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Airplay from iPad to ATV needs an Airport, too? Seriously?!

J

johneaston

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 28, 2010
233
0
I got my new Apple TV for xmas after agreeing a family member could have my old 1st gen ATV.

So I've arrived at a friends house with my new ATV ready to 'airplay' a movie from my iPad for us all to watch - but it won't work. It's just dawned on me that perhaps I need my Airport Extreme, too?! Is that correct?!

If so, that's really, really rubbish. With my old ATV, I'd just chuck it into my bag along with an HDMI cable and the remote. But are Apple seriously suggesting that people now take the new Apple TV, HDMI cable, remote, Airport Extreme/Express, power cable, and iPad? Sod that!!

Big bad mistake if you ask me.
 
I don't think you have to use Apple routers, but I could be wrong.

I imagine you had both connected correctly to the same network and everything right? Because it should have just shown up.
 
johneaston said:
I got my new Apple TV for xmas after agreeing a family member could have my old 1st gen ATV.

So I've arrived at a friends house with my new ATV ready to 'airplay' a movie from my iPad for us all to watch - but it won't work. It's just dawned on me that perhaps I need my Airport Extreme, too?! Is that correct?!

If so, that's really, really rubbish. With my old ATV, I'd just chuck it into my bag along with an HDMI cable and the remote. But are Apple seriously suggesting that people now take the new Apple TV, HDMI cable, remote, Airport Extreme/Express, power cable, and iPad? Sod that!!

Big bad mistake if you ask me.
Click to expand...

No you don't need an airport extreme.
 
you need to be connected to the same network regardless of what network it is.

You might be able to use a macbook and create an adhoc network and connect both devices to it.
 
All you have to do is connect them both to the same network. You don't need to take your own router with you although an airport express is great for that.
 
As previously stated, you don't need your apple branded airport express/extreme. You just have to have them on the same network. I have a Buffalo router and it works just fine.
 
So a wireless router of some kind is necessary? My iPad is not able to talk to the ATV without the addition of some sort of wifi network?

So whereas before, with my 1st gen ATV, I could chuck it in my bag and take it to wherever I knew there was a TV, with my new ATV I not only need to take with me either my Mac or iPad (because the ATV has no storage), I also need to ensure there's a wireless network or take along my own wireless router in order to create one?!

That seems utterly ridiculous. Why on earth can't my iPad send video to the ATV without the need for a wireless network (like using Bluetooth if necessary, or even the iPad charging cable)?
 
Because AirStream works over WiFi. A wireless network is necessary to transfer data from your iPad to the AppleTV. That's just how it works.

AppleTV doesn't have the ability to stream video over USB (via the iPad dock connector as you suggested). It's just not in the OS. The USB port on AppleTV is strictly intended for diagnostic purposes. And Bluetooth? Seriously? Do you have any idea how slow Bluetooth is? Video streaming would never work that way.

If the AppleTV had the ability to set up an ad hoc WiFi network just to talk to your iPad it could be possible, but again that's just not available in the OS at this time.

You're just going to have to settle for using Airplay as it was designed - over an existing WiFi network. OR skip the AppleTV altogether and get a video out cable for your iPad to play movies at friends' houses.
 
Doesn't your friend have wifi?

They have to communicate somehow- airport express would work but like others have said, sounds like a component out cable is your best bet.

Maybe future iPhones and iPads will be able to create hotspots like the Droid, but prob not.
 
Anonymous Freak said:
Or you could just get a component TV cable for your iPad, and output directly from your iPad to a TV.
Click to expand...

Great idea - honestly forgot about that. I guess I'll return my new ATV and stick to my old one (as I've also been quite annoyed that the new one doesn't have analogue audio out to plug into my hifi).

In my personal opinion, the new ATV is a massive step backwards.

And if anyone fancies explaining to me (as simply as possible) why my Mac/iPad can't 'talk' to my ATV without the need for an Airport, I'd be grateful. In my simply mind, they both have wifi cards, they're both Apple.
 
johneaston said:
Great idea - honestly forgot about that. I guess I'll return my new ATV and stick to my old one (as I've also been quite annoyed that the new one doesn't have analogue audio out to plug into my hifi).

In my personal opinion, the new ATV is a massive step backwards.

And if anyone fancies explaining to me (as simply as possible) why my Mac/iPad can't 'talk' to my ATV without the need for an Airport, I'd be grateful. In my simply mind, they both have wifi cards, they're both Apple.
Click to expand...

Because your apple TV isn't connected to a wireless network. it's really not that difficult to understand…

How do you intend to send data to a network device which isn't connected to a network?
 
fabian9 said:
Because your apple TV isn't connected to a wireless network. it's really not that difficult to understand…

How do you intend to send data to a network device which isn't connected to a network?
Click to expand...

Why can't they create their own network? Why does it all have to go through my Airport?
 
johneaston said:
Why can't they create their own network? Why does it all have to go through my Airport?
Click to expand...

ATV2 always needs wireless or a network connected to the wireless that your ipad can see, and wireless always needs a network controller which is your Airport express or other router.

In the future they may put AE in the ATV2 but it would double the price and I also don't think apple designed the ATV2 as a portable device. I don't think it is good for apple to make everything a router - they expect local wireless to be everywhere.

I agree that the component cable is best for portability, and take a USB extension so the ipad can be further away from the power. That's what I have...

Maybe Bluetooth is another very good future option but again there is a cost and I think apple have kept ATV2 price competitive.
 
bergmef said:
Cause you then need a dhcp server to assign ip addresses and the ipad won't do that. Bluetooth would work if the apple tv had it.
Click to expand...

Bluetooth might work for audio, but I don't think it's got nearly enough bandwidth for video streaming...

johneaston said:
Why can't they create their own network? Why does it all have to go through my Airport?
Click to expand...

I think there might be a way to create a wireless network on your iPad if you jailbreak it. Not 100% sure though.
 
OllyW said:
Remember when you only had to take a DVD with you? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Nope, but I remember having to take stacks of DVDs with me so we could have a choice and also remember getting back home with my expensive DVDs a bit more scratched up and skipping. Dont miss those days one bit.
 
newagemac said:
Nope, but I remember having to take stacks of DVDs with me so we could have a choice and also remember getting back home with my expensive DVDs a bit more scratched up and skipping. Dont miss those days one bit.
Click to expand...

most people would have chosen the movie ahead of time and just carried one dvd, but hey, to each their own.
 
PeterQVenkman said:
most people would have chosen the movie ahead of time and just carried one dvd, but hey, to each their own.
Click to expand...

Yeah but then what do you do if they don't want to watch the particular movie you selected? What if they have already seen it? What if you brought an action movie and everyone is in the mood for a comedy? And no matter how few you bring you risk scratching them up or losing them and DVDs aren't really pocketable. Cases are too big and DVDs are too fragile on their own.

My iPhone is always in my pocket and I can even fit the new Apple TV in there. Netflix on both devices gives me access to thousands of movies and tv shows that even a trunk full of DVDs couldn't hold. And new releases are just a few dollars rental away or even purchaseable on the iPhone and ready to be Airplayed to the big screen in beautiful HD whether bought or rented. Nope don't miss those days at all. Getting a bit off subject though so I'll leave this one alone.
 
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