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ATV3 is driving me insane with random disconnects

I have 3 AppleTV's in my house. Two of them are the 3rd generation units. I also experience this same problem. I go to watch a show via home sharing and it doesn't find the computer. Restarting the AppleTV fixes it. Then it works for about 24-36 hours before needing restarted again.

I have tried doing a full restore of the units from the computer. I have moved them to wired connections and also moved them off of DHCP. I've tried telling them not to sleep. I've tried making sure silly things that shouldn't affect it are set and nothing seems to alleviate this issue.

I have many years of experience as a Systems Administrator and Programmer so it isn't a lack of competence on my part to get this right.

This is EXTREMELY frustrating. I also attribute it to iTunes 12 / Newer AppleTV iOS software bugs.
 
metacove1 said:
I have many years of experience as a Systems Administrator and Programmer so it isn't a lack of competence on my part to get this right.
Click to expand...

Same here... I've been in IT for about 15 years.

And I'll say this... last night my son was watching some home movies that I imported into iTunes. I'm sure he'll want to watch more tonight... so I'll go fire everything up, and I am willing to BET that the **** ATV won't work. It is getting to the point that I'm just going to make it a part of my daily routine - stopping to unplug/plug in the ATV every day, it seems like that's the case right now anyway... UGH!!
 
Kenjancef said:
I still have issues, no matter what update is installed. Example: I use it on a Wednesday night to watch a movie in my iTunes library... the ATV3 turns on, and I see the main screen, so I navigate to my "computer", which is a Late 2012 Mac Mini with 16GB RAM Core i7. So I get the error that I need to enable Home Sharing, so I unplug the ATV for a minute or so, then plug it back in. The ATV boots, and I am able to get into my movie and it works.

Fast-forward 2 days later, no changes on the Mini, no changes on the ATV, no power outages, nothing... wife goes to watch a movie, the Home Sharing message appears again, unplug/plug in, it works.

This happens EVERY ***** TIME!!!!

And I'm not even going to start about having to re-enter cable company passwords for EVERY APP AFTER AN ATV UPDATE!!!

By the way, I'm on a Gigabit WIRED network, used numerous combinations of new switches and cables as well...
Click to expand...

It sounds like we have the same computer and the same apple tv, with nearly the same setup. What router and switch (if any) do you use?

I might get flamed for this, but I do believe the issue might be some incompatibility with the routers used. Now, this is still Apple's fault as their device should work fine with any router out there. But it sounds like the apple tv might work with some router configurations better than others. Ironically, it also sounds like it doesn't work too well with their own extreme routers. To that end, it would be helpful if people posted their entire network setup so we can try to find common factors.

I use an Linksys E3000 running the Toasman mod to TomatoUSB for firmware. I have QoS turned off. I have a static IP address configured for both the apple tv and the mac mini, in addition to all the other permanent devices in my house. The apple TV is connected to a cheap plastic white Netgear gigabit 4-port switch which is connected to the router. I think I used Cat6 cable from monoprice, not that it should matter.
 
Router incompatibility shouldn't be causing my problems. I have a mac mini connected to a time capsule and an apple tv connected to an airport extreme, the two routers connected by ethernet. Everything worked until the iOS update. Streaming almost always works still, but the mac mini home sharing is never recognized by the apple tv. Nothing seems to fix it.
 
oneMadRssn said:
It sounds like we have the same computer and the same apple tv, with nearly the same setup. What router and switch (if any) do you use?

I might get flamed for this, but I do believe the issue might be some incompatibility with the routers used. Now, this is still Apple's fault as their device should work fine with any router out there. But it sounds like the apple tv might work with some router configurations better than others. Ironically, it also sounds like it doesn't work too well with their own extreme routers. To that end, it would be helpful if people posted their entire network setup so we can try to find common factors.

I use an Linksys E3000 running the Toasman mod to TomatoUSB for firmware. I have QoS turned off. I have a static IP address configured for both the apple tv and the mac mini, in addition to all the other permanent devices in my house. The apple TV is connected to a cheap plastic white Netgear gigabit 4-port switch which is connected to the router. I think I used Cat6 cable from monoprice, not that it should matter.
Click to expand...

Yes, router should, and doesn't, make a difference here. My Mac Minni is in my basement, connected to a 16-port Netgear Gigabit switch. I then have a CAT6 run through the floor to the first floor, and that run is plugged into a 5-port Netgear Gigabit switch. This 5-port switch is also where my ATV3 is hardwired to. My Verizon Actiontec router is also plugged into this 5-port switch, but has nothing to do with the connection between the Mac Mini and ATV.

I just keep hoping that with each successive update this issue gets fixed, but so far it hasn't, and I'm kinda getting used to it. It getting so that my non-techie wife knows what to do when it doesn't work...
 
helveta said:
Router incompatibility shouldn't be causing my problems. I have a mac mini connected to a time capsule and an apple tv connected to an airport extreme, the two routers connected by ethernet. Everything worked until the iOS update. Streaming almost always works still, but the mac mini home sharing is never recognized by the apple tv. Nothing seems to fix it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the data points.

Just to clarify, I think something in the iOS update perhaps changed the way the Apple TV interacts with the routers, and some routers seem to not like it - including Apple's own router. That is my theory. Until we get two users with identical routers and iOS hardware saying homesharing works for one and not for the other, I think the theory holds water.

Kenjancef said:
Yes, router should, and doesn't, make a difference here. My Mac Minni is in my basement, connected to a 16-port Netgear Gigabit switch. I then have a CAT6 run through the floor to the first floor, and that run is plugged into a 5-port Netgear Gigabit switch. This 5-port switch is also where my ATV3 is hardwired to. My Verizon Actiontec router is also plugged into this 5-port switch, but has nothing to do with the connection between the Mac Mini and ATV.

I just keep hoping that with each successive update this issue gets fixed, but so far it hasn't, and I'm kinda getting used to it. It getting so that my non-techie wife knows what to do when it doesn't work...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the data. Your router has everything to do with the connection between the Mac Mini and the ATV. Just because they are connected to the same switch, the connection is still managed by the router. The router assigns the IPs and runs the DHCP server, it manages the NAT tables, etc. Basically, it has a lot to do with all your home network devices.
 
Crazy Badger said:
I'm having more problems since the update to the point I bought a Raspberry Pi to try RasPlex. Not as slick as the aTV and PlexConnect solution but not suffering the random disconnects when watching my media.

Hopefully something Apple can resolve on a future update.
Click to expand...

This seems to be a lot better after the latest update, and whilst it probably doesn't help with the aTV I've upgraded my network switches to gigabit.

I have noticed on my PlexConnect server that the aTV is constantly (almost every minute) switching between the ethernet and wi-fi mac addresses, even though it's hard wired into the network switch and assigned a fixed IP address.

Not even sure why it's trying to do anything with the wi-fi connection as I don't have this configured.

Actually managed to watch a few films without any buffering or breaks, including pausing (which usually screwed things up) over the weekend.
 
Things will never "just work" because a certain level of failure keeps people employed.

Btw, look into TV. You turn it on and can watch a wide variety of shows with no downloading, on a huge 4000k screen! (absolutely gorgeous). No advanced degree in computer science needed to make it work! It could be the Next Big Thing.
 
I have 2 ATV3s served by a mac mini and a NAS drive with a time capsule router. I never experience disconnects and they are both used heavily. All are on the latest versions of their respective software. The only issue I get now and again is a reluctance for the mac to wake from sleep with the ATVs but usually firing up homesharing from an iPad or iPhone resolves that.

I will add I had loads of issues with Yosemite when the beta started, and up until the last release, with devices not finding the iTunes library once one device was using it. They fixed it for wifi though and then the last release fixed it for LAN too.

Since then, pretty flawless for me as it was on Mavericks.

I will add that before I had the time capsule I had the router supplied by my isp and I suffered daily disconnects, this was the mean reason I got a time capsule.
 
Had this issue for a few months. ATV3 was using Cat6 plugged directly into a Time Capsule.

Hasn't cropped up in the past month or so.
 
Graz9 said:
I will add I had loads of issues with Yosemite when the beta started, and up until the last release, with devices not finding the iTunes library once one device was using it. They fixed it for wifi though and then the last release fixed it for LAN too.
Click to expand...

So maybe I should disconnect from the LAN and go wireless? It's funny because I have 2 ATV's, a 2nd Gen. and 3rd Gen., and it happens with both, so I'm almost thinking it's my Mac Mini. But there's nothing weird going on with it. It's a late 2012 and has NOTHING going on with it other than running iTunes 24/7. And I did a clean install of Yosemite when it was released, so there should be nothing hanging around from previous OS X installs... I dunno...
 
Possible Fix

This may not apply to your situation, but has your computer name changed...? More specifically is there a number in ( ) after the name...Yosemite has been known to change the name to accomplish whatever it needed to do..(don't ask me) Change the name to something entirely different and have the apple tv point to it and you will never have a problem again...Worked for me...Found this fix somewhere and it did work for all those who responded....
 
I have an ATV3, running on Wifi from newest gen AirPort Extreme. Netflix randomly crashes on me. Some other apps do as well.

When playing files via Home Sharing computers (Macbook Pro Retina 15"), no issues at all.

The Netflix problem is happening pretty regularly, about once a day.
 
Username Here said:
This may not apply to your situation, but has your computer name changed...? More specifically is there a number in ( ) after the name...Yosemite has been known to change the name to accomplish whatever it needed to do..(don't ask me) Change the name to something entirely different and have the apple tv point to it and you will never have a problem again...Worked for me...Found this fix somewhere and it did work for all those who responded....
Click to expand...

Great suggestion, but no, nothing like that has changed, and my computer name is fine. I actually used it on Saturday,after not using it for about a week, and it surprisingly worked. But I'm not holding my breath... lol
 
dspilman said:
I have an ATV3, running on Wifi from newest gen AirPort Extreme. Netflix randomly crashes on me. Some other apps do as well.

When playing files via Home Sharing computers (Macbook Pro Retina 15"), no issues at all.

The Netflix problem is happening pretty regularly, about once a day.
Click to expand...

Apple support suggested I reboot my Latest Generation Apple Extreme, and my problems with disconnects on NetFlix, Hulu, and HBO NOW, all disappeared. I was very surprised that something that simple, worked, but it did.
 
Apple TV issues

I have had the same issues. Mine is Gen 2 so it may just be long in the legs. However; I read some replies on here that state if you have Flickr as a screen saver that is one issue, the other could be weak wifi signal. I dont know what the issues could be for those that are hard wired. Hopefully it is a bug, it has been once a day resets automatically for me. Btw, this never happened in the past.
 
Six Months of Confusion

I have reviewed this particular stream which has last over 6 months and here are some comments that might help it to have more value.

Problems
- many users are actually experiencing different problems but because their problems are not clearly stated it's impossible to tell when they came up with a solution whether it solved a problem related to what I'm experiencing.
- many users fail to explain their basic configuration so it's very difficult to relate their solution to mine.
- many users have used this thread to vent their frustration - understandable - but without contributing real information as the above points, nobody can really offer any sound advice or related suggestions.
- users are assuming that this thread is only about their problem and so they don't repeat their situation and problem description - but having read 10 different problems and related comments, coming back to a follow-on comment is very difficult without a re-statement of the problem and solutions attempted.

Attacks
- attacking Apple creates two issues; (1) it discourages interaction and cooperation (2) it demonstrates a lack of openness to a total systems view of the problem.
- networking environments such as the ones we're discussing with Macs, ATVs, routers, wireless units, and wires are complex systems that require a systematic process of verification and elimination of issues in order to really discover the potential causes of the problem. To just point the finger at Apple because they're the biggest dog in the room is not helpful in really trying to use this forum to develop help.

I have three ATV on a combined wired and wireless network. The house is served by a Cox network and a Neatgear CG3000DV2 modem/router. There are four hardwired Airport units throughout the house that serve wireless connections like Iphone, Ipad, and laptops. Airports are gen 5. They run in "Bridge" mode and do not provide IPs.

Laptops are running Yosemite and my specific problem is that one ATV drops it's connection to the laptop associated with it (that has its library) and I have to restart Itunes in order to get the connection back. It appears to be the same as if I had quit itunes - the name of my library goes gray on the Computer settings screen in the ATV just like it would if I quit itunes but of course I didn't. Homesharing also drops off on other Macs when this happens.

One of the ATVs has a dedicated laptop running OSX 10.5.8 and it never has this problem (of course).

I am currently working my way down this list...
- change laptop name
- disable sleep on all devices
- reset ATV to factory settings
- switch wireless from 2.4ghz to 5ghz and back
- set fixed IP in router and laptop and ATV
- switch from wireless to hard wire from ATV and laptop to Airport


I am happy to add to this list and report the results. I am currently testing #4.
 
An Update

On the matter of itunes disconnects from ATV I have an update:

I said was working down this list:

- change laptop name
- disable sleep on all devices
- reset ATV to factory settings
- switch wireless from 2.4ghz to 5ghz and back
- set fixed IP in router and laptop and ATV
- switch from wireless to hard wire from ATV and laptop to Airport

I also added:

- set the airport to fixed channels.

√ change laptop name
√ disable sleep on all devices
√ set airport to fixed channels on 2.4 and 5ghz
√ reset ATV to factory settings
√ switch wireless from 2.4ghz to 5ghz and back
√ set fixed IP in router and laptop and ATV
- switch from wireless to hard wire from ATV and laptop to Airport

I am yet to do the last one. If anyone has any additional ideas I can eliminate those. As of today, the problem is still occurring. I am going to hard wire the connections between the airport and the ATV and my laptop today and test that. Then I will be out of ideas temporarily. I don't anticipate that the hard wire will make a difference. Many people on this forum have reported they have hard wire and still experience the problem.

By systematically eliminating every possibility, while using just one stable repeatable laptop and ATV with the problem, I think we can eventually narrow our focus to those things left that could still be causing the problem - Yosemite, itunes, etc.

I'm running iTunes 12.1.2.27 and Yosemite 10.10.3.

PS - I left my laptop and ATV running on 5ghz because it appears they consistently run at bit rates of 200-270mbits and less than 50dbm.
 
Last edited:
I have the ATV2 and just last night half way thru a rental the movie just dropped out. 3rd time in the last month. Before that this NEVER happened. Have been on Mavericks the whole time but have had several iTunes updates. That is the only variable that has changed in the equation. Agree, Apple's testing/QA have gone down hill (or eliminated?). And to that guy at the beginning of the thread insinuating it was user error....😡
 
Moose - not sure if we have the same problem.

The problem we seem to be seeking a solution for could be simply described as: iTunes disconnects from ATV.

Now with a movie streaming a rental, that appears to be coming from Apple to your ATV directly - I don't know that iTunes even has to be active for that to happen - perhaps some of the more astute members of this discussion know something about streaming from Apple store but I just doubt that it requires iTunes active at all.

Meanwhile the problem we're been troubleshooting is that iTunes does disconnect from the ATV and the symptoms of this are (1) if you are playing movies that reside on your iTunes computer and not on the ATV, the movie stops and (2) the primary library grays out in the "Computers" screen. It's as if you had Quit iTunes and you movie list on ATV was simply the movies you still have stored on there or a disk - you can no longer draw movies from the computer that is linked to your ATV.

I have a Gen 1 ATV with an internal disk as one of my ATVs. That one acts the same - it disconnects from iTunes and unless all of my movies have been uploaded to the ATV, they disappear along with iTunes.

The problem can be fixed by restarting iTunes - you can immediately see the name of your library in the Computers setup screen go bright white again showing it has reconnected iTunes and ATV. On the later generations where you may not have a disk other than the one running iTunes, all of your movies, music, photos, etc. go away.
 
I'm putting a lot of my issues with this down to the PowerLine adapters I was using to create a 'wired' connection. Since I've actually run a CAT6 cable under the house between the 2 switches I've experience far less issues, although every now and again the aTV just appears to loose the connection and needs to be reset before it will communcate over the network.

I'd agree that these issues are hugely complex to resolve as there are so many potential points of failure, none of which are particularly easy to diagnose in Apples 'it just works' eco-system, which is great when it is just working. Not so great when it's not!
 
Update on Itunes disconnects from ATV

OK here is an update...

√ change laptop name
√ disable sleep on all devices
√ set airport to fixed channels on 2.4 and 5ghz
√ reset ATV to factory settings
√ switch wireless from 2.4ghz to 5ghz and back
√ set fixed IP in router and laptop and ATV
- switch from wireless to hard wire from ATV and laptop to Airport

I have my ATV and laptop wired to the router so the entire system is now hard wired and I am waiting to see if Itunes disconnects from the ATV.

I have not received any other ideas from anyone on what to try next.

I'm going to replace this ATV with a new Gen 3 ATV next.

I'm going to stay focused on the current network, hardware, and software because it failing but just a note on my other setup - the Gen 1 ATV with laptop running 10.5.8 - the one that never shows any symptoms. Homesharing dropped today and I had to restart the iTunes on that computer. Just a fluke? I'll keep monitoring that but I want to stay focus on the current course of elimination in hopes it will yield some definitive information once I have systematically eliminated everything that could be the problem.

PS - I'm assuming that Apple never monitors or reads these forums, right?
 
Update on Itunes disconnects from ATV

OK here is an update...

√ change laptop name
√ disable sleep on all devices
√ set airport to fixed channels on 2.4 and 5ghz
√ reset ATV to factory settings
√ switch wireless from 2.4ghz to 5ghz and back
√ set fixed IP in router and laptop and ATV
√ switch from wireless to hard wire from ATV and laptop to Airport

I tested the last step and changed over from wireless to hardwire. That did not improve the problem either.

ATV is currently dropping off iTunes about every 1-2 hours.

It happens while I am watching a movie stored on iTunes but not on the Gen 1 ATV.

Next I will pick up a Gen 3 ATV from Apple tomorrow and switch over.

Now I could use some help with the file i have attached. I need someone who knows how to read a Monitor Activity report that shows the activity of ITunes "under the hood" - we need to know if there is anything going on there that shouldn't be going on or maybe vice-versa. Do we have anyone out there who knows how to read one of these?
 

Attachments

Michael2020

You may want to consider waiting for ATV4 which is coming out in a few weeks.

BTW..I NEVER stream directly from Apple (slow....). I download rentals on my Mac and then stream from iTunes to ATV2. Just recently this has resulted in disconnects. Not sure the cause....
 
Recap of things we know about iTunes disconnecting with ATV

We know the following from a carefully controlled experiment where the problem can be duplicated.

1. It is not wired or wireless operation - you might get slightly better results on one or the other but it will not go away.
2. It is not 2.4ghz or 5 ghz connections.
3. It is not static vs. automatic (DHCP) IPs from the router.
4. It is no automatic or static channels on the airport - and it isn't the airport either because it happens on hard wire as well.
5. It is not the ATV3 - I can duplicate the problem on an ATV1.

I am looking for help in identifying other things to test and eliminate.

----------

Moose - I don't have much experience with rentals but I think if the file actually goes to your computer where iTunes is storing it, then this would be the same problem I am testing and reporting on.

Anytime you have content on your computer or relating hard drive, and you need iTunes to stream it to your ATV, then if iTunes drops ATV or vice versa, then the content will no longer stream. Just as if you Quit iTunes - it stops streaming and you have to restart iTunes to get it to reconnect.

So all of the things I am testing and the results of those tests would apply in your case. Unfortunately I have not found one thing yet that affects this problem.

By getting an ATV3 I am only eliminating the ATV as the problem. It doesn't matter what I replace it with and better the ATV3 as a known quantity. If the problem repeats whether I have one ATV or another in place then it isn't the ATV - at least in my mind that's true.

Then I can go on to replace my computer and finally I'm left with nothing but the iTunes software and a very good case for that conclusions having eliminated everything else.

But I certainly need help identifying other potential sources of the problem. Many heads are better than one.
 
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