Q: An unexpected error occurred. Apple TV (4th Gen)
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Jun 25, 2016 2:33 AMby Winston Churchill,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
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.
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Jun 27, 2016 3:02 AMby murraysyd,I am connected via ethernet, so there shouldn't be any interference. I have updated firmware versions. It only affects certain TV shows. While it is random in that it doesn't affect all TV shows, it isn't random in that it ONLY affects certain TV shows. Some are fine, and are always fine. Some are affected, and are always affected.
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Jun 27, 2016 3:15 AMby Winston Churchill,Ethernet makes it quite unlikely that it's interference but not impossible, however I also provided a link to other issues that have affected peoples networks.
Are you saying the same shows repeatedly fail, are you able to test the Apple TV in another location.
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Jun 27, 2016 4:19 AMby Diana.McCall,What app are you using? The iTunes TV shows app, or a third-party app? Can you describe exactly when in the interaction the error uccurs? You said "trying to get into the actual TV series". What do you mean? What steps do you take leading up to the error? Could you try logging out of iTunes (or the other app) and logging again?
Finally, are you using any sort of VPN, unblocker, or DNS service, that might affect access to certain programs?
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Jul 9, 2016 12:56 AMby murraysyd,Hi Diana,
Sorry for the delayed reply. I am attempting to access TV shows using the iTunes TV Shows app, not a third party app. I click on TV, so to favourites, then select one of the series I have favourited. If I select The Good Wife, for example, it always comes up with the error. However if I select The West Wing, it never comes up with the error. The error only affects certain TV series, not all, and never deviates from which series it affects.
I have done a reset of the Apple TV to clear any settings that I could have changed which may have affected this, but have also double checked that no DNS settings have been changed. I have also checked my router and there are no DNS setting changes there, either.
Murray
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Jul 9, 2016 7:14 AMby Diana.McCall,I'm sorry, you say that "no DNS settings have been changed". I infer that you are not using the DNS from your provider on the the router, and Automatic on ATV. What DNS are you using? Some services implement parental controls to block access to certain programming. You also did not answer my questions relating to methods of avoiding regional content restrictions, so I'm not sure if that may be affecting you.
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Sep 9, 2016 4:22 PMby murraysyd,Hi Diana, sorry for the late reply.
I am using automatic DNS settings, I have not manually entered DNS settings.
As a bit of a more specific example, I watch the TV series Suits. Currently watching the 6th season, and have been without issue. However today when trying to watch a new episode, this error came up. I then tried to watch older episodes in the same season, with the same error.
Another bit of interesting information. I found a workaround, which worked for a while. To watch TV shows which were affected by this error message, I was able to successfully start watching if I searched for the TV show from the main home page (not from the TV Shows page) by using Siri voice. However if I tried to use the TV Shows page to navigate to to select the same tv show (including via Favourites), the error message would show. From today, that workaround has started showing the same error message as well.
Murray
