Wireless Networking Questions

[Rids]

Hi all,

Currently trying to sort out the wireless network in my house. To say that networking is one of my weak points is an understatement, you can fit my knowledge on the back of a postage stamp and still have plenty of room to spare.

At the moment I have a wonderful D-LINK DIR 615 supplied by the lovely Virgin Media - not wishing to put too fine a point on it but... its ****. Despite the advertised 300Mbps speeds it is completely unable to stream 1080p content from my upstairs PC to a laptop downstairs.

Part of me was thinking of going the Powerline networking route, however with a laptop, an iPad and 2 mobile phones that can all benefit from Wireless a good wireless solution is my preferrred option, if possible.

I've been looking at some of the high end Wireless Routers that OCUK sell, for example the ASUS RT-N66U. First off, given that I dont live in a mansion but a small ex-council property with walls made of paper-mache would you assume that something like that router would have the power to stream HD content to the downstairs laptop without issue?

The next question is surrounding the USB ports present on the above router. I have a Drobo... unfortunately when I purchased the Drobo I bought the crap one that has only USB or eSata connections and not proper networking (I know, know) - so for me to stream my media at the present time my main PC needs to be on. Do you think it would be possible to plug my Drobo (which is essentially a massive external HDD) into the USB ports and allow remote access to the files without having my PC on?

I realise that you may need more information than that supplied, so please do not hesitate to ask.

Any help as always is greatfully recieved.

 

[Spursman]

Virgin media gave me one of them D-LINK DIR 615 routers too, it broke within a few months.

I take it VM are your BB supply company m8? what modem do you have? and what BB package you on?

Are you only streaming from PC to 1x laptop or others?

Also, what's your PC like the one you want to stream your content from? would it take a HDMI graphics card? how far away is your laptop from your pc?

spursman

 

[Rids]

Virgin media gave me one of them D-LINK DIR 615 routers too, it broke within a few months.

I take it VM are your BB supply company m8? what modem do you have? and what BB package you on?

Are you only streaming from PC to 1x laptop or others?

Also, what's your PC like the one you want to stream your content from? would it take a HDMI graphics card? how far away is your laptop from your pc?

spursman

Mine has "lasted" if you can call it that, but to say I want to replace it with something better is an understatement.

Its from my main PC, which is the one specced out in my signature, to the laptop downstairs which is to act as a media server.

Will also need to be able to handle network traffic from the iPhone which is often used as a remote control for XBMC, and the iPad which will probably be doing some random web browsing and such.

Distance is certainly less than 10 metres, probably closer to 5 metres but the signal needs to travel through the floor.

Edit: Forgot to add I'm on 50 meg Virgin BB.

 

[Spursman]

Mine has "lasted" if you can call it that, but to say I want to replace it with something better is an understatement.

Its from my main PC, which is the one specced out in my signature, to the laptop downstairs which is to act as a media server.

Will also need to be able to handle network traffic from the iPhone which is often used as a remote control for XBMC, and the iPad which will probably be doing some random web browsing and such.

Distance is certainly less than 10 metres, probably closer to 5 metres but the signal needs to travel through the floor.

Edit: Forgot to add I'm on 50 meg Virgin BB.

You must have the VM super hub then m8, capable of wireless and ethernet connections which should be able to do the job you want with ease. Or are you one of many having trouble with the wireless within the superhub, hence using the D-LINK DIR 615 router and having the superhub in modem mode ONLY?

As an alternative, why not run a HDMI lead...http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-043-OK ( you can get a longer lead if needed to hide the lead away out of eye site) from your main PC to to a HD TV instead of the laptop for your Media needs

Although, 50 mb bb is more then enough to handle streaming, browsing, etc on a few devices via wireless. When I tried on a 10mb VM connection streamng from my laptop to my xbox 360 it worked fine, although i wasn't capable of doing much all else.

spursman

 

[Tealc]

The advertised speed of a wireless connection is the theoretical maximum only. Even if you has your laptop sitting directly next to the access point you'd still likely not see anywhere near 300 Mbps actual transfer speed.

You will always struggle with 1080p content over wireless and it'll get worse if you put distance between laptop and router.

Wiring with cat5e or maybe using Powerline networking will help if you want 1080p on your laptop downstairs. An extra access point might also help boost that data throughout too.

 

[Slade2]

I have the RT-N56U which I believe is the one before the one you are talking about in your post. While I dont use it to stream 1080p content on my network it works well with all the other wireless connections I have on it. It has the upstairs PC and an HDR-FOX T2 connected to it via wired cat5e and I can stream between all devices no problem. I believe it might be possible to do it with the above modem but then again it would be cheaper to get the same modem I have and a 20 meter cable and just connected them via cable at least then you wouldnt have the problem.