BEFSR41 too slow?

[teddykgb]

Hey all, I have a Motorola SBG900 wireless router/modem with a Linksys BEFSR41 hooked to it. I use the SBG900 for wireless connection and have both my server PC and the HD200 hardwired to the BEFSR41. This is an old switch that my fiancee had from several years ago. Is this switch too slow? I'll get stuttering and pixellation on both blu-ray rips and HD tv recordings. I've only had the HD200 for a week and a half or so and I absolutely love it other than this.

FYI my server PC is a quad core that is overclocked so it has plenty of juice, which is why I'm suspecting the linksys is the problem.

Thanks!

EDIT: I reformatted the drive that I record TV on to the 64k block size, haven't recorded a show yet to playback and test. Should the drives where I store my movie rips also be formatted to 64K? Is anyone else out there using the BEFSR41 and if so are you having any problems? Please help!

Thanks!

[valnar]

Yes. The switch in those old Linksys routers are pretty bad. I know in the older WRT54G routers they had a ADMTek ADM6996 switch which were pretty slow. They topped out at 40Mb even though it was a 10/100 switch. The later WRT54G's use a Broadcom based chip and were much better.

I think the BEFSR41 is in a similar boat.

[teddykgb]

Valnar thanks!

You've just given me an excuse to pick up a gigabit switch after work. No point in having this great piece of equipment (I love SageTV so far!) and have an old crappy switch ruin it!

Actually, do you think a gigabit switch is necessary? Or just a newer 10/100?

Thanks.

[valnar]

Originally Posted by teddykgb

Valnar thanks!

You've just given me an excuse to pick up a gigabit switch after work. No point in having this great piece of equipment (I love SageTV so far!) and have an old crappy switch ruin it!

Actually, do you think a gigabit switch is necessary? Or just a newer 10/100?

Thanks.

10/100 is fine unless you need gig for other purposes. For 100Mb, I recommend the Netgear FS108. If you want gig though, I do *not* recommend their GS108 as it has some problems. If cost is a concern, the HP ProCurve 1400-8G is a solid choice.

To expand a bit....whatever controller Netgear/Linksys/DLink uses in their $50-60 switches is crap. Stay away from them. That HP is as "cheap" as I would go.

[teddykgb]

Originally Posted by valnar

10/100 is fine unless you need gig for other purposes. For 100Mb, I recommend the Netgear FS108. If you want gig though, I do *not* recommend their GS108 as it has some problems. If cost is a concern, the HP ProCurve 1400-8G is a solid choice.

To expand a bit....whatever controller Netgear/Linksys/DLink uses in their $50-60 switches is crap. Stay away from them. That HP is as "cheap" as I would go.

So you're telling me that the Linksys EZXS88W I just picked up over lunch is crap? It was $35 and it looks like Best Buy has the FS108 for $54, should I get that instead?

[valnar]

Most of the cheap gigabit switches are crap. If it's just a 10/100 switch, it should be okay. I do not have direct experience with that one.

I can say the FS108 is highly regarded.

[teddykgb]

Originally Posted by valnar

Most of the cheap gigabit switches are crap. If it's just a 10/100 switch, it should be okay. I do not have direct experience with that one.

I can say the FS108 is highly regarded.

Thanks, it is just a 10/100 so I think I'll give it a shot. I really appreciate your help!