Starting from scratch

[jasjoh]

I'm currently running a DIR-655 as a Wireless AP for a AT&T UVERSE Motorola NVG510 modem, two DWA-160s, a Netgear WNA3100, two iPad 2s, two iPhone 4s, a Boxee (used for streaming video), and a laptop w/ Intel 5300 AGN.

The DWA-160s appear to be trash - they show 0 signal at the same location where the WNA3100 shows 95% strength. One room over they drop to 70% signal and their throughput wavers between 10-30 Mbps.

I live downtown and my area is chock-full of 2.5Ghz WANs (see here: https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=BD5921EE58A94EF!176).

I'm willing to start from scratch and my only requirement is that I can stream a 15GB video from my HTPC over wireless to the Boxee. The home isn't wired to do anything over-the-wire and it's a rental -- wireless is only option.

My budget is $500. Please help!

 

[jasjoh]

As an FYI, the Boxee leverages a Mini PCI-E wireless card that employs a Broadcom BCM4319XKUBG.

 

[tipstir]

Isn't Uverse only 12m down.. How come you come you have the WAN set to 10/100/1000m I would set that to 10m because that 12m is really 6m with them. How come you don't set the Channel Width to 20MHz and put the device in Mix mode unless you only using N devices then lease it.

 

[thiggins]

Why not try a pair of HomePlug AV 200Mbps or 500 Mbps devices?

 

[jasjoh]

Isn't Uverse only 12m down.. How come you come you have the WAN set to 10/100/1000m I would set that to 10m because that 12m is really 6m with them. How come you don't set the Channel Width to 20MHz and put the device in Mix mode unless you only using N devices then lease it.

How would changing the WAN speed from auto to 10m help with my WLAN Intranet issues? I'm only using N-devices so I assumed N-only would be the most efficient selection. The screenshot of the 20/40 Auto is out of date --- it's currently at 20Mhz.

 

[jasjoh]

Why not try a pair of HomePlug AV 200Mbps or 500 Mbps devices?

I wasn't aware of those until just after I posted but I'm definitely considering them as an option. Thanks

 

[jasjoh]

Ok, so I tried AV-500Mbps devices and the signal was not any better. I also tried a Cisco ER1000 extended, still not better. Am I going to see significant improvement moving from the DIR-655 to a newer released device like the Asus N66U that gets such great reviews on here?

 

[thiggins]

Ok, so I tried AV-500Mbps devices and the signal was not any better.

What signal was not better? How did you use the powerline adapters.

 

[jasjoh]

What signal was not better? How did you use the powerline adapters.

One adapter was hooked up to a LAN port on the router. One adapter was hooked up to the HTPC.

I tried the second adapter at a number of locations. The only location that DIDNT show as 'Red' or 'Poor Connection' was the socket on the same wall about 3 feet away.

When I say the 'signal was not better' I'm judging based on the ability to stream a 15GB movie from the HTPC to my Boxee which is in the same room as the router and has direct line of site about 8 feet away. I noticed little difference in the ability to stream (same frequency of re-buffering) between the powerline adapter connection and the DWA-160 adapter connection.

 

[tipstir]

How would changing the WAN speed from auto to 10m help with my WLAN Intranet issues? I'm only using N-devices so I assumed N-only would be the most efficient selection. The screenshot of the 20/40 Auto is out of date --- it's currently at 20Mhz.

What are you getting for download speeds? You should tune it in to match what you get. On my end WiFi is only shy by 6m to 10m difference compared to wired system. I am on mix for WiFi because I still have 802.11g clients I have to support.

 

[jasjoh]

What are you getting for download speeds? You should tune it in to match what you get. On my end WiFi is only shy by 6m to 10m difference compared to wired system. I am on mix for WiFi because I still have 802.11g clients I have to support.

I tuned it down to 10Mbs (since this is about what i get out of my DSL @ WAN level). That didn't seem to have an effect on my internal network streaming over WLAN though (HPTC HD -> Boxee Box), should it have?

 

[tipstir]

I tuned it down to 10Mbs (since this is about what i get out of my DSL @ WAN level). That didn't seem to have an effect on my internal network streaming over WLAN though (HPTC HD -> Boxee Box), should it have?

WAN what you set only has to do with your ISP connection. So you have 10mb coming down from the ISP.

LAN on your router are set to auto can't be changed unless you had port management