My home network layout is roughly as follows in the image:
- One bedroom concentrates most network clients and equipment:
* One Comtrend CT-5372 VDSL modem/router
- 35 Mbps internet connection
- WiFi G
- Main network router and DHCP server, with 4x 10/100 ports.
- Connected only to the main switch, 3 other free 10/100 ports.
* Main TPLink TL-SG1008D 8-port Gigabit switch (Bedroom)
- Port 1: Comtrend modem/router/DHCP (100 Mbps, Cat 5e)
- Port 2: Main PC/server (1000 Mbps NIC with RTL chip, Cat 6)
- Port 3: Drobo FS, main NAS (1000 Mbps, Cat 6)
- Port 4: Xbox 360 (Cat 5e)
- Port 5: Playstation 3 (Cat 5e)
- Port 6: Connects to secondary switch (Cat 6, 10m)
- Ports 7 & 8 free
* Secondary TPLink TL-SG1008D 8-port Gigabit switch (Living room)
- Port 1: Connects to the main switch (Cat 6, 10m)
- Port 2: Xtreamer Sidewinder 2 media player (1000 Mbps, Cat 6, no HD)
- Port 3: Marantz SR-5006 Home Theater Receiver (Cat 6)
- Port 4: DirecTV set top box (Cat 5e)
- Port 5: Sometimes connects to the Xbox 360 or PS3 when they come over to the living room, considering buying new PS3 to be a permanent Bluray player in the living room.
- Ports 6, 7 and 8 free
* WiFi clients include two Windows laptops, a Macbook, a Nintendo Wii, an iPad and two iPhones.
My network setup has a few issues:
1) Wifi coverage has some deadzones and is not that fast, as it is 802.11g. There are other networks in the vicinity. I had considered buying an Apple Airport extreme to take over routing duties (setting the Comtrend to bridged mode), plus an Airport express connected in the living room to extend the network effective range. I don't know if a non-apple solution would allow for the same setup, taking suggestions.
2) The Xtreamer usually plays files stored in the Drobo FS (NAS), and has no internal storage of its own. When it starts playing a file it reports network speeds in the range of 20-25 Mbps. Files up to 6.5 GB in size play nicely, but I have some files that are 8.7-13 GB (1080p movies with DTS sound) that stream at 24-26 Mbps and stutter heavily on the Xtreamer. The same files, when played from the main PC to the bedroom TV screen present no stuttering.
- Connecting the Xtreamer directly to the cable that comes from the main switch (instead of connecting to the secondary switch) visibly alleviates some of the stuttering, but not completely, files remain unwatchable.
- Before installing both switches, the Xtreamer would connect to the network via WiFi. This would make files over 4 GB unwatchable, and had variable recpetion quality.
- Saving the files on a SD card and playing on the Xtreamer yield no stuttering, so it must be a network issue.
3) Copying files from the main PC to the Drobo seem to cap at 23,3 MBytes/s. Jumbo Frames are off.
4) The Drobo seems happy with multiple transfers and streams - I tested playing up to 3 HD movies at the same time and they played without stuttering (on the PC). Also, it will play one movie on the Xtreamer and one on the PC without stuttering on either, as long as the limit on 2) is not exceeded (files over 6.5 GB always stutter on the Xtreamer).
So, this is the setup and the issues. What would you guys suggest for:
A) Getting better wired streaming performance for the Xtreamer and
B) Upgrading to WiFi 802.11n?
Regards,
Eduardo
- One bedroom concentrates most network clients and equipment:
* One Comtrend CT-5372 VDSL modem/router
- 35 Mbps internet connection
- WiFi G
- Main network router and DHCP server, with 4x 10/100 ports.
- Connected only to the main switch, 3 other free 10/100 ports.
* Main TPLink TL-SG1008D 8-port Gigabit switch (Bedroom)
- Port 1: Comtrend modem/router/DHCP (100 Mbps, Cat 5e)
- Port 2: Main PC/server (1000 Mbps NIC with RTL chip, Cat 6)
- Port 3: Drobo FS, main NAS (1000 Mbps, Cat 6)
- Port 4: Xbox 360 (Cat 5e)
- Port 5: Playstation 3 (Cat 5e)
- Port 6: Connects to secondary switch (Cat 6, 10m)
- Ports 7 & 8 free
* Secondary TPLink TL-SG1008D 8-port Gigabit switch (Living room)
- Port 1: Connects to the main switch (Cat 6, 10m)
- Port 2: Xtreamer Sidewinder 2 media player (1000 Mbps, Cat 6, no HD)
- Port 3: Marantz SR-5006 Home Theater Receiver (Cat 6)
- Port 4: DirecTV set top box (Cat 5e)
- Port 5: Sometimes connects to the Xbox 360 or PS3 when they come over to the living room, considering buying new PS3 to be a permanent Bluray player in the living room.
- Ports 6, 7 and 8 free
* WiFi clients include two Windows laptops, a Macbook, a Nintendo Wii, an iPad and two iPhones.
My network setup has a few issues:
1) Wifi coverage has some deadzones and is not that fast, as it is 802.11g. There are other networks in the vicinity. I had considered buying an Apple Airport extreme to take over routing duties (setting the Comtrend to bridged mode), plus an Airport express connected in the living room to extend the network effective range. I don't know if a non-apple solution would allow for the same setup, taking suggestions.
2) The Xtreamer usually plays files stored in the Drobo FS (NAS), and has no internal storage of its own. When it starts playing a file it reports network speeds in the range of 20-25 Mbps. Files up to 6.5 GB in size play nicely, but I have some files that are 8.7-13 GB (1080p movies with DTS sound) that stream at 24-26 Mbps and stutter heavily on the Xtreamer. The same files, when played from the main PC to the bedroom TV screen present no stuttering.
- Connecting the Xtreamer directly to the cable that comes from the main switch (instead of connecting to the secondary switch) visibly alleviates some of the stuttering, but not completely, files remain unwatchable.
- Before installing both switches, the Xtreamer would connect to the network via WiFi. This would make files over 4 GB unwatchable, and had variable recpetion quality.
- Saving the files on a SD card and playing on the Xtreamer yield no stuttering, so it must be a network issue.
3) Copying files from the main PC to the Drobo seem to cap at 23,3 MBytes/s. Jumbo Frames are off.
4) The Drobo seems happy with multiple transfers and streams - I tested playing up to 3 HD movies at the same time and they played without stuttering (on the PC). Also, it will play one movie on the Xtreamer and one on the PC without stuttering on either, as long as the limit on 2) is not exceeded (files over 6.5 GB always stutter on the Xtreamer).
So, this is the setup and the issues. What would you guys suggest for:
A) Getting better wired streaming performance for the Xtreamer and
B) Upgrading to WiFi 802.11n?
Regards,
Eduardo
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