Oh, I see your point. I really don't know all the finer points of Apple TV and networking, but couldn't a "network" option be available that would just indicate that the library is located on a network drive? Then all ATVs iTunes could update themselves?
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Is anyone streaming to an Apple TV via a Drobo?
- Thread starter ascender
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For those with this setup:
1) Are you using USB or Firewire?
2) Do any of you have the network add-on?
Also, does anybody have news on a v3 that might come with the NIC already on the unit?
1) Are you using USB or Firewire?
2) Do any of you have the network add-on?
Also, does anybody have news on a v3 that might come with the NIC already on the unit?
1. I'm using Firewire 800 to my mac pro
2. No. It seems like a waste. Personally I would buy the Airport Extreme router and connect the Drobo via USB before I'd buy the Drobo network doohickey.
Well my reason for asking is that I assume USB would act as a bottleneck. However, from what I can tell, USB is the mechanism used to transfer data between the network add-on and the Drobo itself. In turn, we're back at the limitation of USB.
Are there more problems if you are streaming via a router/usb configuration rather than directly connected to the machine?
Are there more problems if you are streaming via a router/usb configuration rather than directly connected to the machine?
First you have to look as your slowest point... the aTv. Wireless N gets about 74 MB/s and some claim up to 160 MB/s by the end of 2009 (I don't know about this) & Ethernet port on aTV is only 100MB/s. Your USB 2.0 is running at about 430 MB/s. So no matter what the network connection is, it is your slowest point.
I agree that a full HD can cause a problem. For about $115 on ebay you can buy a 250GB HD preloaded with aTv software. Just swap out drives, run updates and you are good to go. Also, the nitoTV add-on allows you to add external HDs, up to 250GB.
So if you wanted to, you could be running an aTv with 500GB (also sold on ebay for WAY to much money, I think $500).
I am currently running an aTv 40GB wirelessly through a AEB(n) to an WinXP machine sharing a 1TB My Book external HD. I create full size ISO file (4 - 7 GB each) and stream them. No hangups.
We will see what happens when I get my MB next week and then a Drobo when I can afford it.
Good feedback, thanks. However, isn't 480Mb/s the maximum theoretical throughput of USB2.0? A lot of times the general feedback is that real world applications are much slower.
I've noticed the video problem with my set up - 1st gen USB Drobo, white Intel iMac, Apple TV connected via ethernet in automatic sync mode. Most of the time it is fine but occasionally playing a video that requires streaming will cause stuttering. Leave it and try again later or do something else like playing a YouTube video, and the video goes back to normal.
I'm pretty sure this started after the last Apple TV update but that may be a coincidence. The Drobo works fine with everything else, and is about 65% full.
I'm inclined to blame the AppleTV but don't have any hard evidence...
I'm pretty sure this started after the last Apple TV update but that may be a coincidence. The Drobo works fine with everything else, and is about 65% full.
I'm inclined to blame the AppleTV but don't have any hard evidence...
You are correct, the MAX speed is 480MB/s but the bulk transfer rate (what ever that is) is claimed to be 320MB/s.
I really shouldn't post until I finish my first cup of coffee.
This is true on computers because the USB bandwidth is shared by ALL USB devices. So it's actually 480mb/s (theoretical) shared by x amount of devices. Firewire has 400mb/s for each device and does not require any input from the CPU due to device 'handshaking.'
However, on aTV where the only USB device you'll be using is a HDD, then there is less of a problem. Assuming a maximum bandwidth of 430mb/s, you're still gonna get a lot faster than your network connection, which is pretty much what Chipskip is saying.
By the way, I noticed there is currently a rebate promotion ongoing with Drobo through the end of the month, bringing the price to under $400. I wonder if this implies a new model might be coming out in the next few months.
http://www.amazon.com/Data-Robotics..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0BBVWZR8PC4HDW6DDTPB
http://www.amazon.com/Data-Robotics..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0BBVWZR8PC4HDW6DDTPB
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There was a firmware update which apparently fixed the stuttering video issue, but it didn't help here. The next firmware patch did help a great deal, but there were still problems. I've now got things working much better than ever and I've removed the Drobo from the equation.
However, there's no doubt in my mind that the Apple TV has played its part in all of this. I think its a product with great potential, but is far from being a polished and reliable piece of kit. Often the ATV will be doing "something" so that the remote becomes unresponsive or video stutters, but I've no idea what its up to. There's no sync happening at the time and the content is local to the ATV. Sometimes the ATV will "not recognise" the music or video file I've selected, despite me having just played that file 5 minutes earlier.
iTunes sometimes loses the ATV and needs to be restarted. Sometimes ATV loses the connection to iTunes and needs to be rebooted.
Moving to a fully wired setup should help things, but last week I had a stuttering video playing on ATV which is wired to the same switch as the Mac which holds the iTunes library on it. At the same time I was able to watch the same video file via my Macbook over its wireless connection.
I just think the ATV is very close to being a wonderful product but needs some final TLC from Apple to iron out the last few kinks in its OS. We were starting to get tantalisingly close with the v1 software imo, but with 2 it seems to be a case of starting from scratch again. Very frustrating.
However, there's no doubt in my mind that the Apple TV has played its part in all of this. I think its a product with great potential, but is far from being a polished and reliable piece of kit. Often the ATV will be doing "something" so that the remote becomes unresponsive or video stutters, but I've no idea what its up to. There's no sync happening at the time and the content is local to the ATV. Sometimes the ATV will "not recognise" the music or video file I've selected, despite me having just played that file 5 minutes earlier.
iTunes sometimes loses the ATV and needs to be restarted. Sometimes ATV loses the connection to iTunes and needs to be rebooted.
Moving to a fully wired setup should help things, but last week I had a stuttering video playing on ATV which is wired to the same switch as the Mac which holds the iTunes library on it. At the same time I was able to watch the same video file via my Macbook over its wireless connection.
I just think the ATV is very close to being a wonderful product but needs some final TLC from Apple to iron out the last few kinks in its OS. We were starting to get tantalisingly close with the v1 software imo, but with 2 it seems to be a case of starting from scratch again. Very frustrating.
You are correct, the MAX speed is 480MB/s but the bulk transfer rate (what ever that is) is claimed to be 320MB/s.
I really shouldn't post until I finish my first cup of coffee.
MB/s ≠ Mb/s