Network issues on and caused by Apple TV 4
Apologies for this long post....
I purchased a new Apple TV 4 this week as an upgrade to ATV3. The main reason for this is to get proper access to my Apple Music Subscription on my lounge AV setup - it would have been nice to get just a small upgrade on the ATV3 to work nicely with Apple Music!
Anyway, the addition of this small, innocuous device seems to have caused all sorts of issues on my home network.
I connected up the ATV4 using ethernet to my Virgin Super Hub, performed the straight forward setup via iPad and proceeded to explore - all seemed fine. Even downloaded the speedtest out of interest and that reported a healthy 90+Mb. Did the usual check for updates and this installed 9.0.1.
First of all we noticed the following main issues with the ATV itself:
- During operation it would report 'no network connection'
- Looking at the Network Settings it shows Ethernet connected but had lost it's previously DHCP'd address and DNS details
- It did not rectify itself
- Just physically removing the cable and replugging would cause it to regain an address - interestingly a different one each time. Other devices on the network tend to get the same address (as this is generally the behaviour I would expect), but it may then lose it again later
- Also, when connected the speed sometimes dropped causing stuttering/buffering of even Apple Music / local libraries
- If the ATV4 is woken from "sleep" it also invariably has no address
- I removed the Ethernet and tried the same with WiFi connection - it exhibits similar loss of address - so I conclude its not related to the transport
I performed the usual restart/re-power of router, switches and access points - I have an Apple Time Machine (in switch mode + providing a second WiFi AP at the other side of the house), plus an 8 port gigabit switch along with the Virgin cable router. By no means a complicated network and up to this point I have had NO issues with the internal network - prior to the ATV4 addition we had numerous wired (Macs, PS4, PS3, Smart TVs, home automation) and wireless (ATV3, Blu-ray, another PS3, MacBook, iPads, iPhones, etc.) clients ALL behaving nicely. But still the problem persisted. I had to leave the investigation there, but left the ATV switched on and connected via ethernet.
Now, here's the next interesting issue. My son reported he couldn't connect to the network on WiFI with his iPhone 6. The phone would see the advertisements from both WiFi networks but on selecting either just would not get an address ever (even with restarts, restores, etc.), to the point where he was thinking the phone had a hardware issue (also suggested by Apple Support). Other devices seemed (at this time) to be connecting OK, plus restarts of network gear again didn't resolve that issue. Then my wife's (previously OK) iPad exhibited the same symptoms. A bit of a google and look on this support site unearthed various complaints about ATV4 networking, slow speeds, etc. - including that an addition ATV4 can cause knock on issues to other devices trying to use the same network. So I switched off the ATV4 and 'hey presto' the phone that wouldn't connect worked straight away, the iPad & all other devices connect and can access the local network + internet in the speedy fashion that they did previously.
Now obviously, this is likely not such a big problem for everyone (otherwise this forum would be full of only these complaints), but I can only conclude that the Apple TV 4 (9.0.1) is at fault. If I keep everything the same and pop my old ATV3 in it's place I get NO such problems.
This is all very annoying as I have also bought a second ATV4 as a Xmas present for one of my sons. Is this really £300+ down the drain?
Do other people in this community see all or some of these issues? Permanently or intermittent? Has anyone received any answers of support that may help me? I shall of course be following up with Apple myself.
Apple TV, tvOS 9.0.1
