Network connection help

Willow

My current set up is as follows:
Coax to modem/router combo on main floor. From the router, all hardwired are: Boxee, and separate router for home monitoring, one last Ethernet cable runs to a powerline 200 to the PC in the basement. We've been getting lots of buffering from the boxee lately. I'm trying to maximize speed. In the basement from powerline : to a 10/100 switch to desktop, garage door router and one other component I can't recall right now. I'm looking to get the best connection from PC to Boxee so I can stream shows/movies saved on the PC. I don't want to start drilling random holes. I don't have a wireless card in my desktop which still wouldn't help with the garage door opener and what ever else is hooked up down there. I was thinking of a new poweline 500, not sure that would help. I can get coax to the PC as we have a smartbox in the basement, but then how to get it up to family room?

Thanks

msg

I'm having a hard time following your setup. Did you have a kid transcribe it for you by smartphone?

1. Is the (loose) diagram below accurate?
2. Which, if any, of these devices are wireless?
3. Is your secondary router set to bridge mode/DHCP turned off?
4. What kind of throughput do you get from the top level network? speedtest.net
5. What are you running on the Boxee when you're getting the buffering?
6. What are you doing with the home monitoring segment? Cams?
7. Are you seeing any notifications on your devices about duplicate IP's, or warnings with network configuration on any of your routers? Double-NAT might sound familiar.
8. Your 10/100 switch is a switch and not another router, correct?

Any info you might provide on network use when you're seeing Boxee buffering would be helpful.

Quick isolation tests might help narrow down the trouble segment.
Establish a reproducible buffering situation. Make it buffer. Then disconnect everything but the Boxee segment. See if it goes away. If it does, then it could be something on your other segments causing it, or some other conflict, and we can have a closer look.

EndersShadow

Are you using CAT5e wiring and a gigabit switch? If not that may be your problem.

Willow

msg wrote: »

I'm having a hard time following your setup. Did you have a kid transcribe it for you by smartphone?

1. Is the (loose) diagram below accurate?
2. Which, if any, of these devices are wireless?
3. Is your secondary router set to bridge mode/DHCP turned off?
4. What kind of throughput do you get from the top level network? speedtest.net
5. What are you running on the Boxee when you're getting the buffering?
6. What are you doing with the home monitoring segment? Cams?
7. Are you seeing any notifications on your devices about duplicate IP's, or warnings with network configuration on any of your routers? Double-NAT might sound familiar.
8. Your 10/100 switch is a switch and not another router, correct?

Any info you might provide on network use when you're seeing Boxee buffering would be helpful.

Quick isolation tests might help narrow down the trouble segment.
Establish a reproducible buffering situation. Make it buffer. Then disconnect everything but the Boxee segment. See if it goes away. If it does, then it could be something on your other segments causing it, or some other conflict, and we can have a closer look.

Exactly like your diagram. Well I ended up buying a 10/1000 switch and a new powerline kit. Now I'm getting 80-107mbps on my desktop and no buffering through the boxee.

Thanks again.

msg

cool, glad you got it sorted!

So, did you end up replacing that 10/100 switch and the P200, or did you add that new switch after the modem/router and plug everything into it? Additional Powerline, or replacement with the P500 you mentioned? Just curious which changes sorted it for you.

Yes, I always try to use separate gigabit switches for networking, and routers just for the internet piece. I usually go with those little Netgear Prosafe 5-port or 8-port ones. They work pretty well and seem to last a long time even under "heavier" SoHo type loads.

Willow

I bought a D-link 10/1000 switch to replace my 10/100. That helped a bit. The big difference was the new trendnet powerline 1200. Once that was installed and configured, my speed in the basement went through the roof as did my UP/DN load speeds when streaming from the PC to and through the Boxee. I also made sure all my cables are Cat5 or 6. Oh and the other one which you have as a ? is my home phone (voip)

msg

Excellent, great info for the knowledge base, both forum and personal. It's hard to know how equipment like the Powerline stuff will work without actually being able to mess with it. If you rely on reviews alone - with any product - sometimes you can be left more confused and unsure than before you began, you know?

Indeed, your previous setup seemed to be quite the labored path for your Boxee/PC connection. Glad to hear you're screamin' now

Willow

It wasn't without issues. The package says is PnP. My A$$ is it. Had to load the utility disk plug each individual PL and do a reset. Not easy for people who have no clue. Once that was done it worked but I was getting super slow speeds. slower than the P200. I think I went from basement to main floor at least 20x. On my last trip up, very frustrated, I look over to see I had accidentally left a p200 plugged in to a wall (no Ethernet). Ah-ha! it was causing confusion. Unplugged it and voila blazing fast speeds.
Unfortunately, my setup is the only way without drilling holes into the wall and running Ethernet. This is not where the HT will stay once we finish the basement. I could have purchased a MoCa kit but powerline was more simple for me and less expensive.

EndersShadow

Yeah the upgrade to a gigabit switch and new powerline were the way to go. I plan to wire my house with Cat5E throughout later this year (when its cooler in the attic) so I can stream lossless video and audio through my network as well.

msg

haha, hey man, I *still* do stuff like that sometimes It's usually something obvious, like you found, or a training/familiarity thing. But... you become an expert in the end, hehe

My humble perspective is that's there's no single right or wrong answer with this stuff, more just what's the most appropriate solution given priorities/limitations. Wifi's gotten pretty good over the years, so there's no reason not to use it if it can support your use. Easy to implement, and flexible. Sure ethernet's nice - solid and fast and reliable - but obviously, bothersome to install sometimes. It's good to see some hardware out there for getting around problems that would previously only leave you with two choices - hardwire, or go without.

Anyway, you can probably start making some money on the side now setting up home networks for people.