Can I use an ethernet switch with Apple TV?

Question

Level 1

9 points

Can I use an ethernet switch with Apple TV?

I just purchased a Linksys SE1500 ethernet switch in order to connect my Apple TV (Gen3), Blu Ray player, and Onkyo receiver to the single ethernet connection in my living room. The Apple TV was connected directly to the ethernet connection before, but now it will not connect to the internet.

My setup:

Apple TV is connected to the new switch via new cat5e cable, the switch is connected to my Netgear router via Cat5e. I have manually set the Apple TV network settings and verified that the router is seeing the Apple TV. However, the Apple TV refuses to connect to the internet.

Help?

Thanks.

Posted on Feb 8, 2016 3:04 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Feb 8, 2016 3:07 PM in response to badbrainz75

Welcome to the Apple Community.

A switch shouldn't be a problem at all.

I use one.

Are you sure it's only acting as a switch.

Have you tried restarting the network router.

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Answer 2

badbrainz75 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2016 3:14 PM in response to Winston Churchill

Thanks for the reply!

I don't understand how it could act as anything other than a switch. It seems to be a plug-n-play kinda thing.

Router has been restarted, still not working.

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Answer 3

Feb 8, 2016 3:18 PM in response to badbrainz75

You are correct if it's just a switch, but I can't see what you have got from here, so I can only try to confirm things.

What are you manually setting the Apple TV network settings, are you not using DHCP.

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Answer 4

badbrainz75 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2016 3:23 PM in response to Winston Churchill

It is only a switch.

I used manual settings because when I use Automatic it creates settings outside the range of my router.

My router is set to use 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254 but the Apple TV automatically sets its IP to DHCP 169.254.56.107

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Answer 5

Feb 8, 2016 3:25 PM in response to badbrainz75

169 address is just a self created address by the Apple TV because it can't see the router properly. Did you try using DHCP and restarting the router.

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Answer 6

badbrainz75 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2016 3:32 PM in response to Winston Churchill

I restarted the router. I tried setting up the Blu Ray and it seems to have the same issue. The router is seeing it but there is no internet connection.

Do I need to change something on my router to allow it to use a switch?

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Answer 7

Feb 8, 2016 3:38 PM in response to badbrainz75

Do I need to change something on my router to allow it to use a switch?

Not that I'm aware of

Have you checked the switch is powered up properly. Have you checked the manual, some models might require the connection from the router to be made on a specific port.

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Answer 8

badbrainz75 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2016 3:42 PM in response to Winston Churchill

Yep. It's powered up correctly and the ports on the switch are auto sensing so there is no uplink port. This is bizarre.

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Answer 9

Feb 8, 2016 3:49 PM in response to badbrainz75

Perhaps it's just broken.

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