Playing media over a home network

**RACKnRAIL** · January 27th, 2008, 07:51 PM

I have two XP computers networked wirelessly. The main computer is wired to the router and modem in my office. The living room puter connects wirelessly.

I want to be able to watch downloaded media on my big screen TV in my living room. I have an XP tower connected to my TV and stereo and created the network. This XP pro tower has a 2 gb athlon, 1gb ram, 128 mb graphics. I connected the graphics using a DVI input and sound using an Edirol UA-25 usb device.

I have no problem seeing my network and sharing between the two. My network works fine for mp3 and most music extensions. I am able to play my office music library on my living room computer and stereo, but playing video is another story. I have tried various media players and codecs, but the vids are too slow.

I would welcome any suggestions.

**Krell** · January 27th, 2008, 09:37 PM

What are the bitrates of the media you are trying to stream? Is this an mkv file? You can view the average and max throughput on players such as CyberlinkPowerDVD etc.

Copy one of those files to the XP tower connected to your TV.

Play the file on that PC, and see if you have the proper results. If not, configure PC for proper codecs etc. I use the CCCP which is all you need.

If the copied file plays with no problem, it could be that the bitrate of the file exceeds the throughput of your wireless connection, which means you cant stream that type of file, you will need to use the XP tower connected to your TV as a temp cache server each time you want to play HD.

Before everyone speculates this guy to death, give him a chance to do the tests I ask. This is not a "my codec is greater than your codec" thread.

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**cheapprick** · January 27th, 2008, 10:03 PM

You nede to upgraid yer Ram! And switch to firefox! OR dvix and lindows!>!?! Have you tried looking into your cat5 eye?

Man the torpedos!

**ratcat** · January 27th, 2008, 10:13 PM

No tech support here.......

But jealous of the set up you've got.

*dreaming of a set up like that one day.*

**carpefile** · January 28th, 2008, 12:22 AM

Betting its his wireless thruput. Thats the only part of your setup you didn't spec, RnR.

This is a little costly, but an excellent solution
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...s/HDXB101.aspx

If you don't require HD, theres a cheaper 85mbps package (I use it, works fine for my needs)

**RACKnRAIL** · January 28th, 2008, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Krell

What are the bitrates of the media you are trying to stream? Is this an mkv file? You can view the average and max throughput on players such as CyberlinkPowerDVD etc.

Copy one of those files to the XP tower connected to your TV.

Play the file on that PC, and see if you have the proper results. If not, configure PC for proper codecs etc. I use the CCCP which is all you need.

If the copied file plays with no problem, it could be that the bitrate of the file exceeds the throughput of your wireless connection, which means you cant stream that type of file, you will need to use the XP tower connected to your TV as a temp cache server each time you want to play HD.

.

The .AVI bit rates vary from 145 to 448 kbps. The files play 100% when I copy them to my HD, which leaves me with the question, how do I go about using the XP tower connected to my TV as a temp cache server each time you want to play HD?

I'm using a Linksys WRT54G with the latest firmware. My TV tower has a linksys wireless adapter.

**carpefile** · January 28th, 2008, 10:18 AM

Yeah wireless g doesn't have the nads to stream HD vid, even on an ideal connection, which you likely don't have. I'm interested in learning how to setup a pc as a cache server too.
One other thing you could go with if you don't like the epl solution I offered is to upgrade your wireless setup to N, which offers speeds up to 200mbps.

The cheapest solution is to make a cat5 run from your living room to your office.

**RACKnRAIL** · January 28th, 2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by carpefile

Yeah wireless g doesn't have the nads to stream HD vid, even on an ideal connection, which you likely don't have. I'm interested in learning how to setup a pc as a cache server too.
One other thing you could go with if you don't like the epl solution I offered is to upgrade your wireless setup to N, which offers speeds up to 200mbps.

The cheapest solution is to make a cat5 run from your living room to your office.

I am curious as to Krell's solution by way of a cache server. I would like to try this first and if all else fails...cat5 like you said will be the cheapest solution, since spending more money kind of defeats the whole purpose of this.

**Feather** · January 28th, 2008, 04:34 PM

You should be able to just change the buffer size in the program you are using to play the video. Kind of like the way quick time buffers enough of the video before it starts playing.

**Andrew110** · January 28th, 2008, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by carpefile

Yeah wireless g doesn't have the nads to stream HD vid, even on an ideal connection, which you likely don't have.

I have to disagree there. I share files wirelessly on my network anywhere between 2.5 to 3 MBps and I have a WRT54GL router. That should be plenty of bandwidth.

**Krell** · January 28th, 2008, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Feather

You should be able to just change the buffer size in the program you are using to play the video. Kind of like the way quick time buffers enough of the video before it starts playing.

That will definately work IF the pipe is big enough, but you'd have to cache 3\4 of a film if the wifi throughput was too slow, and that's one hella cache.

Also - when you copy a 4.3gb movie to the XP tower connected to your TV, how long does it take to xfer the movie? Time it in seconds. And before you start the transfer, open Task Manager ans then click on the networking tab, watch this as the file completes. Does it moterboat up and down a lot, or pretty steady What is the avergarage rate?

145 to 448 kbps is quite low, and should not exceed the wifi throughput, something is wrong there. Are you using IO "input output" on BT etc while you are trying to move files? What else are you doing on these PC? You cant play HD Monkey porn and transfer files, it will crawl along.

1) time in seconds
2) transfer rate from network payne in Task Manager
3) IO used by any other means

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**RACKnRAIL** · January 28th, 2008, 07:44 PM

I ran a speed test out of curiosity.

1) I'd be here all day waiting for a 4.3 gb file to transfer over this network.

2) This was snapped while transferring a large file.

3) I am using this computer for surfing and media, but not at the same time. I am only running BT on my office computer, where I did the speed test.

Originally Posted by Krell

Are you using IO "input output" on BT etc while you are trying to move files? What else are you doing on these PC? You cant play HD Monkey porn and transfer files, it will crawl along.

1) time in seconds
2) transfer rate from network payne in Task Manager
3) IO used by any other means

.

**Andrew110** · January 28th, 2008, 07:55 PM

What kind of wireless adapter do you have? And how far away is that from your router?

**Krell** · January 28th, 2008, 08:03 PM

Clearly, 3% of a 24mbs connection isnt going to stream much. If it would take all day to copy a 4.3gb file over, then it would take you all day to watch it . . . in slow motion.

Either negotiate a higher connection with the hardware you have

or Buy newer hardware that is faster

or Run a network cable, for which 10mbs still isnt going to stream some HDTV, but better than what you have

or Copy the files to the PC ahead of time for later viewing

.

**RACKnRAIL** · January 28th, 2008, 08:28 PM

Either negotiate a higher connection with the hardware you have:
Not sure what you mean, negotiate. What can I do?

or Buy newer hardware that is faster:
Do you mean a new router and network card or the device carpefile suggested?

or Run a network cable, for which 10mbs still isnt going to stream some HDTV, but better than what you have:
Seriously? What would you suggest? What way to go?

I honestly don't want to spend a heap of cash, but I would consider an upgrade of some sort.