Wireless launched by PCH

[jimbo]

mjmacky, once you get it could you run a test streaming both 720p and 1080p files with no encryption? I've always heard that wireless-n encrypted takes a huge hit on speed although running it unencrypted surely isn't an option. I'm just curious how it goes.

[mjmacky]

(12-04-2008 05:14 PM)jimbo Wrote:  mjmacky, once you get it could you run a test streaming both 720p and 1080p files with no encryption? I've always heard that wireless-n encrypted takes a huge hit on speed although running it unencrypted surely isn't an option. I'm just curious how it goes.

My whole network runs on WPA encryption, so disabling it for my devices might be cumbersome for testing (i.e. I'm not able to guarantee that I can avoid being lazy). I was going to test 720p, but I don't have anything in 1080p.

[chris57]

Speed test via FTP:-
FTP to my A100 via wired with latest beta is 7.1MB/s
FTP with WPA-TPK via WiFi to my A110 is 1.6MB/s

[pelle412]

Has anyone ordered this and actually received it? I ordered one on Nov 24th. On Dec 1 my CC was billed, but it has not yet shipped.

[FLaSH]

Has anyone tested the speed without encryption?

[huntnplay]

yeah, i ordered end of last month, my cc is charged, but google checkout shows it as in progress, but not yet shipped, wonder why its taking this long? anyone else have this problem, is this product coming from china too?

[chris57]

They dont charge your CC until the unit is shipped. Google checkout may reserve the amount but PCH do not.

[mjmacky]

OK here's my setup for testing:

PC - Acer Aspire 5100 running Vista x86 w/ WUSB600N (Linksys Wireless N through USB)
Router - Linksys WRT310N
PCH Network connections tested - Wired & WN-100 wireless
Encryption - WPA2 TKIP or AES
File size for transfer tests - 169 MB MKV file

FTP transfer speeds:
Wired --> 7-8 MB/s (historically 5-8 MB/s)
WN-100 --> 690-790 kB/s

Samba:
Wired --> 6-7 MB/s
WN-100 --> 700 kB/s

Alternative FTP Test:
This test was used to test transfer speed when my Vista system was running wireless with the WN-100 using TP Link drivers while the Popcorn Hour was on a wired connection.
FTP transfer --> 1.6 MB/s

Overall, in my opinion, this isn't even suitable for transfer speeds. I attempted to stream an SD file, with major hiccup (though I never stream files from the PC, I was just testing). This could be a combination of poor hardware performance with poor driver performance, as using the WN-100 on my computer gave me twice the throughput, but hardly worthy of carrying N after 802.11, as I get the same performance from my built in Atheros G. I wouldn't even be able to stream from the PlayOn server on my desktop if I think about it. Another note about the test is that whether I was in Mixed Wireless mode or N Wireless Mode had no noticeable effect on transfer speeds. I'm glad I have it for some future situation where the wire must be removed for some short period of time, but only for a short period of time. I hope this is almost satisfactory for people who physically cannot run a wire.

Maybe I should have invested in a bridged router afterall...

[chris57]

I have also found that using a larger file gets higher rates.

I find FTP rate of 1.7Mb/s adequate for moving files only, I get 1.7Mb/s everytime I transfer files with WPA-TPK. I do manage to stream SD xvid reliably but that's it. For you to get <1Mb/s your wireless conditions must be not as good as mine, mines straight line of sight.

A wireless bridge or homeplugs/powerline/powerplugs will always give better performance.

[mrolabandola]

(12-24-2008 09:25 AM)chris57 Wrote:  I have also found that using a larger file gets higher rates.

I find FTP rate of 1.7Mb/s adequate for moving files only, I get 1.7Mb/s everytime I transfer files with WPA-TPK. I do manage to stream SD xvid reliably but that's it. For you to get <1Mb/s your wireless conditions must be not as good as mine, mines straight line of sight.

A wireless bridge or homeplugs/powerline/powerplugs will always give better performance.

Question,

Will the wireless be faster in future firmware updates?

[chris57]

There may be tweaks but it will always be v.limited IMO by the USB platform having only 1x4MIMO whereas mini-pci etc are 2x4MIMO and therefore double the speed potentially. Thats why a wireless-g bridge will stream files without the problems that USB wireless-N has.

[mjmacky]

I can't deduce the possibility of the WN-100 performing that much faster. Like I was saying, using my Linksys Wireless N USB, I can easily achieve 8 MB/s, but when I used the WN-100 on the same computer, I was getting 1.6 MB/s. Since my Linksys USB wireless is not line of site, 8MB/s is pretty good, meaning I should also see the WN-100 reach within at least 80% of its capabilities from the same spot, and if 1.6 MB/s is all I get, I think perhaps around 2MB/s is all we can dream about.

I started using PlayOn (for Netflix, Hulu) more frequently AFTER I ordered the WN-100, it just took awhile for it to arrive. Less than 1MB/s is barely sufficient for SD streaming this way since my PC is transcoding on the fly. It isn't even giving regular wireless G speeds.

As far as file transfers go, I prefer the 8MB/s since sometimes I come across files that just don't play right on the PCH. I had to transcode 28 episodes of a 74-episode series. That would take a long time to transfer back & forth between the PC and PCH since I wouldn't even be able to stream from the computer at the all wireless speeds.

I'm thinking about buying a wireless N bridge (router most likely), I now have 3 unused wireless USB devices in my house, but their performance upsets me enough to waste more money that I do not have on something faster. Maybe somebody wants to buy my WN-100, I'd sell at a discounted price.