Network connection

[jksc]

I have a somewhat unusual situation and before purchasing the HD theater, I want to make sure I can get it to work. I live in a studio apartment. Our internet is paid through our HOA and it is wireless. The HOA has the routers placed throughout the building and I just simply connect to the network. There are no wired connections in my room. I will be running the sagetv server on my laptop. Instead of having to move my laptop back and forth to the tv every time and connecting the computer to my hdtv, I would rather have an extender that I can use at the tv and then leave my laptop on my desk. So here is my question regarding the network connections. I do not think that I can use the wireless network here in my building to connect the hd theater, or can I? And if I can not, it is it possible to run an ethernet cable from my laptop to the hd theater and connect it that way- directly to the laptop.

I am new to all of this so sorry if these are dumb questions. Before investing the money in this, I just want to make sure I will be able to get it up and running properly.

[toricred]

You're probably better off running a cable and connecting both the laptop and the extender to a switch. I'm not sure how well it would work directly connected unless the cable is a crossover cable or the laptop port is gigabit.

[mayamaniac]

It might work wirelessly if the wireless network is 802.11 "N draft". The HD Extender's new beta firmware allows wireless USB adapter to be connected to it. But if its wireless "G" or "B", then wireless connection is not an option.

The other option is to do what toricred said.

[jksc]

unfortunately it is 802.11g. So I guess that is not an option. Thanks so much for the help. But I am so new to this I guess I do not understand what you mean by connecting the laptop and extender with a cable and switch. Could you explain further? Thanks again for all of the help

[mike_ac]

Originally Posted by jksc

unfortunately it is 802.11g. So I guess that is not an option. Thanks so much for the help. But I am so new to this I guess I do not understand what you mean by connecting the laptop and extender with a cable and switch. Could you explain further? Thanks again for all of the help

Ours is a simple version of such a setup.

We have the HD200 connected to our TV via HDMI. Our u-verse router, the NAS server (our "PC," if you will), and the HD200 are all connected to the same gigabit switch via cat5 ethernet cable. These are all crossover cables, meaning that they have male adapters on each end, looking like a fat phone cord.

The HD200 sits up on the mantle, with the TV over it, and the ethernet runs behind the wall, so it's a clean look. Our real PCs are all on the other side of the router, and we don't use them as media servers, though we could, without any additional setup.

As an alternative route, you could choose to run a second network off the PC, and then you could use wireless N in a direct connect mode.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

It might work wirelessly if the wireless network is 802.11 "N draft". The HD Extender's new beta firmware allows wireless USB adapter to be connected to it. But if its wireless "G" or "B", then wireless connection is not an option.

Why are you saying G is not an option? The link you posted states that G is supported. And, that happens to be the wireless protocol I use with the recommended adapter mentioned in the announcement. Even though G has less bandwidth than N, it could be worth trying for $20+ for the adapter.

- Andy

[freedml]

Both standard and crossover network cables have 8-pin modular male connectors on both ends. The difference between a 'regular' cable and a 'crossover' cable is in how it's wired. You may need a crossover cable between two devices that normally expect to be connected to a router/switch, like a computer and the HD200. Some devices are 'auto-sensing' but most are not. Details here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_crossover_cable

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by mike_ac

These are all crossover cables, meaning that they have male adapters on each end, looking like a fat phone cord.

Just for the benefit of the audience, what you describe there are just network patch cables.

Crossover cables are a specific wiring of patch cables, and AFAIK aren't necessary with gig devices (or at least some gig devices). Regardless you don't use crossover cables between network devices and switches.

[jm987]

What I would do in this case is purchase a wireless N router and have the WAN connection talk to your Wireless provided to you then setup a private wireless setup for your laptop and HD200. They will be able to talk to each other that way and as long as you secure your private wireless it will be secured as well.

You will still need the wireless adapter for the HD200.

You could plug the wireless router close to the HD200 and run a cable to that and keep your laptop on wireless but wouldn't recommend it I always prefer to have desktops and laptops wired if they are going to act as a server.

JM

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Even though G has less bandwidth than N, it could be worth trying for $20+ for the adapter.

But bear in mind this isn't a private wireless network the OP is setting up. It's a building-wide network in which many users compete for bandwidth. Under those conditions, I'm skeptical that even N would work well (leaving aside the question of how his neighbors might feel about him streaming his high-bandwidth content over their shared network).

Seems to me the best solution is probably going to be a private wired LAN that isolates the SageTV traffic from the shared wireless LAN.

[DigitalMan]

If I'd were you I'd get a router with a built-in gigabit switch and hook everything up to that just for a bit of privacy.

[jksc]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

Seems to me the best solution is probably going to be a private wired LAN that isolates the SageTV traffic from the shared wireless LAN.

I am sorry to ask so many questions, but outside of setting up a router at my former home so that I could have wifi using my high speed internet modem, I am not familiar at all with setting up a network. Could you please tell me what all I would need to do to set up what you described above. I am unsure how I would use a router/switch if I had no modem to connect to it. Would I just simply plug an ethernet cable from the laptop (that receives the internet via wifi provided throughout the building)to the switch and then another one from the switch to the hd theater and then they would be able to communicate?

[jksc]

Originally Posted by DigitalMan

If I'd were you I'd get a router with a built-in gigabit switch and hook everything up to that just for a bit of privacy.

Could you recommend a good one? If it is not appropriate to recommend specific ones on the forum, please feel free to email me at tsfan20@hotmail.com . Also, just as a follow up to my response above, would I just connect the laptop to the router and connect the hd theater to the router and then everything would be able to communicate? Thanks for your help

[DigitalMan]

Yes, you could hook the laptop and hd theater to the router and everything would be good.

I won't recommend a router you're better off going to a site like dslreports for that kind of information. They have a forum for hardware.

Originally Posted by jksc

Could you recommend a good one? If it is not appropriate to recommend specific ones on the forum, please feel free to email me at tsfan20@hotmail.com . Also, just as a follow up to my response above, would I just connect the laptop to the router and connect the hd theater to the router and then everything would be able to communicate? Thanks for your help

[jksc]

Originally Posted by DigitalMan

Yes, you could hook the laptop and hd theater to the router and everything would be good.

Even though I have no hard wire to plug into the modem jack, everything should work fine? The only 2 things connected would be the ethernet to the laptop and the ethernet to the hd theater.

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Why are you saying G is not an option? The link you posted states that G is supported. And, that happens to be the wireless protocol I use with the recommended adapter mentioned in the announcement. Even though G has less bandwidth than N, it could be worth trying for $20+ for the adapter.

- Andy

Just trying to save him the headache of dealing with wireless G which is barely fast enough to stream SD assuming the wireless signals are good. Just look at the not so popular wireless MVP extender. And of course the reasons GKusnick says:

Originally Posted by GKusnick

But bear in mind this isn't a private wireless network the OP is setting up. It's a building-wide network in which many users compete for bandwidth. Under those conditions, I'm skeptical that even N would work well (leaving aside the question of how his neighbors might feel about him streaming his high-bandwidth content over their shared network).

Seems to me the best solution is probably going to be a private wired LAN that isolates the SageTV traffic from the shared wireless LAN.

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by jksc

I am sorry to ask so many questions, but outside of setting up a router at my former home so that I could have wifi using my high speed internet modem, I am not familiar at all with setting up a network. Could you please tell me what all I would need to do to set up what you described above. I am unsure how I would use a router/switch if I had no modem to connect to it. Would I just simply plug an ethernet cable from the laptop (that receives the internet via wifi provided throughout the building)to the switch and then another one from the switch to the hd theater and then they would be able to communicate?

You don't need a router. All you need is a hub or switch, such as this one, and hook the laptop and HD Theater to the switch with normal Cat5 network cables. Then on the laptop, enable Internet Connection Sharing, instruction here for Vista, XP, and OSX. Your HD theater will get internet from your laptop, and it will be networked to the laptop only, isolated from the rest of the building.

[carlgar]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

You don't need a router. All you need is a hub or switch, such as this one, and hook the laptop and HD Theater to the switch with normal Cat5 network cables. Then on the laptop, enable Internet Connection Sharing, instruction here for Vista, XP, and OSX. Your HD theater will get internet from your laptop, and it will be networked to the laptop only, isolated from the rest of the building.

Why do you think he even needs a hub or switch? If you only plans to use one extender then he should be able to use a crossover cable to directly connect the extender to the laptop. It is not clear if he needs a crossover cable or not, but it would be the safest way for a wired connection. Many ethernet connection now auto sense the type of cable. I doubt if the Hd200 would autosense but the laptop may.

A hub or switch would only be needed if multiple devices are going to be used on the wired network. I would not recommend a hub as I consider them obsolete. For a switch I would recommend it support 1Gbs even if neither device currently supports. If the laptop only supports 100 Mbps then it probably could not support multiple devices anyway.

IMHO, the best solution is either a direct cable connection between the laptop and extender or a Wireless N connection between them. I used my HD200 with a Wireless G connection for a couple of days. It seemed ok but when I had a lot of recordings going using my wired network it caused studdering, so I just back to a wired connection for the HD200. I am not sure but it may be possible to use a Wireless dongle on the laptop and configure it as a wireless access point. Worst case a Wireless access point would be needed on the laptop. I think a router may just be overkill but it depends on what the future needs may be.

So the primary question becomes is a wired connection possible or should only a wireless connection desired?

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by carlgar

Why do you think he even needs a hub or switch? If you only plans to use one extender then he should be able to use a crossover cable to directly connect the extender to the laptop. It is not clear if he needs a crossover cable or not, but it would be the safest way for a wired connection. Many ethernet connection now auto sense the type of cable. I doubt if the Hd200 would autosense but the laptop may.

I was trying to simplify it for him and pointed step by step for him to follow. As you said, it is not cleared if he needs a crossover cable or not, so with a switch setup, he doesn't need to worry about it. And also, a switch will allow him to expand his network if needed.

[jksc]

Thanks for all of the responses. A wired connection is fine. The laptop and the tv will not be that far from each other. So I just need to buy a switch, and then connect both the laptop and the hd theater to it via ethernet cables and I am good to go? Again thanks for all of the responses. It has been a big help.