100mbps Router->Powerline->gb Switch->PS3

[thestrangebrew1]

So here's my setup:

Cable modem->router
1gb switch->router
powerline adapter->switch
2nd powerline->ps3

Ubuntu server (for media) ->router

I set it up in this fashion so I can stream media from my ubuntu server to my ps3 with a powerline/wired set up as opposed to wireless because I experiencing stuttering during playback on my wireless.

I tested the internet connection on my ps3 and got about 12mbps upload, 1.xx download.

When I connected everything via wire/powerline I only got 9mbps up, about 3 down.

I decided to try the following instead:

1st powerline->router
2nd powerline -> switch
ps3 -> switch

Got approx. the same results.

Next I tried:

Router-> switch
1st powerline-switch
ubuntu server->switch
2nd powerline-ps3

and failed to get a connection.

When I plug the server to the switch, I get no connection to the server from my other pc that's on the network. It doesn't see the server.

I'm a complete noob to networking, but I really thought I had this fig'd out. It's an unmanaged switch, Rosewill RC-409lx, and the powerline adapter is a Zyxel PLA407 200mbps. I'm aware I won't get anywhere near these speeds in RL, but I was hoping for more speed to reduce stuttering. Here are my specs for the ubuntu machine (which I think may also be a problem)

amd 4400+ (manchester core I think)
asus a8n 32sli delux
2gb ddr RAM
xfx 5770
antec 600w truepower (I think)

What do you guys think? I'm thinking about trying to plug in the 2nd powerline adapter to another spot to hopefully be on the same line as the 1st one to see if that makes a difference, but other than that I can't think of anything else to try.

 

[Eug]

Try different electrical circuits in each room, and definitely don't use electrical power bars.

Powerline is great for surfing and stuff like that, but when it comes to HD video streaming, it can be problematic in many setups. It's quite common for power line networking to be limited to those speeds you're seeing in the real-world, if the electrical wiring in the house isn't ideal for it. But like I said, different electrical circuits in the house can yield different results.

When I implemented powerline, I got anywhere from 3-5 Mbps (worst area) to 8-35 Mbps (where I needed it the most), depending on the circuit. Ironically I was getting closer to 45 Mbps in spots where I didn't need to use it. Go figure.

Since 8-35 Mbps is at best borderline for HD streaming, in the end I just ran Gigabit Ethernet everywhere.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Try different electrical circuits in each room, and definitely don't use electrical power bars.

Powerline is great for surfing and stuff like that, but when it comes to HD video streaming, it can be problematic in many setups. It's quite common for power line networking to be limited to those speeds you're seeing in the real-world, if the electrical wiring in the house isn't ideal for it. But like I said, different electrical circuits in the house can yield different results.

When I implemented powerline, I got anywhere from 3-5 Mbps (worst area) to 8-35 Mbps (where I needed it the most), depending on the circuit. Ironically I was getting closer to 45 Mbps in spots where I didn't need to use it. Go figure.

Since 8-35 Mbps is at best borderline for HD streaming, in the end I just ran Gigabit Ethernet everywhere.

I swapped outlets and there wasn't much improvement. What's weird to me was that according to the PS3 connection test, my wireless setup streamed the best overall. I don't put alot of stock into the test, but it was consistent. I did find a few interesting threads on other forums saying to configure the ps3 and pc to full duplex, so I'll have to figure that out.

 

[Eug]

If wireless is better, then use wireless. Powerline and wireless are two different methods of doing the same thing. Both are susceptible to interference and there's no guarantee power line will do better than wireless, or vice versa.

Whatever works in your environment...

BTW, how far is the wireless router from the PS3? Since power line is mediocre for you, can you get the wireless router and PS3 any closer (using CAT6)?

 

[ViviTheMage]

What I did was route -> powerline <- powerline - xbox 360

but I tested it in a lot of places, tested out bandwidth...the biggest is I noticed was packetloss, so HD streaming was a bit pokey.

We actually have about 5 powerline adapters throughout our building (I live in a 11 unit condo complex), and they have been rock solid, once we found the best outlets. They are even jumping breakers, and people are still getting 60~ mbps

 

[thestrangebrew1]

If wireless is better, then use wireless. Powerline and wireless are two different methods of doing the same thing. Both are susceptible to interference and there's no guarantee power line will do better than wireless, or vice versa.

Whatever works in your environment...

BTW, how far is the wireless router from the PS3? Since power line is mediocre for you, can you get the wireless router and PS3 any closer (using CAT6)?

The router is only about 15-20' from the router, but the problem is that I have tile in my living room and I'd like to avoid running wire in the walls (there's a fireplace along the wall between my router and ps3/entertainment setup).

My other thought was to make my server wireless, but connecting the server to the ps3 via ethernet. I'm not too concerned as to the transfer speed between my other pc's and the server, I just want to make sure the speeds are up to par with the ps3 for streaming. I tried connecting the server to the ps3 via cat5 last night, but the ps3 wasn't able to establish a connection. I then tried plugging everything in to the switch via cat5 and my connection speed for the ps3 was only 8mbps upload, 1mbps download. I don't think I need a crossover cable for the server & ps3 as both are gigabit, but there must be some kind of setting I need to change in the server for the ps3 to see it or something.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

What I did was route -> powerline <- powerline - xbox 360

but I tested it in a lot of places, tested out bandwidth...the biggest is I noticed was packetloss, so HD streaming was a bit pokey.

We actually have about 5 powerline adapters throughout our building (I live in a 11 unit condo complex), and they have been rock solid, once we found the best outlets. They are even jumping breakers, and people are still getting 60~ mbps

I tried a similar setup to this in different outlets and the speeds were slower than wireless. I had stuttering issues with 720p playback which is why I'm trying to get a "wired" setup working.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I tried a similar setup to this in different outlets and the speeds were slower than wireless. I had stuttering issues with 720p playback which is why I'm trying to get a "wired" setup working.

Yeah, sounds like you need to go wired then.

What model adapters were you using?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Yeah, sounds like you need to go wired then.

What model adapters were you using?

I have the ZyXel PLA 407. I think they're rated at 200 mbps. I'll prob keep them and give them a shot with my stepson's pc upstairs because he's wireless. We'll see how that goes. If it's no improvement I'm sending them back to the egg...

 

[Eug]

The router is only about 15-20' from the router, but the problem is that I have tile in my living room and I'd like to avoid running wire in the walls (there's a fireplace along the wall between my router and ps3/entertainment setup).

Do you mean the router is 15-20' from the PS3?

If 802.11g on the PS3 isn't cutting it for HD video streaming, perhaps you should just invest in 802.11n hardware. You can get an 802.11n game adapter (which might just be a $30 802.11n router reconfigured to be a client), and at 20' you should have no problems streaming most HD video.

Yeah, sounds like you need to go wired then.

What model adapters were you using?

In the original post. Zyxel PLA407 200mbps. Those are Homeplug AV units, which is the standard. Those get good reviews.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Do you mean the router is 15-20' from the PS3?

If 802.11g on the PS3 isn't cutting it for HD video streaming, perhaps you should just invest in 802.11n hardware. You can get an 802.11n game adapter (which might just be a $30 802.11n router reconfigured to be a client), and at 20' you should have no problems streaming most HD video.

Yea it isn't very far at all. Just across my living room. Eventually I want this server to be sitting right next to the ps3, for use as an htpc as well, which is why I purchased the powerline and switch to begin with. I was thinking of just running a cat5 cable between the ps3 & server but I'm still trying to fig. that out too. When wired to the server, the ps3 can't connect to the internet so I'll need to trouble shoot that...

 

[Eug]

I'm still not sure I understand your topology. If you're not that concerned about speed to the server from the router, then how about this?

Router --> powerline

PS3 \
. . . switch <-- powerline
Serv /

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I'm still not sure I understand your topology. If you're not that concerned about speed to the server from the router, then how about this?

Router --> powerline

PS3 \
. . . switch <-- powerline
Serv /

lol sorry. If i could draw something up I would. Basically this is what I have setup right now:

Router -> cable modem
Ubuntu server ->router

From here I have the following:
PC -> router
Laptop -> router (wireless)
PC ->router (wireless, upstairs)
PS3 -> Wireless (about 20' away)
These 4 have access to the server, except the ps3 has stuttering

What I want to do is move the server to the ps3 and make them wired. So I have the powerline and switch, which I tried setting up as this:

router -> modem
PL1 (powerline 1) -> router
PL2 -> switch
Server ->switch
ps3 -> switch

Basically as you suggested. My problem with that was when I checked the ps3 internet connection, I only got about 9mbps upload and 1+ mbps download, which was even worse than my wireless connection speed. When I try just plugging the ps3 to the server, the ps3 doesn't see the server, so I'm guessing I need to config. the server to allow the ps3 to see it somehow. Or else bypass the powerline adapters and run wire and relocate the modem & router to where the ps3 is, which isn't really an option right now. Hope that makes sense. I haven't had time to fool around with the switch and powerline adapters in the last few days so i'm hoping this weekend I can play with it more and see if I can find a solution.

EDIT: I read somewhere that you can change the duplex mode onthe ps3 from half to full @ 100mbps, so maybe that's why the speed is so slow as well. Whatever duplex mode means. Like I said RL has me pretty busy at the moment so I haven't had much time in the last few days to mess around with it.