Buadhai
Level 1 (9 points)
Apple Music

Q: ATV4 Can't See WiFi Networks

Every once in a while my new ATV4 (TvOS 9.2.1) will lose the WiFi connection. When I try to reconnect it "sees" no WiFi networks at all. My other devices (MacMini and several iPhones and iPads, smart TVs, etc.) have no trouble finding my WiFi network or those of my neighbors. The ATV4 is almost line-of-sight with and about 3 meters (ten feet) from my router. My other ATV4, which is behind two concrete walls, never loses the WiFi connection.

 

Restarting the new ATV4 always corrects the problem, but it seems that I shouldn't have to restart the ATV in order to get it to see available WiFi networks.

Posted on May 26, 2016 6:32 PM

by Diana.McCall,Solvedanswer
Diana.McCall Diana.McCall
Level 4 (3,051 points)
Apple TV
A:

Look for interference at the ATV location, see Potential sources of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interference - Apple Support

The interference may only be a transient, when your neighbor watches a movie, say. But their network should be visible all the time.

Change WiFi channel, if you can.

Check for cordless phones.

Switch to a 5 GHz network if possible.

Try changing your router WiFi settings to WPA2-AES only, no TKIP. Routers often default to a AES/TKIP mode which ATV doesn't handle gracefully.

AES may be called CCMP at your location.

Posted on May 27, 2016 4:36 AM

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Buadhai

Q: ATV4 Can't See WiFi Networks

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Winston Churchill,Helpful

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill May 27, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Buadhai
    Level 10 (103,402 points)
    Apple TV
    May 27, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Buadhai

    I'd be inclined to try it in another location to try to determine if the problem is inherent or caused by your environment.

  • by Buadhai,

    Buadhai Buadhai May 27, 2016 1:40 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Music
    May 27, 2016 1:40 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    I'm not sure where I could move it to get better reception and still watch TV. The attached photo was taken with my iPhone right on top of the ATV4. The arrow points at my router's WiFi antenna. So, it's line-of-sight at a distance of on three meters (ten feet).

     

    Shouldn't WiFi reception be really good line-of-sight at that distance?

    ATV4.jpg

     

    If I set my iPhone 6S right on top of the ATV it easily sees my two SSIDs plus two of my neighbors:

     

    2016-05-27 15.36.15.png

  • by Winston Churchill,Helpful

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill May 27, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Buadhai
    Level 10 (103,402 points)
    Apple TV
    May 27, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Buadhai

    I meant a completely different location (i.e. a friends house) for testing. You could do with ruling out corruption from interference or less than optimal network environments.

  • by Buadhai,

    Buadhai Buadhai May 27, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Music
    May 27, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    OK. Now I understand.

     

    I have a condo where I never see any WiFi network but my own. I'll give that a shot. It will be a few weeks before I go there.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill May 27, 2016 2:55 AM in response to Buadhai
    Level 10 (103,402 points)
    Apple TV
    May 27, 2016 2:55 AM in response to Buadhai

    If it does the same there you may have a faulty unit. You could of course just take it straight to the Apple Store, but if the issue takes a while to develop they may not experience it.

  • by Buadhai,

    Buadhai Buadhai May 27, 2016 2:58 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Music
    May 27, 2016 2:58 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Yeah, intermittent failures are a pain.This one is very odd because it seems to lose WiFi connectivity at random, after which it can detect no networks. As soon as I reboot I reconnects to the desired network right away.

     

    No Apple Stores here in Thailand, so getting warranty repairs is a bit of a hassle.

  • by Diana.McCall,Solvedanswer

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall May 27, 2016 4:36 AM in response to Buadhai
    Level 4 (3,051 points)
    Apple TV
    May 27, 2016 4:36 AM in response to Buadhai

    Look for interference at the ATV location, see Potential sources of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interference - Apple Support

    The interference may only be a transient, when your neighbor watches a movie, say. But their network should be visible all the time.

    Change WiFi channel, if you can.

    Check for cordless phones.

    Switch to a 5 GHz network if possible.

    Try changing your router WiFi settings to WPA2-AES only, no TKIP. Routers often default to a AES/TKIP mode which ATV doesn't handle gracefully.

    AES may be called CCMP at your location.