AppleTV airplay to Airport Express - Stutters

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Level 1

9 points

AppleTV airplay to Airport Express - Stutters

Got the Apple TV connected to an airport express (gen2) via Ethernet.

I tell Apple TV to send audio to the express, it works just fine. However, when someone uses the WiFi at home (surfing the web, instagram/whatever) the audio “stutters”. How come? I mean the Apple TV is connected to the express via Ethernet cable, how come the WiFi interferes with the audio?

Any ideas on how to fix this

The express is my WiFi base station at home.

Thanks!

AppleTV 2

Posted on Jan 13, 2018 5:09 AM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

158,208 points

Jan 13, 2018 10:30 AM in response to Bjorn_hall

Is the AirPort Express the only router in your current network configuration? Without knowing how it is being used and configured, it will be difficult to address your question. The bottom line, regardless of whether you have Ethernet or wireless connections, you have a limited bandwidth that all devices have to share.

The Apple TV is an AirPlay receiver, just like the AirPort Express. How are you able to stream from the Apple TV to the base station? That is you can stream to an Apple TV, not from it. Do you mean that you have an optical digital audio cable connected between the Apple TV and the audio port of the base station?

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Answer 2

Bjorn_hall Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 13, 2018 2:50 PM in response to Tesserax

To clarify I’ve got Apple TV 4th gen! (No optical out) This is probably why the things I wrote don’t make sense!

But anyhow;

Ok, so. Let’s gonover my network:

I have broadband via fibre. The house got Ethernet sockets in the walls. All the sockets are then connected to a switch WITHOUT any wifi functionality.

The airport express is connected to the switch and takes care of the WiFi inthe house. It’s also connected via Ethernet to the Apple TV.

I can use airplay from phones to stream to either my Apple TV or airport via wifi.

When I watch something on the Apple TV (not via phone airplay, but Netflix app on the Apple TV) it streams via Ethernet via the airport express (which is connected to internet via my switch that came with the house.

In the menu of the Apple TV you can then choose Airpirt Express as the audio output - This is a fact! And using Airplay speakers (wireless) with the Apple TV is a functionality that do exist.

If the Apple TV uses airplay technology or not to accomplish this - I don’t know.

And the only output for audio on the Apple TV is HDMI (as stated here: https://www.apple.com/apple-tv/specs/ ) there’s is no optical or analog output.

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Answer 3

Bjorn_hall Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 13, 2018 12:05 PM in response to Tesserax

The AirPort express is configured to extend the network and only handles the WiFi and the AppleTV (over Ethernet). I do have another router which only handles the wired devices, such as my stationary computer and the airport express.

The Apple TV can indeed send sound to airplay devices such as airplay speakers or other airplay devices such as the airport express.

If using airplay speakers you would ofc use WiFi.

The AppleTV is only connected to the network via Ethernet, directly to the airport express, I then have speakers connected to the 3,5mm audio jack in the airport express.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

158,208 points

Jan 13, 2018 2:09 PM in response to Bjorn_hall

The AirPort express is configured to extend the network and only handles the WiFi and the AppleTV (over Ethernet).

OK, one of two things here:

The other router is another AirPort base station. In this configuration, the Express CAN extend the wireless range of the first AirPort.
The other router is NOT another AirPort base station. In this configuration, the Express CANNOT extend the wireless range of a non-Apple router using a wireless connection between them. You could; however, configure the Express to join this other router's wireless network and perform as a wireless Ethernet bridge. In this case, it is NOT extending it.

Which of the two is the case for your network?

The Apple TV can indeed send sound to airplay devices such as airplay speakers or other airplay devices such as the airport express.

Yes, the Apple TV can send audio via either its HDMI or optical digital port. It CANNOT; however, use AirPlay to stream to anything. Again, that's because it is an AirPlay receiver/player. We may just be caught up on semantics here.

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Answer 5

Tesserax

Level 10

158,208 points

Jan 14, 2018 10:58 AM in response to Bjorn_hall

To clarify I’ve got Apple TV 4th gen! (No optical out) This is probably why the things I wrote don’t make sense!

Yes, that would have made things a bit more clearer.

I have broadband via fibre. The house got Ethernet sockets in the walls. All the sockets are then connected to a switch WITHOUT any wifi functionality.

The airport express is connected to the switch and takes care of the WiFi inthe house. It’s also connected via Ethernet to the Apple TV.

Ok, again just to make sure I understand your current network configuration, is the following correct:

The Fibre comes into you home and is connected to a non-wireless router?
There is an Ethernet switch connected to this router?
The 2nd gen AirPort Express' WAN port is connected to this switch by Ethernet?
The Express is configured as a bridge?
The Apple TV is connected to the LAN port of the Express?
Your audio system/speakers are connected to the Express' audio port?

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Answer 6

Bjorn_hall Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 13, 2018 3:07 PM in response to Bjorn_hall

Can’t seem to edit post...

To clarify one more thing:

My speakers are wired to the airport express.

It works wonders, until my wife or i start browsing on our phones.

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