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Level 1

34 points

Apple TV with Ethernet and wifi

Hello. Sorry if this issue has been asked and answered, but I am having a hard time getting a consistent answer.

I just got a new Apple TV device. Setup was a breeze. I quickly linked the Apple TV to my home wireless network, and Home Sharing setup with my PC (also connecting wirelessly) was equally easy.

So while everything set up just fine, I've noticed that Apple TV sometimes lags a bit in terms of streaming content, i'm guessing due to the fact that it's connecting wirelessly to my DSL router/modem. The lag isn't terrible, but it's enough to be noticeable.

Now I am wondering if I need to connect Apple TV physically to my router/modem with an Ethernet cable. My hypothesis is that doing so would a.) let Apple TV access the much faster bandwidth of a physical vs. wireless connection, thus solving my lag problems; and b.) relieving the "pressure" on my wireless throughput that my home PC and other iOS devices use.

My question is this: if I hook up Apple TV to my network via Ethernet, how does this affect how it communicates with all of my other devices which use a wireless connection? For example, if I want to Home Share with my PC (which connects via wifi), will Apple TV still be able to do this if one device is connecting wirelessly and one is wired? Will Apple TV still recognize itself on the same network as the wifi devices, and still "talk" with them?

Or if I want to Home Share with my PC, must it and Apple TV be using the same connection method (i.e., either they both have to be wifi,or,they both have to be wired)?

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

AppleTV 2

Posted on Nov 25, 2012 6:50 PM

Best reply

chris-topher

Level 1

41 points

Posted on Dec 9, 2012 11:30 AM

Hi rvashko,

to be clear, once you connect your router to the ethernet port on the appleTv the appleTv will switch off its wifi feature but STILL connect to your other devices connected to that router EVEN IF they are wifi or ethernet connected to that router.

I Hope this helps.

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20 replies

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,548 points

Aug 5, 2015 12:59 AM in response to LBMingles

LBMingles wrote:

Hello all, based off the above thread i have ethernet connected to my ATV2 but i still see wifi as being connected both at the ATV2 and at my router. How can i tell if im connected over ethernet or wifi on the ATV?

Thanks much in advance.

Sounds as though you are connected via wi-fi implying faulty ethernet cable or ethernet socket on AppleTV.

It might be a software glitch.

Can you go into the menus and sign out of wi-fi? If you do you will then likely just get Computers and Settings icons coming up.

benji888

Level 1

18 points

Sep 3, 2015 4:49 PM in response to rvashko

FYI: If you are streaming content on your Mac directly to ATV (I'm using ATV3), the fastest connection will be to use ethernet connection for both the Mac and ATV, both on the same router. I don't know if the ATV can do 1000 Mbps, but, most Macs can, and, even though the ATV may not be that fast, it still streams faster than over wifi, as, wifi connections are variable in speed, depending on signal strength, and any interference you may get.

Also, be sure to go to your ATV Settings>AirPlay>Play from iTunes in the Cloud>OFF, as, when this is set to AUTO, it will prefer playing content from iCloud even if your direct connection to your Mac is faster. (Yes, even though you are accessing from ATV>Computers, the AirPlay setting will affect where it plays from).

Also, it does not matter if ATV, Mac or any other devices are connected via wired (ethernet) or WiFi, as long as you are on the same network, you will still be able to use airplay, airdrop and all that. (I was able to do this with my previous setup where my Mac and ATV3 were wired-in.)

Do I have a question? Yes I do:

What I'd like to know is if I can connect my Mac to my ATV3 directly via one Ethernet cable, without using a router. I am on a WiFi network and it's not always fast to stream to ATV3 and don't want to run wires to another room. This is a temporary setup. Years ago, I connected a printer to my Mac via Ethernet without a network by using a "crossover" cable, which I do not have anymore. I am wondering if this is still necessary today, or, if the connection would even work at all. Another option might be...I may have an ethernet hub. ...Anyone try this?

May 24, 2016 12:34 AM in response to benji888

did you ever figure this out? im wondering the same thing?

May 24, 2016 3:40 AM in response to vigneshrk

Hello vigneshrk,

I'd suggest posting this as a new question: Direct connection from Mac to ATV, or the like. That way someone might notice it, compared to this old ethernet vs WiFi thread.

Cheers

Jun 5, 2016 2:45 PM in response to benji888

benji888 and vigneshrk,

I just set up this exact thing in my parents' house, as they have no internet and will never want internet (I envy them). Here is how I did it:

MAC

System Preferences > Network

- Wi-Fi: Off

- Ethernet: configure IPv4: DHCP

System Preferences > Sharing

- Internet Sharing: On, share your connection from: Ethernet, to computers using: Ethernet

APPLE TV

Network: Ethernet (automatically selected when ethernet cable plugged in)

Settings: Automatic

This works like a charm. No delay in buffering video from mac mini to aTV. They were so happy to have all our old family videos readily accessible.

The one downside is that I was not able to figure out a way to stream video from our iPhone's to the TV via airplay. I imagine this needs wifi. I may install a new airport express in between the mac mini and aTV, all still hardwired with ethernet cables, just for that purpose. Still internet-free.

Apple TV with Ethernet and wifi