Wireless Advice - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

the_marq · 03-07-2010, 10:40 AM

I'm currently running a Wireless G network at home and it's giving me some trouble.

Here is my basic architecture:
Windows XP Media Centre Editon (XPMC) acts as my main media file centre, DVR (wireless)
Windows XP Pro (XPPro) is my gaming machine and main PC in the house, I use this to remote into XPMC to manage torrents etc...
Windows 7 Laptop (W7) is the "Kitchen Computer"

The XPMC is in a cabinet about 30 feet from the wireless router but for some reason it loses its connection to the router quite often. My guess is that being inside a wooden cabinet makes it hard to maintain the connection, moving it out of the cabinet is not an option, running a Cat5 cable all the way to the router is an undesirable option.

The W7 also wireless connects to the XPMC to access media files and even when the XPMC is connected to the network the streaming of SD and HD video is choppy and basically shitty.

So here is my question, will upgrading my wireless router and by extension the entire network to Wireless N solve my two problems? Both my wireless devices already support N, the router is the only G point.
1.intermittent disconnects for XPMC
2.crappy streaming to the W7 laptop

I don't mind buying a new router, but I have no idea if N will work any better for my situation and I'd hate to layout the cash ($60-$100) if no improvement is made.

Thanks, let me know if I need to provide any further info.

Martian · 03-07-2010, 01:38 PM

If the cabinet is made out of wood and the walls aren't three foot thick solid oak, it shouldn't cause any significant issues. More likely culprit is signal interference. 802.11n is more tolerant to these things.

You could also try changing the channel and see if that helps. If you're on channel 1, move to 6, on 6 move to 11.

Depending on what router you have, you may be able to perform a survey to see how many other access points are operating in your area and what the noise floor is like.

If you really think the cabinet is an issue, you can get an separate antenna (assuming PCI) and mount it outside the enclosure. Something like

this

should do the job.

03-07-2010, 10:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
the_marq All hail the Mountain King Location: Black Mesa	Wireless Advice I'm currently running a Wireless G network at home and it's giving me some trouble. Here is my basic architecture: Windows XP Media Centre Editon (XPMC) acts as my main media file centre, DVR (wireless) Windows XP Pro (XPPro) is my gaming machine and main PC in the house, I use this to remote into XPMC to manage torrents etc... Windows 7 Laptop (W7) is the "Kitchen Computer" The XPMC is in a cabinet about 30 feet from the wireless router but for some reason it loses its connection to the router quite often. My guess is that being inside a wooden cabinet makes it hard to maintain the connection, moving it out of the cabinet is not an option, running a Cat5 cable all the way to the router is an undesirable option. The W7 also wireless connects to the XPMC to access media files and even when the XPMC is connected to the network the streaming of SD and HD video is choppy and basically shitty. So here is my question, will upgrading my wireless router and by extension the entire network to Wireless N solve my two problems? Both my wireless devices already support N, the router is the only G point. 1.intermittent disconnects for XPMC 2.crappy streaming to the W7 laptop I don't mind buying a new router, but I have no idea if N will work any better for my situation and I'd hate to layout the cash ($60-$100) if no improvement is made. Thanks, let me know if I need to provide any further info. __________________ The Truth: Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to. #3 in a series

03-07-2010, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	If the cabinet is made out of wood and the walls aren't three foot thick solid oak, it shouldn't cause any significant issues. More likely culprit is signal interference. 802.11n is more tolerant to these things. You could also try changing the channel and see if that helps. If you're on channel 1, move to 6, on 6 move to 11. Depending on what router you have, you may be able to perform a survey to see how many other access points are operating in your area and what the noise floor is like. If you really think the cabinet is an issue, you can get an separate antenna (assuming PCI) and mount it outside the enclosure. Something like this this should do the job. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame