Re: Wireless Router and MCE

From: matthew (matthew_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 01/15/05 

Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 11:59:02 -0800

Hi Todd - answers to your questions:

-Single family house, houses are around 15-20 ft away
-Although build in 1910, there is some drywall and some plaster over chicken
wire. No brick at all.
-There would be two walls and a hard wood floor with no insulation between
the joists of either wall or floor. The walls on one side are chicken wire
and on the other side is drywall. The ceiling in the living room is dry wall
as well.

It sounds from what everyone is saying that an "a" router is what I am going
to have to get and that "g" has more issues as you have pointed out. Is
there an "a" only router that you know of? I'll look however the experts
always know best.

"Todd Bowra [MSFT]" wrote:

> The short answer is that MCX devices will work over 802.11g and provide a
> good experience, but using 802.11a will generally provide a better
> experience.
>
> The longer answer is that g has many shortcomings that a doesn't:
> - using an old 802.11b device on your g network will really slow it down
> (which is the source of the recommendation that you segment your wireless
> network with AV functionality on a and your PCs on g)
> - running the microwave may interfere with your network performance on g
> (depending on where the microwave is)
> - g only has 3 non-overlapping channels, meaning that it's more likely a
> neighbor's wireless network will interfere with your network
> - 2.4 GHz cordless phones (most common type currently on the market) may
> interfere with 802.11g networks
>
> Determining wireless bandwidth isn't an exact science, but we can provide
> some guidance on what you may expect; a few questions:
> - do you live in a single- or multi-family dwelling? (i.e. how close are
> your neighbors?)
> - what is the construction type of the interior walls of your house? (wood
> 2x4s and gypsum board, early 1900s plaster over chicken wire, brick, etc.)
> - how far in distance and number of walls would the MCX be from the router?
> (you mention at least one ceiling below)
>
> --
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
>
> "matthew" <matthew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:010C024C-2A12-49FE-9DD0-DCD3BF4710E6@microsoft.com...
> > Sorry for me being a total newbie. Ok, here's what I have:
> >
> > Gateway 3250x desktop
> > Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900
> > Internal 10/100 NIC card
> > DSL connection
> >
> > I'll get a TV tuner but I am not going to set up any other computer or
> > extender in the house. I was looking at the D-Link wireless router. My
> > confusion is whether or not I need one that is a/g or if I can get away
> with
> > a g router. Or maybe I'm so totally confused I'm confusing myself. I've
> > read the article on how to set up the MCE however she mentions that she is
> > going to set up another computer and putting that on the g portion and the
> > MCE on the a. Would I do the same?
> >
> > "Dave" wrote:
> >
> > > Are you asking why you need a router, rather than just use 802.11a/g "ad
> hoc"
> > > or "peer to peer" between your MCE PC and Extender?
> > >
> > > If thats the question, in theory, it might work OK, but I suspect you
> will
> > > have performance problems and possibly trouble getting it to work. Here
> is a
> > > dirty little industry "secret" ...
> > >
> > > Ad Hoc (which is what its called with no router, "infrastructure mode"
> with
> > > a router) is not well tested for interoperability. In addition, its not
> > > implemented very well in Windows XP (in my opinion). In addition, most
> > > people don't realize, that two 802.11g devices, when put into ad hoc
> mode,
> > > typically default to 802.11b speeds! With most devices, you can tell
> them to
> > > use 802.11g mode ad hoc and if the cards are from the same vendor it
> will
> > > probably work.
> > >
> > > So in general, a router or an access point will result in more reliable
> and
> > > higher speed performance. Also, every device on the network wirelessly
> slows
> > > things down, and people have found a wireless MCE PC to a router to a
> > > wireless MCE Extender doesn't have the performance for video. It works
> best
> > > to connect the media center PC to the router or access point by
> Ethernet.
> > >
> > > But if you don't already have a wireless card in your MCE PC, just get
> an
> > > a/b/g router or access point and connect to it over Ethernet. Set the
> router
> > > next to your PC. A router any more costs about the same as a wireless
> card.
> > > If you have high speed internet in your house, get a router. If you
> just use
> > > dial up (which unfortunately I do as that is all I can get), get an AP
> and
> > > use Internet Connection Sharing to share your connection. I have a
> wireless
> > > AP hooked to my MCE PC over Ethernet to connect to my wireless printers
> and
> > > my old Windows 98PC. Haven't tried a media extender yet though.
> > >
> > > If you have high speed internet, you really should get a wireless router
> > > anyway. Even if you just are connecting your MCE PC to your extender,
> there
> > > will be times when the extender wants to update firmware over the
> Internet.
> > > And I bet there will be times friends and relatives visit with wireless
> > > laptops and may want to get on your network.
> > >
> > > Bottom line, you could try it in ad hoc mode, but insure the cards are
> > > really using g on both ends. But be prepared to get a router or access
> point
> > > anyway. When it comes to combo a/g cards, I don't know if any of them
> really
> > > use both technologies at the same time when ad hoc, but they usually do
> in
> > > infrastructer (with a router or AP).
> > >
> > > "matthew" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I cannot hard wire the computer to the MCX. The MCE is upstairs and
> the
> > > > entertainment unit is downstairs. I just don't know if an a/g
> wireless
> > > > router is necessary. I only want to go from the MCE computer to the
> MCX. No
> > > > other tv or computer will be involved on the network.
> > > >
> > > > "Todd Bowra [MSFT]" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > If you are planning to use an Ethernet network to connect your MCX
> to your
> > > > > PC, a wireless-capable router is not necessary.
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "matthew" <matthew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:8164C696-1C7C-43F1-9500-80A359567E8D@microsoft.com...
> > > > > > Why would I need to get an a/g wireless router if I am going to
> use the
> > > > > MCE
> > > > > > computer to only connect to the Extender? I do not plan to have
> another
> > > > > > computer in the house that can hook up to the network or another
> extender
> > > > > > however everything that I have read says that an a/g router is
> required.
> > > > > Is
> > > > > > this so?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
>
>
>

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