Posted: 10/7/2012 4:53:28 PM EDT
|
First things first, can I stream 1080p bluray from a server to an HTPC (XBMC) via any currently available home wireless technology? The extreme high end (claiming 600mpbs-1.75gbps) looks expensive but claims incredible speeds.
Second, I have been reading that b/g devices on an n enable AP can cause all hosts to operate at slower speeds. So I was thinking of keeping my b/g around for older laptops, and putting a new n AP on my network and upgrading the faster machines. Is there an n only AP, or one that can *Actually* disable b/g and force n operation? Thanks. |
|
A lot of factors go into wireless speeds and they always post in bits/sec instead of bytes, same as your internet, and it only what speeds you could in theory see. Real world will never be close, the new AC stuff is faster but still slower then wired Gb. That said depending on the bitrate of the file and assuming no other devices N is fast enough. I know from experience that for my laptop to an N AP with at least one G device on it that i can watch pretty much all my files across the network but for my HTPC I run a wired connection because I dont want to risk it.
Keep this in mind N runs on two freq. spectrums. 2.4GHz and thus compatible with b/g and 5GHz which should net faster speeds but has problems with walls and distance. Both the AP and the router have to support 5GHz, not all do, and particularly the AP needs to have both with the ability to use both concurrently or all is for not once a slower device connects. If you cant run wired for whatever reason then all you can do is test it out, you know how clogged your network is or isnt. |
|
Thanks. Would you mind listing the hardware (AP and wifi adapter) you are using just for my reference?
I have several Zyxel 200mb AC adapters that I have been using. I just ran a test from an XP machine to a Win7 machine, both connected to the home wiring via said Zyxel adapters. I got a whopping 7.5MBps max, and most transfers were between 3-4MBps. This is a four year old house with good wiring. I'm wondering if upgrading to the faster AC adapters would even make a difference at this point. |
|
I've never heard of b/g slowing down n speeds. AC is way overkill, I can stream 1080p over my 150 mbps wireless card off a NAS drive, so the newer 300/450/600/etc offerings will be more than plenty.
This is all assuming that you don't have interference, in which case you will have to try out 5 Ghz and there is no guarantee that it won't have interference either. |
|
I am using the engenious esr600h in N mode 20Mhz only mode. max speed of around 105Mb obviously i can't connect B or G devices to this so its operating at its highest level.
the engenious esr 9850 also has the feature but does not have the range of the 600h. Quoted:
Thanks. Would you mind listing the hardware (AP and wifi adapter) you are using just for my reference? I have several Zyxel 200mb AC adapters that I have been using. I just ran a test from an XP machine to a Win7 machine, both connected to the home wiring via said Zyxel adapters. I got a whopping 7.5MBps max, and most transfers were between 3-4MBps. This is a four year old house with good wiring. I'm wondering if upgrading to the faster AC adapters would even make a difference at this point. distance is the issue there. no way around that |
|
Quoted:
I am using the engenious esr600h in N mode 20Mhz only mode. max speed of around 105Mb obviously i can't connect B or G devices to this so its operating at its highest level. the engenious esr 9850 also has the feature but does not have the range of the 600h. Quoted:
Thanks. Would you mind listing the hardware (AP and wifi adapter) you are using just for my reference? I have several Zyxel 200mb AC adapters that I have been using. I just ran a test from an XP machine to a Win7 machine, both connected to the home wiring via said Zyxel adapters. I got a whopping 7.5MBps max, and most transfers were between 3-4MBps. This is a four year old house with good wiring. I'm wondering if upgrading to the faster AC adapters would even make a difference at this point. distance is the issue there. no way around that Makes sense... The Powerline adapters are in different rooms, so I know I'm crossing breakers in the panel. I may just put up a second wireless network dedicated to my HTPCs and put all of the common household traffic on my primary AP. I like the convenience of the Powerline adapters, but honestly I've had some download issues (corrupt files or aborted randomly) and I can't really pin down, and I suspect its the Powerline stuff. |
|
I play DVD iso images over my wireless network without issue. The cheap TPLink wireless adapter claims a 300mbps connection but I doubt it's that good. My daughter typically watches a video while I surf the web, so I know the network has more traffic on it than just the video playing.
|
|
I'm only able to watch 1080 over N when my HTPC is in the same room with my wireless N router, that works quite nicely.
However, when I move my HTPC two rooms away it struggles with 720. I ended up running Cat6 over the door frames and behind furniture to get what I wanted. I'm not a big N fan because if it's short range.. |