$100 Budget, possible $150 MAX Suggestions?

[Anthony Thomas]

Router + Media/Game Bridge (2-4 ports)

Router (Master) + 2nd Router (same type/model, client bridge, non-WDS, no repeat)

No serious wireless problems here, Southern California, no insulation in the walls, max signal up to 50ft from 2 Wire 3800 Router/Gateway currently.

Added a server to the network, wireless file transfer too slow (1.4-1.7Mbps).

From what I have seen 2-4 port Media/Game Bridges run between $60-$70, which means the router can cost no more than $70, this includes local taxes, shipping, etc.

I have Amazon Prime Trial, so I can get free 2 day shipping and generally not charged tax for products. New Egg, since I'm in California I get charged local sales tax, trying to avoid that is possible.

Master will be running in mixed mode to cover legacy devices (TMO G1, I-Phone, older Apple Laptop).

Don't need 5Ghz, only one 5Ghz network within range, weak signal, can't even connect too it if I wanted. All the other 2.4Ghz are not very strong either, wireless/cordless phones are on the 5Ghz band as well, only leaves DirecTV and the Nuclear Oven.

Finally wireless transfer rates must be at least USB 2.0 speed. I typically see 20-30Mbp uploading files from external drives to the server.

Looking to purchase in the next 10-12 days, thank you.

 

[thiggins]

You said

Added a server to the network, wireless file transfer too slow (1.4-1.7Mbps).

Just to confirm, is that MegaBytes or Megabits.

Was this rate measured from the same location you want to install the bridge?

I'm assuming the USB 2.0 transfer rate you quote is MegaBytes per second.
You won't get 20-30 MBytes/sec from any wireless technology.

Would you consider using Powerline instead of a wireless bridge?

 

[Anthony Thomas]

You said

Just to confirm, is that MegaBytes or Megabits.

Was this rate measured from the same location you want to install the bridge?

I'm assuming the USB 2.0 transfer rate you quote is MegaBytes per second.
You won't get 20-30 MBytes/sec from any wireless technology.

Would you consider using Powerline instead of a wireless bridge?

I believe both are Megabits because 96GB wouldn't take 16 hours if it was Megabytes.

I may consider Power Line but that leaves my laptop on crummy Wireless G and I also wouldn't be saving as much money. I don't have any wireless problems, in fact never had. Before the 2 Wire 3800, we had a D-Link Router with DSL, always got a strong (max) signal from it everywhere but the back of the house were I hardly spend time.

Even the old Microsoft Router wasn't bad, in fact no complaints it was good, just Wireless B.

I would need to connect two devices/clients by Power Line. The cheapest solution I have found are 200Mbps PL including WD's Powerline kit. It would still default down to 10/100 despite the HTPC and the Server both have Gigabit NIC's.

I used to have a Buffalo Wireless G Ethernet Converter in the area in question, which was connected to a Sony PS2 and my HTPC. My signal strength was strong (max), I am only 20-25ft from the router, any router.

Isn't Megabytes = MB and Megabits = Mb? Windows doesn't use a lower case b, so it shows 1.99MB/second right now with about 27 mins to go. When I started moving these files (96GB) late last night (about 2am), it said 23 hours to move the files. I woke up about 8:30am and it said I think 8 hours left.

At 3:00pm its 27 mins left. With Wired LAN sure it would have happen much faster, but I also transferred 91GB worth of video files (DVR-MS/WTV) from a portable drive (5400rpm) at 17-24MB/second according to Windows. That transfer took about 20 mins.

 

[stevech]

Isn't Megabytes = MB and Megabits = Mb? Windows doesn't use a lower case b, so it shows 1.99MB/second right now with about 27 mins to go.

Yes, little b is bits. Frustratingly, some software authors code b and B incorrectly. Of course, it depends on what program is producing the display - and there are many different ones in Windows.

 

[thiggins]

I believe both are Megabits because 96GB wouldn't take 16 hours if it was Megabytes.

Actually, it would take 13 hours. Rough calculation:
96000 MB / 2 MB /sec = 48000 sec = 800 min = 13.3 hours

HomePlug AV 200 Mbps powerline should give you around 40 Mbps of steady throughput. This is still only 5 MB/s, however.

11n wireless will *at best* give you maybe 80 Mbps or 10 MB/s. Over any distance, it's going to give you more like 40 Mbps / 5 MB/s.

Isn't Megabytes = MB and Megabits = Mb?

Yep. But so many posters mix them up, I always check first.

 

[Anthony Thomas]

I'm sort of getting closer to final four or five products.

The Game/Media Adapter is going to be the TRENDnet 4 Port TEW-640MB. Its a few dollars less than Buffalo's 2 Port Adapter.

For the Router, I'm having a harder time. I've had great success with Buffalo products but have no interest in open source software especially when it makes performance worst as I have seen everywhere on the internet.

I can get a dual band for $60 but do I really need it? There best single band router goes for $44.

But for the price I keep coming back to the Linksys E1200, since it has good range, decently fast and cheap for $50 in most places.

That said I can get two of the $44 Buffalo's and use one as a Wireless Bridge and save $10 over the TRENDnet.

What you think?

In fact come to think of it, using a $44 Buffalo Router for a Bridge sounds like an excellent idea. I wanted to keep them the same for one button connect, but if its not the complicated to set them up non-WDS, then fine.

I can't seem to find reviews of cheaper products like Encore routers that seem to be popular on DD-WRT for example.

 

[Anthony Thomas]

Upgraded Network for $79!

I started shopping for stuff on Monday.

I got a TRENDnet TEW-640MB 4-Port Media Bridge for $29.99

It was $29.99 on Amazon and I made Fry's price-match it.

For a AP/Router, I got a WHR-HP-G300N Buffalo Router. I don't really need the USB port for anything as I just built a WHS 2011 box. It may run DD-WRT or Open WRT for other reasons, but we'll see.

I'll report back after I finished eating lunch (4pm PST). Should be easy to setup.

Well setup was easy, initially WHS 2011 did it usual self (No UPnP, Remote Access Blocked). I didn't set a static IP, so when I enabled UPnP, the router rebooted and BOOM WHS 2011 setup the router and put a check mark by Remote Access.

I walked away from the setup to connect my laptop. At first the laptop would only connect at 75Mbps. I set it to NG-Mixed and Bandwidth to 40Hz. I got 150Mbps to my laptop. I was expecting 300Mbps but I guess this card doesn't support it. I have no idea what the Media Bridge is connected at... Its going by the ports on the unit (100Mbps).

I did a few file transfers and its twice as fast - usually 4-5Mb/second as how Windows sees it. Before it was 1-2Mb. So I'm happy with that.

However when I returned to the server's console and it tried to find the router again, it failed and for the last several hours I've been trying to get it to connect again. It won't ports are open according to several web sites based on the IP address of the 2 Wire Gateway (3800) which is now in modem (DMZPlus) mode, wireless turned off.

I bought a new router for more speed and got that, the second reason was UPnP which I guess its not standardized and only works some of the time or depends on what your doing like connecting printers or hard drives to USB ports on a router.

Buffalo Tech Support was basically no help, I sort of expected that though.

Got any ideas about Remote Access? I followed several tutorials and nothing seems to work.