Increasing Problems with AppleTV

[jersey10]

I have had 2 AppleTVs for the past year or so - one hooked up via Ethernet, one wireless. Up until the last few weeks, they each worked perfectly. However, in the past few weeks, I am having increasing problems with them. Specifically, (i) AppleTV regularly dropping out of iTunes (a problem I posted about previously and which others seem to be having also), and (ii) frequent brief pausing when I am watching content, whether it be synced or streaming, something I ripped or something I bought through iTunes, basically every form of content I have. Since it is a problem with both of my AppleTVs and affects even synced content, I am guessing it must be a problem created by an AppleTV software update, as opposed to a hardware problem, iTunes problem, or Airport Express problem.

Has anyone else had this problem with content (even synced content) pausing during playback? Any ideas how to solve it?

 

[kjvi5]

Yes, I am having the same problems within the same time frame as you seem to have.

Although since with mine the ATV that is closer in proximity to my Imac is seeming to work better than the one that is downstairs and further away (even though it is right next to an airport express base station plugged into the wall).

Just last night I did a factory reset on the downstairs one. I then went to resync all the movies/music/tv I had on it previously and it took all night to do the sync and even this morning was only 3/4 done.

This leads me to believe it has more to do with my router and the strength of the signal than anything else. And since my 2 ATV's were only purchased 6 months apart I'm guessing it's less an issue with them than with something else.

 

[kevrei]

Very Frustrated

I've had an ATV for about 18 months. Up until 2 months ago it worked perfectly and I was a big booster. Now it is nothing but a hassle. The video freezes while the audio continues, the color fades and blotches like some bad psychedelic mess. It's not the display, it's not the network, it's not the files, it's the device. I've gathered from various forums that there is a problem with heat buildup in some of the earlier ATV's, perhaps this is the problem. Has anybody had this experience?
Does anyone have a remedy?

 

[jersey10]

My issue can't be the router since it happens even with synced content and even the AppleTV that is hooked up via ethernet cable.

I am completely stumped (and annoyed) as to the cause of these problems.

 

[rhett7660]

I've had an ATV for about 18 months. Up until 2 months ago it worked perfectly and I was a big booster. Now it is nothing but a hassle. The video freezes while the audio continues, the color fades and blotches like some bad psychedelic mess. It's not the display, it's not the network, it's not the files, it's the device. I've gathered from various forums that there is a problem with heat buildup in some of the earlier ATV's, perhaps this is the problem. Has anybody had this experience?
Does anyone have a remedy?

I am wondering if this might be a big issue. I haven't had the problems yet but I have noticed my AppleTV gets freaking hot! I mean hot. I went out an purchased a fan unit, since my AppleTV sits in a media cabinet. This seems to have helped a little with the heat. But the sucker gets freaking hot. I can only imagine how the hard drive is doing with this much heat on it, let alone some of the other items within the AppleTV.

 

[mohanman]

I've had two appletvs for the past one year and not a single problem with either one. I use wired ethernet connections.

Yes they are hot, but not that hot... maybe you need to turn on your A/C

Mo

 

[rhett7660]

I've had two appletvs for the past one year and not a single problem with either one. I use wired ethernet connections.

Yes they are hot, but not that hot... maybe you need to turn on your A/C

Mo

If you read my post I haven't had any problems yet either however my AppleTV does get hot. Over a period of time the heat can cause damage. I have resorted to getting a fan for the AppleTV itself. Seems to be helping some what...

 

[Jopsy]

I too have issues with AppleTV dropping out of iTunes. This seemed to start with the previous iTunes update - up until that point everything had been rock solid but that iTunes update caused my AppleTV to periodically lose contact with iTunes, sometimes even mid-sync. Then, I expected the most recent iTunes update (last week I think) to fix things - but it's made things worse: now iTunes can't find my AppleTV at all. I'm not sure what to do next - return the AppleTV as faulty, wipe the drive and start again...

 

[cubbie5150]

I too have issues with AppleTV dropping out of iTunes. This seemed to start with the previous iTunes update - up until that point everything had been rock solid but that iTunes update caused my AppleTV to periodically lose contact with iTunes, sometimes even mid-sync. Then, I expected the most recent iTunes update (last week I think) to fix things - but it's made things worse: now iTunes can't find my AppleTV at all. I'm not sure what to do next - return the AppleTV as faulty, wipe the drive and start again...

I feel for you as I've had issues come up only recently as well. But, mine only started when I updated OS X to 10.5.7; I always upgrade iTunes w/in a few days of release, so the version prior to the most recent one was not an issue for me. Anyway, ATV just won't stay in my iTunes devices list, and prior to the most recent iTunes update, even when I re-started iTunes & re-synced ATV, my video files wouldn't play--I'd get the damn "format not recognized" error. I would have to re-boot ATV & re-sync again to get my videos to play...

Then it gets weirder... After the most recent iTunes update, lo & behold--no more issues!! ATV stayed in my iTunes devices, no issues. Stayed that way for over a day & a half!! Then, after needing to re-boot for non-iTunes software updates, ATV now once again will not stay in my iTunes devices. It makes utterly no sense to me... I use pretty much all Apple gear (pre-Santa Rosa MBP; 1st Gen Airport extreme Base Station -n). Ugh...I've basically given up

 

[soLoredd]

I also have been having problems for about 2 months now. I stream from a Mini to my Apple TV and it's worked fine for a year. Now, it will do as others described: freeze movies, pixelated, lose connection with Mini for no reason, etc.

Not sure what the deal is. This is over N network, which worked beautifully before.

 

[soLoredd]

I've had two appletvs for the past one year and not a single problem with either one. I use wired ethernet connections.

Yes they are hot, but not that hot... maybe you need to turn on your A/C

Mo

It's not an atmosphere issue. Even during winter months, the Apple TV is hot to the touch. I have to be careful about where I place mine now as my boy is starting to grab at stuff. The thing gets way beyond hot and far more than just "turn on your A/C" will fix.

 

[EarthDawn]

The video freezes while the audio continues, the color fades and blotches like some bad psychedelic mess.

Well i have had this as well and my thought was maybe an update did it ... Mine have always run pretty hot as well.

possibly AirPort Utility 5.4.2 ....

I have 2 ATV's and use the AirPort for wireless broadcast in the house.

anything all of us have in common ?

 

[kadeschs]

I have had 2 AppleTVs for the past year or so - one hooked up via Ethernet, one wireless. Up until the last few weeks, they each worked perfectly. However, in the past few weeks, I am having increasing problems with them. Specifically, (i) AppleTV regularly dropping out of iTunes (a problem I posted about previously and which others seem to be having also), and (ii) frequent brief pausing when I am watching content, whether it be synced or streaming, something I ripped or something I bought through iTunes, basically every form of content I have. Since it is a problem with both of my AppleTVs and affects even synced content, I am guessing it must be a problem created by an AppleTV software update, as opposed to a hardware problem, iTunes problem, or Airport Express problem.

Has anyone else had this problem with content (even synced content) pausing during playback? Any ideas how to solve it?

Yes, I've experienced both of these problems. Going from wireless to Ethernet cable seemed to fix the drop outs for the most part for me. After every iTunes update, I notice a problem with connection. I usually have to restart the computer and AppleTV after an iTunes update.

I've noticed the short pausing (small drop in frames?) on just about all content lately. Not sure what's causing this yet. I've tried different things. Nothing has worked.

I try to put the AppleTV in standby when not using it to help with the heat problem. Lets it cool down.

Hope this helps.

 

[Advance The Man]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

I have both dropped by iTunes sometimes. Not a big deal.

However, what is frustrating is it will sometimes delete 60 gb of shows and start resyncing. It does not delete off of iTunes library thank goodness. No idea why this occurs. Happened yesterday when I had a nano plugged into iTunes and was selecting and deselecting shows.

 

[dmm219]

is everyone putting tickets in with Apple? They can't fix it if they don't know its happening ...

Both of these problems (especially the one where the ATV can't authorize through itunes, thereby deleting all your itunes stuff), are becoming very frequent.

I don't have any playback issues on either of mine, but I do have Itunes issue. I've submitted multiple reports to Apple on it. I've also learned to hold off any new Itunes and ATV updates for at least a couple of months.

Lastly, I make the habbit of removing power completely from the ATV's each night (saves a lot of energy to shut down all your tvs, dvd, wiis, 360's, ATV's each night). This probably helps with the heat issue.

 

[pjarvi]

I've had problems with iTunes no longer being able to sync with the AppleTV and the white screen issue with video playback. For resolving both I pull the power and plug back in. The white screen problem I've had ever since I bought the unit, but I think it's more a problem with my HDMI switcher than the AppleTV itself. The iTunes syncing problems only started occurring with the recent update though.

Pulling the power at night sounds like a good alternative for now until Apple gets their **** together. It has always bothered me that the AppleTV doesn't have a proper power off mode, and the sleep mode has never worked for me (always wakes itself up or goes into a coma).