Apple TV3 dropping connection from iTunes...

Question

Hi there,
I've read a lot of issues on the same thing but I wonder if anyone is having the same issue as me.
Thinking it was a hardware problem I secured a replacement from the store but I'm having the same issue.
I have a PC, Windows 8
BT Infinity (with their home hub, I'm UK based)
My Apple TV is wired directly to the hub (I have also adjusted the settings to give the Apple static IP addresses, I've also tried it with automatic IP)
If I boot everything up from scratch the Apple TV will play both music and my movies (both my DVD rips and those purchased from iTunes store and downloaded to the PC).
However, let's say when I've done the above I decide to watch a movie that is on the PC, it works and I can watch the full film or even a TV program.  Then I decide I want to watch another film after viewing that one, that's when I get the spinning wheel.  The Apple TV will recognise my iTunes library and display the movies but unless I watch something on the cloud I cannot view what's on my PC hard drive.  Then after a bit the Apple is telling me to turn on home sharing.  It already is on and my PC has no sleep settings activated, I turned them all off so unless I power down nothing will enter sleep mode or even powersave.
I then have to reboot the PC and open iTunes again.
Like I mentioned I've taken the first one back for an exchange, the same problem persists.  I've also been on the phone to Apple who advised to power everything down for 5 minutes then turn the router back on followed by the Apple then the PC.  That worked, so I then left it for 5 minutes and then the problem happened again when I decided to watch a film that I put on my PC hard drive.  It seems that I have to choose what I want to do quickly but it wont work with further requests after something is played. 
I am using the inbuilt virus checker that comes with Win 8 (Elements I think it's called) and I use Windows Firewall.  I have tried creating a rule to allow iTunes to connect out on the firewall settings but this did nothing.  I've tired automatic IP addresses and now trying static ones but again, no joy.  Bonjour has been uninstalled, reinstalled, opened up connections in the firewall, basically everything I've read on this issue I've done.
I read somewhere about turning off the Dolby Stereo, and yes, you guessed it, nothing corrected it.
Has anyone had this problem exactly and any idea how to overcome it.  Apple have suggested a clean reinstall of my PC, so I tried it, wiped everything and started again.  Nothing, so I tried it on my laptop which has Windows 7 and it seems it's not localised to just one specific version of Windows.
Getting a bit fed up now! 
As a last ditch attempt I also checked the serial number to see if it was an old unit that needed to be replaced but it's not.  Oh, and I have also tried wireless and wired.  That didn't change anything.
One interesting thing though, when looking at the settings for the BT Home Hub and looking at devices, when I know the Apple TV is connected it's showing as not connected.  It appears as though it is dropping connection after it has perhaps synced the whole film from the PC.  I can't think of a way to force it to stay connected.
Any suggestions?

Answer 1

UPDATE
This is now resolved, not with the use of the Homehub though.
After another conversation with Apple they asked me if the Youtube app on the TV works, which it does then there's a problem elsewhere!  Therefore Apple think there's an issue with the hub or the home network.  They also asked me to try something on the hub called Port Forwarding.  However, because that the hub isn't an Apple product they are not allowed to advise me on tinkering with the settings.  But did suggest to Google a website called port forwarding. 
Having a look at that I tried what it suggested by connecting to the BT Homehub, you guessed it, that didn't work either.  I called BT who advised that their technical help team that would deal with this has been disbanded and the person I spoke to gave me the port forwarding suggestion on Google.
At this stage I had had enough and after reading a few more bits of feedback I then looked at replacing the hub with something I could buy myself.  This led me to Amazon where I purchased the ASUS RT-N56U and a modem to go with it.  I ripped out the hub and linked the modem to the line in the wall and the router to the modem, I had to bridge the router to the modem and after that was done I set up the wireless.
I'm now very pleased to say that it works, everything is syncing as it should do and the speeds of my downloads have also increased.  So far no issues at all.  I also have a constant connection to the PC and can view as many films as I want that are downloaded to the PC.  No lagging, no problems at all.
Bit of an expensive solution but the modem and router I bought can also replace a Virgin one should I change suppliers in the future.
If you follow this solution and are doing it the same with BT just Google the username for the hubs as it's the same for everyone, you can get that username from the hub if you connect to it but if you're like me and didn't think of that all the solutions you can google.  I used the CD's that came with the items and I had it all set up and running in 5 minutes.  If you do purchase the RT-N56U don't forget you need a modem, as that bit I forgot about and then had to order that via Amazon as well.
That's really all you need!