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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
(152,380 points)

AirPlay Troubleshooting - Dropped Streams / Poor Streaming Performance

by:  Tesserax
Last modified: Nov 20, 2024 10:55 AM
3 10375 Last modified Nov 20, 2024 10:55 AM

Dropped Streams

A dropped stream typically indicates that iTunes/Apple Music host and the AirPlay "speaker" (AirPort Express, Apple TV, or 3rd-party AirPlay device) cannot maintain their communication link for AirPlay. This link is reconfirmed periodically. A weak or interrupted Wi-Fi signal can cause this linkage communication not to happen.


Poor Audio Quality

On the other hand, poor audio quality while streaming (no drop-outs), is almost always caused by insufficient bandwidth between the AirPlay host and the speaker.


Basic AirPlay Troubleshooting

Basic AirPlay troubleshooting revolves around five steps:

  1. Verify that your Mac's built-in AirPort card is functioning properly.
  2. Verify that your Mac is not running any apps that could prevent it from either connecting or streaming to an AirPlay "speaker."
  3. Verify that your Mac is properly configured for streaming.
  4. Verify that your AirPlay "speaker" is properly configured for streaming.
  5. Verify that there isn't any form of Wi-Fi interferences that would make streaming difficult or impossible. Even if you don't have neighbors you should still check for other Wi-Fi networks operating in the area. Also, things like portable phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices & even building construction materials used can all be culprits.


Verify that your Mac's built-in AirPort card is functioning properly.

For this step, you will be using macOS's built-in Wireless Diagnostics app.

  1. Option (or right)- click the Wi-Fi icon on the macOS menu bar, and then, select Open Wireless Diagnostics…
  2. On the Wireless Diagnostics' Introduction window, click Continue. If required, enter your Mac's Administrator credentials, and then, click OK.
  3. Wait for the results. If the result is: "Your Wi-Fi connection appears to be working as expected," then click on Start Over. This would indicate that your Mac's internal card is functioning properly and has established a connection to the wireless network. If you get any other results, then the AirPort card will need to be further investigated … a separate troubleshooting topic.
  4. You may wish to select the option to have a diagnostics report created. To do so, click on Continue.


Verify that your Mac is not running any apps that could prevent it from either connecting or streaming to an AirPlay "speaker"

Anti-virus apps and software firewalls are the two biggest contributors to AirPlay steaming issues. AirPlay requires open firewall ports on the Mac. (Note: Do not confuse these with ports on your network's router. AirPlay only works over your local network.)


Specific ports are needed to first locate, and then, establish a secure communications link to the AirPlay "speaker." And a different set of ports are required for the actual streaming. Your Mac comes with two types of software firewalls. By default, both are disabled. However, if you enabled either of these or use a third-party firewall, like Little Snitch, you will need to make sure that the required ports are open for AirPlay. If you run any type of software firewall on your Mac, temporarily disable it, OR, if you need to keep it enabled, check with the AirPlay Ports table below to see that it is NOT blocking any of those listed.


AirPlay Ports


Verify that your Mac is properly configured properly for streaming.

AirPlay requires a number of IP protocols to work properly. Two of the most important are Bonjour (mDNS) and RTSP. Access to the base station also requires the IPv6 protocol. If any of these are blocked could be one reason that you are unsuccessful in streaming from your Mac.


Check the following on your Mac:

  • Verify that IPv6 Link-local mode is enabled. (Note: IPv6 Automatic is not the same as Link-local only.) If your ISP is not providing you with IPv6 services, you should reconfigure your Mac to use Link-local only mode. To do so, go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi or Ethernet > Details > TCP/IP > Configure IPv6: Link-local only
  • Verify that Bonjour can "find" the AirPlay "speaker." I suggest that you download and install Bonjour Browser for this purpose. Run it, and then, check to see if your AirPlay "speaker" appears.


Verify that your AirPlay "speaker" is properly configured for steaming.

Check the following for the AirPort Express base station:

  • Use the AirPort Utility to verify that the base station's name does not exceed 16 characters and does not include any spaces or special characters.
  • Verify that the Enable AirPlay option is checked (enabled) on the AirPlay tab.
  • While on this tab, verify that the AirPlay Speaker Name, like the base station name, does not exceed 16 characters and does not include any spaces or special characters.
  • Finally, you may want to consider downgrading the firmware on the base station. Try either of the following, as appropriate:
    • Starting at 7.8, first downgrade to 7.6.9. Then down to 7.6.8
    • Starting at 7.6.9, downgrade to 7.6.8


Check the following for the AppleTV:

  • Settings > AirPlay > AirPlay: On
  • Settings > AirPlay > Allow Access: Same Network > Everyone OR Anyone on the Same Network


For any third-party AirPlay "speaker," follow the manufacturers' recommendations for configuring the device for AirPlay.


Verify that there isn't any form of Wi-Fi interferences that would make streaming difficult or impossible.

  • Determine if there are other Wi-Fi networks present:
    • To get started, use the Mac's built-in Network Diagnostics to determine if there are other nearby Wi-Fi networks present. (Note: The following is based on a Mac running OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.)
    • Option (or right)- click the Wi-Fi icon on the macOS menu bar, and then, select Open Wireless Diagnostics…Do NOT click on Continue. Instead go to the Wireless Diagnostics' menu bar and select Window > Scan > Scan Now.
    • Let the scan run for at least 2-5 minutes. The result of the scan will provide you with a listing of Wi-Fi networks that are operating nearby that the Mac's AirPort card can detect. Note those especially with a high (least negative) RSSI value and what channel(s) they are operating on. These are wireless networks that may be affecting yours. (Note: Remember, even if there are no other networks present, Wi-Fi interference can still be an issue.)
    • Close the Scan window.
  • Find the instantaneous Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) value.
    • When back to the Introduction window, do NOT click on Continue. Instead go to the Wireless Diagnostics' menu bar and select Window > Info
    • Note the values for:
      • RSSI
      • Noise
    • Calculate the SNR value.
      • SNR (dB) = RSSI (dBm) - Noise (dBm).
      • If this value is less than 25 dB, we will want to continue with the dynamic SNR readings section below.
      • If it is at or above this value, then the wireless network signal quality may not be the issue.
    • Close the Info window.
  • Review dynamic SNR readings.
    • On the Wireless Diagnostic's menu bar, select Window > Performance.
    • Review the Quality trend line. This will provide you with a real-time indication of the quality of your current wireless network connection. The Quality graph represents the SNR value over time. For best streaming performance you will want the SNR value to stay above 25 dB. (Note: Even if the trend line hovers above 25 dB, something else to look for is peaks/valleys in this trend line. It should remain fairly flat. Numerous peaks/valleys indicates a disrupted signal.)


References

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