Chapter 4 Infrastructure and integration 30
AirPlay
iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite support the ability to stream content from an Apple device to Apple TV
even if the devices are on dierent networks or there’s no network available. The Apple device
uses Bluetooth® Low Energy (BTLE) to begin the discovery process of available Apple TV devices
and then establishes a connection directly to Apple TV using Wi-Fi. Bluetooth Low Energy
discovery is a distinct subset of peer-to-peer AirPlay.
In iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, peer-to-peer AirPlay lets a user use AirPlay directly from a supported
iOS device or Mac to an Apple TV without rst connecting to an organization’s network. Peer-
to-peer AirPlay eliminates the need to join the right network or disclose Wi-Fi passwords, avoids
reachability issues in complex network environments, and provides a direct path from the AirPlay
sender to AirPlay receiver to optimize performance. Peer-to-peer AirPlay is enabled by default in
iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, and doesn’t require any user conguration.
Peer-to-peer AirPlay requires:
•
Apple TV (3rd generation rev A Model A1469 or later) with Apple TV software 7.0 or later
•
iOS devices (late 2012 or later) with iOS 8 or later
•
Mac computers (2012 or later) with OS X Yosemite or later
To nd the model number of an Apple TV, see the Apple Support article Identifying Apple TV
models.
Peer-to-Peer discovery is initiated using Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) when a user selects AirPlay
on an iOS device running iOS 8 or Mac running OS X Yosemite. This causes the device and the
Apple TV to visit Wi-Fi channel 149,1 in the 5 GHz band and Wi-Fi channel 6 in the 2.4 GHz band,
where the discovery process continues. Once the user selects an Apple TV and AirPlay starts, the
Wi-Fi radios timeshare between channel 149,1 and whichever infrastructure channel each device
is currently using. If possible, the AirPlay sender roams to the same infrastructure channel the
Apple TV is using. If neither device is currently using an infrastructure network, the devices will
utilize Wi-Fi channel 149 only for AirPlay. Peer-to-peer AirPlay adheres to 802.11 standards, sharing
Wi-Fi bandwidth with other Wi-Fi devices.
When you deploy Apple TVs on a large enterprise Wi-Fi network, consider the following
guidelines:
•
Connect Apple TV to Ethernet whenever possible.
•
If possible, avoid using Wi-Fi Channels 149 and 153 for your infrastructure network.
•
Don’t place or mount the Apple TV behind objects that could disrupt the Bluetooth Low
Energy and Wi-Fi signals.
•
When mounting an Apple TV to a wall or other surface, always mount it with the foot side to
the surface.
•
If peer-to-peer AirPlay isn’t supported on either the AirPlay sender or receiver, then the
infrastructure connection is automatically used.
AirPlay discovery
iOS devices will continue to use the same discovery methods available today to nd AirPlay
receivers. AirPlay receivers can advertise themselves using Bonjour or Bluetooth. Discovery over
Bluetooth requires iOS 7.1 or later on the following:
•
iPad Air
•
Apple TV (3rd generation or later) running software 6.1 or later
•
iPhone 4s or later
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