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The problem is with ATV2 wake up from sleep. The workaround is to never set the ATV2 to sleep, now I haven't need to turn home sharing on/off for nearly a month now.

However, I hope Apple do fix this problem.
 
The problem is with ATV2 wake up from sleep. The workaround is to never set the ATV2 to sleep, now I haven't need to turn home sharing on/off for nearly a month now.

However, I hope Apple do fix this problem.

That does nothing for me. I still have the problem.

The issue has got to be in the firmware.
 
I've been having this issue as well after upgrading to a 2011 iMac and the latest version of the TC. It's not a very large data sample yet (about 36 hours, but it always seemed to loose the connection quicker than that), but after switching from a wireless to a ethernet connection my aTV has managed to make a connection to my iMac serving my iTunes library the 5-6 times i've tried since making that change.
 
Definitely having connection issues with mine. My Imac is on, Itunes is running, but the ATV2's may have been asleep a day or so, when i got to use it, it shows my library buts says there is no content. I have to unplug and reboot teh AZV and then it finds it. Mine are all running Wireless.
 
Same issue here. I even had this happen while playing a movie. It just stops and says I need to turn home sharing on.

Keep in mind I've changed my DHCP lease renew to 365 days and my ATV2 to never sleep as suggested.

One time it just fixed itself after letting it sit for several hours. Other time I fixed it by rebooting my Airport Extreme.

This is getting ridiculous.
 
Maybe it's your router?

I struggled FOR WEEKS with Apple tv 2nd generation connecting and dropping connections. I also have a couple Apple TV 1's. Apple TV 1's dont connect via homeshare, so they helped me in debugging what in my NETWORK was the issue.

Basically, I could connect and start watching a streaming movie from itunes when at some "random" point the apple tv 2 lost (wireless) contact with iTunes. I validated the Apple TV is still communicating with my router (I went to youtube and downloaded a video). I went to my PC then and was able to do the same (access internet). My apple tv 1 was connected to itunes. So I new my internal and external lines of communication were open.

In the end, what I came to determine with the help of an apple tech was the home network was ok (Apple TV 1 was working just fine), but it appeared that iTunes was having issues with my network getting out to validate my apple ID, which is necessary to share content. I opened a few ports on my router, per apple docs http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2463 and changed how an extender device was connecting and ever since, not a single hiccup.

The intermittent nature of the issue was the most frustrating, and most misleading. Make sure your ports are open and that your home network is sound.... Also ensure security is not the issue - during troubleshooting you might even consider turning it off to remove that as a variable while debugging...
 
So when I go into my extreme and set this up. It has the private IP address in the port forward. It defaults to 10.0.0.201

Do i need to change it to the IP of my ATV2? I use DHCP, so it could change though.
 
I have 4 apple tvs and the 3 wireless ones used to always have this problem. Once I wired all of them to a access point, the problem went away. BTW, my router is a 2011 apple extreme.
 
I have 4 apple tvs and the 3 wireless ones used to always have this problem. Once I wired all of them to a access point, the problem went away. BTW, my router is a 2011 apple extreme.

I think this is it. I've one ATV and could never get it to work reliably on Wifi, but switched to wired and it's been great since.
 
Tried this last week and it has worked. Now I am no longer rebooting it or restarting iTunes every day. Wish there was a real fix though, seems like a major problem and likely to annoy potential converts when they use it for the first few times.

Does anyone know how much of a power hog the Apple TV is when left on?

(Mine is set to run a screensaver from the iPhoto library which I guess it does endlessly while not being used, not sure if that would alter the power use...?)

The problem is with ATV2 wake up from sleep. The workaround is to never set the ATV2 to sleep, now I haven't need to turn home sharing on/off for nearly a month now.

However, I hope Apple do fix this problem.
 
Well I thought I had it fixed. I added the port exceptions on my 2011 extreme and on the firewall software on my desktop.

It worked great for 3 days. This morning it's back to having the home sharing message again.

I'm starting to regret dumping all this money/time.

I don't know that wired is an option. I don't have anywhere to run the cables upstairs from down.
 
Well it's now been about 4 days since I changed my aTV connection to my TC from a wireless to a wired connection. Before this change I would constantly loose (or not have) the connection to my iMac. Since the change the connection has been much more stable (the aTV almost always sees the iMac without me having to jump through hoops first) and reliable; however, it hasn't been perfect.

The other night I was showing some video, both via airplay from my phone, and then of some HD home video footage streamed from my iMac via iTunes. After about an hour without any issues at all my video just stopped playing right in the middle. When I went back to the main menu it was displaying the 'Turn on Home Sharing blah blah blah' message. Before the switch I would usually loose all connection to the iMac and it wouldn't be listed under the Computers menu, this time it was still there.

I went into the settings menu and turned Home Sharing off and then back on and instantly I had the connection back to my iMac and was able to play video once again without issue.

Last night I streamed about 3 hours of video from the iMac for my daughter and had no issues at all.

This is definitely a frustrating issue. Changing to a wired connection has drastically improved the situation but it is still not perfect.
 
My Experiences

This is clearly a common problem with ATV 2 and one which has had me pulling my hair out. However, I have now solved my problem and it is working perfectly - hopefully my experience may help some of you.
I had tried everything posted, to no avail. I have iMac and run home sharing from this. I have a netgear router. I also have an ipad2. I have updated all software which is an important first step.
My solution was clearly the strength of my WiFi signal. I have been able to relocate my router next to my TV and hardwire the ATV to my router - bingo, perfect results every time. I can see Home sharing and ATV picks up the Ipad and Ipod touch perfectly. I also tried disconnecting the cable and the ATV worked with WiFi when next to the router. It seems the ATV is very sensitive to a slightly less than perfect signal. If you cannot get the router close by, try buying a WiFi booster - I considered this but in the end did not need to try.

Good luck,
Mac:)
 
I had a lot of issues with Home Sharing dropping out constantly and AirPlay never being available on my iPad and iPhone and it ended up being an issue with my modem. I was using a Linksys 150 before and ever since I upgraded to a Netgear 300 and iOS 5 I havent had any issues with HomeSharing or AirPlay. Hope this helps someone.
 
Apple TV 2 Home Sharing drop out

Hi

I recently bought the apple tv version 2 to stream movies from itunes library on my Mac to main TV screen wirelessly, I had constant issues with home sharing losing connection at any point never getting beyond 15 mins in to a film, basically I had a £100 paperweight.

Apple customer services solved all this by getting me to check the channel my router was on and turns out I was on the same channel as most of my neighbours so changed this and have had no issues at all since then.
 
Windows 7 Fix?

I was having a similar problem in Windows 7. Anytime the AppleTV 2 finished with a playlist (or song list, or album, etc.) it would not be able to reconnect to my computer and I would need to stop and restart homesharing on the PC.

I found that the solution was in the Inbound Rules section of Advanced Settings on Windows Firewall. The inbound exceptions for Bonjour were only applicable to machines on the domain, Instead, I modified the exception for all machines on "private" networks (this is a network profile setting that's specific to Windows 7 and Vista, I think).

Anyway, it works now. I assume forcing the applicable ports to stay open would have had the same effect, but I don't know for sure.
 
Windows firewall settings change worked for me

I was having a similar problem in Windows 7. Anytime the AppleTV 2 finished with a playlist (or song list, or album, etc.) it would not be able to reconnect to my computer and I would need to stop and restart homesharing on the PC.

I found that the solution was in the Inbound Rules section of Advanced Settings on Windows Firewall. The inbound exceptions for Bonjour were only applicable to machines on the domain, Instead, I modified the exception for all machines on "private" networks (this is a network profile setting that's specific to Windows 7 and Vista, I think).

Anyway, it works now. I assume forcing the applicable ports to stay open would have had the same effect, but I don't know for sure.


I use windows 7 ultimate on my pc and I followed the above changes in firewall settings for private networks. Make sure you are under the private network tab in firewall advance settings because public and private window look the same and your atv is on your private network.... I tried everything else in this thread and nothing worked. Looks like this thread has been going for over a year and apple has stilled not addressed the issue. That's horrible. Just glad I got it fixed after a week of enjoying my apple tv paper weight. Best of luck to everyone.
 
I have the same problem with my iPod Touch. To be honest, I think Home Sharing falls into the category of 'Not Fit For Purpose'. I can browse the internet without any problem and so don't see how it can therefore be a network connectivity issue.
 
I have the same problem with my iPod Touch. To be honest, I think Home Sharing falls into the category of 'Not Fit For Purpose'. I can browse the internet without any problem and so don't see how it can therefore be a network connectivity issue.

I just got apple tv yesterday and I have been experiencing the same problem and what I did was go onto Apple TV and go under settings-general-sleep after and I set the sleep after option to never and I have had no problem since . Btw, I am using the remote app for iPhone/ iPod to control it. But try setting the sleep after setting to never because I did that and it fixed it.
 
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