Wireless G Client - Found A Solution

[DRM2PVR]

Like many here, I've been battling having my client setup on a wireless connection without the typical stuttering that plagues so many of us. So many times I have been so close, so many times failed.... until today. Since I didnt have to buy anything additional to what I had, I figured I would post this up in the hopes it might help someone else.

My Sage is curently hard wired to my wireless G router along with all my other PC's. Since I could never control what else might be happening on my wireless G network at any time, I decided to setup a dedicated wireless G network card in my SageTV Server and placed it in unsercured (no encryption) Ad-Hoc mode for direct PC to PC connection at its maximum 54Mbs (encryption caries overhead which robs bandwidth). I called the SSID 'SageTV' and set its IP to a static 192.168.2.1 .

I then set my SageTV clients wireless G card to only connect to the Ad-Hoc SSID of 'SageTV' and also set its IP to a static of 192.168.2.2 (incremented by 1).

Now SageTV Server and SageTV client have a dedicated connection between them which wont get interupted by anything else. But this still stuttered and would only connect at 11 Mbps.

It is important to go to this adapter properties of both wireless cards and change its default ad-hoc properties from Wireless B mode only, to Wireless G mode only which pins both cards to 54 Mbps.

Next I performed this QOS mod on both SageTV and the Client:

By default, the packet scheduler limits the system to 20% of the bandwidth of a connection, to increase bandwidth :

1-Open Run dialog box from Start menu.
2- Type “gpedit.msc” and press Ok.
3- When Group Policy run, go to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Qos Packet Schedule
4- in right side, right click on Limit reseivable bandwidth and select Properties.
5- In Setting tab under Limit reservable bandwidth section select Enabeled .
6- instead of 20 type 0 (zero) and then click ok, and close Group Policy.
7- Now , go to Network connection and right click on your connection and select Properties.
8- Go to Networking tab and cheek Qos Packet Scheduler to be ticked.
9- Restart your PC


That was it. I get 2-3 seconds of initial stutter and then perfect playback on the opposite side of my house.

One more thing to consider, make sure your Ad-Hoc netwokr has a couple of empty channels on each side of it or your performance might be reduced... if your in a busy spot, distance may be limited.

Hope this helps at least one person, good luck!

[GKusnick]

Now try microwaving a bag of popcorn and see what that does to your playback.

[chrisc983]

are you streaming bluray or HD content?

[DRM2PVR]

So far so good. I only get 50% bandwidth usage of the 54 Mbps connection, so 26 Mbps realistic and consistent (I had popcorn last night.. but paused playback while I was making it . I have been watching HD recordings just fine but have not done any BlueRay. I'm really pleased with the outcome.

On another note, I also use placeshifter on my laptop from time to time which only has an 802.11 b adpater and typically set the settings to 1500kbps streaming at 320x240 - blown up full screen. The quality is quite acceptable but my ancient linksys WRT54G v5 router would drop the connection every 20 minutes. I flashed my router with the alternate DD-WRT firmware (highly reccomend!!!), boosted the wireless signal in the UI and now my playback will last an entire move with no drops.