HT204400: Get help with Wi-Fi networks on your Apple TV

Learn about Get help with Wi-Fi networks on your Apple TV
Roger Kaufmann
Level 1 (25 points)

Q: iTunes Movies Streaming gets Interrupted from time to time ... movies unwatchable

Ever since I switched to AppleV 4th generation, movies downloaded get interrupted frequently during playback. I download to a local NAS, which has always worked in the past, and stream via WiFi or Ethernet (tried both, same result).

 

It started with Apollo 13, which I had long conversations with iTunes Store support over. They refunded and asked me to redownload, but the same "stutters" occur, sometimes for a second, sometimes for 10 or more seconds, making the movies unwatchable.

 

iTunes Store support sent me to AppleTV support and I have read that others have reported the same or similar behaviour.

 

Am currently running tvOS 9.1 (just updated today, actually, so don't know whether the above behaviour has been fixed in 9.1). AppleTV Model is A1625 (64GB).

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 13, 2015 3:21 AM

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Roger Kaufmann

Q: iTunes Movies Streaming gets Interrupted from time to time ... movies unwatchable

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  • by Roger Kaufmann,

    Roger Kaufmann Roger Kaufmann Dec 13, 2015 4:51 AM in response to Roger Kaufmann
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 13, 2015 4:51 AM in response to Roger Kaufmann

    I should add that the same movies work fine when watched directly on a Mac, it seems the streaming to the AppleTV is the problem somehow...

  • by Winston Churchill,Helpful

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Dec 13, 2015 7:54 AM in response to Roger Kaufmann
    Level 10 (103,392 points)
    Apple TV
    Dec 13, 2015 7:54 AM in response to Roger Kaufmann
    iTunes Store support sent me to AppleTV support and I have read that others have reported the same or similar behaviour.

    People have made the same or similar complaint with every version since 1.0 way back in 2007, different hardware will often expose different issues on different people's networks. If you have any doubts about where the problem lies, you may wish to test the Apple TV on a friends network or at an Apple store. You may already have tried some of these but...

     

    Intermittent problems are often a result of interference. Interference can be caused by other networks in the neighbourhood or from household electrical items.

     

    You can download and install iStumbler (NetStumbler for windows users) to help you see which channels are used by neighbouring networks so that you can avoid them, but iStumbler will not see household items.

     

    Refer to your router manual for instructions on changing your wifi channel or adjusting your multicast rate.

     

    There are other types of problems that can affect networks, but this is by far the most common, hence worth mentioning first. Networks that have inherent issues can be seen to work differently with different versions of the same software. You might also try moving the Apple TV away from other electrical equipment.

     

    The following article(s) may help you.

     

    Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections

    Recommended Wi-Fi settings

    Sources of Interference

    Wifi Diagnostic Software (for Mac users)

     

    You may also find some help on this page, where I’ve collected some of the more unusual solutions to network issues.

  • by Roger Kaufmann,

    Roger Kaufmann Roger Kaufmann Dec 13, 2015 7:57 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 13, 2015 7:57 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Hi Winston,

     

    Thanks for the valuable advice, which I admit has popped up over the years. Somehow, though, I doubt this one's network related, as the wired connection seems to show the same behaviour the wireless one does. I will however, take a look at iStumbler and see whether there are any conflicts there. I didn't put in a few extra Airport Express units because my house is build with steel reinforced concrete, which does cause problems spending the signal evenly throughout the house.

     

    I'll let you know what iStumbler tells me. Thanks!