By
eHow Electronics Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Find the right audio and video cables. These are not included with your Apple TV because there are so many variations out there. You'll need either an HDMI to HDMI cable or an HDMI to DVI cable to connect your Apple TV to your television set. And you'll need an additional cable if you want to run your Apple TV through your stereo system.
Step2
Add a switcher if you need one. If you're running several HDMI devices to your TV, a switcher, similar to the old A/B switchers, will solve this problem.
Step3
Upgrade your computer so it's compatible with Apple TV. You should be running OS X 10.3.9 or later. For a PC, you should have Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2. You also should be running Itunes 7.1 or later.
Step4
Connect your Apple TV with an Ethernet cable, or you can use the build-in wireless capability. If you need to purchase an Ethernet cable, look for 802.11b, g and n. The plain cable is okay for music streaming, but g and n are required for video.
Step5
Determine the accessories you need and then purchase them. Apple TV accessories are sold at any Apple store, your local electronics store and online.