54 mbps router can't stream video to my PS3?? Pls Help.

[madman300]

Hi All,

To date I am running a wireless / wired network in my townhouse (about 700 SQFT / 3, 3 Floors) My router is a WRT54GS which was probably purchased in 2005 and my network adapter on my main PC and file server is a WMP54GS.

My connection is as follows:

1. Router located on middle floor. Wired to cable modem. Wired to PS3.
2. Main file server is on top floor. Wireless to router.
3. Laptop on second floor. Wireless to router.

My issue is with streaming media via TVersity to the PS3. Sometimes the video plays flawlessly and other times my PC drops the connection to my router or I just can't get the bandwidth to the PS3 (why the PS3 doesn't provide a heavy buffer, I do not know).

This stuff is supposed to be rated at 54mbps but I doubt I am getting full speed.

My question is, if I upgrade to a 300mbps Wireless N system will I have the power I need to stream my movies?

(I am slightly frustrated because, according to my rough calculations, my average movie is about 1,500 MB for 100 minutes, that means it is 12,000 mb, for 6,000 seconds and should require about 2mbps
so why can't my 54mbps networking equipment handle this just fine?)

Thanks
Madison

 

[Absolution75]

I didn't bother to check your math, but make sure you are using Mbits/Mbytes correctly.


Though 2mbits/sec does sound about right assuming you're talking about xvid/dvix rips. What the problem is - video isn't a constant bit rate and will spike and drop down quite often. You may actually have a video that has a peak bit rate of 10mbits/sec. Even though you have a 54mbit router, it isn't really a guaranteed speed (not as much as a hard line would be). Poor wireless signal will drop your max bandwidth significantly.


As for upgrading your router, it may improve signal to your ps3, but I don't believe the ps3 doesn't have a draft-n wireless card; so you would still be limited to 54mbits/sec.


Sadly, the best option is to just wire it. HD Movies aren't able to be streamed over the network from my experience (wirelessly, very close to the router, full signal), which is why I had to wire mine.

 

[ImDonly1]

I stream 6 GB 720p movies from my desktop that is hardwired to a wireless G router to my laptop that is wirelessly connected to the router and plugged into my HDTV. They stream fine. The problem is with 10GB or so 1080p movies they seem to lag. My wireless transfer according to Windows are at about 2.4 MB/s over the wireless at maximum. But again different areas/homes/etc. get different speeds.

I don't know how big your files are/bitrate etc.,but I used to have a WRT54G and it was terrible for transferring large files over the wireless network. It is quite common for the WRT54G to drop connection during large file transfers over wireless. It is a known problem. I believe they released a firmware upgrade that overclocked the CPU on it a little higher and that fixed the problem. Check to see if you have a newer firmware.

Originally posted by: Absolution75
As for upgrading your router, it may improve signal to your ps3, but I don't believe the ps3 doesn't have a draft-n wireless card; so you would still be limited to 54mbits/sec.

Sadly, the best option is to just wire it. HD Movies aren't able to be streamed over the network from my experience (wirelessly, very close to the router, full signal), which is why I had to wire mine.

His ps3 is hardwired to the router. The file server is wireless. But I do agree about getting everything hardwired would be the easiest/best solution. I guess you can try a Wireless-N router. I am sure you can get one at Best Buy try it out and return it if you do not like it/it does not work out.

 

[madman300]

ImDonly1 is correct. The PS3 is hardwired.

My first post states my average file size of roughly 1.5 gb and the bit rate being 2mbps.

Of course the best solution would be to hardwire but that is not an option from this location. The second best solution, with basically the same result, might be for me to build a NAS server in my entertainment system, hardwire it to the network and then keep a backup copy of my movies there.

I was hoping that streaming of 1080P movies was a possibility by now, but it sounds like that is still on the horizon.

Thanks guys!

 

[ImDonly1]

Like I said I have no problems doing 720p movies on my wireless G network. I don't see why a wireless N can't do 1080p. Also try different channels and see if you get better signal etc.

 

[spidey07]

Change channels to 1, 6, 11 and eliminate sources of 2.4 Ghz interference (phones, bluetooth, microwaves, etc). Also make sure to orient antennas properly so they aren't "pointing" at each other. They should be parallel between AP and client. Wireless is inherently flaky and interference is a constant problem so just because it works for one person doesn't mean it will for another as every environment is different.

 

[Absolution75]

Originally posted by: ImDonly1
His ps3 is hardwired to the router. The file server is wireless.

Whoops, missed that part somehow

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: madman300
2. Main file server is on top floor. Wireless to router.

It is like a person in the construction business that uses his Semi trailer to take his kids to school, and tries to deliver a tone of sand to his business with a Corvette.

 

[Nuwave]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: madman300
2. Main file server is on top floor. Wireless to router.

It is like a person in the construction business that uses his Semi trailer to take his kids to school, and tries to deliver a tone of sand to his business with a Corvette.

What Jack said, You got things backwards, You should have the file server hardwired.

 

[kevnich2]

Yes, always have the file server hard wired to your router or switch considering how often the files will get accessed, wireless is simply too slow and troublesome for it

 

[madman300]

JackMDS Nuwave Kevnich2,

Thanks for the feedback but my house is arranged this way for reasons other than optimal network performance. Being married, it is a little hard to run cables all over the house. To get everything wired I will either need to drop some Cat 6 in the wall or build a NAS and attach it directly to the router. This is why I am trying to determine if the latest wireless technology will work for my situation.

Thanks.

 

[spidey07]

madman, the problem with wireless is it's entirely unpredictable and unreliable. I do large scale wireless implentations for a living and I still think it sucks. You can try the pre-non-standard 802.11n stuff but there are no guarantees with wireless. The pre-non-standard stuff will help some. Your results are typical with wireless, it's not the technology, it is the environment. Re-read my post above as that normally solves all wireless woes, pay particular attention to antenna position.

 

[madman300]

Thanks spidey, I'll check the antennas. We don't really have anything else that emits a signal other than our cell phones and the microwave (but the microwave is not cooking and the phones are not being used while watching a movie).

I'll play around with the channels a bit as well.

 

[spidey07]

Since your description means up and down (1st floor, second floor, etc), I'm thinking in the vertical plane. A simple antenna position change could mean all the difference, as well as a channel change. It really is that dramatic. Lay your antennas parallel with your floors.

---
---

is good.

| |

is bad in the vertical plane

 

[KingGheedora]

Originally posted by: Absolution75
I didn't bother to check your math, but make sure you are using Mbits/Mbytes correctly.


Though 2mbits/sec does sound about right assuming you're talking about xvid/dvix rips. What the problem is - video isn't a constant bit rate and will spike and drop down quite often. You may actually have a video that has a peak bit rate of 10mbits/sec. Even though you have a 54mbit router, it isn't really a guaranteed speed (not as much as a hard line would be). Poor wireless signal will drop your max bandwidth significantly.


As for upgrading your router, it may improve signal to your ps3, but I don't believe the ps3 doesn't have a draft-n wireless card; so you would still be limited to 54mbits/sec.


Sadly, the best option is to just wire it. HD Movies aren't able to be streamed over the network from my experience (wirelessly, very close to the router, full signal), which is why I had to wire mine.

Won't getting a draft-n wireless help, since his desktop is the one that's using wireless, not the PS3?

 

[madman300]

Spidey07,

I switched to channel 1 (previously on channel 6) and adjusted both antennas on the router and the antenna on the PC to lay parallel to the floor. The signal strength appears to be about the same, but I will fire up the PS3 in a bit and do some additional testing.

Thanks
Madison

 

[BoboKatt]

First of all drop Tversity and get yourself PS3 Media Player. Do a google on it.

I have no issues streaming any movie, whether a full DVD rip (4.8GB) ISO, or 720p or 1080p MKV's from my desktop (which houses all my movies) to my PS3. My PS3 is wired to the router and my desktop is a few rooms away wirelessly connected.

I had a G based router and G based wireless card in my desktop a while back. I could NOT handle anything other than about 800mb divx rips of my movies with that setup and Tversity. A DVD ripped in full to a 4.8 GB ISO (using DVDfab) was totally unplayable no matter what settings. A 720p MKV was a joke? it was a slide show.

I then got a Dlink N router (like 625 one.. cheap) and a cheap N pci card (Dlink again) and switched from Tversity to PS3 Media Server and life has been sweet. I mean I have a 1080p BR rip of one my movies that is 25GB. That wont work even on this setup but PS3 Media Server allows me to simply reduce the bitrate. I just dropped to the ?wireless HD quality? option and off I went.

One other thing... I had my PS3 connected to my router and in the network settings of the PS3 it was set to AUTO in the type of wired connection speed. I noted that when I physically and manually changed it to 1000T connection (which my router supports), that it helped. Again if you have a 100T based router, make sure to choose that rather than just say AUTO.

 

[kevnich2]

One option you could try is a moca (coax) to ethernet adapter. Dlink has a kit for $180 and it's Moca 1.1 which is around 180mb/sec. It's an alternate to running cat5 through your house and is definitely capable of doing what you want.

 

[USAFdude02]

Originally posted by: BoboKatt
First of all drop Tversity and get yourself PS3 Media Player. Do a google on it.

Agreed. TVersity was harder to work with and PS3 Media Server is better at trans-coding anything the PS3 can't play. I stream full 1080p movies from my file-server (wired everything) and it is great. Takes a bit of CPU and a 600mb buffer and I get no lag and no skips. Works great.

Streaming 1080p with trans-coding it really started to raise up the bandwidth requirements. I have hit 70-80Mb/s on my internal network.

 

[madman300]

I finally solved my problem... sort of. I analyzed several solutions including:

1. Upgrading to wireless N

2. Buying / Building NAS

3. Upgrading my PC stationed next to my PS3 and using it as a NAS

4. Buying an external HDD

I decided on 4. I bought a Western Digital Elements drive for $98 shipped. I transferred my movies and music over and have a 150 gigs or so to spare. Of course now there is no lag. This solution should get me buy for the next 6-8 months until I am ready to rebuild the media PC. At that time I plan to do an array of 2TB drives for Blu-RAY storage and will use it as my primary media server. The current media PC produces a lot of heat and noise and I really hate running it but I felt it was too soon and too pricey to upgrade at this time.

For $98 I am very happy with my solution. I spent several hours playing with my network equipment and could never significantly improve the wireless media streaming.

Thanks for the responses.