Advice on Media Streaming with PC Connecting Wirelessly to NAS

[polarvista]

I will be moving into an older house soon, and I am looking for a solution to be able to stream media (TV/Movies – 720p) stored on my NAS to an LG HD TV (not a Smart TV) and also wirelessly to an iPad, and Macbook pro. Unfortunately this house has only one cable outlet downstairs by the TV, and this is where the cable modem and Synology DS213 NAS will connect via Ethernet to the ASUS RT-N66U router. I will need to purchase both a media streamer to connect to the network via Ethernet and TV via HDMI, and also a wireless adapter for my PC, which will be located upstairs. My main concern is having my PC connected wirelessly upstairs, and what (negative) effect this could have on the speeds with which media can stream to various devices, which will be affected by the distance to the router and performance of the PC wireless adapter.

I have been researching possible hardware/software solutions such as using a Roku, WD TV Live, AppleTV (jailbroke), and software like Plex, XBMC, and Synology’s built-in Media Server and Video Station app. I have enabled the Synology Media Server package which creates shared folders (music/photo/video) and this is where I have copied my videos to. I am assuming they will somehow be discoverable through the network, but this may require some tweaking. My ISP is cable, with 35 Mbps download/3Mbps upload. My budget for a solution (media streamer, wireless PC adapter, software) is up to $400.


I am seeking advice on the following:

1. Media Streamer (fairly easy to use, plays most formats)
2. Media Center Software (fairly easy to configure and access my media on the NAS through the network)
3. PC Wireless Adapter that is compatible with my ASUS RT-N66U router and my OS (Windows 8)
4. Advice on how to ensure my wireless PC will not adversely reduce wireless transfer (streaming and downloads) rates

Thanks in advance!

 

[CaptainSTX]

Home Wiring

For reliable media streaming the best way to go is Ethernet cables.

If you can't run the cable pay an electrician to do it for you. A skilled electrician who is used to working on homes of your vintage/ construction will have the specialized tools to fish cables with few or any wall cuts. Pull a couple of Ethernet and a couple of RG6

What they can do is truly amazing. Had an electrician fun a new circuit from the attic to the basement in just a couple of hours. He had no problems drilling through firebreaks. sill plates etc.

If you don't want run wires try Ethernet over Powerline.

If you get lucky and with lots of tweaking with your Wi-fi you might a reasonably steady 20 Mbps.

As for devices to stream video, Roku probably should not be your first choice. It wasn't what is was designed to do primarily. I love my Roku, but I only use it to stream video from a Roku twenty feet away from my router at speeds of 3 - 5 Mbps. For those it use it to stream it is an added benefit.

 

[polarvista]

Thanks for the reply. Perhaps to keep things extremely simple, I could connect a WD TV Live to the network and simply play all the content stored on the NAS. I wouldn't need to worry about the PC connecting wirelessly, and it might not even need to be on. I must admit, I do like the look and feel of software like Plex, with the availability of metadata, and to resume playback of videos, but having to rely on the wireless PC would likely create a barrier to streaming.

I will still need to obtain a wireless adapter for my PC, as DIY wiring is not an option, so I can either try/test a wireless adapter first, and if that does not provide adequate performance, then exchange and try a powerline ethernet adapter.

Here's another question I have regarding my PC being wireless. If I setup downloads directly on the Synology NAS (through its own Download Station app, or installing SABnzbd), even though I am connecting to the NAS through my PC to instruct it to run these apps, can I assume that the downloads would NOT have to interact with the PC wirelessly? They would just be downloaded directly to the NAS through the wired Ethernet connection to the router?

 

[WMConey]

FWIW, the WD Live will resume some types of videos. I've had it work for DVDs ripped to both iso or folders.

Not sure about other formats.

Regards.