Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

About to give up on my ATV3

thesaint024

thesaint024

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 14, 2016
1,073
888
suspension waiting room
I've had my ATV3 since new. I also have an ATV4 since original launch as well. I mention that because it's not that I'm being cheap and avoiding upgrading, it's just that this is a perfectly good box that doesn't have a lot of hours logged on it. The ATV4 is in another room too right now.

The ATV3 worked great while it was still supported and updated. The last year or so has been challenging to say the least. I've had to restore to factory setting twice already at the Apple Store. It struggles to stream for some unknown reason. I have a completely reliable internet connection and ethernet hardwired directly to the ATV3. I constantly get "could not connect to Apple" messages whenever I do an internet speed test. No connectivity issues with any of the other 10-15 devices that are connected wired or wirelessly in the house. Finally the last straw is that Amazon Prime Video will just not show up on my device. Oh yeah, and sometimes the ATV3 just restarts randomly while I'm watching a video.

Granted, I am not an ATV expert. I don't spend nearly as much time on it as I do with my iPhone or MBP (or reading about it on MR). Some of this could be user error/ignorance, but the interface and complexity of the ATV3 is just not that hard. It doesn't "just work" like my other Apple devices. I have a couple other streaming devices, but there is no reason this one shouldn't just work like it should. Skimming/searching MR, I don't see a lot of these issues popping up on the ATV3, so maybe I just got a bad draw. I use this box lightly (once or twice a week for an hour or two) and would like to continue to do so. Thoughts? Or better yet, help!? I'm about to throw this box against the wall but would love to hear any last ditch problem solving tips on ANY of these issues. Thanks all.
 
Which router are u using? Apple TV 2/3 have had issues with apple routers and error messages.
 
I truly loved my ATV 2 and 3 back in the day. I guess the excellent A5 chip is a bit of an old dog now and that could be why. Only working with 30fps is limiting too. I've just got my iPhone X but until recently, I had my trusty iPhone 4S with the A5 chip and things basically stopped working reliably on it. (old 32bit instead of 64bit of now).
The ATV3 was the best bargain at £59 but I wonder if Apple just forgets about operating reliability of older models once it's selling its new ones. My old MacBook got truly ruined at just 3 years old when Mavericks launched.
 
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
I truly loved my ATV 2 and 3 back in the day. I guess the excellent A5 chip is a bit of an old dog now and that could be why. Only working with 30fps is limiting too. I've just got my iPhone X but until recently, I had my trusty iPhone 4S with the A5 chip and things basically stopped working reliably on it. (old 32bit instead of 64bit of now).
The ATV3 was the best bargain at £59 but I wonder if Apple just forgets about operating reliability of older models once it's selling its new ones. My old MacBook got truly ruined at just 3 years old when Mavericks launched.
Click to expand...
Apple definitely caters to the latest/greatest crowd. It's a shame because their hardware is usually so well built. My ATV3 is still physically perfect. Like you said, it just seems like they lose interest in old devices and they simply don't work after awhile without support.

I've posted about this ATV3 a few times, no one seems to have much of an issue with theirs. Maybe I just got a bad apple, hehe. It's a shame, because I liked it so much when it first came out, one of the earlier streaming devices. I've convinced others to get one because of my positive experience. Apparently this is just part of the package. I'm not totally abandoning Apple, but I have a legitimate debate on my next streaming box I need to buy to replace this one. Even though I like the interface of the ATV4 better, the Roku 4 has less trouble just working when I need it to. MoviesAnywhere changed the game. I can now access iTunes movies on non Apple devices, so no downside to not getting an ATV.
 
My 3rd gen Apple TV doesn’t exhibit any of these problems. I don’t have a 4th gen for it to feel insecure about though.

My next attempt would be to set it to a fixed IP while hardwired. I don’t know what else I would do after that though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back