Multiple Wireless Questions

[Robb]

I am considering going wireless for my home network and had a few questions.
1. Multimedia capabilities? Assuming my wireless devices connect at the best rate possible (11) is this enough to play mp3's, mpeg's, avi's and divx files over the wireless network? I plan on having a small cheap system upstairs (probably the SV24 shuttle kit) connected to an entertainment system and was hoping I could listen to music and watch movies from my main box down stairs over the wireless network.

2. Compatibility with WinXP? Ive heard the Orinoco wireless adapters are the only ones that function well with Winxp. Is this only for the PCI cards, or does it also apply to the USB dongles?

3. Is there any reason not to go with the USB dongles? They are the same price or cheaper and would seem to be much easier to use than the PCI, plus they can be moved around a bit more in case of poor reception. Is the connection quality as good with either?

4. Adhoc networking? Cheaper but not as good right? Ive heard that distance is very limited with adhoc (just putting 2 wireless devices in 2 computers, and not using an access point). My network will be going only about 50 ft, from first floor to second, could an adhoc network work like this at its maximum connect rate?

5. Assuming I do not go adhoc, some of the d-link and linksys wireless access points also have integrated routers/switches. I just want to make sure I understand this correctly, I could have my computer downstairs wired into the router as normal, and only have one wireless device on the computer upstairs, and both would still be networked and share my cable connection?

6. Linux support? Not that I use it constantly, but I like to give it a shot occasionaly, which wireless adapters work well with linux, both manufacturer wise (Dlink, linksys, netgear etc...) and PCI vs USB. The latest Mandrake is the distro I normally use.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[ktwebb]

1. Due to CSMA and protocol overhead, the best you can hope to achieve with 802.11b equipment is around 5.5 Mbps. That's in a very tight cell around the AP/Router/Ad Hoc PC card or whatever. If you are talking about extending the range to the downstairs, your looking at a performance hit. Not to mention the bandwidth is shared. If anyone else is on your LAN using the AP, then you'll be fighting for bandwidth. As to specific streaming media working, its pretty hard to say. Mileage varies. I would guess MP3's would be no problem. Not to sure about video. Depends on the compression rate and software you use to push. I've struggled with Divx movies in the same room with Cisco 802.11b hardware so that's questionable at best. Others may have better success with different setups. Streams from the internet should work fine.

2. Plenty of 802.11b hardware works well with XP, though some do have issues. Read Jack's thread posted a day or two ago
Windows isn't ready for XP
Again, mileage varies.

3. You can move USB around a bit more which may help when you consider the PCI antennas are usually butted up against a computer shell. Only thing I would add here is if you have other USB devices using the bus you may see some performance issues.

4. Tough to say if your going to get a 11Mb cell trying to penetrate floors but that would also be the case with an AP. Distance and obstacles = bandwidth hits.

5. Yup, your on the ball there.

6. I've used a few brands. If they have drivers for Linux, they "should" work. Others can help you out with specific brand stories, good or bad.

 

[Nighthawk69]

My home is networked with ORiNOCO USB Gold and Silver clients and I am able to lock in at the 11Mbps mode anywhere in my 2200 sq. ft. home and I get around 5Mbps from all computers. I have one wired computer as well which is my fileserver and home to gig's of MP3's... for me, it's PLENTY fast enough for having a fileserver and for running MP3's right over the lan WHILE browsing the net or playing LAN games, etc. To say the least, I'm impressed by the awesome performance I am getting and highly recommend these products!

I recommend using the SMC Wireless Barricade router with the ORiNOCO USB adapters for the best performance.

 

[Robb]

Thanks for the info. One more quicky. Would 802.11A with 5 Ghz frequency be more likely or less likely to be able to penetrate the floor? If it can connect at its full rate I would be much more confident I could watch mpegs, avi's etc... over the wireless net, so I am willing to pay the extra. Just not sure if the 5 Ghz frequency would be better or worse at penetrating obstacles.

 

[ScottMac]

Signals at these freqs (2.4 or 5 GHz) don't penetrate, they bounce.

If you put your AP in a sealed wooden box, even if it's thin wood, you won't get a signal. If you drill a ~1 inch hole in the box, you'll get signal (flakey, but something). Organic stuff eats UHF & beyond.

FWIW

Scott

 

[ktwebb]

You won't likely get the "full rate" with either product. Even if you have a .11b AP and the client says your in an 11 Mb cell, signal attenuation will occur at some level if your asking it to penetrate walls or floors. Generally, the higher frequency, the worse the coverage. Both .11a and b standards allow the bandwidth to bump down incrementally as you move away from or place obstacles in the path of the AP. Difference is .11a standard is much faster so the lower coverage cells are still pretty quick. I think 802.11a's smallest cell is 6 Mb off the top of my head. Difficult to say what would be best, or what you could get away with in your situation without testing, but to answer your question, generally 802.11a will not penetrate as well as 802.11b, though I can't prove or disprove that. My only real 5 Ghz Experience is 5.8 Line of Sight WAN links.