Arggghhhhhh...DG834N issues

[kungpo]

My old DG834GT just didn't have enough power to deliver HD content wirelessly to my HTPC. So I went out and got a DG834N and the WN121T USB adapter. Now it's even worse than before. Speed varies between (claimed) 1mbs and 130mbs. Ping round times vary between 3ms and 1200ms. Get about 1 in 15 lost ping requests. This is doing my head in.

Latest firmware on the router (1.01.06) and latest drivers for the WN121. I've tried dropping max speed on the wireless down to 130mbs max, but doesn't make any difference.

Now what can I try? Placement of the router and the USB adapter seems to make little difference either.

[ikonia]

HD over wirless is not going to happen very easy.

There was a thread on this somewhere a few months ago, but someone went to the hassle of calculating the throughput needed to recieve a HD movie over wirless and the current wirless technology + overheads wasn't enough.

[kungpo]

I don't think I'm far off. I had 60% acceptable over the 54g wifi. Standard defintion played 100% over the network, 720p about 80% acceptable, and 1080p about 50% acceptable.

What I don't get is why it's so much worse now - i can't even get low def to play smoothly. I really don't want to run a cable...

[Agent]

802.11a would be better for high def stuff really.
How much is a case of 'try it and see' though.

[kungpo]

Moving the router right towards the center of the house has made a difference. Now get a consistent (claimed by Vista anyway) 130mbs and spiderman in 1080i plays fine. 300 plays badly still, despinte being only 720p.

Realy annoying thing is that I've just rebuilt the HTPC as I thought the HD in it was too slow. Still looking better.

@Agent - if I want 802.11a, I'm guessing I need a different access point? I do prefer the idea of having it all in one box though.

[MadduckUK]

make sure the backside of the router is pointing towards your HTPC, thats where the arials are facing. i can get a constant 243-270mbps with a good-very good rating through 2 double glazed windows, which wifi signals apparently have trouble with... going down to 1mbps is far too low

[EtheAv8r]

Ditch the wireless (USB wireless often performs less will than PCIE or PC card adapters) and get yourself a pair of 200mbs Devolo Homeplugs. I have NetGear DG834PN and it is a brilliant ADSL router and the wireless from it is good in most places in the house, and not so good in others (usually where you want it!). I now have 200MBs Delolo homeplugs connecting PCs in all my 3 daughters rooms with the netgear and it goes like a rocket.