Apple TV Ethernet Connection

I have an Apple TV unit that I would like to connect via an ethernet cable. I have a cable DSL modem that is plugged in to my iMac, so I have no available ethernet ports remaining for the ATV ethernet cable. Do I need a switch or router to make this setup work? What are my options to connect my ATV via an ethernet connection?

Purchase a router and plug the cable modem, iMac, and Apple TV into it.
(40717)

Similar Messages

Apple tv ethernet connection not working

Connected my new Apple TV to the ethernet cable and it doesn´t show the network available to connect to internet.
Am I missing some step ?
Thanks

ISSUE
After the latest software update, my Apple TV2 has stopped recognizing any form of network connectivity and appears to believe that it's connected to the network via an ethernet connection, whether or not there is one actually plugged into the back of the device.
BACKGROUND
I echo many of the previous posts... I've had Apple TV2 for over a year with no difficulties. Ethernet and wireless connections have always worked. For the last 6 months the Apple TV2 has been hardwired via my ethernet connection with stellar results. However, after the recent software upgrade, I've lost all network connectivity. Apple TV2 will no longer recognize the same ethernet connection it's always been attached to. This is the same connection that has always allowed me to watch iTune movies, Netflix and download/install all previous software updates. Worse yet, when the ethernet connection is unplugged from the back of the device, Apple TV2 believes it is still connected to the ethernet cord, as if it's stuck, and WiFi functionality does not kick in.
TROUBLESHOOTING
This specific issue has nothing to do with the actual "network" so I am kindly asking people to stop recommending that we check our network/router settings and ethernet cords. Apple TV2 is designed to automatically activate its wireless function when an ethernet connection is not recognized. It's should be pretty obvious to anyone who is tech savvy that there is something wrong with the device and not the network, with respect to the specific aforementioned symptoms.
STEPS
Nothing has changed on the network and I've tested the ethernet connection with both MacBook Pros... with success.
Restarted device multiple times
Attempted to restore device but no network connectivity makes this impossible
Connected device to iMac via micro USB cord and restored from scratch
Made the assumption the wireless antenna could not recognize network due to location, surroundings (i.e. tv stand, Directv receiver, SP3), etc. Moved Apple TV2 to another location and connected to different TV. Wireless functionality still does not activate when ethernet cable not plugged in.
All other common sense troubleshooting steps have been taken per Apple's troubleshooting recommendations and other blog site recommendations
I'm sure the latest software update worked for the majority of all Apple TV2 owners. Anything could have gone arwy during the update that could have caused this specific issue to present itself. Either way, there are enough folks with the same complaint to warrant a deeper dive of the issue. My next step will be to jailbreak the device since I have nothing to lose at this stage... it's a simple paperweight until I find a solution.

How can I use my ipad in a hotel that only has ethernet connections. The apple store clerk told me that I can't use airport express unless I also have a computer with me in the hotel.

How can I use my Ipad in a hotel that only has ethernet connections? The Apple store clerk told me that travel express won't work in my hotel unless I also have a computer.

The issue with the Airport Express (or any of the Apple routers) is that you need the Airport Utility to configure it. Airport Utility works on OSX and Windows, but not on the iPad (or iPhone or iPod Touch.) It will work, if you can preconfigure the Airport correctly ahead of time, but you'd be stuck if you did need to reconfigure while at the hotel.
You can use most any other router that is configured with a web page, which means you have a chance of configuring with Safari on the iPad. If you want something somewhat portable, I use a "travel router" made by D-Link. The current model is the DAP-1350. Other companies make similar travel routers, but I have no experience with the others.

IOS 5 used to allow Airplay between iPad (WiFi) and Apple TV (Ethernet) as long as they were on the same network. In iOS 6, now both the iPad and the Apple TV have to be on the same network and both have to be connected using WiFi ? Why did they change ?

iOS 5 used to allow Airplay between iPad (WiFi) and Apple TV (Ethernet) as long as they were on the same network, i.e. connected to the same wired/wireless router. In iOS 6, now both the iPad and the Apple TV have to be on the same network and both have to be connected using WiFi ? Why did they change this ? Means that the iPad and the Apple TV box both have to be in range of the wireless router when this wasn't a restriction before. Apple TV could be anywhere as long as it was connected to the same wireless router via ethernet cable. Seems like an unnecessary thing to restrict.

I have found with AppleTV that it is the IPV6 on the computer you want to access is the problem. The issue is that Homegroup on Win 7 or Win 8 requires IPV6 to work, but AppleTV won't work with IPV6. (So maybe double check you have IPV6 turned off)
So you have to make a choice - Homegroup or AppleTV.... but you can't have both, until Apple brings ATV up to date. (crazy that it does not recognise IPV6 - c'mon Apple!)
You can set up sharing individually in Win 7 or 8 and have the ATV access files that way.
Having said that, there is always the exception.. I have an old HP home server running Win8 and it services ATV - but is part of the Homegroup... have no idea why it works on both, but no other machine on the home network will talk to both ATV and Homegroup at the same time!

HT201343 I have a Mac pro with osx ml in a Ethernet connection and a apple tv with a wireless, there is no way I can see the airplay in my Mac pro

I have a Mac pro with osx ml in a Ethernet connection and a apple tv with a wireless, there is no way I can see the airplay in my Mac pro

Mac Pros don't support Airplay. Only some post 2011 Macs do, MAc Pros aren't amongst them.
http://www.apple.com/uk/osx/specs/
You could try Airparrot software as a workaround.
AC

Can one apple base be connected to another apple base station with ethernet?

Can one apple base be connected to another apple base station with ethernet?

Yes, it would be called a roaming network.
See the Roaming network here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260

Ethernet connected Apple TV 3 can't play content. WiFi works fine. What gives?

Apple TV 3 has a strange problem since the latest update, 5.1. It is only partially functional when hard wired to my router, but is fully functional when connected wirelessly.
When hardwired, I can control it with the iOS Remote app, airplay from iPhones & iPad, and browse the menus of the various services, Hulu, Netflix, etc. But, when I try to play content, for example, a Hulu show, I get a “there was an error…” message.
When I connect wirelessly- everything works fine- I can play all the content without a problem.
I prefer to have a wired connection, and have been using one successfully up until 5.1 – does anyone know how to fix the limited functionality of the wired connection?

Roy
Case number @ Apple 357624395
Updated 7/10/12
router Details FYI
System Details
Manufacturer
Sagemcom
Model Number
F@ST2504n
Firmware Version
6.14.1a4N_UNI
ADSL Firmware Version
A2pD035g.d23j1
As per others if I connect via wifi all works
If i go back to ethernet get the cannot connect to server for Photostream for screen saver
But the activation message is not there any longer
Very frustrating - my ethernet connection is 14meg plus!
In addition to the apple tv I have apple touch & ipad2 all on 6.0
Plus itunes on pc with latest version.
Subscribe to imatch - so some of the potential fixes online which may be relevent re T & C's not workable.
Raised a case with apple as does not look like this is a PICNIC ;-)
regards
Richard

Ethernet apple tv 2? Can I use the enthernet port on the apple tv to connect other non wifi item to my wifi network? Much like a Airport express?

Is anyone using the apple tv 2 to connect other items to a home wifi network through the apple tvs ethernet port? I know you can use airport express to do this and I am already else where at home. Is this even possible? Can you run The HDMI cable to your tv and the optical cable to sound system at the same time?

Is anyone using the apple tv 2 to connect other items to a home wifi network through the apple tvs ethernet port?
ATV2 has no router capabilities - it is a client device.
Can you run The HDMI cable to your tv and the optical cable to sound system at the same time?
yes.

Solution for Apple TV 2, Xfinity router, Ethernet connection and Home Sharing

I have read over the past week the problems people have been having configuring their Apple TV and Home Sharing. I was experiencing the same issues as others....until tonight. I finally got it to work with an Ethernet connection. Previously, I was only able to get it to work via wifi and home sharing would drop after awhile.
1) Xfinity router settings. Like others I was suspicious if the Xfinity router was causing the issues because of the separation between wifi network and Ethernet network. It's not the router problem. I disabled the firewall. Enabled port forwarding. Gave a static IP address to the Apple TV. Added forwarding of ports
   123 TCP
    3689 UDP (all other support says this should be TCP but searched through and found a thread that suggested changing to UDP...this was the key)
    5353 UDP
    80 TCP
    443 TCP
    53 TCP
DMZ is off
Device discovery is disabled
Port triggering is disabled.
The wifi is setup and functional using DHCP. Lease time is 1 week.
RESET ROUTER AFTER ENTERING CONFIGURATION.
2) Mac computer. As of this posting the latest version of iTunes installed. Latest Safari version. All programs updated. Turned on Home Sharing. Turned off firewall. Gave Mac a static IP address. Set Mac for hard drive to never sleep. Set monitor to sleep after 15 minutes. Set date and time to automatically find based upon time zone. ( Apple TV needs to be set to the same time zone as computer and set to manual). Enabled file sharing amongst users on Mac.
3) Apple TV. Ethernet connection. Configured TCP/IP to static IP address I configured on router for the Apple TV. Turned on AirPlay. Set date and time to manual and set as the same time zone as the computer with iTunes. Turned on Home Sharing. Using latest version of Apple TV.
Once the router was reset ( not restored and not just resetting the wifi. A complete router reset), the Apple TV found my iTunes library. It's been running now for over an hour and no drop in the home sharing. Working beautifully. I will be testing in the next couple days allowing the Apple TV to sleep, turning the firewall on the router to a minimal setting to see if it changes anything.
Just tested the AirPlay from my iPad 2 to the Apple TV while the Apple TV is connected via ethernet connection and it works. At this point it appears that the setup is correct and complete with no errors.
As a side note, the Ethernet connection between my router and Mac is via commercial devices using the power outlets as the wiring.
Hope this helps many of you that were/ are struggling to get this to work like I was.

spma3,
Appreciate your further message. As you say "it's not fixed", but at least your solution appears to be a viable workaround!
My Cisco RVS4000 Router will permit me to forward ports for up to 15 applications. Of these, thirteen already have default entries added, although none of these are presently Enabled. For example, here's just 2 lines...
Application           HTTP        NTP
External Port          80           123
Internal Port           80            123
Protocol                TCP          UDP
IP Address            No entries at both
and the Enabled box for both is unchecked. In fact none of these 13 possibilities is Enabled.
To do what you are advising, I would need to...
1) Enable the above Port 123 entry, changing it from UDP-->TCP.
2) Add new entries for 3689 UDP & 5353 UDP... using the two free slots at the end of the table.
3) Select three of the default entries, and reconfigure them for 80 TCP; 443 TCP; 53 TCP, all as per your guidance. And Enable them.
Now, my present setup here has...
1) My PC is wired straight to Port 2 of the Router, and has a Static IP Address set.
My new ATV2 is hard-wired into the same subnet, albeit thru a series of switches, and again a Static IP is set. My understanding is that hard wiring an ATV automatically disables its WiFi.
3) My wife's iPad2 is set for DHCP, so it can pick up an IP Address when on the move. It connects into the LAN using one of two WAP4410N Wireless Access Points. Ch-1 & Ch-6, with same SSID and security stuff set up on both. The WAPs in turn are wired in, again with Static IPs set. So depending where she is in the property she can connect with excellent signal strength, reaching the ATV2 by WiFi+LAN.
On the Router DMZ is OFF, Port Range Triggering has no entries, nothing is Enabled, so is OFF. No idea about Device Discovery!
Home Sharing is ON for the PC, ATV2 and iPad2, with the same Apple ID/Password set for each. It does work, just not consistently as it should.
So to fully implement your idea, all I need to do is to enter these details. But I am unclear which IP Address I should put in at each new Single Port Forwarding entry field. Certainly not the iPad2, as its DHCP allocated value will change. Is it the ATV2 or the PC? Not sure, please clarify.
BTW, I have no plan to deactivate my AVG Firewall on this PC. It is happy to pass all traffic related to iTunes, so cannot see this as a factor. Time zone same on all equipment.
I tried with just 3689 UDP and 5353 UDP yesterday, and things were definitely better. I used 192.168.20.227, the IP Address for the ATV2.
Look forward to your answer.

"there is a problem with your apple tv ethernet networking" but I am connecting wirelessly

So basically I can happily see all my movies etc on my TV via Apple TV but they appear to play but with no image. Sound is OK! Then the ATV decides something is wrong, reboots and says "there is a problem with your apple tv ethernet networking" but I am trying to connect over wifi.
I have original ATV
Thanks in advance
Daniel

You may have some software corruption or the unit may well be starting to fail.
Hold menu and down arrow for 6 secs to reboot the unit to the diagnostics/service menu from where you can reinstall the original shipping software (some have had issues updating beyond version 1.0 if that's what's on it) but first I'd try to run the diagnostics utility though it often passes this even if there are issues.
Always worth unpowering the AppleTV and letting it rest for a few minutes before restarting - this can sometimes reset thing that a powered reboot won't.

ATV2 with ethernet connection not found by Apple remote app

Not sure if this is really possible/supported:
* Apple TV 2 connected to an ethernet/wifi routher with an ethernet cable
* iPhone connected to same wifi router
* Both have an ip address in the range 10.0.0.x
* Using the same Apple ID
The remote app cannot find the ATV device. My guess was, since the are in the same network, the app should find the ATV. Am I wrong?
Hint: The ATV DOES find an iTunes library on my Windows computer, attached with an ethernet cable. So network connectivity on the ATV is working.
Message was edited by: smile-me

smile-me wrote:
The remote app cannot find the ATV device. My guess was, since the are in the same network, the app should find the ATV. Am I wrong?
no.
a similar setup works for me.
try if anything in these support articles helps/provides pointers:
[_*About Remote app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch*_|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1947]
_*Remote app for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch can't connect to iTunes or Apple TV*_
[_*Setting up Home Sharing for Apple TV (2nd generation)*_|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4352]
[_*Troubleshooting Home Sharing with Apple TV (2nd generation)*_|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3509]
JGG

Can i use airplay if my apple tv is connected to the network by ethernet cable?

Can I use Airplay if my Apple tv is connected to the network using an Ethernet cable as apposed to a WiFi connection.

Thanks. I therefore have a problem as I cannot connect my ipad to the Apple TV. When trying to connect via Airplay my other apple tv appears (that is connected only via WiFi and that connects OK) but the Apple tv connected via the Ethernet does not show. I have looked at all the settings on both apple TV's and the only difference I can see is one is connected via WiFi and the other through Ethernet cable. Any ideas on what I need to check out?

Apple tv printer ethernet connection possible?

hi.
can i use the ethernet port on the back of my apple tv to connect my printer to for wireless printing?
cheers!

no. It's an in only

My apple tv is connected directly by ethernet. I cannot get the airplay to connect. Everything is on

My Apple TV is connect correctly & shows up on my TV. When I try to show a movie via my iPhone 4S through Airplay, it will not connect on my TV.

Sounds as though the software update failed.
You ned to restore AppleTV.
You need to get hold of a micro USB cable (many newer external hard drives seem to have these flimsy cables), disconnect cables from AppleTV and follow instructions here after hooking up to iMac via the microUSB cable alone.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4367
AC

One solution for Apple TV losing connection to its iTunes Library

In 2012 I bought an Apple TV3 to let me use the AirPlay features of my New iPad with my HD TV. All worked fine and still does. Later in 2012 I subscribed to Netflix and enjoyed streaming movies to my HD TV via the Apple TV. Having had such a good experience with it so far I bought another for our bedroom TV and another for a relative, hoping they would have the same great experience with it.
Both of my Apple TV units at my house have worked flawlessly since installing them. We can start watching a Netflix movie downstairs then go upstairs and carry on where the movie left off.
At my relative's house the experience was not so flawless and has resulted in about 2 months of frustration but happily their AppleTV3 is now also working as expected. It has been quite a journey to get to this point and had a surprising solution.
I am the 'go-to' person in my family for these things so I installed the Apple TV for my relative.
My relative has a Windows XP (SP3) PC running the latest iTunes (11.0.2), a BTHomeHub 2 router, connected by WiFi to the Apple TV. The PC was connected by ethernet cable to the router. I installed the Apple TV, set up the hdmi connection to the HD TV, connected it to the WiFi network, upgraded to the latest iTunes on the PC, added the Apple ID for Home Sharing to iTunes and the Apple TV and could connect to the iTunes library on the PC, all good so far. I could play video or music or podcast or view photos from the iTunes library on the PC but after a short time (a few minutes or so), if I tried to play a different video or music track the I would get the familiar spinning icon and the Apple TV would not play the media file. Often the Apple TV would still show the contents of the iTunes library but would not play anything from it. When it was in this state it was still possible to play iTunes Trailers or Purchased content or a Youtube video or display photos from my library. This proved it was still connected to the internet and to some extent my library on the PC because it could display photos.
Initially I thought it was a WiFi problem as that was how the Apple TV was connected to the router. So as I already had a Powerline ethernet link running from the router to the TV for the Humax Freeview box for the BBC iPlayer, I ordered a small network switch to share the Powerline ethernet cable with the Apple TV. However the same drooping connection problems were apparent. I tried changing the QoS settings on the Powerline link, tried to prioritise TCP or UDP or both , but no improvement. I decided to abandon the Powerline link in case it was 'too slow', perhaps that was the issue.
I tried one of the Apple TV units from my house, where they were working fine and I got the same problem, at my relative's house it behaved like their unit, it would connect play a movie (all the way through if we let it) but after a few minutes if trying to play something else it would not play anything further. I tried their Apple TV at my house and it worked there, so the unit was not at fault.
At various times while troubleshooting these problems I have unistalled iTunes, reinstalled it, uninstalled Bonjour, reinstalled it (it comes with iTunes), searched the registry and cleaned it (Warning: do this at your own risk as you risk destabilising Windows), I have tried disabling my firewall on the PC and/or on the router, uninstalled the Antivirus / Firewall software (Norton) on the PC, I have added the Ports required for the Apple TV to my router and firewall software, I have read many, many forum posts about what has worked for other people and I tried them all in various combinations.
I decided having tried the above that the problem must be the Windows PC, so I swapped it for a few days with a laptop, connected wirelessly to the router. I had an iTunes library on the laptop so I shared it with the Apple TV and stopped iTunes running on my relative's PC. For a few days it actually worked, the Apple TV would play one movie/music track and I could select another and play it after a few minutes, a partial solution had been found except the laptop was needed elsewhere and I wanted the Windows PC to be the source for the iTunes library. I briefly considered suggesting they should buy a modern PC or Mac as their Windows PC was around 9 years old, may be that was the problem? This would have cost around £400+ and was out of the question. Fortunately I had a spare PC and I decided to swap it with the Windows PC, it was only a couple of years old and as such it must be 'better' I thought. Swapping one PC with another and transferring e-mails and documents etc. took quite a few hours but it was done. I uninstalled iTunes, reinstalled it and set up the home sharing again. This second Windows PC was running XP (SP3) and Norton 360 Firewall/Anitvirus software. I checked that after installing iTunes the Program rules in Norton were allowing the TCP and UDP communications expected by the Apple TV, I noted these were not specific ports but all TCP and all UDP communications were allowed. All of this met the recommendations that other posts had suggested. I tried it with the Apple TV but no, exactly the same problem, the iTunes library could not be found after a few minutes.
I found that if I restarted the Apple TV it would connect and play a file (movie/music etc) but if I played an iTunes trailer or just waited a minute or so then it would lose the connection. Another symptom would be when I landed on the 'Compters' icon it would tell me to 'enable home sharing on the PC with this Apple ID' , which I had already done.
If I tried playing via the Apple TV while selecting tracks from within iTunes on the PC, then sometimes the AirPlay icon was present or not present, sometimes worked and would then always not work until I restarted at least iTunes and the Apple TV, if not also the router or PC, whatever I tried it would not result in a connection between the Apple TV and the PC that would survive more than a few moniutes at a time.
Having swapped the Windows PC hosting the iTunes library with another I swapped the Apple TV again with one from my house, again same behaviour. So this suggested the problem was the BTHomeHub router as that was the only bit of hardware not exchanged. I compared its settings with the same unit at my house, I tried forwarding ports, I tried chaging the security from the default 'WPA & WPA2' to WPA or WPA2, still no solution. I tried reducing the default WiFi connection protocol from 802b/g/n to 802/b/g. I tried variations of all the other possible settings that could be changed but in the end set them to match the ones at my house. Still no solution. I considered buying an Airport Extreme or similar to link that via an ethernet cable to the router and enable it to be the WiFi access point for the Apple TV. This would have cost around £80 similar to the cost of the Apple TV itself, so was also dismissed as an idea.
I decided to restore the router to factory settings, this was done and I set up the WiFi connection again to the Apple TV, still no solution, same behaviour on the Apple TV. I decided it must be a problem with the WiFi so I tried a direct ethernet cable trailed through the house from the router to the Apple TV to eliminate the WiFi involvement, that would have to be the answer, wouldn't it? No, same problem.
I discovered some useful diagnostics along the way that are somewhat techie but worth persevering with as they could be useful for diagnosing what the problem could be. Find out on your router what the IP Address is for your computer that is hosting your iTunes library and the IP Address for your Apple TV. The IP address is essential for either device to connect with each other or the internet. The Apple TV IP address can be seen via Settings/General/Network, it has the form like '192.168.1.69' and for the PC it was '192.168.1.80', the values don't have a particular significance but the last digits after the 3rd dot will be different for each device.
On the PC (or Mac), open a Command (PC) or Terminal(Mac) prompt and try to 'ping' the Apple TV to see if you get a response
e.g.
c:\ping 192.168.1.69
or
c:\ping apple-tv
You should get a response indicating the number of milliseconds it takes for the 'ping' to be returned to the PC from the Apple TV , this will show that the PC can connect to the Apple TV, if it does not get a response then you should check that the PC and Apple TV are connected to the same network (either wired or wifi). You must be able to get a successful ping for the connection between the PC and the Apple TV to work at all.
Another diagnostic is to check the network status on the PC (or Mac)
e.g.
c:\netstat -an
This will show all the current TCP/UDP connections and also the local and remote IP addresses and ports. Look for the IP address of the Apple TV in the third column, there will be many rows returned so just concentrate on the rows with the IP addressses of the PC and the Apple TV
e.g. look for rows like the following:
TCP 192.169.1.80:3689 192.168.1.69:49123 ESTABLISHED
UDP 192.168.1.80:5353 *.*
UDP *.123 *.*
TCP Port 3689 is used by the Apple TV to communicate with iTunes for playing content. This connection is essential, there may be more than one 'established' connection to the remote Apple TV from the local PC.
UDP Port 5353 is used by the Apple Bonjour service to send multicast communications between iTunes and any iOS devices on the same network, such as the Apple TV, again it is essential.
Port 123 is used by Apple products to obtain the date and time, the UDP row above shows that any local IP Address can communicate with any remote IP address on the router's network and provide it with date and time information.
If your firewall software on the PC is blocking any of these ports then the 'netstat' command is useful to see if you need to unblock any. In my experience, this port unblocking was not necessary as when I installed iTunes, the Norton software automatically set up appropriate rules for the iTunes program, and opened the required TCP and UDP communications as iTunes needed.
Likewise, on the router itself, I have the UPnP setting enabled and this allows software like iTunes and Bonjour to traverse the router's firewall without it being necesssary to explicitly set the ports to be forwarded.
If I started the Apple TV, and ran the 'netstat -an' command over the next few minutes I could see the number of rows for the Apple TV diminish, and this was a symptom of the dropping connection problem.
Ultimately having replaced the Apple TV with another 'working' one , swapped the PC, restored the router to factory defaults, disabled the Windows or Norton firewall, tried ethernet and WiFi connection between the router and Apple TV it struck me that the only component I had not considered was the insignificant ethernet cable linking the PC to the router. This has been present since the router was installed for the original PC around 4 years ago. But surely this was how the original PC and the swapped in PC were getting to the internet quite normally and successfully? Also this was how the Apple TV was accessing the PC via WiFi then via the router through this ethernet cable, there was no way it could be the cable, cables don't allow a connection for a short time and then cause a timeout can they?. Thus, confused, and with all other avenues explored, I removed the cable between the PC and the router and enabled a WiFi connection from the PC to the router. After restarting the PC, Router and Apple TV, just to be sure, I tried the Apple TV again.
I could play some music on the Apple TV from the iTunes library, I could play it for a minute or so and then go to movies and play a movie from the iTunes library. I tried to play an iTunes trailer, some YouTube videos, these worked as usual. I then went back to the library and yes, I could play another music track or another movie. I forced the Apple TV to 'sleep' via Settings/General/Sleep Now and tried again, I woke it up and could play any music or movie from the library. Elated, I went out for meal with the family, nervously hoping throughout the meal that the solution had been found. After a couple of hours we returned, woke up the Apple TV and yes, oh yes!, it would connect with the library and play a succession of music or videos without seeing any dropped connections. Several hours later I could wake up the Apple TV again and select any content from the iTunes library on the PC and play it, finally the unit is behaving as I would expect.
This solution may not apply for all, but it worth following all of the components in the path between the Apple TV, router, computer (either PC or Mac) and the iTunes library and checking that each is able to commmunicate successfully and over a period of time reliably so that the Apple TV can perform as flawlessly as it is capable of.
Don't, as I did expect the solution to involve a complicated series of special settings of ports or communications protocol changes. Do perform a clean install of iTunes and keep it updated, do keep Firewall settings simple and let the settings be default settings, do rely on UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) on the router. Let the router select which channel it wants to use, it will select the channel with least interference...and check out that insignificant ethernet cable if you have one. It might work fine for general communications from the computer to router to the internet but it can be a source of connections dropping on the Apple TV!
My relative is now a happy Apple TV user too.

Useful to watch what is happening to the TCP/UDP connections when the Apple TV is connected to iTunes and when it is actually playing some media from iTunes and when it stops playing.
To see this, use the Network Statistics command 'netstat' from a Command prompt (Windows PC) / Terminal Window (Mac):
e.g. for Windows:
c:\netstat -an 5
This repeats the netstat command every 5 seconds, use Ctrl-C to quit the command. (Use 'netstat -h' for help with this command)
While iTunes is running there will be a number of TCP records displayed for the computer's IP address using port 3689, showing at least 3 ports in use for the Apple TV's IP address.
i.e.
TCP host_ip:3689 apple_tv_ip:49187 ESTABLISHED
TCP host_ip:3689 apple_tv_ip:49196 ESTABLISHED
TCP host_ip:3689 apple_tv_ip:49255 ESTABLISHED
When it is playing content there are more connections established, some of these rows will gradually disappear when the media file stops playing. These addional TCP records show iTunes using different ports from 3689, but only while media files are being played.
When a video file is played, (on this Windows PC at least) the iTunes host is using ports 4463 and 4464, with the Apple TV using port 7000. When playing a music track or podcast, the iTunes host is using port 4472 or 4489 and the Apple TV is using port 5000.
When the media is playing, the fourth column returned by the 'netstat -an 5' command : 'State' shows as 'ESTABLISHED' and shortly after the media file is stopped playing it shows as 'TIME_WAIT' until the record disappears after a minute or so.

Apple TV Ethernet Connection

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for