Airplay lag/stuttering fix...but not ideal.

[northernmonkeyz]

I was hoping someone could help me with a problem I am having.
I just bought Apple TV 3rd gen and it all seems pretty good until I try and extend the monitor using Airplay to stream.
The video is laggy and stutters. Its ok when I play content directly from ITunes and when I use Beamer, however I also use XBMC and want to stream it to my TV downstairs.
I tried a few things and it did seem to fix it but it isn’t a usable fix.
I did the following –
In the display preferences I set it up to best match the Apple TV
I changed the ATV internet connection from WIFI to Ethernet as the router is next to the ATV
I tested it stream after I changed the above settings and it was still stuttering.
I then went into my router settings and change the band from 2.4 to 5 and tried it again.
The stuttering stopped and it works great…..HOWEVER, my Wi-Fi signal on my mobile phone is now terrible despite changing the band on it to also use 5.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can sustain this fix so that my other Wi-Fi devices won’t suffer?
Cheers!

 

[waw74]

airplay mirroring doesn't handle full frame video well. if the large majority of your screen isn't changing, then it's ok, but video has too much motion.

iTunes and beamer are able to read ahead and buffer the file a bit, but mirroring has to convert and send the image instantly. which is why they work

5GHz is faster than 2.4, but doesn't go through things well, so the range is not as far.

your best bet is to wire both your mac and the aTV.
Even with everything wired, you will more than likely still see stuttering.

 

[northernmonkeyz]

airplay mirroring doesn't handle full frame video well. if the large majority of your screen isn't changing, then it's ok, but video has too much motion.

iTunes and beamer are able to read ahead and buffer the file a bit, but mirroring has to convert and send the image instantly. which is why they work

5GHz is faster than 2.4, but doesn't go through things well, so the range is not as far.

your best bet is to wire both your mac and the aTV.
Even with everything wired, you will more than likely still see stuttering.

Cheers mate.
Its not that bad under 2.4 but its not how I would like it. Under 5 its perfectly good. I wonder if there is a certain check list of settings I need to do to get the best out of 2.4?

My set up is -
PC upstairs (Mac Mini 2012 with 8gb Ram).
Virgin Wireless router 1 floor down with ATV wired to the router.

Is there a setting on the ATV to select and choose 2.4?
I have the Mac display set to optimize for ATV
Is there anything else?

 

[waw74]

Is there a setting on the ATV to select and choose 2.4?

there is no setting for 2.4.
If you connect to a 2.4 network, it's 2.4.
If you connect to a 5 network, it's 5.

If you have a simultaneous dual band router, and both networks have the same name, the aTV will connect to the stronger signal. You can't pick which one to connect to. It's like this for every device, even your computer.
If you want to pick which band you connect to, you must give them each a unique name.

I have the Mac display set to optimize for ATV

the setting to optimize just changes the aspect ratio of your image, to make it match the 16:9 of your television. Since the screens on your computer and television are different sizes, you're going to wind up with black bars on one of them, all this setting does is pick where you want the black bars.

Is there anything else?

the only way get an image from your mac to the television reliably is a video cable (like HDMI, DVI, or VGA)

I wonder if there is a certain check list of settings I need to do to get the best out of 2.4?

if you live in a crowded area, you might be getting interference from other networks. you can try changing the channel on your router.

to find the optimal channel...

alt-click the wifi icon in your menu bar on the mac.
select "Open Wireless Diagnostics"
(you may have to type your password now)
ignore the box that pops up.
from the menu select Window -> Utilites
from that window, select wifi scan.
hit "scan now"

at the bottom of the window it will show you the best channel for both 2.4 and 5. You then will have to go into your router settings and change the channel there.

 

[somemightsay]

Thank you for that wireless diagnostics tip, that was extremely useful.