my Airport Expresses DO need wireless!!

In the ATV menu I connect to them via Airtunes (not Airplay), but the problem is, as soon as I connect my ATV to my network via ethernet, Airtunes disconnects from all my Airport Expresses which DO require wireless.

As I said in my previous posting, I can't believe it is not possible to have my ATV connected via ethernet to the network for stable internet access and at the same time have Airtunes to my Airport Expresses.

Have you unpowered the AppleTV and restrated with ethernet plugged in?


Thye AppleTV will have a different IP address on ethernet to wifi - if AppleTV (A) is talking to Express (B), but then becomes C on the network the unit may fail to automatically redetect available connections.


Which version Express?


I've heard the latest ones may not be compatible with AppleTV1, in the same way you cannot Airplay audio from iOS devices to the Airtunes enabled AppleTV1, something you could do in the past. Also you cannot use AppleTV2/3 as Airtunes destinations from AppleTV 1 as you could with other AppleTV 1's.


AC


AC

Aug 18, 2012 4:57 AM in response to Alley_Cat

Thanks AC. I have not tried unpowering with the cable plugged in, but will.

As for AE versions. I have 2, one is an early one, version 6.3 - 802.11g & the second a later one, version 7.6 - 802.11n. The wireless connection to both from Airtunes ceases when I plug in the ethernet cable to the ATV and their identification in the ATV menu - 'Airtunes' disappears also. Unplu the cable and they both appear again!

Currently everything works fine wirelessly, incuding internet access and itunes syncing, but I just wanted to get a better more stable connection to my router network via the cable and for faster syncing from itunes.

Your advice re' IP addresses may be correct, but as I've been wrestling with other internet problems recently, I'm reluctant to mess around much at the moment in case I mess up everything else!

It just seems very odd that Apple had the ATV 1st Gen which can connect wirelessly to AEs but when an ethernet cable is plugged in, that wireless connection isn't possible.

Thanks again.

Aug 18, 2012 5:32 AM in response to beachboy999

beachboy999 wrote:


It just seems very odd that Apple had the ATV 1st Gen which can connect wirelessly to AEs but when an ethernet cable is plugged in, that wireless connection isn't possible.

Thanks again.

I think Rudegar mentioned it earlier but plugging in ethernet disables AppleTV wifi connections - it assumes one or the other not both together.


If your AppleTV was connecting to a network provided by the Express over wifi that explain it - if however the express was connecting to a router that the AppleTV also is it should work.


AC

Aug 18, 2012 6:56 AM in response to Alley_Cat

Thanks again AC - much obliged.

As I utilise my AEs for listening to music from my ATV and one of them is in my bathroom, it would be very difficult to connect to it via ethernet cable even if I wanted to. Seems to be the case therefore that if I expand my AEs further to other locations, I must have ethernet connection to each if I also want ethernet connection to the ATV.

I'm sure there must be a logical explanation, but for the life of me I can't see why it would be designed so that if I want to connect my ATV to my PC & the internet via cable, I can't continue to have music wirelessly to the AEs!

😕

Thanks again.

Aug 18, 2012 8:11 AM in response to beachboy999

If your AEs are joining the wifi network provided by your router that AppleTV connects to via ethernet it should work, just that AppleTV will route teh stream via the router to the AE.


AC

beachboy999 wrote:


Thanks again AC - much obliged.

As I utilise my AEs for listening to music from my ATV and one of them is in my bathroom, it would be very difficult to connect to it via ethernet cable even if I wanted to. Seems to be the case therefore that if I expand my AEs further to other locations, I must have ethernet connection to each if I also want ethernet connection to the ATV.

I'm sure there must be a logical explanation, but for the life of me I can't see why it would be designed so that if I want to connect my ATV to my PC & the internet via cable, I can't continue to have music wirelessly to the AEs!

😕

Thanks again.

Apple TV 1st Gen. Ethernet

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