Networking Question

Conrad11 · 4 Apr 2006 at 11:33

Hi there,

I am setting up a little media center for my mate and I need some questions answered from you genius'.

He has a wireless network at home which is all fine and dandy and working. Now he wants to be able to stream video from his main pc to the media center and the media center to have the internet aswell.

Would it be more sensible to link the two computers with an ethanet cable and bridge the connections, stick a wirless card into the media center and stream through that.

I can think of plus points for each, such as that it would be able to stream the video faster through the ethanet and with less interuptions as it is a straight connection from one computer to another, right?

But then it would have internet lag on the main computer....right?

Or can he have a wireless card for the internet and the ethanet wire (about 0.5m) between the two computers and stream through that without the internet using it so no lag?

What would be better?

Thanks....

turboturtle · 4 Apr 2006 at 11:48

When streaming Family Guy from my server to my pc (using ethernet), according to AnalogX NetStat its transferring 160KB'ish per second, and thats a tiny tiny amount of bandwidth used - I reckon any method of connection should be enough, and i doubt there'd be any lag!

Conrad11 · 4 Apr 2006 at 11:55

Hi there,

If you get like interuptions in the network, etc, its normally really slow and can get disconnected. So I thought with ethanet it wouldn't.

I have a wireless network back here, and just to try and access or see anyones files on the network, the computer normally crashes for about 20 seconds, so would it not be like that?

Thanks...

turboturtle · 4 Apr 2006 at 11:59

I'm afraid I haven't got a wireless network, but it shouldn't be that unstable... I guess you could try updating drivers and that, but my ethernet network doesn't ever drop out to be honest!

tolien · 4 Apr 2006 at 12:03

Conrad11 said:
I have a wireless network back here, and just to try and access or see anyones files on the network, the computer normally crashes for about 20 seconds, so would it not be like that?

That isn't normal.

Conrad11 · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:17

Hi there,

It happend when I was on an Ethanet (wired) network too.....

Thanks....

sja360 · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:51

do you mean when you goto browse the network and for around 10-20 secs after clicking network places then view entire network? if so thats normal for me...

tolien · 4 Apr 2006 at 16:04

Conrad11 said:
It happend when I was on an Ethanet (wired) network too.....

So what's it got to do with wireless then? :confused:

It's called ethernet, and My Network Places opens instantly for me, incidentally.

sja360 · 4 Apr 2006 at 16:06

tolien said:
So what's it got to do with wireless then?
It's called ethernet, and My Network Places opens instantly for me, incidentally.

no its not when opening it, its when it searches for the other pc's on the network to which i was on about..

tolien · 4 Apr 2006 at 16:07

sja360 said:
its when it searches for the other pc's on the network to which i was on about..

View Workgroup Computers is instant for me as well, as is double clicking the machines to get a list of shares...

Conrad11 · 4 Apr 2006 at 17:32

It takes ages for me, why is that?

zetec452 · 4 Apr 2006 at 19:00

your pc's on the same workgroup?

Conrad11 · 5 Apr 2006 at 02:40

Yes they are all on the same workgroup....

Also do i need a special ethernet cable for gigabit connections?

Thanks...

[edit]

and will bridging the connection (cheapest option) have an big effect on my main pcs internet and general perfromance?

tolien · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:07

Conrad11 said:
Also do i need a special ethernet cable for gigabit connections?

Nope, cat5e will do.

and will bridging the connection (cheapest option) have an big effect on my main pcs internet and general perfromance?

Depends how much he's pushing through it. Be warned, Windows' bridging can be screwy at times.

Conrad11 · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:50

hi there,

well i am hoping to stream video from my main pc to this other pc and I figure doing a direct connection would be quickest and would actually have less effect on the network.....as it would go straight from my pc to the other pc without having to go through the network.....is that right (with a bridged connection)

I would like the connection bridged so that the other pc can access the internet from time to time....

How can I tell whether the cable is cat5 or not, or is every ethernet cable that?

Thanks...

tolien · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:59

Unless you're using a hub it isn't going to make much odds...

It usually says on the cable if it's cat5e. The answer's try it and see

Conrad11 · 5 Apr 2006 at 12:39

So if I am using a router it wouldnt make a difference?

Yeah it has CAT5 on ok....cheers

Thanks...

Burbleflop · 5 Apr 2006 at 13:02

Does it sat Cat 5 or Cat 5e? They're not the same thing.

Skilldibop · 5 Apr 2006 at 13:08

For him Cat5 or Cat5e won't matter. You can run up to Gigabit over either for a short run.