I have a Linksys WRT350N router that has great signal stregnth but is having serious performance and drop-out issues with my DMA2100's. I have QoS on and have configured the N bands based on Linksys recommendations but my problems changed from crap HD (pixilation and freezing) to drop outs (where the extender cannot even find the PC)

I noticed that there are a good deal of folks that are having success with wireless on the Linksys extenders and would like to know what wireless router you are using.

Thnx, Jon 

wrt600n

No issues on either - one is setup three rooms away with my kitchen (fridge and sink in direct path).

The other is in the bedroom through walls, but nothing metal in between.

The WRT600N got rave reviews for throughput in PCMAG.  I also noted that all "Vista Certified" routers must be dual-band!

I may be buying one myself if wiring my current WAP directly to the VMC box doesn't fix my identical issue.

jtpmelliott:

I have a Linksys WRT350N router that has great signal stregnth but is having serious performance and drop-out issues with my DMA2100's. I have QoS on and have configured the N bands based on Linksys recommendations but my problems changed from crap HD (pixilation and freezing) to drop outs (where the extender cannot even find the PC)

I noticed that there are a good deal of folks that are having success with wireless on the Linksys extenders and would like to know what wireless router you are using.

Thnx, Jon 

 

I'm currently using the Belkin N1 Vision.  It is not cutting the mustard.  I have preordered a d-link DIR-855.  The 855 is dual band.  The N1 is not.

moosic:

I'm currently using the Belkin N1 Vision.  It is not cutting the mustard.  I have preordered a d-link DIR-855.  The 855 is dual band.  The N1 is not.

The DIR-855 is $360 for preorder!!!!!!!  Holy bajesus!

Edit:  I was hoping for $200ish.  No way I'll pay more than that for a router.  I think $150 would be the sweet spot, but I see now that I'm dreaming.

You gotta go with something that uses the 5GHz frequency range.  Probably doesn't matter which brand.  Go into config though and force it to use 5GHz for transmission. WRT600N works very well for my neighbor, but I use powerline adapters which have worker perfectly so far.

I should clarify, I am using 5ghz N for my media and 2.4Ghz G for my data.

The separate band does make a difference.  If I were to do both with a single band it would probably not work as well.

Point the antennas on the extender inwards towards each other with about an inch left between them.  That seemed to stop the drop-outs for me.  Still can't do HD, but I am wireless from the Vista machine and then wireless to the extender.  And even though I can't do HD, I am very happy and can't wait until my hub Vista machine is hooked into the router directly.  I expect great results based on the results I am getting now.....Q

Are you guys pretty happy with the performance over wireless N?

We're about to move.  We built our current home and I had every necessary room wired for CAT5.  The new house will probably be something like 5-25 years old.  My choice is either to fish wires throughout the house or go the 'N' route.

I have one of the DMA2100 units now and plan on getting at least 1 more.  I also have three Vista HTPCs running in various rooms and a WHS in a dark corner of our current basement.  Doing this all wireless would be so much easier but I really worry if it will actually work.

I considered posting in a new thread, but since you guys are actually doing this stuff, I figured you would have better answers.  Thoughts?

I have been using powerline ethernet adapters for a few months and they are definitely the way to go.  Though rated for 200mbps, I get around 100mbps transmission average (plenty for streaming content and doing file backups), and I've never had a dropout.  The only concern is that some houses have wiring that isn't conducive to powerline solutions (i.e can't transmit from first floor to second).  You will have to test the house out for yourself.  Also, you will need 6/7 adapters for your setup; expensive, but cheaper than getting N adapters for everything.  I also saw somewhere on these forums about ethernet over the coax cabling, but I've never used it and know nothing about it, but it may work for you.     

I've struck out with the Linksys WRT350N and the D-Link 655 (freezing and pixilation on HD content).  I'm running 1 lap top and a wireless printer on G, on N I have two DMA2100's a laptop and a pc.  With this setup, I'm asking a lot of any wireless router (even with QoS). 

I've ordered a WRT600N with dual radios (N and G) which I'm hoping will solve my problems.  I'll let you all know when I get it.  

supin8:

I have been using powerline ethernet adapters for a few months and they are definitely the way to go. 

IMHO wiring your house with CAT-5 or CAT-6 is definitely the way to go.  It might cost a grand or two, but you have far fewer problems and save on having to buy other hardware -like special routers and NICs and you can run 1Gbps.

jtpmelliott:

I've struck out with the Linksys WRT350N and the D-Link 655 (freezing and pixilation on HD content).  I'm running 1 lap top and a wireless printer on G, on N I have two DMA2100's a laptop and a pc.  With this setup, I'm asking a lot of any wireless router (even with QoS). 

I've ordered a WRT600N with dual radios (N and G) which I'm hoping will solve my problems.  I'll let you all know when I get it.  

Don't forget to hardwire your media center "server" directly to the router (rather than using wireless), so you don't need to fly data twice through the air to get to the DMA2100.

I have a 350N from Linksys (which has been the bain of my life and almost got me to the point where I would never buy another linksys product again) and 3 extenders.  I have tried wireless but it was hopeless, so I switched to wired and paid to have the ethernet Cat 6 run into the rooms I need.

Now it all works fine.  I have heard the 600N is a much better option than the 350N but since it cant even do port forwarding I dont hold out much hope for it.

I returned my Belkin N1 and got a wrt600n.  It made a difference, but not much of one.  I was still having issues with my 2200 dropping out on me.  I finally turned off QOS on my media center network card.  That has made a major difference.  My media center machine is plugged into the d-link media bridge, which is connected to the wrt600N via the 5 ghz radio.  The dma2200 is also running via the 5ghz radio.

 

I was able to watch several hours of recorded HD content without issue.  The 2200 eventually dropped to a black screen and seemed to freeze up.  I had to reboot it.  I was able to reconnect.  However, I don't have audio now.  I went down to my media center machine and the audio was coming out of it.  I pressed stop on the remote and the audio stopped.  Went back up stairs and started up the extender again.  The audio still isn't coming out.  I probably need to reboot the media center machine.