Re: Wireless Router and MCE

From: Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows] (barb_at_nospam.com)
Date: 01/15/05 

Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 15:33:04 -0500

Matthew,
two walls with chicken wire in plaster does not sound wonderful. my
expectations are that you will have trouble with either a or g
wireless if the wireless has to pass through two walls with this
construction.

I don't believe there are any a only routers on the market. it's
either g or a/g.

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 11:59:02 -0800, "matthew"
<matthew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>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?
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>>
>>
>> 

--
Barb Bowman
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
MS-MVP (Windows)

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